Dave Dombrowski Honored To Helm Red Sox
BOSTON (CBS) -- Dave Dombrowski was introduced as the new president of baseball operations for the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, and he's eager to get started on turning the team back into a perennial contender.
With owners John Henry and Tom Werner, as well as vice president and COO Sam Kennedy, on his side, Dombrowski expressed the excitement he has for his new gig.
"For me, it's an extreme honor to join the Red Sox organization, one of the most prestigious organizations in baseball and in professional sports," he told reporters at Fenway Park. "You look at the ballclub, it's a situation where there's a lot of young talent breaking in at the Major League level at this time and the Minor League system has a lot of talent also. There aren't many opportunities like this that exist."
Dombrowski, 59, said he isn't planning a major overhaul in the front office.
"There are a lot of good people here; they have good reputations. When I originally went to Detroit we kept everybody there and evaluated them over a time period," he explained. "I think it's a situation where I look to hopefully enhance what we have and work together closely, and if we can add people to the organization from wherever it may be, we're open-minded to that."
However, with Ben Cherington declining an invite to stick around, Dombrowski is now tasked with finding a new general manager. It's a decision he will not rush.
"They'll assist and work with me on pretty much everything," he said, adding there are no leading candidates at the time. "What makes an organization and baseball operations good is you'll have disagreements. It's very important those are expressed, and we've done that in the past and will continue to do it here."
Dombrowski has a lengthy resume in Major League Baseball, serving as general manager for a trio of clubs over his 37-year career. Following a 14-year stint as president and GM of the Detroit Tigers, leading them from the MLB basement to a pair of World Series appearances, he's now looking forward to this new challenge.
Known more as an "old school" baseball mind, he is excited to incorporate Boston's deep analytic department to his approach.
"When you're in my spot, you combine [everything]," he said. "You combine statistical information, scout opinions, your own instincts of players, their work ethic – and you make the best decision you can. If there is an edge we can get from a stat perspective, we will use it."
With last year's last place finish, and another one likely coming by the beginning of October, Dombrowski knows the challenge that's ahead to get Boston back to contender status. He pointed out the struggles of the pitching staff as one of the issues plaguing the club at the moment, and he's eager to get to work and fix those issues.
"I know everything will be great until we lose a ballgame," he joked, "but it's also a situation where we look forward to building upon what's been built here and continue to grow the organization to being a world championship caliber club on the field."
