Saturday, February 20
11:30 a.m. ET
After building a World Championship team from expansion scraps, and then tearing it down, Marlins Executive Vice President and General Manager Dave Dombrowski has been quite a busy man.
Now with the 1999 season looming ahead an a direction with ownership, Dombrowski will again try to build up a contender. Dave addressed what he expects to do for the future of the Marlins when he chatted live from FanFest at Pro Player Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 20.
Dombrowski began his career with the Chicago White Sox in 1978 as an administrative assistant in their minor league scouting department. He then became Vice President/Player Personnel and later General Manager for the Montreal Expos before coming to Florida in 1991.
Find out what Dave had to say in the full transcript of his chat below.
Dave Dombrowski: Hey everyone, fire away with your questions.
Question: Dave, can Alex Gonzalez be a good fit at shortstop?
Dave Dombrowski: Gonzalez had a successful year last year at the Triple A level. The same thing happened this winter in Venezuela. He is the type of player that will make outstanding plays as well as routine plays.
Question: How hard was it personally to have to dismantle the 1997 Championship team per Wayne Huizenga's orders?
Dave Dombrowski: I think that it was very difficult for me to do as well as anyone involved in those decisions. It was difficult for everyone. You have to move on after a while. We have tried to get the best young talent we could for the future. I think we able to accomplish that as well as possible under the circumstances.
Question: When do the exhibition games start?
Dave Dombrowski: Our fist exhibition game is a week from Friday. We play Tampa Bay on the opener on March 5th. The day before we play the University of Miami at 1 p.m.
Question: What are the short and long-term goals for the team now?
Dave Dombrowski: The short term goals are to get better, day in and day out, with the type of talent that we have. We should be a much better team at the end of the season than we are the beginning. We shoot to be World Champions again. It is a realistic possibility that we will have that potential.
Question: Dave, you've done a great job in Florida under difficult circumstances, you've stockpiled some great young talent! Anyone stand out in your mind?
Dave Dombrowski: That is a good question. There is a lot of young talent that you look at. A lot of it is here, a couple of young pitchers that you can single out. A.J. Burnett is a outstanding young pitcher we got from the Mets. He could come very quickly. We picked up a player from the Cardinals. Pablo Osuna from the Dominican. He has the chance to be a great player quickly. If I had to pick up an outfielder, it would be Julio Ramirez. We have a lot of quality players in the organization.
Question: Having worked with the Expos before, what is your opinion on the ownership battles going on there?
Dave Dombrowski: I have been away from there for over seven years at this point. It is hard to know what is taking place internally there. I just hope that they are able to get a new ball park there so that baseball can stay in Montreal. I think a ball park downtown would be great.
Question: Speaking of Osuna, what do you think of the other players you got from the Cardinals in the Renteria deal, Braden Looper and Armando Almanza?
Dave Dombrowski: Looper has outstanding closer ability. He throws in the mid 90s, above that at times. He has the chance to be a closer in the future. He is more middle relief, a set up role this year. Looper projects to be that type of pitcher. Almanza was voted the best left-handed relief pitcher in the Arizona Fall League. Both of them have tremendous possibility because he does project to be a closer.
Question: Are you still trying to sell the team?
Dave Dombrowski: I hope NOT! No, John Henry has purchased the team, he is our owner and has been approved by Major League Baseball. He will be the owner for many years.
Question: Dave, with the signing of Cliff Floyd to a new contract, do you see him as a possible franchise player for the years to come?
Dave Dombrowski: I think Cliff is a multi-tool player. A rare player that has upper deck power as well as speed. He can produce anywhere in the lineup. He hits a lot of doubles, he works hard, a solid left fielder. People forget he is only 26, he has the capabilities that he is just coming into his prime right now.
Question: How will John Boles handle his first spring training?
Dave Dombrowski: I don't think that Boles has been in a position where has run the camps and has been a part of it. I think he will spend a lot of time developing those young players. There will be some battles for positions on the team. There will be a battle where you constantly want players to get better.
Question: Dave, I've heard rumors that the owners will be wanting an NBA type salary cap soon, what is your opinion on that?
Dave Dombrowski: I don't know what they are shooting to have at this time. It hasn't been discussed with us. I don't think they have a set plan right now. Hopefully a lot of smart and intelligent people will come up with a solution. I don't know how that will be as far as what the NBA has done.
Question: Do you think it will help smaller market teams be competitive?
Dave Dombrowski: I think they can compete yes. I think it is very difficult. There is such a large difference in the payrolls of clubs, it is possible, but very difficult. A lot to overcome over a 162-game season. It is a lot to overcome.
Question: Dave, with all the young players, is the goal to build toward the future and develop these players so the Marlins will be cometative for years tot come?
Dave Dombrowski: Yes, that is our basic goal, take those players and see them get better. Work them into the big leagues. It creates great competition and allows you to make trades. We have a lot of depth right now. We would like to see them be successful year in and year out.
Question: Will I be able to watch the Marlins from my home in West Palm Beach?
Dave Dombrowski: We will be televising a lot of game on SportsChannel and WAMI. SportsChannel you can see in the WPB area. People in South Florida will have the chance to see us play many of our games on television.
Question: As a GM, do you think that the new deal in place to help facilitate trades with the Japan leagues will help?
Dave Dombrowski: I assume you are talking about the new agreement with the Japanese leagues. No, I don't think that will allow more trades to be made. Because of the news system, it is more of a bidding process for players, I don't think that will change a great number of players that are here. Most players in Japan want to remain there as well as their clubs.
Question: What do you think of the Chicago White Sox?
Dave Dombrowski: It's been about 12-13 years since I worked there even though I am from Chicago. They have a great coach in Jerry Manuel. They have decided to go the young player route and are willing to bukld with them. Frank Thomas is still a big part of that organization.
Question: Whom do you expect to take a leadership role within the clubhouse?
Dave Dombrowski: Even though we are young, we have some players with experience. I think Cliff Floyd can be a leader on our team. Craig Counsell can fit that role although he does not have as much experience. He is a little bit older that some of the guys. Jorge Fabregas can break into that role as well. Pitchers, the answer there is Alex Fernandez. He is healthy, feels great and is getting ready for spring training. He is a natural leader. He is right behind me!
Question: There's been ugly rumors around that Alex Fernandez will be traded as soon as his arm proves healthy, any truth to those rumors?
Dave Dombrowski: It has been said that it is a rumor because of things that have taken place with our ballclub over the past couple of years. Our owner provides stability for us. We do not have to make any more payroll moves. To me, Alex is the Alex Fernandez of old. He is type of person you want to anchor your ball club with. You always listen to what people have to say. There are no immediate plans to do that. We hope he is with us a long time.
Question: Will Preston Wilson see some major league playing time this year?
Dave Dombrowski: Preston has a chance to get some playing time. He is one of the biggest questions facing us this spring training. Our outfielders did a good job last year. It will be up to Preston to take the playing time away from them and earn enough time to solidify enough at-bats for him to have the chance to make the club. Will there be enough at bats for Preston at the major league level? Only time will decide.
Dave Dombrowski: Thank you for being here in cyberspace. We are glad to share our thoughts with you any time. We hope you come out to see us many times. Thanks for your support.
