Dave Dombrowski was the manager of five teams that reached the World Series: the 1997 Marlins, the 2006 and 2012 Tigers, the 2018 Red Sox, and the 2022 Phillies.
The head of baseball operations held a 25-minute press conference in the dugout before Tuesday’s practice for the Phils, who are in the postseason for the third straight time since Game 1 of the National League game was held at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. Ta.
These comments have been edited for length and clarity.
Q. Is there anything you are concerned about regarding the team’s performance?
A. “Even when we come back from All-Star break, we always worry about whether our offense is going to work. Guys have time off. We’re routine-oriented.
“Of course, you can’t control players during the All-Star break. That’s different. We’re in a position now where we can work on a high-level, high-volume velocity machine. We work on a curveball machine. We work on a hitting machine. We’re going to practice. But I’m always worried about the offensive point of view because I’m usually worried on my off days.”
Q.If having five days off during the middle school season is difficult for batters, will it be an advantage for pitchers?
A. “I think so. Our staff has talked a lot about it with the pitcher himself. That’s why this week is so important. We’ll prepare to not rest too much.
“Zack (Wheeler) traditionally likes to stay five or six days. He’s leaving on the seventh day. But there are things he can do, too. The postseason automatically sets the mood. He’ll be more prepared. But someday he might throw a special right side.
“(Christopher) Sanchez and (Aaron) Nola, it’s going to be a long time since they’ve pitched. But they’re going to pitch this week. Same with (Ranger) Suarez. And then we’ll get through it while preparing the rest. And I think it’s the guys in the bullpen that will benefit because they’ll be fresh and we could use some extra time off. I don’t think so at all. But this time of year, everyone can get some rest. And they’ll have plenty of pitching within this period.”
Q. This will be your third consecutive playoff appearance. Do you feel a sense of urgency knowing that this opportunity is limited?
A. “No, it’s not. First of all, I don’t feel like the window closes. I keep hearing that. But what happens is, sometimes you end up with the current player you have. I think there is, but that doesn’t mean it’s closed overall.
“We have young players coming in that we really like. Also, we have ownership and are very accommodating in terms of salary expenditure, which means ideally some of the players will be older. It’s just a fact that as you get older, some of the skills go down. There are some players who are at a different pace, but what you have to do in the meantime is get some young players in. I think it will come in.
“Some of them are here. When you look at guys like (Bryson) Stott and (Alec) Bohm and (Brandon) Marsh and (Christopher) Sanchez, they’re going to be here for a while.” Orion) Kerkeling and (Johan) Rojas. And then there’s another group behind them.
“So I don’t think the opportunity for the Phillies is closed, but there’s always some limitations with the current team.”
Q. What is the difference between going in as a wild card team like you have the past two years and going in as district champions with a bye this season?
A. “I don’t think our guys are going to let up on the pedal at all in that regard. These guys are motivated to win. We know that will lead to success. Many of them have never won a world championship. If anything, we can now build the club better. I think I’m in a position to do it.”
Q. How difficult is it not knowing whether to play for the Brewers or the Mets?
A. “Of course, we are ready for anyone. We have sent forward scouts to scout all the clubs in the National League for a long period of time. But at least in the first round, at the end of the season I think one of the advantages for us is that we’ve played the Mets so many times in the last few weeks. We played them recently against the Brewers. And of course, if the Braves make it to the NLCS. ) We have played against them many times.
The only clubs we haven’t played for a long time are the Padres and probably the Dodgers. But we have scouted those clubs thoroughly. We will be ready for anything. ”
Q. How difficult has it been to get to this point, knowing that it could all be over due to a missed hop, a missed pitch, or circumstances beyond your control?
A. “Unfortunately, that’s the way it is. You prepare. You do everything you can. I have full confidence that our players will prepare as well as they can.” Basically. Pitching-wise. But you never know. That’s how the game goes.
“I’ve been in a lot of postseasons, and sometimes you win games where you don’t think there’s any way to win that matchup. Other times you think, ‘This feels really good.’ I like our advantage here. ”And you lose the match.
“I was a member of the 1997 World Series, the Cleveland Indians vs. the Florida Marlins. Two of the games we lost were against Kevin Brown, who was basically the best pitcher in the National League that year. , against Chad O’Guia, who was the Indians’ fourth and fifth starter. And they lost both games, at home. And they still won the World Series. So, you just don’t know. is.
“It’s unsettling. It makes your stomach growl a little bit more because every time a bloop bass hit hits you, you realize it could harm you. It’s so unpredictable. It’s so unpredictable. It makes your stomach growl a little more. From a perspective, I think that’s part of the fun of the postseason atmosphere.
“Look at last year. I never would have imagined going home for Games 6 and 7 (of the NLCS) that we would have lost. At that point, I thought we could win. But Arizona beat us, so they deserved it.”
Q. Will the loss remain forever?
A. “They will remain forever.”
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