Did you ever think you?d live long enough to hear Kenny Rogers? name mentioned in the same breath as Christy Mathewson? Me either. Kenny Rogers the singer had a better chance at something like that. Yet, the 41-year-old (42 in three weeks) Detroit left-hander is currently threatening Matty?s century-old postseason consecutive scoreless innings record.
Mathewson, the Bucknell-educated right-hander for John McGraw?s New York Giants, shut out Connie Mack?s Athletics three times ? 27 innings ? in the 1905 World Series. Rogers has 23 straight scoreless frames after Sunday?s win over St. Louis. He has completely dominated the Yankees, A?s and Cardinals in three postseason starts, and, after a 17-win regular season, has quieted those critics who insisted that Detroit owner Mike Ilitch was nuts to give Kenny a two-year, $16 million deal last winter.
Some may argue that, even if Rogers? next start takes him past 27, Mathewson?s scoreless streak will still be the more impressive since they were all in World Series play. I recognize that aspect of it, but really, the postseason is the postseason. Give Rogers his due if he pulls it off.
And while we?re at it, let?s salute Detroit CEO/President/GM Dave Dombrowski. In a business where new baseball executives frequently have a “five-year plan” when they take office, Dombrowski?s actually worked. He took heavy fire for giving catcher Pudge Rodriguez a four-year, $40 million deal in 2004, was ripped for signing Magglio Ordonez to the biggest contract in team history (five years, $75 million) and took similar criticism for the Rogers? signing.
His team is poised to win the World Series, and Double-D himself is poised to cash in, as well. His original five-year deal is up, and rumors persist that he?ll end up running the Chicago Cubs, who are in the market for a new CEO. A free agent at 50, Dombrowski could be a very hot property this winter.
It?s not like he?s a stranger to success. A GM in Montreal at 31, he was largely responsible for the Expos? player development success in the 1990s. He spent a decade with the Marlins, building their productive farm system and presiding over a World Championship in 1997. He?s got the chops, no question.
The success of the Tigers ? and their climb back from a disastrous 119-loss season in 2003 ? has to be considered good news for struggling clubs like the Orioles. Detroit?s 2006 opening day payroll, based on available figures, was $82,612,866, or roughly $110 million less than the Yankees and only $10 million more than the Orioles, who rank just behind the Tigers overall in 15th place out of 30 teams. Detroit has developed starting pitching and acquired hitting while maintaining consistency in the front office. In addition to Rogers, last winter?s big acquisition was manager Jim Leyland, whose style was a perfect match for the club?s personnel.
Rogers may be in position to pitch the deciding game of the series. If he pulls it off ? and breaks Mathewson?s record in the bargain ? his boorish behavior of years past will be obscured. He?ll get a ring, but Dombrowski may get the pot of gold.
Phil Wood has covered baseball in the Washington/Baltimore market for more than 30 years. You can reach him at [email protected].
