Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Baseball blogging
I'll try not to get carried away. Much as I am tempted to hash out each meager development, this is the job of the sports pages, which do a fair enough job. A daily recap from me would be tedious in the extreme. (There is also the jinx factor.)
So today, rather than exulting in the Cubbies' 9 game winning streak, I'll instead link to Sportsprof, who throws out a radical idea for our consideration:
The Red Sox are known for making smart moves, sometimes even bold ones. There really is little downside to signing Barry Bonds, and if they want to remain relevant and bring down the upstart Tampa Bay Rays a few pegs, they should sign the future Hall of Famer and re-load immediately.
There really is little downside for the Sox, who need a prime-time DH now that David Ortiz is on the DL and will be out at least a month with his wrist injury. What better way to replace a great player than with one of the best hitters of all time, even if he has little gas left in the tank?
What's the worst that can happen? Bonds proves immediately that he's a clubhouse cancer. If that's the case, cut him loose after a week.
Its probably worth doing just to tweak the Steinbrenners.
10 Comments:
By 
, at
Wed Jun 04, 11:40:00 AM:
Charlottesvillian - great topic and great question! I am a huge believer in team chemistry and the one thing that drives that Red Sox club house is that everyone seems to really like each other and they will do almost anything for each other. If you think about it the Sox are not the most talented team especially when you compare it to the line-up the Yankees, Mets or Phillies if you go position, by position. However, in a 162 game season you have to love the guys you play with. I cannot see Barry mixing well with any group and even though the Sox would probably benefit greatly from Barry his lasting effect would probably be a net negative.
One thought would be to bring Barry on for a month to month basis. That way Barry would have to be on his best behavior and from his perspecitve it would be a huge win. He would love it because he would finally have a real shot at a World Series ring, but also because that short right field porch is made for him. However, based on his current legal issues I dont see it likely that any team or even the league for that matter will go near him.
By 
Counter Trey, at
Wed Jun 04, 11:43:00 AM:
CV,
The Cubbies run ended last night with the return of Pedro. His fastball frequently hit the low-90s. There is no stopping the Metsies now.
Yours truly,
Mentally Ill
By Chris, at
Wed Jun 04, 03:15:00 PM:
I think that team chemistry is overrated. How many of your coworkers do you really like? I work with several people I don't like, but I do my job, and presumably they do theirs.
How come you never hear about the chemistry on losing teams? Can't people who aren't as good at their jobs still be sociable with their teammates? Do we only hear about it on winning teams because everyone likes to win, or do we hear it as an excuse when they underperform?
By SportsProf, at
Wed Jun 04, 03:23:00 PM:
'Villain -- thanks for the link. Bonds probably would be on his best behavior, and I think that team chemistry matters somewhat. It's not a question of everyone's locking arms and singing "Kumbaya", just so long as they respect one another and get along professionally. Barry certainly didn't sing folk songs with his teammates, and I'm not sure he always fostered the best professional environment, either. In Boston, he'd have to cut down bigtime on the prima donna act and work hard to fit in within reason. I think that he can do that, and it would be an amazing story if he emerged as Boston's catalyst.
By SR, at
Wed Jun 04, 04:30:00 PM:
TH: Baseball is great, especially when your team is winning. f you can stand it (from an excitement point of view) each night's game is a two and a half hour vacation from everything else going on in the world.
No better place to be.
By , at
Wed Jun 04, 10:02:00 PM:
As "Die Hard Cub Fan Club" member 260(anyone one remember this Dallas Green's fan promo?), I too share your wariness.
My family used to take the train from Davenport or Rock Island to Chicago, hop th "EL" and see a day game.
A long-time Cub fan looks to .500, as the goal and everything after that is frosting on the cake. We are pessimistic optimists, dreading yet hope over what fate has in store for us. (I mean, after Zambrono, what do they have-okay Dempsters having a good year-so far and maybe Lilly gets back to last's year's form and the young guys- oh I'm digressing.)
I think George Will said(and if he didn't-he ought to) being a Cubs fan is the best prpearation for life-Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and never give up. (I mean Soriano's so streaky, and Therio and Soto could come back to earth, DeRosa's solid so are Fukudome and D.Lee, and the bench has reallly hepled -oops I'M doing it again.) Maybe, just maybe -- better not say and take 'em one game at a time.
Tony
By , at
Thu Jun 05, 12:29:00 PM:
Charlottesvillian - I think it would be worth having an entire blog submission on team chemistry in baseball and other sports. Here is why I think it is so important is for no other reason then the enormous ego's these athletes have. Do realize that in most cases all of these guys were the greatest things from where they came and they carry that with them everywhere they walk. In most cases these guys are some of the most driven people one will ever meet, most of the time they love themselves so much that they can barely stand themselves nevermind any other humans. So when you put 25 of these guys in a locker room, all huge alpha-male personalities, all trying to stake out their own slice of the front page; it is anything but normal. As a matter of fact, it is the most abnormal scenario an average person could ever experience. However, when you can get 20+ of those guys on the same page where the team comes first and they are there to win you can get some extraordinary results. Think of the teams the Red Sox used to field in the 70's and early 80's. Arguably the most talented teams in the majors however they were known for the fact that they all took 25 separate cabs home after the game, versus the current group of Red Sox who all take a group of limo's to the same wattering hole after games.
By Charlottesvillain, at
Thu Jun 05, 01:22:00 PM:
QC, its definitely an interesting question. Certainly the Cubbies season was transformed last year after Carlos Zambrano slapped Michael Barrett around and he was shipped out. At the same time, I think chemistry in baseball may be overrated. If you don't have the pitching, it doesn't matter how happy you are and how well you all get along.
Now basketball on the other hand is a real chemistry game, where teamwork can overcome lack of talent. But in baseball it is extremely difficult, probably harder than in all other sports, to overcome a lack of talent.
By Steve Burri, at
Thu Jun 05, 02:26:00 PM:
Chicagosvillain,
Remember last year... One NL Central team gets a big lead early, but after the All-Star break they fade and are overtaken by another.
My Brewers learned the lesson of history and will repeat it in their favor this season.
The Goat lives! Bartman lives! The Cubs will always be 'Second' City.
Go Brewers!
By Charlottesvillain, at
Thu Jun 05, 04:40:00 PM:
Steve B.
Trust me, such a scenario is very much on my mind. I also recall the Mets blowing a 7 game lead with 17 to go. With the Cubs there is no such thing as a bird in a bush. If it ain't in your hand, you got nothing.
That said, the Brewers better hustle or they are toast. We know Ben Sheets is a free agent come October and will leave for the big $$. If they are 10 or 12 out come July I suspect they will deal him for prospects.
