Baseball Chemistry?

[Rep905]

In your opinion, how important is baseball chemistry? Taking some points from Mike Wilner, baseball is a game that is much more individually focused as opposed to basketball, hockey, soccer, etc. However, how much weight do you have on chemistry? Could you really put together a team with bunch of great players that hate each other and still win a lot of games? I understand Mike Wilner's point, but I mean it must have some psychological effect (happier clubhouse, increased morale, etc.)

[Santoki]

There's no correct answer, but typically you'll take talent over chemistry in a sport like baseball. People always reference the As in the early 70s who had that amazing team but they all hated each other. They won 3 straight World Series.

The fact of the matter is that winning helps with chemistry. If you've ever played a sport, you know the feeling between a winning and losing dressing room. So, I'll take talent over chemistry, it's just that this team isn't as talented as people believe it is.

[Schad]

It's funny; the people on here who reference chemistry as a big factor also seem to be the ones that take umbrage at the fact that the players have fun with one another.

In baseball, maintaining confidence is important when players go into a slump (as they invariably do) but that doesn't necessarily mean a rah-rah atmosphere; there have been some pretty damned morose champions. A happy clubhouse certainly helps to keep players loose through bad times, but I doubt that it ever makes a massive difference in the standings.

[Santoki]

It's funny; the people on here who reference chemistry as a big factor also seem to be the ones that take umbrage at the fact that the players have fun with one another.

In baseball, maintaining confidence is important when players go into a slump (as they invariably do) but that doesn't necessarily mean a rah-rah atmosphere; there have been some pretty damned morose champions. A happy clubhouse certainly helps to keep players loose through bad times, but I doubt that it ever makes a massive difference in the standings.

Sometimes there's a time and place for fun on the field. Lo Viste-ing when you're getting shellacked in a remarkably underperforming season gets a tad bit infuriating at times.

[Avenger]

Why is it infuriating? Because they're having fun at their workplace and enjoying what they do. Do you want them to be miserable at work like 75% of the population?

Besides, do you think acting stoic and "serious" makes them better players and more likely to win games?

[Santoki]

Why is it infuriating? Because they're having fun at their workplace and enjoying what they do. Do you want them to be miserable at work like 75% of the population?

Besides, do you think acting stoic and "serious" makes them better players and more likely to win games?

Yes, when they're losing (and losing badly) I want them to be pissed because that's how I feel. Yes, that's selfish but that's what I want out of my team and players. I want players to treat this like a profession and if you're getting absolutely killed at work, you don't walk around with a big, goofy smile on your face. I want the Jordans, Kobes, and Duncans of the world playing for me. Men that take the game and losing seriously.

[Randle McMurphy]

So it would be better for the team if we had more players with the personality of Colby Rasmus and less players with the personality of Jose Reyes?

[Avenger]

So it would be better for the team if we had more players with the personality of Colby Rasmus and less players with the personality of Jose Reyes?

Its so sick isn't it, on one hand they hate players like Rasmus for their personality and on the other hand they hate the happy go lucky guys too.

[s e n s i]

Why is it infuriating? Because they're having fun at their workplace and enjoying what they do. Do you want them to be miserable at work like 75% of the population?

Besides, do you think acting stoic and "serious" makes them better players and more likely to win games?

Yes, when they're losing (and losing badly) I want them to be pissed because that's how I feel. Yes, that's selfish but that's what I want out of my team and players. I want players to treat this like a profession and if you're getting absolutely killed at work, you don't walk around with a big, goofy smile on your face. I want the Jordans, Kobes, and Duncans of the world playing for me. Men that take the game and losing seriously.

i want generational, hall-of-fame talents playing for my team too

i could care less if i saw a couple teammates cracking smiles in the dugout during a blowout. i've never understood why people want to see their players of their favourite team sulking on the bench while losing. dancing and pulling pranks on each other i could understand, but joking around in conversation is no big deal. in other sports, goofing off during a blowout is frowned upon and should be, but baseball being the marathon it is, i'd say it's the one sport where the old adage of never getting too high after a win or too low after a loss actually means something.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

So it would be better for the team if we had more players with the personality of Colby Rasmus and less players with the personality of Jose Reyes?

The ideal team would be a team full of Jose Reyes personalities and Colby Rasmus haircuts.

[RyderMike]

Why is it infuriating? Because they're having fun at their workplace and enjoying what they do. Do you want them to be miserable at work like 75% of the population?

Besides, do you think acting stoic and "serious" makes them better players and more likely to win games?

Yes, when they're losing (and losing badly) I want them to be pissed because that's how I feel. Yes, that's selfish but that's what I want out of my team and players. I want players to treat this like a profession and if you're getting absolutely killed at work, you don't walk around with a big, goofy smile on your face. I want the Jordans, Kobes, and Duncans of the world playing for me. Men that take the game and losing seriously.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0ue3dwPYkU[/youtube]

[Santoki]

So it would be better for the team if we had more players with the personality of Colby Rasmus and less players with the personality of Jose Reyes?

Its so sick isn't it, on one hand they hate players like Rasmus for their personality and on the other hand they hate the happy go lucky guys too.

You guys can be awfully thick at times. You're so focused on throwing out a witty barb that reading comprehension and the explanation of your own viewpoint is irrelevant. You look down up the YDs and Galacticos of the forum and while I disagree with many of their viewpoints because of their knee-jerk reactions to players/situations and extreme viewpoints, they at least take the time to listen and defend their viewpoints through their own merit. The people that always whine about strawman arguments are the worst perpetrators of them.

So, if you read my initial post I said that I value talent over chemistry which is usually remedied by winning (this team was a lovefest during the 11-game streak so much so they called a team meeting for a demotion). Second, I said that when you're losing (and losing horribly) there's a level of professionalism I like my team to exhibit on the field. I didn't say they couldn't have a laugh on the bench. I didn't say they need to not ever have a personality (like Colby Rasmus). But, when you're ass is being handed to you in a season where you were called and embraced the tag of World Series contenders, then I don't want to see you ground out, and start smiling and chatting it up with the opposition. You can laugh and chat it up all you want when you're actually getting on base. And, in reference to the Jordans, Kobes, and Duncans, obviously they are generational talents but there are tons of talents that never succeed because they don't have a winning mentality. We all saw the talent that Vince Carter exhibited and wasted because he didn't have the heart to be a champion. You can all get on your high horse and yell "platitudes!" all you want, but there's a reason that those men succeeded while others with similar or greater talent failed.

[BigBob123]

And for my first post, I would like to state the obvious:

I are a royal loser. Good day.

This had to be edited to show what the user really meant-HM

[LittleOzzy]

The above user is now banned.

What a moron. Hope it was worth it.