...stays together.
So clearly by this point in the season, we have talked statistics to death. Even the most casual fan that tunes in to watch an M's game these days is compelled to watch the events unfold because....wait for it...this team plays like a real TEAM.
So much has been made of Jose Vidro's lack of pop, Raul Ibanez's lack of fielding prowess, and the Mack Truck sized hole in Richie Sexson's swing that we have forgotten to focus on what makes this team special.
They like to play together.
2001 was the last glimpse Seattle fans had of a true "team" atmosphere. A different hero every night. The birth of "Sodo Mojo" and "Sanshin". Hey remember "two outs so what?". As a fan, I find my eyes drawn to the expressions not of the players on the field, but the players on the bench. Ben Broussard, who could easily see significant playing time on another club, smiles brighter than anyone when Richie Sexson goes deep.
It is not necessary for players to like one another in order to produce on field wins. But it sure doesn't hurt.
Let's not forget, as fans, to savor the ride and look beyond the box score at what is happening to baseball in Seattle.
8/21/07
The Team That Plays Together....
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6 comments:
I am trully excited about or team right now...WE ARE PLAYING GREAT BASEBALL...Hands down...Stats don't mean shit when your team keeps on winning...
Amen
Welcome to the blog James, and you're exactly right. Geoff Baker has been noticing the relationship between Guillen and Jones. He keeps mentioning how they joke around with each other and when Johnny Mac was asked about those two, he said Guillen has taken Jones under his wing. It's good to see.
Patrick:
That's why I like Baker's blog so much...He actually has real insight...Not pure speculation...He looks at things subjectively because he realizes that stats don't make the world go around, people and human nature do...
I'm definitely not saying that statistical research is without merit, but sometimes you can't put a stat to what you can see with your eyes. We've all seen plenty of teams where half the guys quit midseason and just milked a paycheck. I don't see a single player doing that, even Sexson.
There really is no quit in this team this year...They've defied statisticians the whole year...As have the Dbacks who have actually been outscored by 31 runs this year yet somehow are 16 games over .500 with the best record in the National League...The guys at USS Mariner must be going crazy over that considering how negative they are about the Mariners and their defiance of sabermetrics and other computerized stats by continuing to win...I mean the Mariner's have "only" outscored their opponents by 21 runs...They should "really only be" like 4 games over .500 or some shit like that by the Pythagorean Record thingy..."They are playing over their head"...What a crock of shit...They keep winning because they play well together as a team and believe in each other...Who fucking cares what someone's computer formula says about how good they should be???...All that matters is that the Mariners are 71-53 with a 1.5 game lead over the Yankees in the Wild Card and have the 3rd best overall record in baseball...Stop bitching about what the stats tell you and enjoy the ride the M's are talking us on right now.../rant over...
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