- This topic has 17 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 11 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
They are ok with losing.
I’m not saying they aren’t playing to win games BUT – from the owner, to the POBO, to the manager and coaches and on down to the players – they are ok if they lose.
This team has no edge to it. The veterans seem happy with one last ride and collecting their last millions as players and the young guys are happy to be in the majors. Look at their demeanors. No one is the least bit upset with losing.
Where are the players only meetings? Where are the locker room tantrums? Where has anyone at any level of this organization shown – by their actions – that losing is NOT ok?
I’m telling you it’s just not there. This team is ok with losing.
I took a management leadership class years ago and I remember us discussing a concept called “Casting a Shadow.” It essentially means that the leader of an organization sets the tone for everything that happens below him or her by the tone he/she sets and the standards they set.
In this case consider that BDW is an 82 year old man, who yes does have a lot of baseball knowledge and business experience, but quite likely has lost the zest or “edge” that an organization needs to stay a step ahead of the competition. It is quite possible that the current tone he has set has filtered down into all areas of the organization.
In other words ZTR could be right and that this team is being led by complacent people who are willing to just drift along.
There might be some truth in that, but I think that applies more to traditional organizations such as business structures.
With athletics it is primarily talent that separates winners from losers. There are some intangible emotional factors that can come in to play, but success is largely driven by talented players and talented coaches.
We just are not as good as the best teams in either area.
Organizational leadership recognized a leadership void and though it could be corrected by hiring a couple veterans who sit at the end of the bench. Where do you go from there?
Bicyclemike, I think you are correct in that we just don’t have as good of players as others but where is the hate for losing? Where are the surly demeanors?
Where is the fire and will to win? Doesn’t mean that it’s going to get you 20 games over instead of .500 but good grief these guys are relaxed and smiling and chatting up the opponents.
All the young guys are looking around and saying, “All right I’m in the bigs!” and I have yet to see a veteran destroy a water cooler or throw a bat – just nothing….
Losing should be miserable and for these guys it’s just not.
I suppose they realize they have been out of any playoff contention for a long time now and the desire and intensity are just not there as a result.
I have seen some instances of guys slamming helmets down, showing frustration, that sort of thing.
But we are fairly mundane. Ollie is very stoic. He’s certainly a far cry from some of the characters of the past like Earl Weaver or Billy Martin. Even Whitey had a lot more emotion close to the surface.
Not sure we accept losing so much as our guys are not overly emotional. And maybe having some of those type of guys around would light a fire, I don’t know.
While I think guys like Weaver and Martin were certainly good managers who often provided top tier entertainment, I don’t think the type of emotion they displayed is at all a necessary component for winning. Both Herzog and TLR could at times become unhinged, but I think their longsuit was methodical and well organized preparation. They both had a burning desire to win, but in my view, it was an inward sort of burn. Especially TLR. No one despised losing more than LaRussa.
I think in some places a winning record, or even .500, is even acceptable. Not with St Louis, not with the Cardinals franchise, not with its history, and not with fans like us.
Too bad BDW Jr doesn’t think so.
Keeping your composure is fine until it’s not.
These guys should be bitterly disappointed in the last two seasons but if they are I sure don’t see it.
100% if Mo scrapes up the stones to actually have a year end press conference this time he will tout the improved record.
That would be fine if he was overseeing a rebuild but that is not what he’s tried to do.
In my opinion, if they want fans back in the ballpark they need to drop the too cool for school attitude, be contrite, and then share the plan and the process moving forward.
Give the reasonable fans something to understand and buy in to and quit pretending you have a chance to contend when you clearly don’t.
This isn’t a board room it’s baseball – which is a sport – and both sides of the emotional coin should be exhibited when called for.
I’m not sure I would classify Marmol has stoic. He has been ejected 13 times the last three years. He is kind of a hot head actually.
I agree that teams need talent to win but how do organizations acquire and develop talent in such a cut throat envirornment? I would imagine they do it by hard work, not checking their tee times and their stock portfolios. Does the leadership of this organization have the drive to do what needs to be done?
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.