Monday
Sep232013
Chemistry Makes a Most Valuable Team
Bill Chuck - Managing Editor | Monday, September 23, 2013 at 4:46PM
When there is discussion about AL MVP candidates, do you notice you don't hear any of the Red Sox being mentioned? Isn't it odd that the team that has the best record in baseball, does not have one of the players you might consider as the lower case most valuable player in the league?
In fact, if you ask 10 people who they thought is the most valuable Red Sox player, you'd get probably a half-dozen different responses.
This is what motivated Ben Cherington as he cleansed this team of Josh Beckett and Adrian Gonzalez and replaced them with the like of Jonny Gomes and David Ross. The difference is best exemplified as Boston moved from the detached J.D. Drew to the involvement and engagement of his brother, Stephen Drew.
While you're thinking of the other obvious choice, check out the Red Sox numbers:
Mark Shapiro and Chris Antonetti knew that the first thing he needed to do was hire Terry Francona as his manager. If there was anyone who could quickly change the culture of this ballclub, Tito was the guy.
“We would not be where we are without Tito,” Antonetti recently told Tyler Kepner in the NY Times. “The impact he’s made on our organization — not just the major league team — has been profound.”
Francona told Kepner, “I get a little careful when they say I’m changing the culture, or being responsible for that. I want to be a part of that, but it’s us doing it together. It’s a complete team effort, and that’s why it’s working.”
Antonetti began looking for the same type of players that Cherington was seeking: guys who could make a difference, not just on the field, but in the clubhouse as well.
One of the guys the Tribe added was 42-year old Jason Giambi, who was being considered for the Colorado Rockies managerial job that Walt Weiss ended up. Francona told Kepner that he had never met a person like Jason Giambi.
“His leadership, his presence, for me not to use that, I would be an idiot. I’ve leaned on him so much. He’s not making enough money, I tell him that all the time. He’s the best influence on players I’ve ever seen — ever, and I’ve been around some pretty good ones.”
Giambi, who will make a great manager sooner than later told Tyler,
“Every single guy — from the Latin players to the white guys to the black guys — I’m tight with everybody. I get to care about them with no ulterior motives. I just want to see them succeed. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs, and I want them to turn into the best players they can, because I truly believe that’s the gift you give back to this game.”
I'm with Terry.
Chemistry makes a Most Valuable Team.
In fact, if you ask 10 people who they thought is the most valuable Red Sox player, you'd get probably a half-dozen different responses.
- There will always be those of us who see the on-going tremendous value in Dustin Pedroia.
- Then there are those who are fans of David Ortiz.
- Clay Buchholz whose great start for Boston was important in setting the team in the right direction.
- I'm a huge fan of Koji Uehara, who I think was invaluable for Boston.
- And, I'm sure you would find fans of the steady production of Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, John Lackey, Jon Lester, and Shane Victorino.
Perhaps that's why they are so good
As baseball moves away from outrageous seasons developed in a pharmaceutical lab, teams are seeing the value of chemistry coming from a psychologist's lab.This is what motivated Ben Cherington as he cleansed this team of Josh Beckett and Adrian Gonzalez and replaced them with the like of Jonny Gomes and David Ross. The difference is best exemplified as Boston moved from the detached J.D. Drew to the involvement and engagement of his brother, Stephen Drew.
The team contributes
There are only two teams that have 11 different players who drove home at least 35 runs this season.While you're thinking of the other obvious choice, check out the Red Sox numbers:
The Boston Red Sox 35 RBI Guys
| G | AB | H | HR | RBI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Ortiz (BOS) | 133 | 502 | 154 | 29 | 98 |
| Mike Napoli (BOS) | 136 | 487 | 125 | 23 | 90 |
| Dustin Pedroia (BOS) | 156 | 623 | 186 | 9 | 83 |
| Stephen Drew (BOS) | 120 | 424 | 106 | 13 | 64 |
| Daniel Nava (BOS) | 130 | 441 | 131 | 11 | 63 |
| Jarrod Saltalamacchia (BOS) | 117 | 410 | 109 | 13 | 59 |
| Shane Victorino (BOS) | 119 | 463 | 136 | 14 | 58 |
| Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS) | 131 | 566 | 169 | 8 | 52 |
| Jonny Gomes (BOS) | 113 | 302 | 72 | 12 | 50 |
| Will Middlebrooks (BOS) | 89 | 325 | 75 | 15 | 42 |
| Mike Carp (BOS) | 82 | 208 | 62 | 9 | 42 |
Created by BaseballAnalytics.org on 9/23/2013
The other team shouldn't be a surprise
This offseason, there was another team that recreated itself with chemistry as the focal point.Mark Shapiro and Chris Antonetti knew that the first thing he needed to do was hire Terry Francona as his manager. If there was anyone who could quickly change the culture of this ballclub, Tito was the guy.
“We would not be where we are without Tito,” Antonetti recently told Tyler Kepner in the NY Times. “The impact he’s made on our organization — not just the major league team — has been profound.”
Francona told Kepner, “I get a little careful when they say I’m changing the culture, or being responsible for that. I want to be a part of that, but it’s us doing it together. It’s a complete team effort, and that’s why it’s working.”
Antonetti began looking for the same type of players that Cherington was seeking: guys who could make a difference, not just on the field, but in the clubhouse as well.
One of the guys the Tribe added was 42-year old Jason Giambi, who was being considered for the Colorado Rockies managerial job that Walt Weiss ended up. Francona told Kepner that he had never met a person like Jason Giambi.
“His leadership, his presence, for me not to use that, I would be an idiot. I’ve leaned on him so much. He’s not making enough money, I tell him that all the time. He’s the best influence on players I’ve ever seen — ever, and I’ve been around some pretty good ones.”
Giambi, who will make a great manager sooner than later told Tyler,
“Every single guy — from the Latin players to the white guys to the black guys — I’m tight with everybody. I get to care about them with no ulterior motives. I just want to see them succeed. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs, and I want them to turn into the best players they can, because I truly believe that’s the gift you give back to this game.”
The Tribe 11
The Cleveland Indians 35 RBI Guys
| G | AB | H | HR | RBI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Kipnis (CLE) | 143 | 541 | 150 | 17 | 80 |
| Carlos Santana (CLE) | 148 | 518 | 138 | 19 | 69 |
| Michael Brantley (CLE) | 145 | 529 | 148 | 9 | 68 |
| Asdrubal Cabrera (CLE) | 130 | 484 | 117 | 14 | 61 |
| Nick Swisher (CLE) | 139 | 524 | 130 | 20 | 59 |
| Ryan Raburn (CLE) | 80 | 225 | 62 | 16 | 53 |
| Michael Bourn (CLE) | 126 | 513 | 133 | 6 | 48 |
| Mark Reynolds (CLE) | 129 | 428 | 94 | 20 | 65 |
| Mike Aviles (CLE) | 118 | 339 | 87 | 9 | 44 |
| Drew Stubbs (CLE) | 141 | 421 | 97 | 9 | 42 |
| Lonnie Chisenhall (CLE) | 92 | 287 | 65 | 11 | 36 |
Created by BaseballAnalytics.org on 9/23/2013
Two teams - both most valuable
“I think I believe in them more than our numbers,” Francona explained. “Like, our numbers may not add up, but that doesn’t mean we can’t add up. And I think that as long as we believe that, we’re going to have a chance.”I'm with Terry.
Chemistry makes a Most Valuable Team.
in Bill Chuck Files, Boston Red Sox, Free Agent Signings, Indians | tagged Ben Cherington, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Jason Giambi, Mark Antonetti, Terry Francona, chemistry
Bill Chuck Files, Boston Red Sox, Free Agent Signings, Indians | tagged Ben Cherington, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Jason Giambi, Mark Antonetti, Terry Francona, chemistry
Reader Comments (2)
Oakland certainly fits in that category as well.
However, I would argue that Post Season baseball is very different than the regular season. Key Differences between top heavy teams and well balanced teams:
1. #1 and #2 Pitchers pitch in a higher percentage of innings than regular season. Together, Tigers Scherzer and Sanchez will get close to 1/2 of the Tigers Innings should they make it to the ALCS....likely 60% of the total starter innings. They would only get 40% of starter innings during the regular season.
2. Valuable bench players are often left on the bench. Tigers are top heavy. Their backups are not as good as Oakland's or Boston's... but that is less of a factor when you only have to play 2 games every 3 days v. 162 games in 6 months.
3. #5 Starters are made into relievers, which pushes many in the pitching staff down a rung. Those 6th and 7th inning guys that come in the regular season are no longer a distinct advantage to the well balanced team. Tigers could to tell Verlander to go all out for 5 innings, knowing the Porcello could handle 2 innings.. which would be impossible in the regular season.
One nitpick: to say JD Drew was "detached" is unfair to Drew. Non-emotive is not the same thing as detached. He was very much a part of the team, and I don't recall anyone in the clubhouse having anything negative to say about Drew during his time with the Sox.