Matt Vasgersian and Mark Grant were talking about fan frustrations during Saturday nights game. When players make mistakes, fans want someone to do something about it. They mention that they read Gaslamp Ball and Ducksnorts and that some fans expect players to get angry and throw stuff on the field. I have a feeling that really reactionary fans are the vocal minority.
May I speak for all fans? Cool.
The problem with the current Padres team with the exception of Kevin Towers is that all of them are emotionless on the field and when they talk to the media. Every player and coach will tell you they see signs of the team turning the corner and that the glass is half full. Frustrated fans would rather hear nothing, than optimistic statements like that.
I think it was very therapeutic to hear Kevin Towers make statements like he did a few weeks ago . Fans want to know that somebody related to the team cares as much about the team as they do and will vocalize it. When fans are mad at the teams play, they want the team and its coaches to be just as mad and try that much harder.
The discussion came about because Paul McAnulty made a catch in shallow left field and a Giants' player tagged up and scored from third, giving the Giants a lead and costing Maddux a win. McAnulty obviously wasn't thinking that the runner was going to tag up, but he should have been prepared for it. Maddux chewed out McAnulty in the dugout and clubhouse. I think both Vasgersian, Grant and the fans were satisfied with the way it was handled by the club. It was helpful that the Padres Post Game show actually showed Maddux dressing down McAnulty, because then we know that something was done about it.
I'm just really surprised that the coaching staff and players have been making so many fundamental errors. It's one of the first things that they teach you in little league. On every pitch, as a defensive player you must think, "What will I do if the ball is hit to me?" Edgar Gonzalez had the same problem yesterday. As a major league player, they should be thinking, "What if the ball is hit softly to me? Should I throw home or try to turn the double play.?"
Baseball isn't a sport where extra emotion or adrenaline are necessarily going to help you like it might in a cardiovascular sport. So while some players do probably feed off the emotion like a Milton Bradley and some are able to perform even when everyone hates them, like Barry Bonds, they are probably the exceptions.
Temper tantrums by emotional players might only be helpful to show other players that they are taking the losses seriously and that if other players don't get their heads in the games they may be the focus of the next tantrum.
While I agree with Matt and Mark that everybody in uniform wants to win, they need to take that message to the fans and not keep it locked up in the clubhouse in closed door meetings.
For the record, while Dex and I believe that Matt and Mark are funny and informative we do not believe they are clowns. Clowns scare us.
2 recs | 28 comments
clowns scare me too
iLOVEkouz5 - June 2, 2008
i never got that
my fiancee is TERRIFIED of clowns. to the point where a clown showing up on tv will cause her to latch onto me and not let go. i’m cool with clowns. with the exception of Gacy they all seem to be people who just generally like making kids laugh by being jackasses.
John Gennaro - June 2, 2008
not THAT extreme
just get nervous around them. very nervous and i cant watch anything with evil clowns like it or anything
It ruined my childhood lol
iLOVEkouz5 - June 2, 2008
Me too
Winfield's Ghost - June 2, 2008
Well said Jbox
thenerdhater - June 2, 2008
I like the mix of guys we have.
After all, it could be worse, we could have the Mets clubhouse.
Axion - June 2, 2008
Well Said Indeed
What surprises me the most is that we are all still here, talking about the team. You would think that a team that disappoints like the 2008 Padres have, would see their fan base pursuing other, more interesting storylines. And truth be told, I have found myself spending more time following our farm clubs, the American Leaugue, and keeping tabs on other sports (most notably, pillow fighting and Butt’s Up). However, I can’t help being “All Friared Up” each and every day knowing that we’ve got a chance to win one.
So why am I continually let down?
“The problem with the current Padres team with the exception of Kevin Towers is that all of them are emotionless on the field and when they talk to the media. ”
You’re absolutely right, Jbox . It feels like this team has no direction or goal, no one has stepped up to act as the team leader and there is zero chemistry in the clubhouse.
Time and time again, and in every sport, we see that the team that plays well together, WINS. Is this an issue that needs to be adressed with the Padres? Absolutely, and NOW.
Bring up some of these guys from Portland. Hire a manager who get’s pissed (Ozzie Guillen may be looking for a job soon). Bring in Tony Robbins (He got my entire eighth grade class pumped up to do our homework and get good grades.) Stock the clubhouse with Red Bull energy drinks.DO SOMETHING.
The Kipper - June 2, 2008
ummm... no...
let’s not hire ozzie guillen….
pjbno4 - June 2, 2008
I'm just saying somebody needs to get fired up besides Towers
Or maybe Maddux just needs to urinate on the whole team. Something.
The Kipper - June 2, 2008
Why?
Why should someone get fired up besides Towers? All we heard for three days after that was “omg did you hear what Towers said?” Sorry, I’ m not interested in that gossip or that kind of drama. That, and I don’t see a correlation between a couple wins right after that, when half the guys are going “No, I didn’t read it.” The only correlation I see is that one event happened after another, and the events happened in real time.
I think you are witnessing chemistry in the clubhouse. Someone, probably Black or Hoffman, is the one keeping the vets off the rooks, keeping sensationalist stories out of the media (no matter how hard they try), keeping the fingerpointing down. I think it’s remarkable that we have sucked this bad and there hasn’t been a total circus in the clubhouse.
Towers said what he said, I think, to satiate the fans, aside from his own very obvious frustrations. And dude don’t eff around, as I am wont to say.. he went and brought in a brand new bullpen.
Axion - June 2, 2008
i'm not really surprised
what circus could there be? the vets are too old/laid back to do anything and the young kids don’t have the clout (with the exception of adrian gonzalez).
if anyone is going to do the “this team is pathetic” speech it’s going to be peavy. it’s that simple. if he pitches 5 more games this year and loses at least 3 of them, watch out.
then again, good teams don’t need angry players or coaches. angry coaches cause inconsistency. ask pinella or ozzie. ask larry bowa. the calm, cool-as-a-cucumber managers are the ones that can keep a team consistent year-in, year-out (torre, scioscia, etc.).
John Gennaro - June 2, 2008
I don't know
Piniella is doing alright with the Cubs and Guillen won a world series in ‘05. If that’s inconsistency than go ahead and scream as loud as you like Mr. Padre Manager and we’ll be screaming right along with you in October.
The Kipper - June 2, 2008
You're right on a lot of things
But not on chemistry in the clubhouse. All of these guys are professionals, most having achieved success at the pro level, so why can’t they get it together as a team. I want to be optimistic too, but I don’t see things turning around any time soon without some sort of shake-up in the clubhouse. I love that Josh Banks, Mike Adams, Jody Gerut are getting an opportunity to play. I know there are plenty of players in Portland with options. Why not shake things up a bit? I like all of the points you make, but I don’t think that we strike fear into the hearts of the d-bags, or even the hated rival Mariners with our current lineup.
The Kipper - June 2, 2008
I am not optimistic toward us recovering and catching anyone.
I am only optimistic for the day’s win. That’s about all I can handle. :)
And I don’t know what everyone is looking for in a turnaround, but 6-4 of last 10 isn’t more of the same. I’m not even saying it’s a turnaround, but it’s certainly less free-fallish.
Axion - June 2, 2008
Doesn't matter. You still know where I'll be working on perfecting my "disbelief face." See ya guise tonight where I'll be suffering with Bob Brenly anecdotes as MLB.TV will be blacked out for me.
friarinchicago - June 2, 2008
Clowns and the Circus
Shouldn’t we take this conversation over to Uncommon Sportsman
The Kipper - June 2, 2008
Obligatory semi-annual "team chemistry is a stupid notion" post
Someone at some point in time said something like, “Do you want to know what team chemistry is? It’s just a three-game winning streak.” Of course, I don’t know the exact quote or who said it, but whatever. Who am I, Mr. Owl?
Anyways, here’s a USS Mariner article on evaluating team chemistry.
TheGrandHatching - June 2, 2008
Check out
DePo’s thoughts on team chemistry.
jbox - June 2, 2008
It's like what they say about obscenity
As far as caring about winning and what’s going on, I know it when I see it.
I see it on Kouz’s face and in his body language every day – that guy wants to kick some ass and when he fails to do his job, he appears ready to kill someone.
I know not everyone has to be like that – Adrian is a great example – but I just get the sense that some of the guys out there for us are just happy to be in the majors and pulling a paycheck.
As far as mental preparedness and the lacking execution of fundamentals, I hang most of that on Black, fairly or unfairly. The manager sets the tone for that kind of stuff and when you see simple mistakes repeated time and again, my assumption is that they aren’t being addressed in a way that is changing them. Yes, the players are ultimately responsible for the way they play, but if they aren’t concerned about the repercussions when they fail to perform, I think you get what we’ve been seeing.
Winfield's Ghost - June 2, 2008
Come on, internet peoples!
We live in this day and age and still no one has posted video of Maddux reprimanding PMac? I want to feel some of that “fan satisfaction” I keep hearing so much about.
It’s interesting that the two egregious plays jbox mentions are defensive. Has that really been our problem? Defensively, we have the most innings played in the league and the least errors. Offensively, we have the most AB of any team in the league and the least runs! There’s got to be a reason that the Padres are achieving highly on one side of play, while flaming out so spectacularly on the other. That sounds like more than just a managerial problem.
At least half the time on the field, the Padres are playing some good ball. And for that reason, I’m not going to freak out about who’s heads are gonna roll. I’m happier when they win, but I just like watching them play the game and play it well. It’s just too bad it’s not their best.
SD Chick N - June 2, 2008
totally agree
Where is the video???
Winfield's Ghost - June 2, 2008
its not played on mlb.tv
so if anyone recorded it on tv, thats the only chance of seeing it
iLOVEkouz5 - June 2, 2008
Burned up
in the Universal Studios fire. It was with their classic films.
jbox - June 2, 2008
That's what I feared
It was in the clock tower on the Back to the Future set, wasn’t it?
Winfield's Ghost - June 2, 2008
Don't worry
I collecting quarters to save the clock tower.
jbox - June 2, 2008
The Backdraft set, I think
Bad place to keep films.
“People don’t like to have fire poked, poked in their noses.”
TheGrandHatching - June 2, 2008
MLB Advanced Media strikes again?
Axion - June 2, 2008
Last I heard Roger Goodell had it
The Kipper - June 2, 2008
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