What's Next? Demon Rum?
Frank Robinson finally figured out what was causing the National's 2-month malaise. No, it's not the stinklicious shortstop. It's not the hobbling third baseman with the balsa bat. It's not the team's un-clutch hitting, nor the five-alarm fire that comes after a Tony Armas or Ryan Drese outing.
It's the music. And the cards.
Gosh darn it, these boys aren't serious about the game with their hippity hoppity music, and their cuthroat games of pinochle.
Was the noise keeping him from his pre-game routine of napping and writing Guzman's name in the lineup?
What a joke. These are the kinds of moves that losers make. The team isn't losing because they're playing video games. They're losing because they have gaping holes in the lineup and two of their starting pitchers can't lift their arms above their heads!
From all accounts, the RFK clubhouse is a rathole. It's tiny. It reeks of mildew. It has leaky pipes. And it swelters.
So Frank takes away some of the few creature comforts these guys have. It's been a long season, and it's a stressful time. Treating them like children isn't going to do anything other than to piss them off.
It's yet another case of how the management of this team refuses to look at and acknowledge what the real problems with this team are. Frank, like Bowden usually does, is fiddling at the margins, trying to look like he's doing something, even if it accomplishes nothing.
If they keep getting good pitching, and get some timely hits, they'll win. It's as easy as that.
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Nationals Inquirer has a look at the issue, including the mini controversy over a Washington Times report that claimed that Jose Guillen asked out of the lineup because of the new rules.
It's the music. And the cards.
Gosh darn it, these boys aren't serious about the game with their hippity hoppity music, and their cuthroat games of pinochle.
Was the noise keeping him from his pre-game routine of napping and writing Guzman's name in the lineup?
What a joke. These are the kinds of moves that losers make. The team isn't losing because they're playing video games. They're losing because they have gaping holes in the lineup and two of their starting pitchers can't lift their arms above their heads!
From all accounts, the RFK clubhouse is a rathole. It's tiny. It reeks of mildew. It has leaky pipes. And it swelters.
So Frank takes away some of the few creature comforts these guys have. It's been a long season, and it's a stressful time. Treating them like children isn't going to do anything other than to piss them off.
It's yet another case of how the management of this team refuses to look at and acknowledge what the real problems with this team are. Frank, like Bowden usually does, is fiddling at the margins, trying to look like he's doing something, even if it accomplishes nothing.
If they keep getting good pitching, and get some timely hits, they'll win. It's as easy as that.
___
Nationals Inquirer has a look at the issue, including the mini controversy over a Washington Times report that claimed that Jose Guillen asked out of the lineup because of the new rules.
7 Comments:
Chris, I know you don't like Frank but I have come to expect better from you. Do you not think there's a symbolic element to eliminating the music? Something about getting down to business and cutting down mistakes? Left and right, even veterans have made several blunders recently. Vinny Castilla running the bases, Preston Wilson in the field, and just about everything you can imagine. Like it or not, what we have now is what we are going to have all year and there is nothing Frank and Jim can do about it even if they wanted to. Nothing else has worked as of late; why not try this?
By
WeatherMike, at 9/06/2005 2:00 PM
Because it's not the music that's causing them to lose.
It'd be one thing if they were goofing off before the game, but it's another when they're blowing off steam before or after the game.
Is not allowing them to play music after a game REALLY going to help them win?
Would preventing you from listening to music on your morning commute make you focus better at work?
By
Chris Needham, at 9/06/2005 2:03 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
By
WeatherMike, at 9/06/2005 4:35 PM
I know it's not the music that's causing them to lose. That's why I said it was a symbol. When players do things wrong you tighten the belt, even if it's just music. Making mistakes IS a big part of what was causing the team to lose.
By
WeatherMike, at 9/06/2005 4:36 PM
I just don't see how taking any release they have is going to improve their on-field performance.
Would you do your job better if they took away your break room? What if they took away your internet connection?
It's fiddling at the margins and ignoring the real issues. There are other ways to get to the players without making them miserable.
By
Chris Needham, at 9/06/2005 4:37 PM
I guess I sort of like Baerga's perspective on it.
What I thought was sort of humorous and what inspired the post to which Chris linked (I have a blog?!) was the way Rocket Bill Ladson reported it: The Nats win this big game in a harrowing but satisfying fashion, and the game article (and an accompanying article) is pretty much . . .
OKAY, WHO TURNED ON THE MUSIC!
(That plus the Guillen dust-up with the Times involving the music, etc.)
The treatment of the story I found stranger than Frank's policy, to be honest.
By
Basil, at 9/06/2005 5:14 PM
What would you suggest be done that hasn't been done already?
People don't need music. If someone not having music makes him miserable, I'm not sure he's the kind of player I want on my baseball team anyway. He obviously doesn't value the right things.
By
WeatherMike, at 9/07/2005 5:08 PM
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