Diamondbacks @ Twins series thread Aug 18th - Aug 20th

[82CardsGrad]

I've said before and I'll say it again. Our GM and Manager are neophytes when it comes to stocking a team and using the players to win. Crunch time is showing that they have set the bar very low.

That's just scratching the surface... After the past few years, this team has consistently proven to be mentally soft. Even with the addition of a few new names, the mental toughness continues to be non-existent.
This season is the pinnacle of the problem. I honestly can't recall a team that was so efficient on offense in the first half (really the first 2 1/2 months) of the season, only to become the worst team at the plate since (2 1/2 months). The disparity is so large and so comprehensive that it signals the problems are WAY bigger and much worse than simply not playing the right guys at the right time in the right position.
The make-up of this team needs to change in a huge way. At this point, I even call Goldy's leadership - or lack thereof, into question. But I would say there isn't one player who is untouchable.
It's easy to blame the coaches... but that's a cop-out. In the end, this team has the talent to be more of the team we saw in the first part of the season than the team we have seen since.
It takes discipline and mental toughness to come to the park each and every day, prepared to execute and do whatever is needed on that particular day to outthink, outsmart and outplay your opponent. It's not like this team suddenly forgot how to play a game they've been playing all their lives. But the difference between winners and loser at the professional level isn't as much talent, as it is what is happening between their ears. And coaches can only do so much to fix that type of problem. Ultimately, the player has to execute and perform. The batter needs to remain as consistent as possible by not going into mental funks. The game of baseball is one of the toughest, if not THE toughest, mental grinds in all pro sports... 162 games is like climbing a mountain every day for 6 months straight. It demands a level of mental, emotional and physical endurance that is almost unmatched by any other team sport.
Baseball players routinely go into slumps. Be it a barter that experiences a week or two of poor hitting, or a pitcher that loses his groove for 2-3 outings... But what has happened to this team is not the average MLB slump. For an entire team to fail at the plate to the level this team has tells me everything I need to know about that individuals and players...

 

[BC867]

At this point, I even call Goldy's leadership - or lack thereof, into question.

Regarding that, take a look at the article I quoted a few minutes ago from today's AzRepublic/AzCentral.com in the NL MVP thread. Is it a coincidence?

 

[82CardsGrad]

Regarding that, take a look at the article I quoted a few minutes ago from today's AzRepublic/AzCentral.com in the NL MVP thread. Is it a coincidence?

I couldn't disagree more that a player who holds a faith in Jesus Christ, is somehow incapable of being a leader. Kurt Warner is a hard-core Christian and he went to the Super Bowl 3 times... and there are hundreds of other examples.
Goldy is simply not a ra ra type of guy. He is alarmingly soft-spoken and introverted... and that has nothing to do with his faith.

 

[BC867]

I couldn't disagree more that a player who holds a faith in Jesus Christ, is somehow incapable of being a leader. Kurt Warner is a hard-core Christian and he went to the Super Bowl 3 times... and there are hundreds of other examples.
Goldy is simply not a ra ra type of guy. He is alarmingly soft-spoken and introverted... and that has nothing to do with his faith.

What I reacted to was Goldy's quote "It definitely changes your priorities and what you think is important.”

I respect anyone's right to their religious beliefs, of course, but not when a group of players meet in the clubhouse and convert the team leader to lower the priority and importance of what they're getting paid millions of dollars to achieve. And Goldy was naive enough to announce it to the Press.

Just look at the change in the team's performance since then. Do you think it is a coincidence that the D-backs have been in a downward spiral since, by his own admittance, the Diamondbacks became less of a priority and less important to Paul Goldschmidt, no matter how soft-spoken he is?

It's not fair to the fans and the reputation of the Valley of the Sun. It's not fair to his other teammates. It's not fair to the owners and coaches. It's not fair to the league.

Yes, Goldy's individual hitting has picked up but, as the team leader, the rest of the team has taken a nosedive.

 

[82CardsGrad]

What I reacted to was Goldy's quote "It definitely changes your priorities and what you think is important.”

I respect anyone's right to their religious beliefs, of course, but not when a group of players meet in the clubhouse and convert the team leader to lower the priority and importance of what they're getting paid millions of dollars to achieve. And Goldy was naive enough to announce it to the Press.

Just look at the change in the team's performance since then. Do you think it is a coincidence that the D-backs have been in a downward spiral since, by his own admittance, the Diamondbacks became less of a priority and less important to Paul Goldschmidt, no matter how soft-spoken he is?

It's not fair to the fans and the reputation of the Valley of the Sun. It's not fair to his other teammates. It's not fair to the owners and coaches. It's not fair to the league.

You're completely manufacturing a position to fit a story... Goldy is who he's ALWAYS been. In fact, in terms of if play/impact on the field, he's having his best season of his career.
There isn't one other player who gives of himself to the fans and the community, more than Goldy. He is legendary at Phoenix Children's Hospital.
No teammate. No owner or coach and no fan has any right to expect anything more than what Goldy gives - which is 100% of himself on and off the field!

 

[BC867]

You're presentation is personal. I'm manufacturing... Goldy is...

I referred to his quote. What he said to a reporter. Clearly he said that baseball is not as important as it was. Or as much a priority as it was. And, since then, the team is in a tailspin.

My opinion is that he, as a leader, should have used discretion. I don't think there is anything more I can say to tie in his statement with the results. He should have thought before speaking.

 

[az240zz]

What the hell happened?

Pollock came back..

 

[Dback Jon]

Pollock came back..

That was odd timing for a slump to happen.

 

[Ronin]

Why are the suns posting it up? Was he on their basketball team at one time?

It is a news feed. The only news feed I could find at the time. Haven't really found a replacement. Looked but no luck.

 

[Shaggy]

Pollock came back..

It all went downhill when he did. Not saying its his fault, just crazy the timing is about right...

 

[devilalum]

I disagree. The manager has one job. He doesn't hit or field or pitch. He puts the right players in the right situation that gives the team the best chance to win. When a team has enough talent but is underperforming he is to blame.

I'm not saying he's not trying but whatever he's doing is not working.


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[82CardsGrad]

I disagree. The manager has one job. He doesn't hit or field or pitch. He puts the right players in the right situation that gives the team the best chance to win. When a team has enough talent but is underperforming he is to blame.

I'm not saying he's not trying but whatever he's doing is not working.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Right... so, after the manager puts the players in the right situations, it's not up to them to catch and hit and think?