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Mojo sez, in his Joy Cometh In the Morning article,

Here, we have the won/loss totals broken down by teams.  This explains how Oakland got an  astounding record of 19 games over .500.  

First, Oakland whomps in interleague play, with a record of 7 and 1.  Second, Oakland has achieved most of the rest of its damage against the Lastros, Twinkies and Hated Angels. Plus two records against New York and Cleveland round out its winning ways.  The Orcs basically tread water with every other team.  

Excepting of course, the class of the American League.  That old enemy, the Detroit Tigers, has returned, winning the last two days, including a shutout yesterday by Rick Porcello, and threatens a sweep today (Detroit leads 3-2 at the time of writing).  Those same Tigers that have made the Orcs shrivel under the bright lights of the post season (thanks Matt) for, count them, two of the last two years.  Always losing to the good teams has to create an identity crisis for the Orcs.

You suspect there IS something to this.  Beane famously griped, after the Jeter Miracle knocked them out of the postseason again, "My slop doesn't work in the playoffs."  He meant it.

The 2001 Mariners won 116 games, but their slop didn't work in the playoffs either.  It wasn't an accident:  you re-run that postseason 20 times and the Mariners lose at least 19 of them.  We're talking about a 116-win team here.

That's what happens when you line up a huge flotilla of average-solid players and send them at a 162-game season.  Sure, they feast on Minnesota's #4 and #5 starters.  However, the Detroit Tigers will not be deploying Kyle Gipson and Samuel Deduno in October.

........

In October, the playing time goes WAY disproportionately towards your #1-3 starters and closer -- I think we all know who those individuals are in Seattle.  And IMHO the "Jeter Miracles" are accomplished disproportionately by the Derek Jeters of the game ... at SSI we do have to concede that the Mariners now have two (2) position players well capable of "leading" the ballclub out of a back-to-the-wall situation.

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The Nature of Leadership On the Court

For those who just joined us this month -- a lot of folks -- or for those who joined Fangraphs in 2002?  ;- )  Sports leadership is driven by those who perform at a certain moment.  All the players on your team are losing confidence, the situation looks dire, the 2014 vision looks dimmed and fading ... that's when your Star imposes his will.  No Fangraph'ser will buy it; no real athlete will not.

It applies more in basketball, less in baseball, but it still applies.  There is a reason that Billy Martin was 6-for-6 in turning wussies into contenders.  You might remember Junior and Edgar hitting epic home runs, with the Mariners behind, to haul the 1995 Mariners back into the Yankee series.  

From about 2005 until about last month, the Mariners had the leaguewide rep of "wussies."  Give them a hard shove to the shoulder, and you'll break their confidence.  We're here to tell you that right now, that is an ex-reputation.  Go Lloyd.  He's pulling off a Lou Piniella here right in front of your eyes.

There's an alternative to arguing about whether Felix Hernandez and Robinson Cano and Lloyd McClendon have personalities that help teammates do their jobs better.  The alternative is to enjoy their personalities.  I'm going with the enjoyment.

There is the possibility that McClendon is about to establish himself as a great manager.  SSI will be interested to watch.  Belichick had the Browns; Carroll had the Jets; maybe McClendon had the Pirates.

Max powder allowed by law, babe :- )

...

(Mojo, we had to moderate this post I think, but Grant said you should be good to go now?)

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New poster Madedskillz sez,

Former ball player saying Dr. D./Jemanji is on the mark here you don't have winning teams without winning players. Winning players are by default leaders and it becomes the responsibility of a good player to carry a team over the course of time. When the rest of the team around you is not stressed because you are performing they play better and begin to build confidence themselves. Rodney, Cano, Willie, Endy was a calculated move by JayZ I can tell he has been around the game for a long time. - 

Don't want to clutter that.  Hope you can bring it often, Skillz.

Well, lemme clutter it this much.  The belief that --- > confidence does NOT matter, in sports, is incorrect.  That specific point bears no serious scrutiny.

Thanks Skillz.

Cheers,

Dr. D