{Sorry about the tone here, Jemanji, but once again it's something I care about.]
Human beings acting in groups display types of behavior that have been studied and certain characteristics identified. The ability to get along and co-operate in inherently stressful situations is one type of behavior that has received much study. The things we learn from these studies are applicable, in large measure, to any group of humans in similar situations.
If I had played professional baseball I might have more credibility with you. Likewise if I were a lit student in North Carolina. I am neither. My point of reference is in dealing with group behavior of highly-talented, highly-stressed individuals who are doing something they believe or know is important. Mine is with sailors, for the most part: nuclear trained and/or submarine-qualified sailors. If that experience has no credibility with you, I am sorry -- for you. Because I am proud of what I've done with my life.
The SEALS and Delta Force are not the only elite units in the Armed Forces. To qualify to be an enlisted Nuclear operator you must demonstrate by examination and performance the intellectual ability to succeed at any Ivy League college, and then the discipline to perform within the highly-structured military system. They are an elite - not elite killers, but elite technicians. But they perform in a rigid, highly-stressed environment that doesn't tolerate error well. In that, there is MUCH in common with professional athletes. They must continually exercise and keep fit, only in this case it is their minds, rather than their bodies, and they must continually prove their capabilities by examination and drill, with the drills being as realistic as possible.
I've been in three major shipboard fires. The constant drill and dedication of my shipmates is shown by me being here to say this. So what makes the sailor and the MLB(tm) ballplayer similar? They HAVE to perform. Not many people, EVER, HAVE to.
As to the relationship of CPOs to their subordinates - well, I can say its obvious you have never been one or known one, or you wouldn't say something like that. CPOs are EXACTLY like Ibanez to his young teammates in their leadership role. Now I am NOT talking about administrative duties; I am talking about teaching a kid how to be a man and a sailor that others can depend on WITH THEIR LIVES. The players that follow Raul's example and advice are doing the same thing, learning to be a man and a ballplayer their teammates can count on.
If you don't believe me, then don't. I really don't need your agreement or affirmation. But get your head out of wherever it is at and look around. Life is a series of tests. We don't all get the same ones. But there are similarities in what we go through that enable us to learn from others without going through their trials ourselves. I use my experience to evaluate what I see. I think leadership makes a BIG difference and clubhouse chemistry is real. If you don't, fine, but remind me never to depend on you, because you obviously don't understand the process of learning OR achieving.
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We cue'd up the DVR to the game and ... Kelly Shoppach DFA? Whaaaa? Let's see, what's next, Brendan Ryan traded for a grade B prospect and Brad Miller starting?
Kelly Shoppach is a quality defensive catcher. His career OPS+ is 96, sky-high for a role catcher. He knows the American League inside out. He knows the Mariner pitchers, has 90 days -- an eternity -- under his belt learning all 12 skillsets and tendencies. He's just gone? For a National League catcher whose career OPS+ is 68? And who, starting tomorrow, has to begin learning how to keep Charlie Furbush and Carter Capps out of trouble?
Three explanations leapt to Dr. D's slimy but agile mind:
- Shoppach wasn't on board with Mike Zunino taking his job away
- Henry Blanco is a great, great catcher
- Okay, only two explanations occurred
Shoppach paid his 2013 dues in Seattle, supporting Jesus Montero and all that jazz, and then when the fulltime job opened up ... they "spat in his face" by trying Jesus Sucre in front of him. (Shoppach's ((likely)) perspective, not mine.)
Sucre got injured! and then is the job Shoppach's? Nope, we'll put one of those Italian organ-grinder monkeys -- namely an NCAA catcher -- in there before we'll put you in there, Kelly. Get over it.
In a sports locker room, there is pride to maintain, a presence to maintain, and when the org widdles all over you to this extent, you've got to do something. The tentative presumption here is that Shoppach and Sgt. Wedge had a screaming match, or its analogue, and Shoppach was powerflushed on 30 minutes' notice. (That being how long it takes Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill to secure a replacement in a situation like that.)
.............
Our above scenario may be purely imaginary. We guarantee nothing other than that it would be very, very typical MLB(TM) politics.
But then we bopped on over to Geoffy's house and .... eeeeyyuuupppp. There's Eric Wedge talking about nothing other than Henry Blanco being the right man to work with Mike Zunino ... you think you can take it from there?
.............
The least interesting blog discussion possible here would be the one that wonders why the M's could be so un-anlaytical. The most interesting discussion would be the one that wonders what the M's have seen, that has been opaque to us as bloggers. In this specific case, the most interesting discussion also happens to be the one that is on point.
It took two days' worth of Nick Franklin, and the Mariners (along with Dr. Detecto) had seen absolutely everything they needed to see. Dustin Ackley is now welcome to play any position, so long as it is not within 50 feet of second base -- which means a whale of a lot more at ground level than it does from here. Ackley was your Golden Boy, your Second Baseman (TM), and now he's eating Burger King, riding scungy buses and learning a new position.
It took one (!) day's worth of Mike Zunino for the Mariners to decide that they've seen absolutely everything they needed to see. Dr. D concurs. Remind him to write about Friday night's Zunino performance sometime. How this guy was ever a 200-K PCL batter, is beyond him. Gordon's "sense of danger" was exactly the prescription for what ailed him.
The Mariners were a day ahead of SSI on Zunino. We needed the 2nd game on Zunino. Fascinating that the Mariners did not. Three-four AB's, slap me silly, that's quick. Snatch the pebble from my hand, grassho... oh.
You want to discuss something interesting, consider how the Mariners could possibly be hip to Zunino's ascendancy after a single evening watching him -- as they were, correctly, hip to Nick Franklin right away. A blogger would need a certain humility to enter that discussion, but he would be enriched therein.
Cheers,
Jeff
Comments
No need to get intense - we mean it literally, no need for it. With the neutral, go-ahead-and-make-your-case observer, your material is very convincing Bat.
Not everybody has been exposed to high-pressure leadership situations. Those who aren't familiar with it will have "classroom" type reservations about it. (No disrespect to those on the other side; in this case I think they're mistaken. I could be wrong.)
8, or 9, out of 10 readers here have a good feel for what it means to keep a U.S. aircraft carrier running the way it's supposed to -- we all understand that it isn't just anybody who could accomplish that job. When you explain what it takes to do so, your credibility is a given.
The 1 or 2 readers (out of 10) who are unduly skeptical, are merely serving as a play-back for a rich, edifying conversation. No harm in having to deal with the opposing point of view, whether or not you feel it's reasonable.
:daps:
These two situations have been uncommon at SSI:
U.S. Naval commander getting fired up about the right way to defend our country
Matty and I throwing a few elbows
Both were probably justified and beneficial. Back to regularly-scheduled programming, friendly and polite. That goes for me too.
The play-by-play guy on Fox asks, what's up with the Mariners swapping out Shoppach for a 41-year-old catcher?
Eric Karros didn't hesitate: Blanco is CONTENT with his role. That's whassup. "Content" being Karros' word.
.............
One thing we can agree on: the Mariners might as well have announced MIKE ZUNINO IS OUR CATCHER NOW.
Which is peachy keen with Dr. D. Even if Zunino OPS's 60 or 70 for two years -- that accelerates his arrival time. And he might not do that.
When I think about Z and his pipelines, I think about how he tried to create an entire pipeline in one fell swoop with the Fister trade. Didn't work out too well, which brings me to this song:
Instant Pipeline's gonna get you
Gonna knock you in the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you're gonna be dead
We'll see if Z will survive with his new pipeline, or if Cold Turkey has got him, on the run.
Native, seems you're right on the money with your recollections. I did some googling and found the articles describing how it went down.
1. Kelly Shoppach was the ghost-writer of the text messages sent to BoSox management via A Gonzales' phone (VERY manipulative).
source: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/adrian-gonzalez-hook-ny-...
and
2. Had clashed with Bobby V. earlier in the year regarding playing time:
source: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2012/08/...
So, given these two facts, it's not at all hard to see Shoppach being vocal about his unhappiness regarding playing time and being passed over by multiple rookies...
...I don't have anything to add that hasn't been better stated by others already.