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The reason I was interested in Cuddyer over the offseason is that he's a leader and a vet who can provide a good example and hit some. As a righty he's not a perfect park fit and he'd require us to squeeze Carp and Wells in around other lineup pieces... but I was desperate for a vet bat.
Cuddyer is killing it in Colorado, and since Tulo is not an especially vocal leader (nor is Cargo) they are getting decent early returns from his clubhouse leadership too.
I understand why Wedge is riding Olivo. He needs SOMEBODY over the age of 25 in that locker room to be a leader. Ichiro doesn't talk. Figgins is useless in that regard based on his body of work in Seattle. Ryan is a character but a total grinder who gets lost in his own pressures (as Wedge admitted last year).
We don't have that vet. And none of the kids is a real fiery leader. Smoak is a laid-back Southern boy, as is Ackley. They're both more-deeds, less-words sort of guys, and the deeds are failing them at the moment.
Montero got here about 4 seconds ago as a quiet Latin kid. Seager was a bench bat until he refused to stop hitting and Carp got injured.
Carp is about the only vocal firebrand we've got - I think we're missing him in the clubhouse. We need some brashness and supreme self-confidence, both of which Carp possesses.
I'm not really concerned about the talent on this team. Olivo can get marginalized by Montero and Jaso as the year goes on. Same with Figgins vs. Seager, Carp and Wells. Our immediate production will not be maxed out, but we're a lot more talented than the 2010 squad.
But the leadership hole has to be filled, and since we refused to add any veterans to help in that regard the kids are gonna have to do it.
We're asking them to do a LOT. #2, 4, 5, 6, 7 in the lineup are all kids. The vets are 1, 3, 8 and 9 basically - 3 of the 4 being positions you'd normally think the kids might be at. And since I can't be mad at them for not instantly stepping up a la Buster Posey to take absolute control of an offense they just walked into.
But we need them to if we're gonna have a chance. So please, guys - hurry up, wouldja?
~G