If Felix is driven by passion...
and that passion makes him a better pitcher...
wouldn't it be better to stiff him on the opening day gig...
and therefore make him MORE passionate...and thus a better pitcher?
And if legendary status deserves the utmost respect...shouldn't Ichiro be leading off instead of Dee?
OK...my tongue is maybe a very slight bit planted in my cheek in saying this.
But seriously, are we sure all of the younger players are OK with apparently massaging egos rather than putting the best team on the field? JD doesn't seem like he's hung up on genuflecting in the face of legends--he didn't seem all that taken with Albert Pujols--so maybe there's nothing here.
I'm just saying if Felix has more pull on the team than the manager (if that's the case), that's not good.
Just spitballin'.
SORRY FOR THE DOUBLE POST!