Character And Chemistry: All For One And One For All!
What is the value of character and chemistry on a MLB baseball team? Surely teams have won in the past without having strong team chemistry or a band of so-called characters as much as team have won with these qualities. But, is today’s game different? Given today’s MLB rosters, full of multi-million dollar players, some with egos that outweigh their paychecks, is it more vital now to have a team with character and chemistry than in eras past? I, for one, think so!
Fans over 40 remember when it was standard for players to play for the same team for their entire career. Having that stability and familiarity amongst teammates year after year made it easier to foster strong team chemistry than it is today. In those eras, relationships developed over longer periods of time and camaraderie was deep and strong. Today, with seemingly transient rosters from year to year, teams have little time to build that kind of chemistry before they are thrust into the season. So what makes some teams more successful than others in this era of seemingly perpetual recycled rosters? In my opinion, “character” has a lot to do with team success in today’s game.
I Disagree
To wit, signing or trading for high priced veteran free agents doesn’t guarantee success. Never has! There are plenty of examples across all of professional sports, year in and year out. Occasionally that tactic works, but more often than GM’s and Owners would like to admit, these teams underachieve. Why? More often than not, it’s because the team failed to gel for one reason or another, or took too long to gel.
This is where the Red Sox found themselves the previous couple of years. They brought in previously successful, high-priced players, but unfortunately, the team dramatically underachieved. The hard-nosed players that Boston fans love to cheer were overshadowed by a perceived (or real) negativity surrounding the team and some of its players and staff. The “one for all, all for one” team chemistry was virtually, non-existent. They were far from the united of band “Idiots” dating back to the 2004 Red Sox.
The Sox still had a good foundation of pitchers and key leaders this year that were the heart and soul of the team, but how would they fill out the balance of the roster? The concept that they employed in the recent past of bringing in high-priced “stars” to compliment their solid foundation had backfired miserably. This past offseason the Red Sox management made a conscious decision to change their strategy. They made changes that were not necessarily seen as major moves at the time but they were moves that followed the blueprint for success from those successful Sox teams of the past. They brought in “character” players! They brought in guys that checked their egos at the door and, instead, played the game with passion and pizazz.
In particular, the Red Sox signed quality, “character” type players like Mike Napoli, Jonny Gomes, Shane Victorino & David Ross (along with re-signing their gregarious leader, David, “Big Papi” Ortiz). The new “fun bunch!” The season is barely 4 weeks old, but they have already made their indelible mark as catalysts for invigorating a stagnant Red Sox Nation and monotone Red Sox culture. Their refreshing passion and joy for the game & for winning is infectious amongst their teammates and with their fans. Watching Napoli come across the plate, for example, with a grin from ear to ear as he proceeds to high five and jack up his teammates or watching Jonny Gomes bounce around like a joyful Little Leaguer as he congratulates his teammates for simply scoring a run or making a nice defensive play has helped bring a certain charisma and excitement to the team that has quickly rubbed off on fellow teammates. That kind of charisma, passion and excitement has opened the door for an instant chemistry that has been a welcome revelation. There seems to be a difference in every high five, every pat on the back and every man-hug compared to recent seasons. They’re genuine, heartfelt, real, true emotion from a group of guys that is quickly becoming a band of brothers. One-for-all, all-for-one!
I CAN’T WAIT TILL I GO 3-41 IN MAY AND BOSTON COMPLETELY TURNS ON ME!
Team chemistry is still no guarantee for success, but when a team signs quality players that also bring that kind of positive chemistry to the team & passion for the game, for their team and for each other, then you dramatically increase your chances for success. If given the choice between a team laden with all-stars but strapped with low camaraderie versus a solid team with high quality, character players, I’ll take the team with character & chemistry every day of the week. Why? Because they will run through a wall for each other, for their manager and for their team! This was a defining characteristic of both the 2004 and 2007 Sox teams and this 2013 team has mirrored that same model so far as well. It’s helped them to a 15-7 record and for the first time in their history, dating back over 100 years, they have been in first place every day for the first 26 games to begin the season. Sox fans would love a “wire-to-wire” season for their beloved team, but there’s a long way to go. But one thing is obvious, this team, it’s characters & their passion, will continue to endear themselves to Red Sox Nation and they will continue to frustrate the rest of the tough AL East by staying in the thick of the race throughout the summer. They not only have the ability, they also have the right chemistry. . . All-for-one and one-for-all!
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