Quote:
Originally Posted by alnorth
Ibanez is not a guy who has been here for years and who everyone high-5's on their way into the office. He's been here literally weeks.
The value of his "veteran presence", if such a thing ever has any value with anyone, is basically zero.
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We basically agree on everything, but this we simply do not. His LH bat as a PH is what we need at times off the bench or against some pitchers he has a solid history against. His presence in the locker room with younger players who have never been in a playoff chase is very valuable. His call of a players only meeting after only being here for a week caught the attention of the younger players where as it was delivered by a guy that has taken on the role of team leader in the dugout, somebody that who is a player, not a coach, that has been in playoff games and chase's before.
It's called, leadership. Shields has provided it to the younger pitchers. Gordon to the younger players on defense, plus his bat along with Butler. Ibanez has provided it to the role bench & players as well as dugout / locker room.
It is what it is, anybody should be able to see this. Coaches in any sport likes the right mix of veterans & younger players, as well as guys that do the dirty work, guys who lead by example with everything they do.