To me, the trade seems to be a situation where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This team has a swagger. They fight for 27 outs. The starters grind when they don't have it, and they dominate when they do. The middle relievers shorten the games. The closer(s) slam the door. Even the long relievers keep us in games.
Our hitters are spoiling tough two strike pitches, shooting outside pitches the other way, and generally go to the plate with a plan every time.
Maybe I'm giving Shields too much credit, and he isn't solely responsible for all of it, but the trade signifies a change in attitude/expectations, and Shields seems to have the perfect mentality for this team.
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Today is not a good day to be a pussy.
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