| suzzer99 |
03-31-2016 10:40 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by siberian khatru
(Post 12157521)
|
I would guess that team chemistry, which is hard to replicate, is a big factor in the Royals success. Yes I am fully aware that "chemistry" is a running joke in the stats community, along with scrappiness and clogging the bases. However I suspect part of that derision is because chemistry is impossible to quantify.
I work right now in a situation where out of 70 people everyone genuinely likes each other, and there isn't one snake in the grass. Most days it doesn't even feel like going to work. It feels like going to work on cool stuff with your friends. When new tasks come up everyone doesn't try to get out of it. Someone steps up pretty quick and takes it on.
You cannot put a price on how much more productivity our bosses get out of us due to our unwillingness to let each other down.
I feel like great team chemistry is one of those things like great team defense, that is bigger than the sum of its parts. You can just feel it that these guys never think they're out of a game and no one is swinging for the 3-run homer with 2 strikes in a spot where we desperately just need contact, etc.
The other big hard to quantify factor is the confidence imo a great bullpen infuses into a team. It's like the other team is playing a full game and we only have to play 2/3 of a game. Just get to the 7th with a lead. If we can feel it this strongly as fans, imagine how much the players feel it.
Back in 2003, the last time we were at all competitive, we had the exact opposite situation. Once MacDougal went down, the BP was constantly giving up heartbreaking losses. That absolutely has to tear you to shreds inside, even professional ballplayers but especially a young team. And as a result certainly players will start pressing to try build insurmountable leads. |
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