Tigers & Team Chemistry

[Laura]

Interesting Nightengale article on what's ailing the Tigers, with the requisite thoughts on team chemistry.

 

Bob Nightengale / USA Today[/url]"] Sheffield looks around the clubhouse. It is two hours before game time against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and video is being shown of Dan Haren, the opposing pitcher.

 

No one is watching.

 

Cabrera, who had never faced Haren, is asleep in a chair. Magglio Ordonez has his back turned to the TV and is reading a magazine. A handful are playing cards.

 

Detroit lost 4-3, with Ordonez getting three of the six hits. The loss provided a snapshot of the year.

 

Cabrera, who moved to first base in April after struggling defensively at third, halfheartedly attempted to catch a foul pop-up. It caromed off his glove for an error. Shortstop Edgar Renteria and third baseman Carlos Guillen, who moved from first to make room for Cabrera, let a foul pop-up drop when no one communicated. And closer Todd Jones was left stranded in the bullpen, with one save opportunity since April 29.

 

"We used to pride ourselves on beating those high-dollar teams," says utility man Brandon Inge, who lost his starting third-base job after Cabrera's arrival. "We wanted it more. We played hard. We hustled. We ran everything out. We fought for nine innings.

 

"Now we're that team we used to beat. I don't want to get into it, but it's just different now."

 

Leyland, a three-time manager of the year, scoffs at the theory that clubhouse chemistry is responsible for the Tigers' troubles.

 

He acknowledges his team could be more close-knit, but that's a byproduct of losing, he says.

 

"That's everybody's cop-out all the time," Leyland says, "that chemistry must not be good. No, the chemistry is not good right now because we're getting … beat."

[wade]

I scoff, right along with Leland. Winning makes chemistry, not guys like Jason Grilli and Sean Casey. Casey was known as "the Mayor" around the Reds clubhouse and didn't ever chemistry them from a lousy team to a great team. Of course, he had anti-chemistry Griffey on his team, so who knows.

 

After that article, the Free Press had a spot for comments and some dork said that it was all the Latin players taking their money and not caring about performance. Give me a break.

[cubweiser03]

Chemistry 101: Garbage in, Garbage out.

3/5ths of their starting rotation has an ERA of greater than 6.00. Thats 27 starts right there. No their offense isnt going to score 1,000 runs but those 3 guys have totally crapped out. Bonderman is at 4.76 so hes not lights out either.

 

14 of the current 25 man roster went to the WS just 2 years ago. Did they go to the WS despite the chemistry then or do they all hate each other now.

 

They have some good players that are just flat out sucking.

[SouthSideRyan]

Cabrera, who had never faced Haren, is asleep in a chair. Magglio Ordonez has his back turned to the TV and is reading a magazine. A handful are playing cards.

 

Detroit lost 4-3, with Ordonez getting three of the six hits. The loss provided a snapshot of the year.

 

Erm, so the snapshot is...reading magazines = hits? This is a really odd couple of setences to put back to back.

[abuck1220]

sounds like brandon inge is a little bitter.

[SouthSideRyan]

Brandon Inge doesn't want to get into it right now abuck.

 

All he's saying is the team is different in some way now. Ya know in its makeup, for the everyday lineup. As far as trying hard, and caring about winning and not making a lot of moeny. For the everyday lineup.

 

But he doesn't want to get into it right now.

[erik316wttn]

Team chemistry is bullcrap. The 1970's A's teams used to get into fistfights on a regular basis and they won 3 World Series.

[Pushfrog98]

Team chemistry is bullcrap. The 1970's A's teams used to get into fistfights on a regular basis and they won 3 World Series.

I can see an argument both ways. I don't fully believe that "team chemistry" (or lack there of) can hurt a team, but it can help. Also, with the fist fights that the A's used to have... they also played their butts off. The tigers have a "Who cares" attitude right now.

[wade]

I think that just as winning breeds good team chemistry, playing crappy breeds pissed off players and believe it or not, players getting really frustrated.

 

Ole Brandon Inge bitched a bit this spring about losing his spot at third and having to catch some guys, even though he would probably be the best help to his team getting ready to play catcher full time starting next year. He may earn his salary a little better that way!

[SouthSideRyan]

http://www.wxyt.com/

 

right sidebar click on the audio of Leyland going off pre-game. Pretty cool.

[wade]

http://www.wxyt.com/

 

right sidebar click on the audio of Leyland going off pre-game. Pretty cool.

 

That's pretty awesome.

 

Seems like maybe 'ole Brandon Inge may have been the target of some of that. I get it for sure that Grilli was!

[wade]

Tigers pounding it right now, by the way. That's one in a row! Two more and they call that a winning streak.

[Tracer Bullet]

Tigers pounding it right now, by the way. That's one in a row! Two more and they call that a winning streak.

 

One more would be a streak.

 

The chemistry stuff is crap, imo. But the attitude argument might hold some water. I do find it odd that Cabrera was sleeping rather than watching film of a pitcher he'd never faced that's as good as Haren is. I thought going to a winning atmosphere was going to bring new life to the kid.

[wade]

Tigers pounding it right now, by the way. That's one in a row! Two more and they call that a winning streak.

 

One more would be a streak.

 

The chemistry stuff is crap, imo. But the attitude argument might hold some water. I do find it odd that Cabrera was sleeping rather than watching film of a pitcher he'd never faced that's as good as Haren is. I thought going to a winning atmosphere was going to bring new life to the kid.

 

Well, that Butch in Pulp Fiction was asleep before a big boxing match and killed the guy.

 

I'm just sayin'.

[apete6]

http://www.wxyt.com/

 

right sidebar click on the audio of Leyland going off pre-game. Pretty cool.

 

That is fantastic. Leyland just throwing those guys under the bus. Fantastic. I think him and Inge have a Piniella vs. Dibble fight in their near future. Good times!

[Wilson A2000]

sounds like brandon inge is a little bitter.

 

His average last year was bitter.

 

Didn't Leyland say something like "chemistry is high-school stuff. Chemistry is horse 'crap.'"

[wade]

http://www.wxyt.com/

 

right sidebar click on the audio of Leyland going off pre-game. Pretty cool.

 

That is fantastic. Leyland just throwing those guys under the bus. Fantastic. I think him and Inge have a Piniella vs. Dibble fight in their near future. Good times!

 

Throwing them under the bus, or calling them out?

[wade]

I read on detroittigers.com that the reference to players saying the expectations going into the season where a burden was likely a reference to Carlos Guillen, who said it was 'unfair' or something like that.

[Wolfgangbucks]

They have gone down hill since they lost a certain crotch grabbing, switch hitting(so to speak) shortstop..................................coincidence.............hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?? :scratch:

[chuckywang]

http://www.wxyt.com/

 

right sidebar click on the audio of Leyland going off pre-game. Pretty cool.

 

Who is John Lowe, the person he mentions at the end?

[chuckywang]

They have gone down hill since they lost a certain crotch grabbing, switch hitting(so to speak) shortstop..................................coincidence.............hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?? :scratch:

 

Huh? Cesar Izturis never played for the Tigers. That would be Neifi Perez.

[wade]

http://www.wxyt.com/

 

right sidebar click on the audio of Leyland going off pre-game. Pretty cool.

 

Who is John Lowe, the person he mentions at the end?

 

I think he writes for the Free Press. Leyland was saying reporters don't blame fellow employees if they write a bad article, and I bet he was there- I think that's why they were laughing at the end.

[OleMissCub]

The common denominator is Gary Sheffield. I think he's a cancer in the clubhouse.

[17 Seconds]

The common denominator is Gary Sheffield. I think he's a cancer in the clubhouse.

 

Plus he sucks.