Ben Sheets (Was Sheets Signs with A's)

[hardcorecubfan]

Sheets is supposed to be throwing around 12:30 on Tuesday. Too bad I'll be teaching then. I couldn't make it over until around 2 and he'll probably be done by then.

 

Isn't this the exact situation for which God created substitute teachers?

 

Never waste your sick leave being sick, I would think this falls under into ma necessary sick leave use

[Guest]

"But from a clubhouse standpoint, (he's a) very intricate, nice fellow, and brings kind of a different feel to the clubhouse.

 

"(He's) someone I would welcome with open arms, not because I've known him for a long time, but he brings a 'Scott Eyre feel' to the clubhouse -- a light, funny, keep-everyone-on-their-toes type of feeling."

 

Theriot apparently continues to believe the baseball game happens in the clubhouse rather than on the field. He can probably just shut up now. He got his wish, Bradley is gone.

[biittner77]

Sheets is supposed to be throwing around 12:30 on Tuesday. Too bad I'll be teaching then. I couldn't make it over until around 2 and he'll probably be done by then.

 

Isn't this the exact situation for which God created substitute teachers?

 

Maybe so if I hadn't had to take two sick days this week.

 

I've accumulated 60 sick days. One of our gym teachers is calling in sick the rest of this school year.

 

sorry, didn't mean to derail the thread.

[nick23]

"But from a clubhouse standpoint, (he's a) very intricate, nice fellow, and brings kind of a different feel to the clubhouse.

 

"(He's) someone I would welcome with open arms, not because I've known him for a long time, but he brings a 'Scott Eyre feel' to the clubhouse -- a light, funny, keep-everyone-on-their-toes type of feeling."

 

Theriot apparently continues to believe the baseball game happens in the clubhouse rather than on the field. He can probably just shut up now. He got his wish, Bradley is gone.

While I don't believe clubhouse chemistry plays a huge role in a teams success on the filed, I do believe there's a little truth to it. Too many players talk about it for there to be nothing to it. And if a majority of players believe in it then that there gives it some significance.

[Sammy Sofa]

"But from a clubhouse standpoint, (he's a) very intricate, nice fellow, and brings kind of a different feel to the clubhouse.

 

"(He's) someone I would welcome with open arms, not because I've known him for a long time, but he brings a 'Scott Eyre feel' to the clubhouse -- a light, funny, keep-everyone-on-their-toes type of feeling."

 

Theriot apparently continues to believe the baseball game happens in the clubhouse rather than on the field. He can probably just shut up now. He got his wish, Bradley is gone.

While I don't believe clubhouse chemistry plays a huge role in a teams success on the filed, I do believe there's a little truth to it. Too many players talk about it for there to be nothing to it. And if a majority of players believe in it then that there gives it some significance.

 

Apparently there's something to the entire team being a bunch of wimps if they don't like one guy in the clubhouse and they allow it to effect their play.

[A New Era]

"But from a clubhouse standpoint, (he's a) very intricate, nice fellow, and brings kind of a different feel to the clubhouse.

 

"(He's) someone I would welcome with open arms, not because I've known him for a long time, but he brings a 'Scott Eyre feel' to the clubhouse -- a light, funny, keep-everyone-on-their-toes type of feeling."

 

Theriot apparently continues to believe the baseball game happens in the clubhouse rather than on the field. He can probably just shut up now. He got his wish, Bradley is gone.

While I don't believe clubhouse chemistry plays a huge role in a teams success on the filed, I do believe there's a little truth to it. Too many players talk about it for there to be nothing to it. And if a majority of players believe in it then that there gives it some significance.

 

Apparently there's something to the entire team being a bunch of wimps if they don't like one guy in the clubhouse and they allow it to effect their play.

 

Just curious, how long have you played?

[sneakypower]

YEAH WHAT ARE YOUR BALLPLAYER CREDENTIALS

[mul21]

I'm asking a legitimate question here and not trying to be critical of anybody, but how many of those who don't think chemistry has any effect on performance have been on a sports team that spends a significant amount of time together? And if you have, how many have been in a situation where the chemistry was crappy?

 

I've been in both situations and can say from experience that bad chemistry in the locker room can have an effect on the way the team performs. Good chemistry may not make a team go from an 85 win team to a 100 win team, but I think there probably is an effect, just because guys are in a better mood when they go out there and they aren't thinking about the jerk in the locker next to them. Just my thoughts.

[MSG T]

I'm asking a legitimate question here and not trying to be critical of anybody, but how many of those who don't think chemistry has any effect on performance have been on a sports team that spends a significant amount of time together? And if you have, how many have been in a situation where the chemistry was crappy?

 

I've been in both situations and can say from experience that bad chemistry in the locker room can have an effect on the way the team performs. Good chemistry may not make a team go from an 85 win team to a 100 win team, but I think there probably is an effect, just because guys are in a better mood when they go out there and they aren't thinking about the jerk in the locker next to them. Just my thoughts.

 

 

I realize it's not completely the same thing, well it's pretty close, but I've been in many units in the Army in which there were guys that hated each other. Including units in which I saw combat. I'd say there was very little in the way of degradation of performance because of it.

 

Now maybe guys standing at the plate think about how much they dislike their teammate much more than a guy clearing a bunker complex thinks about how much he dislikes his platoon mate, but I really doubt it. If they do, they are unprofessional and should find a new line of work, since they evidently are not able to concentrate on their job instead of their personal feelings.

 

Honestly, the entire chemistry argument is really overblown by both sides. If there is that big of a difference in their performance because of one or two teammates that they don't like, they need to find a nice, warm loving house and stay in it, because I've rarely heard of profession or working environment where everyone likes each other. You do, however, still need to have a good, professional working relationship, and that can happen even if you don't like each other. And yes, I've seen many examples of that in jobs way more stressful than professional athlete.

 

Sorry, I just get riled at the thought that 18-19 year olds can and do overcome that everyday in the military, but people seem to think it makes a huge difference in people being paid large sums of money to play a game.

 

End of rant.

[davearm2]

YEAH WHAT ARE YOUR BALLPLAYER CREDENTIALS

Well if a Cubs' player and an internet poster are expressing opposing views on the nature of the Cubs' clubhouse, there is indeed a credibility issue to consider.

[Guest]

Both Hendry and Lou very flatly stated that they are comfortable with what they have from a starting pitcher standpoint and that they will not pursue Sheets. I'll be posting video of Hendry's statement in a while.

[A-Cal]

Both Hendry and Lou very flatly stated that they are comfortable with what they have from a starting pitcher standpoint and that they will not pursue Sheets. I'll be posting video of Hendry's statement in a while.

 

Oh goodie. Cubs *buzzkill* Convention 2010

[Post Count Padder]

Both Hendry and Lou very flatly stated that they are comfortable with what they have from a starting pitcher standpoint and that they will not pursue Sheets. I'll be posting video of Hendry's statement in a while.

I hope it's only because of his asking price and they'll consider him if he brings it down and is still available closer to to ST.

 

That said, other teams will probably show more interest and give him a contract before then.

[17 Seconds]

they're comfortable with randy wells being the 3rd best starter for the first month of the season? or as randy wells being the 4th best starter for the entire season?

 

yikes

[Sammy Sofa]

YEAH WHAT ARE YOUR BALLPLAYER CREDENTIALS

Well if a Cubs' player and an internet poster are expressing opposing views on the nature of the Cubs' clubhouse, there is indeed a credibility issue to consider.

 

Not really.

 

Look how many guys are on the active roster.

 

Apparently only one of those guys was not liked in the clubhouse.

 

We're really supposed to believe that unless EVERYONE in the clubhouse gets along that the team will falter?

 

Please. Unless there's some secret gestlat isht going down that's a load of crap. If some people didn't like Bradley, fine, but stop roundabout blaming the end result of the season on that. It actually only makes the rest of the team look bad too since they're apparently that weak emotionally/mentally/whatever if one guy is a sulky jerk.

[A-Cal]

saying there is some factor of performance contributed to clubhouse chemistry in no way outlines it as the end all factor in the team's performance last year or any other year for that matter.

[Sammy Sofa]

To me it potentially does because how could you possibly gauge such a ridiculous intangible? And especially with a year like last year's. Is Theriot saying that Bradley in the clubhouse impacted the team more or less than Soto's crappy 2nd year? More or less than Soriano playing injured? More or less than Armais missing almost half the season? Would clubhouse issues have been a factor at all if none of those other things occured? Probably not. It seems like these stories seem to only show up when a team does poorly. It reeks of excuse-making, especially when there are so many other obvious reasons why the season went badly.

[Guest]

I didn't get video of the Sheets question in particular, but here's Hendry giving the reasoning why they won't be pursuing ANY additional SP this offseason:

 

No Ben Sheets

[erik316wttn]

Once Harden left our rotation went to hell.

 

It was a good rotation, not a great one, and not very deep. Z can hold his own, but in April then you have Demp as your #2, and while he isn't terrible he's not a #2. After that it's a crapshoot. Lilly's out till May 1st at least, and who knows how long it'll take before he's able to pitch effectively again?

 

Our rotation went from a long-time strength to a really big question mark in a hurry.

[Wrigley Rat]

The Blue Jays will have a scout at tomorrow's workout by free-agent pitcher Ben Sheets, but he's all but signed by the Chicago Cubs.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/jays-gm-sticks-to-his-guns/article1434416/

Take it for what it's worth.

[UMFan83]

Both Hendry and Lou very flatly stated that they are comfortable with what they have from a starting pitcher standpoint and that they will not pursue Sheets. I'll be posting video of Hendry's statement in a while.

 

I appreciate the scoop you dug up for us, but I still don't believe they have no interest in signing Sheets.

[davearm2]

To me it potentially does because how could you possibly gauge such a ridiculous intangible? And especially with a year like last year's. Is Theriot saying that Bradley in the clubhouse impacted the team more or less than Soto's crappy 2nd year? More or less than Soriano playing injured? More or less than Armais missing almost half the season? Would clubhouse issues have been a factor at all if none of those other things occured? Probably not. It seems like these stories seem to only show up when a team does poorly. It reeks of excuse-making, especially when there are so many other obvious reasons why the season went badly.

I don't see any excuses being made and I certainly don't see any of these comparisons being made.

 

All Theriot said (actually he implied it here) was that the clubhouse atmosphere matters. Specifically, he implied that "a light, funny, keep-everyone-on-their-toes type of feeling" in the clubhouse is a positive thing. It stands to reason, then, that the opposite type of feeling is a negative thing.

 

The people arguing that chemistry doesn't exist and none of this off-the-field stuff matters aren't actually in the clubhouse, so I take Theriot's opinion on the matter in higher regard, since he obviously is. It doesn't definitively prove one side's right and the other's wrong, though. That'll likely never be proven conclusively.

[Sammy Sofa]

So how does it "matter?" How does a "positive thing" or a "negative thing" impact the season?

 

And again, how does ONE player offset or negate the "chemistry" of everyone else? What does it matter in the long run if one player is a jerk when everyone else gets along? That would be like making an excuse for an office that does poorly because there's someone there that doesn't get along with everyone else while everyone else gets along fine.

Edited January 18, 2010 by Sammy Sofa

[CubColtPacer]

 

It was a good rotation, not a great one, and not very deep. Z can hold his own, but in April then you have Demp as your #2, and while he isn't terrible he's not a #2. After that it's a crapshoot. Lilly's out till May 1st at least, and who knows how long it'll take before he's able to pitch effectively again?

 

Our rotation went from a long-time strength to a really big question mark in a hurry.

 

Dempster was a good #2 last year and was an ace the year before that. Is there anything that makes you think he's going to collapse from what he did last year?

 

I'm not sure I'd call the rotation a big question mark. Sure, it would definitely help if they signed a risk like Sheets who could provide another possibility of great production. But this rotation as it currently stands is at worst average and most likely above average in the National League. And that's anticipating a severe regression by Wells and Lilly missing a month or two.

[davearm2]

So how does it "matter?" How does a "positive thing" or a "negative thing" impact the season?

 

And again, how does ONE player offset or negate the "chemistry" of everyone else? What does it matter in the long run if one player is a jerk when everyone else gets along? That would be like making an excuse for an office that does poorly because there's someone there that doesn't get along with everyone else while everyone else gets along fine.

The fact that you're asking these questions of someone that's not in the clubhouse, ever, let alone every day, is a clear indication that the point I'm making has sailed right over your head.