Understanding that we need bullpen help but questioning if this guy was worth the backlash are not contradictory.
Calm down people we don't know what really happen we have trusted in Luhnow before lets see how it works out.
FIFY If we win, they will still cheer. If we start losing they will stop cheering, even if the clubhouse is angelic.
You know what shows a lack of knowledge? thinking this move is going to ruin the astros clubhouse. It's ridiculous. You know what else shows a lack of knowledge? Thinking that the bonds created by our main guys over the last several years are somehow going to be damaged because we brought in a guy who hit his girlfriend
Luhnow should have never said the words "zero tolerance". Even I thought that sounded stupid when I first heard it.
The Nationals have won 95 games the last 2 years. The Yankees have proven time and time again you can win with chemistry problems. I would never say it doesn't matter at all, but talent is the driving force. I think our positive chemistry can attract better players and convince players to stay, though money will still be the primary factor. Just less likely that we have another Andrew Miller that takes less money to not be in Houston.
Questioning the true extent of this "backlash" and repercussions of this "backlash" is also justified... the talking heads can write their hypocritical articles all they want, and internet message board morality warriors can pontificate all they want... but the Astros are unlikely to see any sort of financial, attendance, or product diminishing as a result of this signing. And if they win because of it, its going to be just that much more beneficial.
This was a fractured clubhouse as recently as 2016. It's been openly discussed by the team's management and players. Generally, controversial figures of all stripes can cripple clubhouses because they draw lines & create factions. It's really ultimately fairly delicate, and can happen.... likethat. For example: we've seen strong statements from JV and LMJ, regarding domestic violence. If those attitudes persist, if they marginalize or even outright ostracize Osuna while, let's say... Altuve and Correa display greater patience and, eventually, acceptance...... that's a divide. And hey, one side is White, the other Latino.... etc., etc., etc... I'm not suggesting THAT will happen; only arguing that it's not nearly as unthinkable as you seem to believe.
I agree with this. I also do not think enough people are thinking critically about the types of characters that "fracture" clubhouse chemistry. Guys like Dwight Howard and Carlos Gomez are squeaky clean legally, but can be cancers to a clubhouse. Osuna may come in and give a great opening speech and have the guys by his side from Day 1. A lot of people (me included) have just assumed that he will cause division, but the reality is that there's a good chance he's better liked as "one of the guys" than Ken Giles, who I never felt was tight with the rest of the team. (Side note: I've yet to see anything that would indicate that he's trouble in the clubhouse, but that doesn't mean that's the case. Has anyone seen anything about how his teammates seem to react to him?)
By all accounts, Carlos Gomez was well liked in the clubhouse... and the team made the playoffs the year they acquired him. It was his on the field play that led to his demise and eventual jettisoning. The same thing will happen here if Osuna doesn't pitch well. Its pretty hard to go back and find baseball specific examples of "clubhouse cancers" that happened to perform well enough on the field, but still had to go for "other" reasons. This is not a team sport like basketball, where malcontents can literally drive a team apart on/off the court. Like I said in previous posts, baseball teams are usually separated/fractured by nature. Bullpen guys do have a clique of their own. Same go for starting pitchers. Some guys certainly transcend amongst the groups, but not always. Its a very individualistic sport.
According to some, the clubhouse is still very much that way... the only difference between 2016 and 2017 is that they won more. They all root for each other... that won't change with the addition of one idiot. But these guys aren't all necessarily best friends off the field... far from it.
Oh I fullly agree thinking this move will ruin our clubhouse is ignorant, and anyone who can read would know that Thinking chemistry doesn’t exist and isn’t important is ignorant also
I gotta admit, I'm a little surprised by some of the over the top hysterics surrounding this deal.....you'd think the guy was a child rapist and murderer the way some people talk about him. Just ridiculous.
