"Chemistry" is a subjective concept. Real, but subjective. The fact is, it's impossible to play baseball with only two or three people. And also, just some common sense logic here. Yes, football seems to be far more of a "team" sport than either of the other two in this conversation. So, the Pacific Ocean is much, much larger than the Arctic Ocean; therefore, the Arctic Ocean is not an ocean. Right? Saying baseball isn't a team sport is ignorance nearly to the point of abject stupidity.
The Red Sox did lose a lot thanks to a dysfunctional clubhouse. That team was way more talented than their record. They did have a lot of the same players, but they didn't have: Jason Varitek (their captain), Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, & Mike Lowell. That is a lot of veteran leadership gone from the team.
They had a ton of distractions though, my brother. Take a peek at the recently-swept Yankees. That A-Rod **** was amongst the problems. It definitely poisoned the clubhouse. That's not to make excuses for them, but it is indeed true. Also - to your point-, you're right; the bad clubhouse behavior didn't turn Gonzalez into a non-hitter, but a lot of the bull**** that went on with the BoSox hurt the team. You had a lot of bad eggs there. Now, thanks to the Dodgers, the Red Sox aren't as mentally fragile as they were in '11. Agreed with the '12 Red Sox. Injuries destroyed them early, and lingered throughout the season. Finger-pointing (starting with Bobby V calling out Youk in April) lasted early and often in the 2012 season. Overall, the Red Sox in '11 had bad chemistry, but used it as TOO MUCH of a crutch as to why they lost. Francona getting fired/let go with the silliest move that franchise made in a while. Like, the polar opposite of NOT by Mo Vaughn.
Chemistry is way overrated in baseball. The second baseman can hate the shortstop on everyday that ends in "y" (like Tinker and Evans), but they are still going to work together on the DP.
"...but they are still going to work together on the DP..." doesn't sound like an individual sport to me.
Kobe & Shaq hated each other. That worked out well. You don't have to like each other personally to still be able to work together.
