Great piece by former OCR writer Sam Miller

[Blarg]

The A's only allowed 625 runs this season, third best in the AL. They had the second best team ERA in the AL. Oakland used the fewest amount of pitchers this season at 18 which means their staff wasn't riddled with injuries. That is not chemistry in the clubhouse.

[YouthofToday]

Good article by Miller. Interesting guy. I met him at the 2012 Dodgers Baseball Prospectus event.

I think chemistry and the manager probably have similar values. Perhaps 3-5 extra wins at most if you have good chemistry; much more downside if their is a nuclear clubhouse/bobby Valentine as your manager.

[disarcina]

interesting take on all this -- has some validity (the 2013 results for one) I suppose......

 

but then I think the 1962 Mets and even the 2013 Houston Astros had 'great chemistry' in the clubhouse.

[Troll Daddy]

Chemistry lies in the Beards. Red Sox seem to be all on the same page.

[jshep]

Chemistry lies in the Beards. Red Sox seem to be all on the same page.

 

A lot has been said over the past few days about people not supporting the team anymore if such and such happens.

 

I am 100% serious though in saying that if the Angels start all growing disgusting beards, I'm out.

[ten ocho recon scout]

So AJ, I guess they lost their chemistry in 2003 despite having substantially the same roster (and coaching staff btw) ?

Didn't glaus and erstad miss most of that year? And I remember fullmer bliwing out his knee around the all star break.

Yes, that team disappointed, but it also was hit hard with injuries.

[ten ocho recon scout]

Chemistry lies in the Beards. Red Sox seem to be all on the same page.

the red sox look more like they have flies in the beard.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

Didn't glaus and erstad miss most of that year? And I remember fullmer bliwing out his knee around the all star break.

Yes, that team disappointed, but it also was hit hard with injuries.

Glaus and Erstad did miss a lot of time with injuries, but when Erstad played, his numbers were terrible. The starting pitching was really bad!

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ANA/2003.shtml

[disarcina]

well the good news / bad news about 'team chemistry' issues in MLB these days, if there's a roster full of folks who don't get along, not too worry, unlike the days of past.......a team's entire 25 man roster will be turned over in 3 to 4 years...........

 

check any MLB team roster this year, and with a few exceptions (and now we have guys like Rivera, Pettite and Helton retiring this year) you be hard-pressed to find any MLB roster than has 4 or more players still with the team that were with than team just four years ago -- 2009.

 

so if the team-mates don't get along, just wait a year and it'll be about a 50 percent turnover and in three it will be about 80 percent turnover of personnel.

 

welcome to MLB 2013/14 present day -- which is partly why the game is losing the market share to the NFL, NBA and even the NHL.