Lack of "Grit" and "Compete Level" has been an Issue for a Long Time

It occurred to me last night that the issue Mattingly spoke of yesterday has been a problem surrounding the Dodgers for quite a while.

Think back to when the last time the Dodgers where perennial playoff contenders.  It really wasn't too long ago.  Back then names like Kent, Garciaparra and Gonzo filled out our roster. They were veterans who had been through the grime and muck, only to came out as chiseled sages ready and willing to impart their knowledge.  No doubt, they were also willing to give everything they've got to win. 

Now, we stand here wondering what happened?  Did the kids on the team back then gain from their tutelage? 

That answer appears to be, no.

Let's take a quick look at some of things that were said back then.  Via Dylan Hernandez' reporting at the LA Times from September 2007, entitled "A Shot to Generation Gap".

Upon being swept in a four-game series in Colorado, Kent said he was "disappointed," "angry" and "perplexed." He spoke in vague terms of the "many things" responsible for the Dodgers' slide from playoff contention. When asked if that included Little's lineups and the coaching staff's strategy, he said, "Everything."

"We've got some good kids on the team," Kent said. "Don't get me wrong, please don't misinterpret my impressions. [But] it's hard to translate experience."

He said of the younger players: "I don't know why they don't get it."

Of what they don't get, Kent said, "A lot of things. Professionalism. How to manufacture a run. How to keep your emotions in it. There's just a lot of things that go on with playing 162 games."

My Translation: These kids lacked the "grit" & "compete level" it takes to win.

He added: "It's close to the end of the season. And a career for me too. I'm running out of time. A lot of kids in here, they don't understand that."

A sense of urgency can create an attitude that often leads to taking it up a notch.  Clearly, the kids didn't have it back then, and I am lead to believe it may still not exist in the clubhouse today.

How did the kids respond when told of Kent's criticism back in 2007?  Here's what Loney said:

Asked if it bothered him to be criticized by one of the team's leaders, Loney said of Kent, "Who said he was a leader?"

Kemp said:

"Having fun is part of the game," Kemp said. "If you came up here and you were serious all the time, that's not fun. Joking with your boys, that's fun. It helps you relax.

Now, let's look at what Ethier said yesterday.  Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.

"Yeah, I take offense to that, without approaching me first," said Ethier. "Other than that, I show up every day and find ways to compete, to work hard whether I'm going good or bad. Just like everyone here, I have to get a grip and a handle on what's gone on. We can never lose hope to get back on top of the division. That's my approach every day."

Wrong attitude.  There is nothing to be offended by what Mattingly said.  As a professional you have to take the criticism as an opportunity to be better.  That's it.  Saying you're offended has no meaning.  The rest of it sounds like a series of cliche's to me.

So, what's the solution?

I haven't the foggiest idea, but I think Chad Moriyama touched on it a bit in his post this morning.

Over the years, basically everybody I’ve talked to that’s been close to the team has not exactly come away with a glowing impression of Ethier, and it wasn’t Mattingly that tried to eat the contract of a recently-extended Ethier just this past winter.

Mike Petriello affirms the same general feeling about Ethier, as well as the trade aspect of it.

I don’t know what happened with Ethier behind the scenes, though anyone surprised that he’s got a reputation as being difficult hasn’t been paying attention — and yes, they did try to trade him over the winter.

So while I’m not all that sure what happened behind closed doors, and I’m not saying it’s absolutely justified, I am leaving open the possibility that this was a necessary action due to something that might be happening behind the scenes.

I would add that this is not to say that Ethier is the only problem.  Maybe something endemic has happened - a kind of culture has been allowed to permeate within the clubhouse and something needs to be done to change it.

Management, it's your move!

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Yesterday evening, Left Field Pavilion posted up a couple of great graphics that I think perfectly encapsulates what I'm trying to say.  So, with apologies to him (for putting this up here) check out the first one that I thought was the best.

(pic link)

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Blog Kiosk: 5/23/2013

Panini provides an early look at their upcoming 2013 Cooperstown set.  It will be coming out in mid-August.  Check out a Jackie Robinson card above.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Dodgers discussing Puig, Pederson to Majors."
• Eric Stephen at True Blue LA lets us know that Matt Kemp has also made an additional charitable contribution to the Oklahoma relief efforts.
• Fox Sports has a video featuring Don Mattingly and his harsh words.
• Panini also released preview pics of their 2013 USA Baseball Champions set that comes out next week.  Check out some of the Dodgers shown below.  They also share other photos of former (and current) Dodgers like Garciaparra and McGwire.

• Dave Cameron at FanGraphs writes, "Andre Ethier is Now Eminently Available."
• Via Jeff Spiegel at Dodgers Nation, "Scott Van Slyke Continues Impressive Run in Wednesday’s Win."
• Paul Lukas at ESPN introduces readers to the Jefferson Burdick collection of Baseball cards that reside at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  It's the second largest in the world.  The collection at the Baseball Hall of Fame is the largest.  Be sure to check out the video they have as they take a close look at some of the cards.

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2013 Topps Museum Baseball - Dodgers Inserts and Relics

This will likely be my final post on the Topps 2013 Museum Baseball card set.  Unless, of course, a rare bat nameplate card pops up.  Then, I'm probably going to go a little gaga over it.  Anyway, to check out my previous post on this set go here. 

Featured here are the various insert and relic cards that can be found in the set.  This grouping does not include examples of every possible card out there - just the ones that have made the light of day. 

Below is the Kershaw Canvas Collection card.

Canvas Collection Cards

#CC-18 Clayton Kershaw

Below is an original drawing of the card.

Canvas Collection Originals

#CCO-CK Clayton Kershaw

JUMBO Lumber Relics

#MMJLR-CK Clayton Kershaw          #MMJLR-DGO Dee Gordon

#MMJLR-HR Hanley Ramirez          #MMJLR-MK Matt Kemp

#MMJLR-SG Steve Garvey         #MMJLR-ZG Zack Greinke

Below is a jumbo relic book card of Kemp and Garvey.  Unfortunately, this is the only card I have run across.  Two other Dodger cards exist.  They are a Kershaw/ Mattingly card and a Kershaw/ Lincecum card.

Dual JUMBO Lumber Relics

#MMDJL-KG Steve Garvey - Matt Kemp

Momentous Material JUMBO Relics

#MMJR-AE Andre Ethier             #MMJR-AGO Adrian Gonzalez

#MMJR-CBI Chad Billingsley           #MMJR-CK Clayton Kershaw

 

#MMJR-HR Hanley Ramirez

A Jumbo Patch Relic cards of Ethier and Kershaw also exist to go along with the Billingsley card below.

Momentous Material JUMBO Patch Relics

#MMJPR-CBI Chad Billingsley

Momentous Material Dual JUMBO Relic

#MMDJR-KE Matt Kemp - Andre Ethier

#MMDJR-VK Justin Verlander - Clayton Kershaw

Primary Pieces Quad Relics

#PPQR-CB Chad Billingsley            #PPQR-CK Clayton Kershaw

#PPQR-DG Dee Gordon                  #PPQR-HR Hanley Ramirez

#PPQR-MK Matt Kemp

Primary Pieces Quad Legend Relics

#PPQRL-JR Jackie Robinson

Primary Pieces Quad Player Relics

#PPFQR-4 Sandy Koufax - Steve Garvey - Andre Ethier - Matt Kemp

#PPFQR-6 Jackie Robinson - Robinson Cano - Ian Kinsler - Dustin Pedroia

#PPFQR-14 Tim Lincecum - Sandy Koufax - Clayton Kershaw - Matt Cain

#PPFQR-17 Yonder Alonso - Tony Gwynn - Adrian Gonzalez - Andre Ethier

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Why So Sensitive?

I can't believe what I've been reading.  Maybe it's the nature of the online world, but I cannot understand what exactly is wrong with a manager stating something that he believes has got to be said.  Sure, you can argue that Donnie should have done this a long time ago, but that's neither here nor there.  All we can look at is what needs to be done today, and I applaud this initial effort to try to steer the ship in to the right direction.

After all, If a manager perceives that a player is lacking in his hustle (his grit) and he doesn't do something about it, doesn't that mean that said manager isn't doing his job?  Sure, you prefer it stay in-house.  I get that.  You always prefer that this kind of thing stay in the clubhouse, but sometimes public admonishment is needed too.

Heck, I don't even believe this was all that bad.  Mattingly just stated what he thought to be obvious.  He put the best team, on that given day, on the field that he believed would give the team the best chance of winning.  If that means that Ethier has to sit because he hasn't been giving the kind of effort the coach believes is necessary to win, then so be it.  And on some other day, Kemp might sit for the same reason.  Or Carl Crawford.  Or Adrian Gonzalez.  Or AJ Ellis.

And there is nothing wrong with that.  There is no shame in it.

Have we become so damn sensitive that public criticism of a millionaire ballplayers effort is construed as an insult that cannot be allowed? 

Get this straight.  Ethier should feel no shame because of the recent comments made by Mattingly.  Mattingly was not trying to insult him or publicly out him as a villain.  He was signalling to Ethier that he knows he has more to give.

In sports this is often called "Compete Level", but I prefer to call it "Manning Up".  You experience it when you are about to take that midterm exam, or when you're at work getting prepared to give an important presentation. 

The test here is how the player in question responds.  We'll get a good look at his mettle, and for that matter the mettle of the entire team.

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Is Donnie Doing a Sutter, or is Donnie Asking to Get Fired?

You're probably wondering, "Who the heck is Sutter?"

Well, Darryl Sutter is the current LA Kings coach who has been credited with bringing his own kind of homespun logic that borders on in-your-face honesty to transform the once addled Kings into Champions.  He has an ingenious way of being direct, and it had made believers out of a group of players who were just not doing enough.

The situation Sutter came into last season (before their rise as Stanley Cup Champions) was not an easy one.  The Kings were not unlike the Dodgers of today.  They were filled with many players that were arguably superstars in their sport.  Heck, like the Dodgers they made some huge trades to get them.  And like the Dodgers, they didn't immediately perform the way you would expect.  It was like they were getting crushed by the expectations.

Founds familiar, don't it? 

Then, in comes Sutter and he provided an honest intensity that was embraced by the team.  He told it like it was, and we all knew deep down that he was right.  More importantly, the team responded because they knew it too.

Well, as reported by Bill Plunkett of the OC Register this morning (Hat Tip: Craig Calcaterra at Harball Talk) Dodger skipper Don Mattingly made some direct comments that some folks find too critical.  Too honest.  Too in-your-face.

But you know what, he's right.  See what Plunkett wrote below.

Must-read strong comments from #Dodgers mgr Don Mattingly pregame seemed to point finger at not only lack of "mental toughness" from his players but also at poor construction of the team.

"We gotta find a team with talent that will fight and compete like a club that doesn't have that talent," he said, pointing to last year's team which led the NL West by 5 1/2 games at the end of May despite a far less-talented lineup.

"I felt we got more out of our ability (last year). I don't know about being tougher but I felt we got more out of our ability.

"There has to be a mixture of competitiveness. It's not 'Let's put an All-Star team together and the All-Star team wins.' It's finding that balance of a team that has a little bit of grit and will fight you. And also having talent to go with it.

"All grit and no talent isn't going to make you successful. But all talent and not grit isn't going to get you there either."

The only problem I have with Plunkett's description is the part about involving the construction of the team.  I don't think Mattingly was questioning who was signed or who we traded for.

I do think Mattingly does question the players will.  I think he questions their willingness to fight.  And as he puts it, "all talent and (no) grit isn't going to get you there either."

So Dodgers, can you muster the energy, the will, the grit to win?

On the other hand, maybe the pundits are right and Mattingly is not long for the job.  Maybe he has thrown his arms up the air and said, "screw it!"  Maybe Mattingly has made an unconscious effort to sabotage his job as manager.

I dunno.  I guess anything is possible.

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I know sometimes it might seem that I have a huge crush on the Kings and how they do things.  Well... ya know what?... I do.  I've witnessed their transformation and I hope for the day when the Dodgers can emulate it.

I know they can and I really believe the Kings are a great model to learn from.

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Blog Kiosk: 5/22/2013

Perfection in motion.  Above is a pic of Clayton Kershaw doing what he does best.  Pic via the Dodgers tumblr Dodger Dugout Steps.

• David Brown at Big League Stew first reported that every MLB team will be wearing special camouflage uniforms to commemorate Memorial Day this year.  Then, Roberto at VSIMH tracks down photos of the Dodger cap and jersey.  See the cap to the right.
• Check out Greg Zakwin's (of Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle fame) first piece on Yahoo entitled, "Los Angeles Dodgers Have a History of Mishandling Injuries, but They Did Right by Zack Greinke and His Broken Collarbone."
• Tommy Lasorda and Charlie Hough will represent the Dodgers on the first day of the 2013 Baseball Draft, via Spencer Fordin at MLB.com.
• Michael Clair at Baseball Prospectus writes a piece that ... well, let's just say that I'm sure the Baseball world tried to forget about this.  He analyzes the ballplayers who appeared within the pages of Playgirl in the 80's.  BTW, our own Steve Yeager is included.
• I miss Kuroda.  Via Brian Costa at the Wall Street Journal, Kuroda may be the best free agent signing the Yankees have ever made.  Sigh.
• Eric Nusbaum at SB Nation writes about one of the greatest sluggers to ever play the game that no one knows about.  Meet Hector Espino - Mexico's greatest hitter.

Yet Héctor Espino did not feel deprived or denied of anything; he could have played, yet he chose not to. To him there was nothing unfortunate at all about staying in Mexico. He embraced the baseball of his nation, and in doing so also rejected the notion that Mexico was some kind of little brother; that the United States owns the history of the sport. He refused to allow himself to be defined in American terms, to be measured by those who did not know him or his country. In the United States, Espino would have been a foreign entity - always and forever a Mexican slugger. His reward for staying home was a kind of heroism, a unique status of immeasurable respect and deep reverence that eludes all but a very few. Where else but Mexico could Espino have been Espino?

• Dodger Penguin shares a a great autographed Baseball of Roger Craig that has the notation 1955 Champs.  Awesome!  I hate knowing that he used to skipper the hated SF Giants, but having that Dodger notation on the ball really helps erase that memory.
• Greg at Plaschke, Thy Sweater is Argyle shares his haul from this past weekends card show in Culver City.  I love the vintage Batman cards he got.  The artwork is fantastic.  Jesse at LA Inspiration also shares what he came home with.

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