Clubhouses: Content or Chaos?
Many people gauge the success of sports teams based largely on stats. Stats are an excellent starting point when analyzing games, but in the world of professional handicapping, many factors come into play when attempting to assess betting lines and profitable wagers. There are many others, such as home/road play, streaks, matchups, situational handicapping and even weather conditions.
Another aspect of all this is clubhouse chemistry or contentedness. Some teams are simply unhappy, either because certain star players don't get along or are aloof, or they dislike the coach. P.J. Carlesimo was a screamer when he coached the Warriors. It's difficult for anyone in any job in this country to work for a boss who uses screaming as a motivational tactic. Generally speaking, it is usually more detrimental to a team. It may work in college or on young pro teams for a short while, but soon enough players are going to put up a wall and tune out a screamer. It's human nature. And when guys in baseball and basketball have guaranteed 10 to 20-million dollar contracts, it's even easier to blow off a loud-mouth coach.
That is why it's important to pay attention to clubhouse karma and chemistry. Ask yourself: Are individual players happy? Does the team do the little, unselfish things needed to win? Or is a team divided, with players focused more on individual stats and getting out of there when the season ends?
Look at the recent hot streak by the Cubs. There was euphoria at Wrigley Field when Aramis Ramirez hit that ninth-inning two-run homer to lift the Cubbies past Milwaukee 6-5. Even more revealing is that Chicago trailed 5-0 in the first inning. They didn't quit. Lou Piniella has these kids focused and working hard. The mood has been even better since shipping out Mike Barrett to San Diego, the catcher who got in a fist fight with Carlos Zambrano last month.
Cubs pitchers have held opponents to a .224 batting average, best in the majors since June 2, and have compiled a 3.37 ERA, second only to the San Diego Padres. Cubs relievers over that span have stranded 29 of 32 inherited runners (90.6 percent), the best in baseball. Zambrano wants to play in the All-Star Game, and manager Lou Piniella will try to accommodate his ace if changing the rotation schedule allows.
"If we can change things around, that would be fine with me," said Piniella. "I would rather have my pitcher in that game. It's an honor. I voted for him on my ballot. I would like to see as many Cubs players as possible." There needs to be give and take with players and managers and Piniella, who won World Series rings as a player and as manager with the 1990 Reds, understands that.
The Patriots in football have been a great example of team-oriented guys focused on winning, not individual goals. Who can forget the 2002 Super Bowl when for the first time in history, they were introduced as a team, rather than have each player walk out. That spoke volumes about the group, which then went out and beat the Rams 20-17 as a +14 dog. A few months earlier unhappy star WR Terry Glenn was let go. That also spoke volumes.
The White Sox have been a big disappointment and one has to wonder if it is happy clubhouse. 1B Paul Konerko said this week, "Changes will be made probably. A lot of people associate with changes being made that the team is immediately going to be a worse team after the fact." Trade talk as the deadline approaches this month can also take a toll on players, wondering whether they will be dealt or not, creating clubhouse tension on underachieving teams.
Alex Rodriguez may be the most talented player in baseball, but why is that every team he goes to gets worse? The underachieving Yankees appear to have some clubhouse tension. Jorge Posada accused people of not giving a full effort after a 7-0 loss to the A's. "I'm not talking about unlucky. I just think luck comes when you go after it," said Posada. "It seems like at times, we just go through the motions. And today was one of those cases. I think everybody knows what I am talking about."
The Yankee outfield (Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera) has produced 17 home runs, third least in the AL. When adding home runs from first base and the DH slots, the Yankees have hit 36, a sum greater than just the Orioles and Royals. Pretty bad for a $200-plus million dollar payroll. Clubhouse chemistry and discontented teams are all part of finding winners and go-against teams in the competitive sports betting world.
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