A true Team is a powerful thing
Baseball is a roller coaster of emotional and physical issues. It's how you deal with them as a unit that sets you apart.
The Washington Nationals took about 80 games to realize they could play with anyone--Not that they didn't have the team they have now, but they didn't have the TEAM they have now.
I'll take you back to 1989. That spring turned to be the craziest time of my young career, with issues that began for us as a unit in Cincinnati.
Pete Rose was being investigated for gambling on baseball. He tried to deflect the attention away from us, but it was still not the most normal of baseball seasons.
By the time it was over, a very good team would finish fifth in the standings, one manager would be suspended, one would take his place on an interim basis, and another would become our manager in the offseason.
Before spring training started, the players would be locked out, and once again we could fold as a unit or come together - obviously we came together.
That brings me back to the 2009 Nationals - yes, it started badly. A manager and a pitching coach were replaced. Many players have come and gone just like the Reds back in '89.
The unit could have just finished out the schedule or it could stand and fight and become one. That's what this TEAM decided to do, stand and fight as a unit, as one.
It's a game of numbers to some, but not me. The players that return for 2010 will have learned many lessons, and not all of them will be about stats and numbers. When a TEAM comes to the park every day ready to win, no matter what the talent level, no matter what issues they may face, together they will be hard to stop.
There are still 50 or so games to play, but these 50 should be a lot more fun to play, and to watch, than the first 50 have been.
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Categories (click for archive)MASNblogs | Rob Dibble |
The games have certainly been more fun to watch since that series with the cubs. I hope they can settle on a formula (particularly in the pitching department) that allows them to play .500 ball the rest of the season and get set up for .500+ ball next year.
Great job in the booth ......
Agree whole-heartedly!!!!
A TEAM has a shot to win any given game - nobody , Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers...nobody is going to win EVERY game - so we just need to go and win our share - one game at a time!
Rob,
Instead of nicknaming Ryan Zimmerman "Magnum Z.I.," how about something more appropriate that ties in his Virginia Beach (close to the largest naval base in the world) and UVA?
Ryan, I dub thee "The Virginia Destroyer."
What do you think?
And, as a CT native, who did you root for as a kid? Sox, Yankees or Mets?
Thanks, from a fellow Nutmegger!
Eric
Hey Rob, did you play baseball earlier in your career? Nats fans would like it I think if you used this blog more to talk about yourself and your past with the Reds instead of the present and future of the Nationals.
The word TEAM is even being shown by our coaching staff. Rick Eckstein went to the ultimate extreme to "Get His Red On" (In his billfold) during the Braves Series at Turner Field.
Hey Rick- You have a long ways to go to catch Bobby Cox's 143 plus ejections but the Nat's fans really appriciate the TEAM in you. And being a true fan of the National's, I have to agree with Jim and Rick. Nyjer was safe at third on the botched call by Mr. Vanover.
Go Nats!!! RR-Winchester, VA.
Hey Rob, Great job announcing the NATS game. It seems the players in the clubhouse took your advice about having someone standup and take a leadership role resulting in a hot win streak recently. MLB needs more Rob Dibbles. I am now a NATS fan and will be going to a game in the next couple weeks. Keep up the good work.