The concept of “Toughness and togetherness” and team relationship chemistry is a naturally occurring thing on any team. It’s fantastic that this years team had it. Last years team didn’t, and the roster wasn’t significantly different. Never mind one with a $180MM payroll.
It wasn’t manufactured. Guys like Beiber and Varland and IKF etc were the types of guys that were able to fit in. Not all may work out like that.
Clement said it best, he’ll never play with a group of guys that he loves more. With Mattingly now gone the team will officially be different next year. It may be 4 guys it may be 14 different players and coaches next year, doesn’t matter, it’s different and can’t be forced to feel the same.
To try and replicate that and try and force togetherness often ends in disaster. So Atkins and Shapiro aren’t dumb enough to make moves based on togetherness but they better not be messaging to fans about getting players for a team that is together. Or develop marketing around it, because then it doesn’t come from the players natural relationships, it comes from corporate Rogers trying to suck fans in with a concept.
Remember the green hard hat in 2004? Player developed for themselves and cool for the fans to get a glimpse of and thus feel a part of. Remember the next one, the gold hard hat? Yeah.
Again, team unity and chemistry has to to be organic and come from the players. This year it was. That’s it. To make it a clubhouse mantra or season ticket selling theme would be a big mistake.
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