I recently reread Gordon Beard's Birds on the Wing, the story of the 1966 World Champion Orioles. Perhaps what struck me most was a section in the final chapter on the Orioles' minor league philosophy at that time. Harry Dalton, who was Director of Player Personnel was quoted as saying
Although the number one goal of any minor league system is to develop young players, it can't be done at the expense of winning and thinking that the job has been accomplished. Winning is a necessary part of development. Along with the skills, a plyaer needs an intangible attitude toward the playing of the game--a feeling of defeat when his team doesn't win. Our instructors and managers work hard to show the funn of winning. . . . We have a nucleus of kids in the high minors accustomed to winning pennants--who feel disappointed when the team loses, no matter what they have done personally.
Major league organizations no longer seem to agree with this philosophy. It appears to me that it would be easy for individuals to start defining success by whether they had good at-bats or not, rather than whether they won or not. Hence, you get this unproductive attitude that the starting pitcher "gave his team a chance" to win. Really? Christy Mathewson, Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax, Jim Palmer, and Jack Morris, et. al. thought it was their job to win. [Note the . after the phrase to win!] I understand the variables that are beyond a pitcher's control in order to actually record the W; nevertheless, do we really want to pay a guy $10 million a year to "try real hard"?
The question then becomes whether the mindset of "giving the team a chance" becomes self-defeating because the stress of having to win or conversely, the fear of losing has been removed. (Along with the starter after about 5 2/3rds innings.) Put another way, could Steve Carlton have won 27 games for a 1972 Phillies team that won only 59 if he had the "give the team a chance" mindset? One of the reasons we have all enjoyed watching the superb pitching in the playoffs so far is because there are a number of starters who seem to have the mindset that their job is to "win" all 9 innings. Indeed, the Orioles this past season had three complete games. We've already seen three (or is it more) in the post season.
Seems to me that winning is a skill that needs to be taught.
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