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More from Giants-land and Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle: You might not have heard it above the clang of mismatched beakers in Los Angeles, but absent chemistry has been demonized in the Bay Area as well.
... Could it be these 2006 Giants want to hang out together?
That would be a plus, because the lack of team chemistry in 2005 was an issue. Was it the biggest reason for the Giants having a losing record (75-87) for the first time in nine years? Hardly. (Barry) Bonds' five-month absence, the loss of closer Armando Benitez and an awful start by the rotation rank much higher.
Nevertheless, a lack of cohesion inside the clubhouse and on the field did not help. A month into the season, newcomer (Omar) Vizquel publicly bemoaned what he viewed as a shortage of team play. In mid-June, (Moises) Alou highlighted the off-field polarization by revealing he had not gone to dinner with a single teammate.
Management took notice, and it was no accident the new players for 2006 -- (Steve) Finley, (Matt) Morris, Tim Worrell, Mark Sweeney, Steve Kline and Jose Vizcaino -- have plenty of experience on playoff teams, reputations as solid teammates and, in some cases, the will to bust on anyone who strays from the common purpose -- winning. ...
I'm hoping Alou at least ate with his manager.
I can live with the idea that good chemistry doesn't hurt and bad chemistry doesn't help. But as far as wins and losses go, well, old friends Jose and Steve still need to be able to get a hit - and old nemesis Barry still needs to play.
By the way, did the Giants have good chemistry in 2004, when they went to the final weekend before losing the National League West? I assume that for his part, a certain ballplayer with the initials A.J.P. is laughing at the Giants right now.
As for Moises Alou, I would only go to dinner with him if he promised not to touch my silverware.
Linden
Baseball Reference - http://tinyurl.com/bbb9y
Baseball Cube - http://tinyurl.com/c3sq6
As for the Dodgers... who serves as the resident Tension Breaker? Who will make fun of Grady's accent behind his back? Who will make up witty nicknames for everyone?
--David
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