Many of you know that I have a love for baseball. It’s pretty much all I write about and it’s pretty damn close to all I talk about. Despite the way the Red Sox are currently playing, I love the urgency of September and the ensuing races, and I love the glory that October brings. What I cannot stand is when the sanctity of the playoff chase is spoiled by selfishness and greed.
So obviously, my feathers are a bit ruffled by the current state of the Milwaukee Brewers.
While my Red Sox are seemingly giving away their chances at the post-season, Milwaukee is also going through a September swoon, having lost 4 games on their division lead and letting the St. Louis Cardinals back into the race. They still command a 5.5 game lead in the NL Central, but what once looked insurmountable to the Cardinals is certainly that much more in their reach. These are the situations that are supposed to pull a team together, scrapping as a whole to do whatever is necessary to control their own destiny.
Yet for some reason, leaving everything on the field has taken on a whole new meaning in Milwaukee. While Boston is questioning how they will build a pitching rotation from scratch and stop the bleeding, the Brewers are being torn apart by contract talks and hurt egos.
It’s playoff time. It is time to nut up and put the personal grievances and aspirations aside and focus on what is important; your team. I’m speaking specifically to Francisco Rodriguez and Prince Fielder.
Rodriguez started the week off publicly ranting that the Brewers lied to him about how they’d use him after he was acquired at the deadline from the New York Mets. With John Axford already on the roster and being one of the most consistent closers in the game, Rodriguez has been deployed primarily as a set-up man, much to his dismay. The Brewers tried to quell that uproar just after acquiring him by promising to not act on his vesting option and letting his enter free agency at the end of the season. That apparently isn’t good enough for K-Rod and he’s chosen to voice his displeasure in the middle of the pennant race.
Fielder on the other hand is being a bit more subtle. This large mound of hamburger is scheduled to be one of the most sought after free agents on the market this winter, likely fitting in just behind Albert Pujols. Fielder chose this week to make a comment to the media saying that he fully expects this season to be his last in Milwaukee. Of course, this is obvious to any person that follows that game, knows the art of free agency, and detests what Scott Boras brings to the table as Fielder’s agent.
Both of these comments has left General Manager Doug Melvin and team manager Ron Roenicke to scramble and tell the media that the team is fully focused on the pennant race. I have news for the two of them; focus isn’t the Brewers biggest issue right now, its running mouth syndrome. Both of these gentlemen, regardless of their motives, desires, or agent recommendations, need to STFU.
If K-Rod is irritated with what he perceives as a raw deal, he just needs to find another place to take out his frustrations for the next month and a half. His father -in-law may be a good starting point, as it has done him wonders in the past. If Fielder wants the world to know that he is willing to go to the highest bidder, wait for World Series like every other Boras client does. Then you can announce it to a worldwide audience and get the notoriety a move of that magnitude deserves.
In season, contract issues and personal grievances need to be handled behind closed doors or in front of an arbitrator. Any breaking of this code should be punishable by a fine or suspension. It is detrimental to the team, to the game, and to the fans.
The people that pay their hard-earned money to fund your team and pay your salary don’t want to know why you don’t want to be there. They want to see you perform on the field and smile to the camera.
Most of all, they want you to show up to work like they have to day in and day out, and do your damn job.