tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132588.post2440893722325378509..comments2023-09-11T10:35:26.165-04:00Comments on The Flagrant Fan: Patience remains Blue Jays' bugabooWilliam J. Taskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02313204947130235560noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132588.post-65900722016545986922012-06-05T18:06:09.644-04:002012-06-05T18:06:09.644-04:00I'd agree that patience can be a team culture ...I'd agree that patience can be a team culture sort of thing, but much of that comes from the top (upper management). Among the good-hitting regulars on the Yankees (which describes most of the line-up) only Robinson Cano might be considered a free-swinger. However even he will, at worst, boast an OBP 40 points or so over his batting average (of course it helps that his average is generally in the .300 area or above). Robby, who is unquestionably the best hitter on the team, also offers high caliber run-producing ability and a top notch glove at his position so his more aggressive plate approach (comparatively speaking) is an insignificant negative, if it's a negative at all.<br /> His most notable predecessor, Alfonso Soriano, offered at least as much power and much more base stealing ability in those younger days. But he rarely saw (or recognized) a pitch he didn't think he could hit (and of course he couldn't carry Robby's glove, or any other ML second-baseman's for that matter). While the popular opinion for his departure has seemingly been his post-season woes, I'm convinced that his failure to develop any patience was even more responsible (that culture thing). Of course one can't lose sight of the fact that, in selling Soriano high, the Yanks were able to bring A-Rod aboard. While Alex is hardly the most popular player on the team among fans or in the clubhouse (one insider who shall remain nameless says he's the LEAST popular in that environment) and he's rarely been worth his mega-salary (and never will be again), the fact remains that over-paying A-Rod vs. over-paying Alfonso is a happier place to be (even Theo, maybe most notably Theo, would have to agree).Thomas Slocumnoreply@blogger.com