Cubs or Padres? Why?

[Playing Catch]

8 hours ago, nate82 said:

Bregman is like a Yelich/Braun just a guy in the clubhouse.  They don't bring the clubhouse down but also not the leader of the clubhouse.  

 

Dansby is the same as Bregman.  He isn't going to kill a clubhouse just not a leader of the clubhouse.

It's a widely-held belief among MLB folks that Bregman is one of the more impactful "clubhouse" guys in the league. He gets artificial bumps for being on a team that *won a World Series*, and for being a Red Sox/Cubs FA signing, but to a person, Bregman is one of the most respected players in baseball.

Feel free to disagree, of course. None of us can prove such a thing, one way or another.

[homer]

Looking forward to booing Manny Machado.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

22 hours ago, homer said:

I'm not sure post-season success has all that much to do with the manager.

<ducks head>

Yeah, I find that whole conversation pretty comical. The old guy on the dugout steps isn't providing any wild fluctuations in a best of 5 or 7. The manager's role is very important, but I think his on-field, gameday impact is way, way, less than what people think. In terms of managing the clubhouse, making most of the guys happy to be at work stuck together for 6-7 months, I think his role is tremendously undervalued by the general population. Even when it comes to what most perceive to be critical choices (which pitcher to bring in during certain situations) those are all predetermined by the geeks backstage. They've all gotten together countless times and gone over scenarios and which guys give you the best chance.

It doesn't take a lot for a leader to make the workforce miserable. That is where Murphy shines. MLB history is littered with dopey managers (think Dusty Baker) who players loved playing for. That's what the job really is.

[long ball]

Listening to some preview podcasts this morning. I’ll preface this by saying j don’t actually care what podcasters are predicting. 
 

seems like many of the national folks are either picking the brewers to win the World Series or lose to the padres. Not a lot in between.