Team Chemistry Matters

The 2009 – 2012 Texas Rangers had an amazing run. Three straight post season appearances, two straight World Series births, and MVP, multiple all-stars and a Texas swagger that is no longer there thanks to a terrible season.

I look at the players on the team right now, and the way that they have had to replace players over and over cannot be good for team chemistry. The one thing the Rangers had for the previously mentioned run were a core of players that had been together for a while and had team chemistry. Guys like Nelson Cruz, Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, David Murphy, Elvis Andrus, and yes, Ian Kinsler. You could tell that these guys legitimately liked each other and liked playing on the field together, and it showed.

“For a good example this season, look at the Oakland Athletics since trading away Yoenis Cespedes“

While we would all like the production of a Nelson Cruz or a Josh Hamilton in his glory days back, the Rangers are what they are now. They tried to bring back some speed and power with Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder, but that did not work out for 2014, doesn’t mean it is a bust yet, but it most assuredly was this season. It can’t always be about the moneyball approach of only looking at numbers all the time, sometimes you have to take chemistry into account.

For a good example this season, look at the Oakland Athletics since trading away Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland has one of the worst records in the majors. I don’t think that is a coincidence. They seem to have lost their swagger as well. Sometimes the team needs more