From: fester@island.COM (Mike Fester)
Subject: Re: Intangibles/Clubhouse Leadership.  Another perspective...
Keywords: I don't buy it.
Organization: /usr/local/rn/organization
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 21:57:11 GMT

In article <16579@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu> zuhars@madrone.eecs.ucdavis.edu (Gary Under The Gun Huckabay) writes:
>Team Leadership.

>Interesting and ephemeral concept.  One of the reasons Canseco was
>traded away from the A's was likely because of clubhouse chemistry,
>and his perceived contribution to it.

>When you think about it, this is an insulting idea.  I recently
>returned from playing a series of semi pro tournaments in three
>states.  In general, I am not considered a team leader.  I don't
>really hang out with the guys when we're not playing or practicing,
>and I pretty much keep to myself around the common areas.

>Someone made a comment about one of the other guys on the team being
>sort of a leader, and a guy who picks up the rest of the team.

>As a member of the rest of the team, I was offended by that.  And then
>I began to think about the perennial "intangible" arguments that go on
>here, and wondered why this has never been mentioned.

No flame, but WHY are you offended by it? "Team leader" doesn't (IMO) imply 
who is the best player, nor does it say anything about that someone else 
cannot do a perfectly good job without being a "team leader". I believe the
concept of "leader by example" may have some relevence. Note: I was in several
sports, both in high school and college. I was never a "team leader" either.
Never kept me out of the lineup, though, and I did my job.

BTW, were your OTHER teammates offended by this? If not, then the only person
offended is an admitted loner.

>If I'm Delino DeShields, and I see the media praising Tim Wallach or
>some other popular stiff on the team for being a 'team leader', or
>someone who brings out the best in other players, I think I'd be
>offended.  This implies that I am not capable of doing my best on my
>own, and that I require prodding from my peers to do my job to the best 
>of my ability.

It may be something as simple as being able to see when a young player is
struggling and giving a few words of encouragement, helping him position
himself better in the field, pointing out a flaw in his batting stance/delivery,
etc. And it is not a concept limited to baseball or sports: many people in the
real world are given credit for contributing to the atmosphere of the office/
lab/etc beyond (or in addition to) their actual abilities.

>How demeaning.

You might also take this up with Bill James; in his evaluation of the 100
best players of all time, he gives credence to concept of "peer evaluation"
and spends several pages explaining why he feels it is valid.

BTW, if you keep to yourself (as I did), how can you object that someone else
can be described as "a guy who picks up the rest of the team"? It doesn't
harm you, and taking offense at the praise of a teammate is, well, petty.
Again, no flame intended, but I really do not see how this is offensive to 
you. 
 
Mike
-- 
Disclaimer - I'm only doing what the little voices tell me to do. 
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball