From: djohnson@cayley.uwaterloo.ca (David Johnson)
Subject: Re: Value of Stats
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 14:27:47 GMT

In article <1992Jul27.191740.21143@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca> sinhaa@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Anand Sinha) writes:

>True. How do we know if he did or didn't?  How do we know if that lawsuit is
>or is not the reason that Ducey rides the pines so often?

He didn't get much of a chance to play before the lawsuit either.  If he 
created a problem in the clubhouse with the lawsuit, why would the Jays
keep him around.  If he is not playing and is a problem why keep him.  This
is the main reason why I think that he hasn't been any kind of problem.

>>But maybe the problem with Jimy Williams effected his play.  My point is that
>>he should do what the manager asks and if he has a problem with that he should
>>talk to higher management about it, not the media as he did.
>
>Hm..Bell's problems with Williams re. the DH certainly did not affect the
>start of the '88 season. Game 1, 3HR vs. KC. Game 2, 5/5 (all singles). The
>first game in LF, the second game at DH.

2 games is kind of a small portion of time to judge a player.  Look at his 
stats that year.  They arn't that great.

>Bell really was a "team" player. He did the things that help the team win. 
>Unfortunately, he was portrayed badly by the local media, and was perceived
>as a poor "team" player.  He was considered a bad influence on the team.  I
>am still not sure why though... He was, in 1988 the 3rd best defensive OF
>the Jays had, and in '89, until the arrival of Mookie Wilson, he still was.
>BTW Wilson's defensive value is questionable at best...
>>
>>But they did boo him though.

He may have been a team player in the Clubhouse he may not have been.  By
most of the media reports I heard was he had a problem with Junoir Felix,
and they are both elswhere now.  Coincidence?  Probably not.  But anyway
by complaining to the media about the media, about the fans and about his
new DH role along with his poor play he made a bad atmosphere for the players
to play in.  I wish you would forget about the fact he was the third best
OF the Jays had in '89.  It doesn't matter.  The problem I have with Bell
is the way he complained about his role as DH.  It would have been much
better if he had have talked to management, stated his point and if he didn't
like the final decision he should have either stuck with it or asked to be
traded.  He shouldn't have done this through the media.

>So? What's your point? I boo Joe Carter -now-. Does that mean he's a bad
>influence etc?

Why do you boo Carter.  He played 1B the other day and I recall him saying
when he was first traded to the Jays that he would rather play the outfield
and stay away from first.  He never complained the other day and I don't
think he would complain if they asked him to do it again, even for an extended
period of time.

>My point is that Winfield is being selfish by playing in the OF because
>it hurts the team defence and his pitcher's confidence knowing that there
>is a slow, immobile OF in RF. 

He only plays OF when Cito asks him to.  I can't blame him for taking 
something given to him.  The same way I see no problem in players getting
$6 million a year if the owners are going to give it to them.  You would
do the same thing.  So would I.  So would almost everybody.  So is everybody
selfish.

>You have not addressed my question about: Why is it ok for Winfield to 
>not respect management, but it is not ok for Bell too? 

I did.  The management didn't respect Winfield.  I don't feel anyone should
respect someone else if that someone else doesn't respect him.  I think that
Winfield has respected management this year.  He has never said anything bad
about them and they have never said anything bad about him.

>Anand Sinha 
>Jays #1 -> all the way in '92
>Robbie Alomar for MVP 			Jeff Kent for ROTY
>Sarah Sinha for MVP 2009 		Sarah Sinha for ROTY 2009
>Juan Guzman for Cy Young


--David Johnson
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball