I love that Braun is stepping up vocally and on the field. For all the emotion Fielder’s supposed to possess, he seems a little absent lately.

I don’t really like blaming Ned for any of this as he’s not the one batting sub-Mendoza or serving up meatballs, but one thing a manager is supposed to do is work the clubhouse. If he’s not keeping people’s head in the game…I dunno.

I’d like to think that Braun has been, as warwick5s said, somewhat of a vocal leader of the club. He’s said earlier about games where he’s felt the team really wouldn’t have won it in 2007 and what not, but hearing something like this is troubling. Is not the manager of the team supposed to be the one who fires up and encourages his players? The fact that Ned Yost failed in energizing his players for a shot at the World Series Champions while they were in the cellar and that everyone was doubting them really speaks volumes about how he’s such a “player’s manager.” /sarcasm

Help us God, we’re in trouble.

None of knows for sure, of course, but I suspect it’s only been recently that Braun has started to assert himself in the clubhouse. It certainly didn’t appear that he did that as a rookie last year. The contract may be a source of some of his willingness to speak out, since he’s committed, and aside from Gallardo (who isn’t present) he can look around the locker room and reasonably conclude that he’ll be there longer than anyone.

I’ve also noticed less of the “this is Prince’s team” comments this year. I’d like to think that’s because saying it over and over again gets old, but that doesn’t stop the press from saying other things repeatedly.

The only “outsiders” that know are employed by the team in other capacities OR are dependent enough on confidentiality that talking about the clubhouse dynamic too much can be dangerous professionally. (I’m looking at you Haudricourt and Witrado). This is the second time in the past 3 weeks Braun has given a quote like that to the JSOnline reporters. Is it a coincidence that at around the same time he gave the first quote, Witrado mentioned in an interview that there was some tension in the clubhouse between Braun and Fielder? I’m sure I don’t know.

But it’s pretty obvious that Ned’s uptight nature and defensiveness have bled over to the team, fulfilling the old sports cliche that a team takes on the personality of the guy running it. I don’t know whether that has any impact on performance or not. Long term it seems unlikely that it would. But in the short run, say over the first 7 weeks of the season, maybe it is possible.

I know an ex-manager who can inspire drive…

that the kid who just a few days ago was talking about all the potential he sees in the team is now being the one to talk about a lack of motivation.

is why ned has to get canned. not because he is directly responsible for all of this, but because his uptight, everything-is-fine, nothing-is-wrong George W. Bush impression (he looks like him too) isn’t what the team needs now. Its not about Ned, its about what is best for the team, and they need a new atmosphere. I don’t know Simba’s personality or anybody elses, but they need a different look.

linking to anonymous sources citing anonymous information… now tom’s blogging. welcome to the fray mr. haudricourt.

it’s irresponsible for the brewer’s beat reporter to post something like this:

I would think Braun’s comments would be more damning, and possibly the straw that broke the camel’s back.

but it’s totally cool for a blogger to write that.

if the team started wearing thongs?

Oh wait, no, that other team’s in last place too…