Motivational Tactics

What more can be said about the Colorado Rockies? They've won 21 of 22, haven't lost in the post season and are getting it done on all fronts. Now they're in the world series. It's a great story to be sure. However, I find a more interesting story to be what dog-lover and kayak-enthusiast Eric Byrnes had to say before game 3 in Colorado.

"I think we're a good team, I also don't think the Rockies have outplayed us, because they haven't, not even close. They've had a little luck go their way. Definitely, the ball has bounced in their direction. They've been the beneficiary of some calls."

Whether or not this is true, and it probably isn't, what exactly was Byrnes trying to accomplish? The D-Backs knew they were a good team and it's counterproductive to discount the opponent saying they got lucky. And to spout off to the media rather than in private on the day before the start of 3 games in Denver.

Byrnes wasn't using his head and he paid for it. You never give the opponent that kind of bulletin board material and you never give the home crowd a reason to get riled up, especially in the playoffs. Big mistake Eric, and you didn't help matters by coming up to the plate as the tying run and making the last out.

It's the same type of ploy often used by Steinbrenner. In their division series down 2-0, The Boss said he wouldn't bring manager Joe Torre back unless they came back to win the series. They didn't. Though it remains to be seen if indeed Torre is out, I see this kind of motivational tactic as counter productive. Perhaps than in any other sport, a baseball manager has less influence over the game itself. He can put the right people in the right situation, but in the end the players have to perform. I'm not claiming Steinbrenner's ultimatum caused the loss, but it didn't help. At least his remarks didn't do anything to encourage the other team. Steinbrenner was misguided, Byrnes was simply stupid.