Even at the highest levels...themes are used to bring teams together.
In an attempt to get his team all pulling from the same side of the rope Manager Joe Maddon gave a speech in training camp that explained his 9=8 theme for the year.
9=8 essentially translates to nine players playing hard for nine innings every day equals one of eight post-season berths. It also explained that in order to make the playoffs they needed
nine more wins because of hitting
nine more wins because of pitching
nine more wins because of defense
Some players rolled their eyes. Others stared straight ahead with blank looks on their faces.
"I'm so used to the eye roll. I'm so used to the scoff," Maddon said, looking back on that first day of camp. "I'm so used to it, and I'm really immune to both … At some point, corny can turn into cool."The Rays finished last in the AL East in nine of their first 10 seasons. They won 66 games last year and finished with the worst record in baseball.
They clinched a post-season berth for the first time with their 93rd victory —
exactly 27 more than a year ago."Our program's been validated. Our concepts have been validated," Maddon said Tuesday. "It's not anything complicated. It's the basic stuff. Running hard, good turns. Playing catch. Fastball command. First to third. Those kinds of things. Everybody thinks we're so fancy, but we're so basic."
They emblazoned the 9=8 on T-shirts and posted it in the clubhouse and weight room.
"The whole point was to just have it out there on a daily basis, so when someone's walking behind somebody, they can see it," Maddon said
"We have little signs on the wall, again, reminding. I know a lot of times they will walk by and not focus on it, but sometimes, just for a moment, they will. And the impact of that moment is worth it. That's the way I see it."
Along the way the concept caught on.
"We are a team, that's the biggest thing out of this," Trever Miller said. "We are a cohesive unit and the epitome of what a team is, on and off the field. Guys love it when the other guy does well. There's none of that, 'Oh, I hope he fails so I can succeed.' And that goes a long way through the course of the season. Everybody has accepted their role, whatever that may be."And the culture heated up.
players say Maddon's insistence that things are done "The Ray Way" is responsible, too. Although he's an intellectual type who prefers fine wine to a cold beer following a game, Maddon can be one of the boys.
When Upton decided on a whim to get a Mohawk haircut last month, the fad caught on in the clubhouse. Maddon joined in the fun, getting his hair cut and noting the importance of solidarity.
"That stuff all matters," he said.
And when they all understood what they were trying to do and they came together as a team they found success beyond what they thought was possible.
