Owners Just Don't Understand

I know I’m a little late to the game, but I still wanted to chime in on the Diamondbacks’ most recent fiasco.  I’m sure you’ve heard or heard about the comments that Ken Kendrick made about Stephen Drew and Justin Upton.  If you haven’t, have a listen here. 

If you can’t spare fifteen minutes to listen to the interview or are reading this at work and can’t turn up the volume, then I’ll give a quick rehash of what Kendrick said.  Kendrick called out shortstop Stephen Drew for not trying hard enough to come back from his injury.  What’s worse, is that Kendrick outright stated that Drew and his agent, Scott Boras, made the decision to not play in order to secure a more lucrative contract next season, even after he was cleared by doctors to play over a month ago. 

Next, we have comments made about star right fielder Justin Upton (I know, his play this year has been anything but star quality).  Kendrick basically said that he is disappointed in Upton and thinks that he should be producing at a much higher level than his current .245 average, 5 home runs and 54 strikeouts. 

You might be thinking to yourself right now, “I think Kendrick’s spot-on.  Upton has been down-right bad this year; and we thought Drew might be ready for spring training.  What’s taking so long?!”  If you thought that, then I’m right there with you.  Last season Upton was touted as an MVP candidate in what we all thought was his breakout season.  He finally put together a consistent year and looked like he was just beginning to tap into the immense potential that we were all promised on draft day in 2005.  But this season, he has been far from an MVP candidate and was even benched during the Rockies series while the rest of the team had a heyday against Colorado’s pitching. 

As for Drew, it’s harder to pile on a guy who is coming back from a devastating ankle injury.  It was gruesome and I don’t even like thinking about it.  But, based on reports he was cleared to play by doctors over a month ago, and he is just now beginning to play back to back nine inning games.  He is taking his rehab VERY cautiously.  It’s hard to fault a guy who does not feel that his body is ready.  It is how he feels and he will know better than anyone when he is ready.  As fans though, we don’t really ask for much.  All we ask is that you try as hard as you can and that you like us.  Show us some heart and emotion and then tell us how much you like us and our city.  If you do those things we will love you forever.  Drew was never one to show much emotion, but he always played hard.  It seems now that, for whatever reason, he may be holding back.

Now as a fan, do I agree with what Ken Kendrick said?  Perhaps to some degree.  Am I happy he went on the radio for the entire world to hear and blast two of our most tenured guys?  Absolutely NOT!  If there was a good chance Stephen Drew would not play baseball in Arizona next year, now there is no chance he plays here next season.  Here is what I do not like about Kendrick’s decision to make those comments.  As much as fans like to be coddled, players like it more.  There is nothing worse for a fanbase than the label of “bad ownership.”  No one wants to come play for a franchise where the owner is going on the radio and calling out players for their effort.  Justin Upton is only 24 years old.  I know this is already his fifth full season in the major leagues, but he will be a free agent after the 2015 season, when he is 27 years old, presumably at the peak of his baseball powers.  I still have hope that Justin Upton will become one of the best players in baseball.  He was last year, let’s not let a slow start hinder our chances of resigning one of the best players in the game. 

A similar thought should be made for Stephen Drew.  Even if he plans on walking after the season, what good does it do to burn the bridges now?  What good does it do to tell every player in the major leagues that Arizona has an owner he goes on the radio and questions the effort, heart and integrity of his players?  I will tell you, it does not do any good.  Secondly, does it even make sense for Drew to delay his return?  How is not playing going to help him land a better contract next year?  Regardless, it was a bad move by Kendrick and now we can only hope that the damage done is reparable.  Otherwise, we can just hope to go back to our position as a small-market, low-payroll team that hopes to catch lightning in a bottle every few years and win a division title or maybe even a pennant.  Then we can watch our rising star players cash in with more generous, player-friendly franchises.