Morale

[Madden08PCgmr]

Quote: Originally Posted by moTIGS

You're worried about realistic morale while using a 51-year-old short stop who's been retired for close to a decade?

Its 1990... hes 20-something, in his 2nd full year.......

[Caulfield]

Quote: Originally Posted by Madden08PCgmr

It distracts from the experience, because it is illogical. Omar Vizquel is my shortstop, from Venezuela.... he's upset because he's not "close to home".. which is the absolute height of silliness. Good luck making millions playing pro baseball in your home country! .. I just wish this only factored into contract negotiations, or hold outs, things along those lines. Its dumb and unrealistic to take these issues onto the field, because you will only decrease your value if you give less than 100%.

In Omar's case, its not that he actually want to play closer to home; he wants a compatriot on the team.
Try to get Andres Gallaraga or Wilson Alvarez on your team lol

[coach422001]

Quote: Originally Posted by Madden08PCgmr

It distracts from the experience, because it is illogical. Omar Vizquel is my shortstop, from Venezuela.... he's upset because he's not "close to home".. which is the absolute height of silliness. Good luck making millions playing pro baseball in your home country! .. I just wish this only factored into contract negotiations, or hold outs, things along those lines. Its dumb and unrealistic to take these issues onto the field, because you will only decrease your value if you give less than 100%.

Interestingly I never look at it as they aren't giving 100% intentionally. I liken it to people who are in bad work situations, with bad bosses, under or over employed, sexually harassed or who have personal family or financial or medical issues, where these things weigh on them and despite their best effort they aren't physically or emotionally able to perform to 100% of their ability. I've seen plenty of folks in the working world who have these or other concerns that clobber their morale and they often under perform, despite their best efforts to do a good job. These non-baseball work situations are not equivalent to what the game shows but what I'm focusing on is how morale can affect people's ability to perform. So I have never looked at the morale decline in the Show as "I'll show them by not trying," and I just deal with it as needed.

[countryboy]

I've never seen a foreign born player with the expectation of playing close to home.

[xXInfectedXx]

Quote: Originally Posted by coach422001

Interestingly I never look at it as they aren't giving 100% intentionally. I liken it to people who are in bad work situations, with bad bosses, under or over employed, sexually harassed or who have personal family or financial or medical issues, where these things weigh on them and despite their best effort they aren't physically or emotionally able to perform to 100% of their ability.

That's exactly it. It often has nothing at all to do with intention or commitment. In fact, sometimes someone who is determined to give their 100% can actually under-perform due to the associated performance anxiety, especially when other factors are present. I always think of the brain's performance capacity like the memory on a computer. Stressors are like programs chewing up resources. With fewer resources available to focus and play well, even top shelf players will underperform. Everyone has their limits.