In sports, it is often the intangibles that are responsible for a change or improvement, and this year’s Marlins group can be categorized as such.
Sure, they have some good players, but to be honest most major league players have or had talent or they would not be on a team roster. In the case of the Marlins, the difference would seem to be that the players have a positive attitude and certainly give the appearance of having fun. When something goes wrong, or the team is on a losing streak, there is no panic, heads are not hanging in despair, and the mood of the clubhouse is still more collegiate than business-like. The fans too have adopted this positive attitude and can feel good about games even when they are losses. They reflect the approach of the players themselves.
If that is truly the case, we can conclude that management may be looking to the future, but they are doing so without sacrificing the present.
Unfortunately, the Marlins’ positive team culture is unlike that of many other teams, even some of those located in the South Florida area. When viewing the contests of these other professional teams you derive a sense that the players and umpires are attempting to gain control of the games as individuals, to the point that it becomes uncomfortable watching these individuals seek personal attention rather than acting as a team.
This team’s culture portends a successful future with individual players enjoying the game and the camaraderie of a close-knit group of friends over the daily standings and the bottom line. In the end, that culture will bring victories to the individuals, the teams, and the community. Finally, we would be remiss if we did not recognize that the architect of this culture is the team’s Manager, Clayton McCullough.
Photos Courtesy Of The Miami Marlins
