You got to wonder

[AZOldDawg]

Here we are with all these grown men with exceptional athleticism playing like crap. Head pulling and upper cutting and strike outs galore. How about keeping your head on the ball, swinging level and hitting some hard line drives that might restore some confidence. Play small ball when it’s called for. I think it should start with a no nonsense manager who keeps Jerry at bay. Dan the “enabler” just isn’t getting it done. While it seems like all fun and games we’e just getting out ass kicked. I don’t see any adjustments being made. Hopefully things will turn around but right now the big boys owe the fans a lot of change.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

It all emanates from the top. Stanton just doesn't care about winning as long as the team is profitable, so he puts no pressure on Jerry, Dan, or the players to do what it takes to play team baseball at the highest level. Many of the players seem to do their own thing without regard to the situation or what analytics would suggest would be the best approach in general, and they seem to lose focus leading to idiotic misplays multiple times every game. And then after losing yet again their manager seems to excuse all of it because he isn't feeling any pressure to do things differently (and is probably in fact doing exactly what he's told). So, unless Cal puts the team on his back again this is who they are.

[Double Mocha Man]

So, unless Cal puts the team on his back again this is who they are.

It looks like Cal's back has been weakened by carrying around the 2nd Place MVP Participation trophy all winter.