[OutsiderFan]

I don't know if any of you saw Mike Yastrzemski interviewed after his walk-off Grand Slam, but he said something that I found as remarkable as the 9th inning rise from the ashes.

Joey Bart, rookie Catcher who had been sent down to minors in June because he was struggling so much before returning in July, was the player in the dugout who called out his teammates to not give up when the Giants were down earlier in the game. It wasn't Brandon Belt, AKA, The Captain. It wasn't Brandon Crawford, the stalwart for the last decade. It was just back from minors Joey Bart. Anyone who knows about the dynamics of teams knows how only the best players call out the entire team when it is struggling. Part of being a player who can do this is being one who can actually make the plays needed to bring a team back to win. 

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed Bart has been much improved since his return. In July he's had 22 ABs and in them he's slashing .318/.400/.682. Obviously this is a small sample size, but it's not like this is Bart's first time playing for the Giants. He's clearly made adjustments and figured some things out that he probably hadn't even in April, when he had a solid .792 OPS and perhaps not coincidentally, the Giants were winning at a .667 clip.

For a player to stand up and lead the team when down demonstrates confidence, because they know they can't be taken seriously if they don't perform when calling out their team to not give up. But - and this is the most important part - they not only must have the confidence that they can perform, they have to be unafraid of looking foolish if they don't perform after calling out the team. So with the confidence to perform, and unafraid to look dumb if he failed to deliver, Bart hit a HR to start the crazy 9th inning comeback off an All Star closer. That is a leader, who you want your Catcher to be, and has to give Joey Bart supreme confidence in himself.

That July 15th night at 3rd & King may be looked back on as a significant milestone for Joey Bart and the Giants. It might have just become Joey Bart's team.

[OutsiderFan]

I don't know if any of you saw Mike Yastrzemski interviewed after his walk-off Grand Slam, but he said something that I found as remarkable as the 9th inning rise from the ashes.

Joey Bart, rookie Catcher who had been sent down to minors in June because he was struggling so much before returning in July, was the player in the dugout who called out his teammates to not give up when the Giants were down earlier in the game. It wasn't Brandon Belt, AKA, The Captain. It wasn't Brandon Crawford, the stalwart for the last decade. It was just back from minors Joey Bart. Anyone who knows about the dynamics of teams knows how only the best players call out the entire team when it is struggling. Part of being a player who can do this is being one who can actually make the plays needed to bring a team back to win. 

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed Bart has been much improved since his return. In July he's had 22 ABs and in them he's slashing .318/.400/.682. Obviously this is a small sample size, but it's not like this is Bart's first time playing for the Giants. He's clearly made adjustments and figured some things out that he probably hadn't even in April, when he had a solid .792 OPS and perhaps not coincidentally, the Giants were winning at a .667 clip.

For a player to stand up and lead the team when down demonstrates confidence, because they know they can't be taken seriously if they don't perform when calling out their team to not give up. But - and this is the most important part - they not only must have the confidence that they can perform, they have to be unafraid of looking foolish if they don't perform after calling out the team. So with the confidence to perform, and unafraid to look dumb if he failed to deliver, Bart hit a HR to start the crazy 9th inning comeback off an All Star closer. That is a leader, who you want your Catcher to be, and has to give Joey Bart supreme confidence in himself.

That July 15th night at 3rd & King may be looked back on as a significant milestone for Joey Bart and the Giants. It might have just become Joey Bart's team.