Diamondbacks Team Chemistry a Synergetic Force
We've heard it before, notably in a postgame speech following their NLCS victory, but a connected team is a dangerous team, and the Diamondbacks are dangerous.
Three months after manager Torey Lovullo's famous passionate speech, the skipper spoke to the media about the importance of keeping that chemistry, and how the Diamondbacks have worked hard to ensure their off-season additions were guys who fit the right clubhouse culture.
But it's not just fiery speeches from coaches or staff, Lovullo said clubhouse chemistry starts with the players, and noted how the D-backs young team has begun to find ways to strengthen that bond.
"Part of what I said to [the team] is, there are certain conversations they can only have among themselves, and to start having them. That was what I ended my speech with in that room, and they are. And they’re bonding."
"I know you guys see them playing dominoes, as you're in and out of the clubhouse there post-workout, some things you haven’t seen in baseball in a long time are taking place inside of this clubhouse, and they’re connecting, and that really fires me up."
Lovullo cited the veteran leadership of players like first baseman Christian Walker, and how important his humble attitude is to the overall D-backs culture.
"[He's] a true leader by example, doing the right thing, the right way, every single chance he gets," said Lovullo, "I think he has a very unique presence to him, he’s got unbelievable perspective, unbelievable insights, but I think he just likes to just sit back and enjoy more than jump in there and be the guy in the middle of the pile."
But it's not just the veteran D-backs who have helped shape the culture. Namely, new starter Eduardo Rodríguez has been a lively presence, quickly fitting in and building relationships, despite being brand-new to the team.
"He wants to be a great teammate… just enjoying and watching and learning and getting to know his teammates that he doesn't know."
Lovullo noted that the right clubhouse fit is an important factor in the decisions he and general manager Mike Hazen have made regarding the team's build
"It’s something that [Hazen] and I have had a lot of conversation about, and he believes in team chemistry, it’s a real thing. Because there’s going to be some dog days, and you're going to want to feel like you're never fighting alone, and you've got to link things together." Lovullo said.
Lovullo emphasized the idea of synergy on the team, and how important it is to work together to lift a heavier load.
"We believe in synergy here, things are going be tested, and if you don't stay together you can fragment, and it can tear you apart in a hurry, so yes, we have vetted the right personalities, the right people to come into this clubhouse and fit this culture, this culture has been handcrafted for a long time, and it's real, it's alive, and the players make it breathe. And we don't just talk about it, we live it every single day."
The skipper notably likened the Diamondbacks to Belgian Draft Horses, in a very unique analogy.
For reference, these horses are huge, resembling Clydesdales, and can pull around 8,000 pounds on their own. When paired with a partner, they can pull not twice, but three times that amount.
However, when one of these horses is trained, groomed and raised alongside a specific partner, the synergy and natural chemistry that was fostered between them allows them to pull up to four times their individual ability.
This young D-backs team is in a uniquely beneficial spot, with a young core of players like Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas, Geraldo Perdomo and others growing up together in the farm system, and producing together in the majors at a rate that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Add a few veteran leadership presences in the clubhouse, and the ensuing chemistry and connection is the perfect blend to fuel a synergetic squad to success. The D-backs have made investments in players who are solid clubhouse presences, such as Rodríguez, a re-signed Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and new third baseman Eugenio Suárez and his "good vibes only."
Ultimately, this team remains, and continues to grow, more connected and more dangerous. While individual skill is certainly important to any professional sports organization, Arizona has a rare gem in its overall chemistry, with a high potential as a result of said connection.
“The heart and the mind are very powerful, and we try to incorporate that with a lot of the decisions that we’re making today, tomorrow, during the game, after the game, and that’s part of our culture,” Lovullo said.
