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Gabriel Rincones Jr. Not Having His Sunglasses on Shows How Unprepared the Phillies are to Win
By Matt Schultz
Published:
The Phillies lost to the Mets on Sunday. They dropped two of three in the series. In their last ten games, they’re 5-5. And if you’re wondering why the Phillies are slumping, look no further than Gabriel Rincones Jr.’s bald unpreparedness as he tracks a fly ball without his sunglasses on, then has to scramble to get them on in time:
This is exactly the problem with this Phillies team. They’re not focused. They’re distracted. They take their foot off the gas. They look directly at the sun by accident. This clubhouse is just too casual. Guys forget they’re trying to win games. They’re falling asleep. They’re probably paid too much, is the problem. They’re busy thinking about investments. Cars. Necklaces. Locket. They don’t remember to not look right at the sun. They’re not prepared at all. Next they won’t have cleats on. Or hats. Or sunscreen. They’re going to be out there barefoot and sunburned, looking directly at the sun, unable to see the ball, losing game after game. Just wait until the postseason. It’s going to be another disaster.
When does it end? Where does the buck stop? Don Mattingly. Let’s start there. It’s his job to get his guys ready to play. They should be practicing during the season. I don’t get why they don’t practice anymore during the season. If Don instituted some structure then maybe his players wouldn’t look directly at the sun. Instead Don just sits there wiping his mouth with his hands. Wake up.
Then there’s Dave Dombrowski. Dumbrowski. Where are the veterans on this team? He didn’t get enough veterans on this roster. Young kids like Rincones need to learn from veterans, guys to show them the ropes, remind them that it hurts to look right at the sun, to lead by example by wearing sunglasses on their eyes instead of on their hats. Instead Dumbrowski just sits there wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He’s clueless.
Then there’s Bryce Harper. He’s the supposed team leader. The $300 Million Man. And for what? He’s more interested in making cleats that look like trains. He’s more interested in combing his hair. He’s always brushing his teeth in interesting ways online. He’s not locked in. He’s Hollywood. He doesn’t get Philly. He’s just not a winner. And this Rincones thing is a prime example. Bryce should be rallying his guys in the locker room. It’s not always about leading by example, being quiet, all that. Sometimes you need an asshole on the team, someone who’ll get in your face and say, “You need to have sunglasses on your eyes if you’re going to look at or near the sun. Otherwise it hurts and you can’t see. Don’t forget.” But Bryce hasn’t said jack. He’s too busy combing his hair.
Chase Utley wore sunglasses.
Rincones should have been wearing his sunglasses all day. But he wasn’t. He was unprepared. He’s out there wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. And that is why this team will never win the World Series.
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Matt Schultz is a comedy and sports writer from Philadelphia. He’s written extensively for ClickHole, The Onion, and Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco. His work has been featured in Vulture, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, and other publications. Much of his sports journalism can be found on college basketball websites that don’t exist anymore (PhilaHoops Heads rise up…) email: M.Schultz@sportradar.com