First Word

Everyone that cares knows the Phils were swept by Colorado in the division playoffs. Colorado outplayed the Phils in every department — hitting, fielding, pitching, coaching, scouting. They deserved to win, and it is therefore good that they did win.

However, listening to the away-game on the radio, I heard something that froze me in my tracks. Thinking about it caused me to learn yet again something about pasture management. Let me give a little background.

A month or two ago, I noticed that the radio announcers for the Phils all of a sudden started talking about how Jimmy Rollins, the Phils’ shortstop, should certainly be the National League MVP (most valuable player). After that, in every game they worked in at least a comment or two with that same thesis.

Then, a few games later, the crowd at the stadium started to chant “MVP… MVP” when Rollins came up to bat.

I thought, what a coincidence. Only someone very knowledgeable about all the nuances of the game could render a credible opinion on the best candidate for most valuable player from this team — let alone the best in the whole League — especially given that there are several outstanding players, and also none that hasn’t made his share of mistakes as well. The vast majority of fans do not even come close to this level of understanding. So, how did all these fans come to the exact same conclusion about MVP as the announcers?

Well, of course, to ask it is to answer it. They didn’t. They are sheep. They heard the announcers talk about it. All of a sudden, at bars and water coolers, some of them, no doubt with an air of knowing sophistication, passed on the opinion as if their own. Finally, everyone in that subculture is “talking about it.” And when critical mass is reached, they all start chanting it at the games.

What I heard when the game was being played at Colorado was their fans chanting “MVP… MVP” when their player Holliday stood up to bat.

Outrageous! How dare they think one of their guys is MVP?!

Clearly, the fan-commitment to player X for MVP is based solely on two factors: (1) authority, coupled with (2) home-team loyalty. It has next to nothing to do with an intelligent assessment of the really most valuable player.

A third factor may be the noisome effect of flattery. The fans like to flatter one of the players, to make him feel good I suppose; but also to flatter themselves that they have such insight.

There would be a lot more honesty, and probably more intelligence, if they were asked to name the MDP — most disappointing player.

At the end of the day, how do we “cash out” the concept of MVP?

I submit, quite literally: with cash.

The winner will undoubtedly be able to negotiate a higher salary than he would without the title.

Instead of “MVP… MVP,” the fans might as well be chanting, “give him more… give him more.”

Of course, directly and indirectly, the fans are the ones that pay those salaries. So really, if they had a bit of self-reflective awareness, they should change the chant to: “we’ll pay more… we’ll pay more.”

The secret to pasture management is so to primp the environs that the cattle, with a glad spring in their step, willingly scamper through the door of the slaughterhouse.