Change is (probably) good

Back to blogging after a very long break. There is so much to think and talk about, so much going on and so many sources of information. I have decided to expand my blogging beyond my professional interests of collaboration and project management and focus on sorting out whatever captures my interest. Of course whatever I find interesting is probably related to how people and organizations - and governments - can play and work well together, and how to create order out of chaos.

I have always loved baseball. Favorite childhood memories include listening to the Minnesota Twins on my first transistor radio after I was supposed to be asleep. I carry two loves imbued by my dear father: baseball and scotch. He loved all sports, especially football, but the only one I ever cared about was baseball. I like the pace, the subtleties of the game, the strategy and knowledge needed of all teammates and opponents strengths and weakness. I especially appreciate the the way one person can make a difference and while needing to work well with others on the field, still gets the spotlight when all attention is focused on the batter.

As in life, the little things matter in baseball - the clean mechanics of a pitcher, the routine plays on the field, the stance of a batter. I am continually fascinated by the way coaches, managers and the GMs have to both do their own jobs well but have to understand and communicate with each other, as well as with the players. Maybe baseball was the beginning of my interest in collaboration.

Growing up with the Twins was a roller coaster experience and prepared me well for these years with the Nats. What I really miss in baseball is the stability of teams. I grew up idolizing Harmon Killebrew, Earl Battey, Bob Allison, Tony Oliva, who each played all or nearly all of his entire career with the Twins and in some cases, their predecessor Washington Senators. Stability engendered community and the players made the team. I still value that, in baseball and in life. It has been disappointing to see baseball become big business and the teams changing players like uniforms. However, it reflects the larger world where people frequently change jobs and careers and organizations see employee loyalty as less important and unnecessary for brand loyalty.

I have adjusted, if not grudgingly. However, the sting of the Matt Capps trade was only softened by his move to the Twins. Cristian Guzman, who has split his ten year career evenly between the Twins and Nats, is on his way to the bankrupt Rangers. Now my stomach is in a bit of a knot wondering if Adam Dunn will still be a Nat come 4 p.m. Saturday. In the hope Dunn would not be traded by the deadline I took a chance and got tickets for the July 31 game, even though I can't stand the noisy obnoxious Phillies fans.

Having lived and breathed in the American League, I could have never been a true Orioles fan, so I was very glad when baseball came to DC shortly before our move here. We immediately started going to games at RFK and have since been regulars to Nats Town. I typically watch or listen to every game, and when I have something more pressing to do I follow the plays on my phone as often as possible.

It has been a difficult ride in part because of ongoing struggles with the basics of the game, but more because the roster has continually changed, and as soon as I become attached to someone they are gone. However the innate decency and work ethic of this team is impressive and does not change much as the players rotate in and out. How can I not like a team that personifies Minnesota Nice? This is not a team of tempers or egos or bad boys. This is a team of which I can be proud, even when they don't play so well.

And so I wait to see who survives until August, knowing there is a good chance I will like and respect almost whoever wears a Nats uniform. I keep telling myself, I know change is good. Hopefully eventually we will win more than we lose as a result, if not in spite of the ever-changing dugout.