Yesterday, you absolutely dismantled, massacred and outright humiliated the Bears by a score of 38-2. While most managers would be too embarrassed to even post anything on a bulletin board following a game like that, I am not going to shy away. I want to commend you and your entire roster for displaying sportsmanship despite the overwhelming evidence that the Bears did not deserve to be on the same field as your Indians. In fact, with the slight exception of the delayed steal of home plate in the first inning, the Bears appreciate that you still showed hustle and effort as well as sportsmanship even while piling on the runs. It would be easy to sit here and bemoan the notion of rubbing our noses in such a lopsided score; but that would be lying to you, the league and to ourselves. The Bears appreciate the way your team handled that game and we own the fact that we did not belong on that field with you last night.
I'm still frustrated that the league cannot take measures to ensure a bit better competition from game-to-game and refuses to get creative to do so. But that's my problem and it's not a problem I have with you or with your team of, not only excellent sportsmen, but excellent baseball players. I mean it when I say, you guys conducted yourselves with as much professionality as could possibly be expected under those circumstances. We commend you and your players for it.
So I am writing to you not to berate you; not to chastise you and not to complain to you about what your team did to the Bears - rather, I write to you to thank you. Yes, thank you. Thank you for the wake up call. The Bears will be changing the way we "do business." Gone are the days of taking on warm bodies with a couple hundred dollars to spare. Gone are the days of just smiling and having a good time and coddling players. We not only own that loss - we now embrace it. We will wear that as a badge of honor. We will post that on our bulletin board as a reminder of where we came from. And as the Bears continue to grow and get better, we look forward to the day when we can not only compete with your Indians, but the day when the Bears - YES, THE BEARS - end your run.
I make this promise - the Bears will make every effort to ensure that nothing even remotely close to that ever happens again.
Good luck to the Indians the rest of the way and may you win the rest of your games except our rematch on August 3rd.
A person true character is best witnessed in moments of distress and unease. 38-2 would be tough for everyone. I'm glad to hear that all involved represented the values of the game and good sportsmanship.
I don't know much about this division but I think you give the Indians way too much credit. I'm sure they're not as good as the score indicated and your Bears team is not as bad. That's baseball.If your team faced them tomorrow it might be 1-0 Funny game. Good job though recognizing sportsmanship. That should always be consistent in this league. That, like speed, should never go into a slump.
Rob, I can't express to you enough gratitude for expressing your desire to rise. Instead of moaning, you now dig deeper to find a resolve and the means to not only compete with the Indians some day, but to beat them. ALL GMs in all divisions should take from your inner drive and your heart and vow to compete at the highest level through hard work, determination and perseverence.
I hope one day to see you and your Bears reach your determined goals.
