Josh Donaldson's talent is unquestionable. He hits for power, delivers with runners in scoring position, plays superb defence at third base and can steal a base when necessary.
But perhaps as important to the Blue Jays, given their current circumstance, is what Donaldson calls his 'sixth tool.'
'Ever since I was five years old, my teams have won,' he said. 'I'm not saying that it's necessarily just me that's causing that, but I think there's a mentality about winning ... I just hope to be able to come in and instill that winning mentality, and the guys can see that.'
This is the second time in a week that general manager Alex Anthopoulos had added a proven winner to a team that has not won anything in more than two decades. In his three seasons with the Oakland A's, Donaldson went to the playoffs three times. Free-agent catcher Russell Martin, who signed for a ton of cash last week, has gone to the playoffs in seven of his nine seasons.
Experience of that sort doesn't figure into a player's WAR rating, but many in baseball - rightly or wrongly - insist that it makes a difference to a team's culture, that it contributes to a belief system that says, 'We can win.'
While several players on the current Jays roster have a modicum of post-season experience, most of it in the distant past, it has been largely absent from their clubhouse for a long time. In his public pronouncements, Anthopoulos has only hinted that finding that missing ingredient is a priority at the same time as he improves the team by adding skilled players.
His most recent acquisitions fulfill both criteria. Donaldson and Martin are exceptional players, and they are winners. Their attitude and their ethic might just be contagious.
It is fashionable to call this changing the clubhouse culture. That may exaggerate the perceived problems of the past, but this much is certain: between Anthopoulos, the five-year GM, and the players he has put in that clubhouse, the Blue Jays have not figured out how to win.
Less than 24 hours after he became a Blue Jay in a four-for-one trade that sent tarnished Canadian wunderkind Brett Lawrie to Oakland, Donaldson spoke by phone with Toronto reporters, offering an outsider's perspective on his new team.
'Russell Martin is a winner,' he said, pointing first to another man who has not played a game for Toronto. 'I feel like this team is so talented. It's going to be nice. And it's also going to be interesting to see what happens because, well, I feel like it's going to be a pretty fun year.'
Translation: Whatever Anthopoulos has tried before hasn't worked. Maybe he's finally on to something. More to come from Donaldson's conference call with Toronto reporters ...
Post By http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/11/29/toronto-blue-jays-newcomer-josh-donaldson-is-a-proven-winner-ever-since-i-was-five-years-old-my-teams-have-won/
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