This storyline has always bugged me a little, but this season I've had the following scenario:
- Player 1 is 26 years old, the reigning rookie of year, MVP, and World Series MVP. He currently leads the league in BA, RBIs and WAR (so is likely to follow up with a 2nd MVP). He is extremely popular both locally and nationally. He also has low work ethic.
- Player 2 is 23 is a top prospect in his first full season, putting up average numbers (2.0 WAR after 99 games). He has insignificant national popularity, and fair local. He also has high work ethic.
- Team leads their division and has the best record in MLB.
Player 2 calls out Player 1 for not even running out ground balls in close games. Player 1 takes exception and I have to take action.
Now the only options are to release player 1 (not happening, he's the best player in the league), bench player 1 (he's putting up the best numbers in the league, so the evidence seems to suggest he's performing ok and doesn't deserve benching), or do nothing.
Doing nothing results in the team not being happy.
I know it's a minor thing, but it feels like there should be a much better range of available choices. In the context of the above I am more likely to bench the first season rookie for speaking out of turn!
That was all, I like the idea of storylines in general, but this one has always felt unsatisfactory to me - with this latest example being a really extreme situation.