Expanding on these team thoughts, the wrong behavior and mentality from a superstar can subtract value from the team, removing all of their traditionally measured contributions. Take for example this article on Barry Bonds. Here's a quote on toxic superstars:
"Normally in any clubhouse you have at least that one selfish bad apple on each team,'' Ross said. "And everyone knows who it is. It's not like that on this team."On addition by subtraction:"When Bonds and his toxic presence was finally removed by the hazmat people after the 2007 season, the Giants began to win more games. Not a lot at first, but enough to realize that Bonds' forced departure was like an emergency tracheotomy on the franchise's windpipe. The Giants could finally breathe again."
Superstars get a "longer rope" because they're so good, but at some point they can push the limits of tolerance within a team. No one misses a misbehaved superstar like Barry Bonds -- they simple do not endure. But what is fascinating and underreported is how often the team gets better once that misbehaved superstar is gone.
