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Sunday, April 27, 2008

Playoff Time

Amateur baseball at every level is winding down throughout the nation. High Schools, Community Colleges, NAIA and NCAA Colleges are all coming to the end of their regular seasons. The top end teams are in a tough battle for league or conference championships; the middle teams are scrambling to get into the playoffs and the bottom end teams are already looking toward next year.

The “Playoffs”, are commonly referred to as, “The Second Season“. A chance to play the game a little longer and compete for a more prestigious championship. However, the prevailing attitude that, no matter what the season has been like - that somehow, “now” a team can turn it around in the playoffs, is usually wishful thinking.

Teams, like individuals, have identities, strengths and weaknesses which have been revealed during the regular season of competition. The playoffs will magnify those characteristics and reveal a teams true leadership, resolve and character. Being successful in the playoffs will always come down to: 1) good pitching, 2) solid defense, 3) timely hitting and 4) coaching that understands the moment. If this truly sounds like your club then good things will happen.

Good luck to all and “May the force be with you“.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

The Ump

The difference between victory and defeat in the game of Baseball can be inches. Off the glove, off the plate, off the wall, just fair, called third…These are just a few examples of how the game can be decided.

While baseball fans usually forgive a player for striking out, they seldom excuse an ump that appears to blow a call. A missed third strike, a foul ball that looked like it might have been fair or a close play at the plate are just a few of the ways the men in blue can elicit jeers, boos, or the familiar comment, "Are you blind?" While instant replay usually reveals the wisdom of a call, it can add fuel to the fire. The only consolation that today’s umps have is that for every close call they make, only half the fans will be irate. The rest will be elated.

On July 24, 1983, the Royals' George Brett hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to give Kansas City a 5-4 lead over the Yankees. New York protested, claiming that the pine tar on Brett's bat extended up the handle more than the legal 18 inches. The men in blue agreed; home plate umpire Tim McClelland after conferring with Joe Brinkman, found that the pine tar on Brett's bat exceeded the allowed limit of 18 inches, and Brett was called out, giving the Yankees a 4-3 victory. It was the correct call, but American League President Lee MacPhail, thinking the pine tar rule silly, overturned Brinkman's decision four days later. The two teams assembled in New York on August 18 to finish the ninth inning and the yanks failed to score. So 3 weeks, 4 days, 4 hours and 14 minutes after it began, the Royals won the game for good - proving sometimes, even when you’re right, you’re wrong.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

A Matter of Prespective

Delivering in the clutch is something all spectators root for during the struggle of an athletic contest. Witnessing a two out - two strike - RBI single, in the bottom of the ninth to win, is electrifying. However, what exactly happened? Did the pitcher make a great/bad pitch? - Did the hitter make a great/poor swing? There are two sides to every event. Most people, including some coaches, tend to evaluate the outcome rather than the effort. This usually results in praise for success and criticism for failure.

Focusing strictly on the outcome does not always tell the complete story. One could miss the life lesson to be taught: that it is possible to do everything right and still not get the desired result. Example: a pitcher, with game on the line, in the bottom of the ninth, hits his spot, against a tough hitter, who fights off an inside pitch and shoves it into right field for the game winning hit. Both have executed their job but only one received the desired outcome.

Good coaches instinctively recognize the moment by going to their pitcher to pick him up. Even recognizing his execution with game on the line. Why? Because they realize this situation could happen again down the road. Making the choice to remain positive instead of focusing on the loss or finding someone to blame is keeping ones perspective on the “Big Picture”, your player and the team.

Remember, when you judge another person, you do not define them, you define yourself.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Quicksand in Athletics

In the film, "The Replacements", Gene Hackman asked his team of replacement players what they feared the most about playing professional football. One of the responses was "quicksand." Quicksand, as described by Keanu Reeves in the film, is what every athlete fears most - that helpless feeling of compounding one mistake after another, sinking deeper and deeper until you’re in over your head - like quicksand.

In the recent NCAA Final Four Basketball Playoffs, both UCLA and North Carolina experienced that feeling of being in quicksand. The teams played hard, each battled to within striking distance only to be pushed back at every turn. Neither team shot well nor seemed to catch a break but continued to fight. Both Memphis and Kansas played fearless for the entire game creating a feeling of concern and even panic in the minds of their opponents. As a result, opposing players began to try too hard, do too much, take the game on themselves, while others silently disappeared or became ineffective to the point where they added to their own demise.

Everyone makes mistakes, anyone can have a bad day or a bad game. The true test of being in quicksand, is how one handles it. UCLA and North Carolina displayed courage and class both during and after their games.(more than can be said for the sports writers who carved them up the next day to sell paper.) Both programs will learn from this experience and this setback will only make them stronger.

Quicksand can be experienced at every level and in every sport. The secret to overcoming it is to relax, stay within yourself, believe in your abilities and your teammates. The more one struggles the deeper one will sink. Remember, one game (good or bad) does not define a team or a player but one game can reveal, as well as build, character.