Of Baseball & Life
On The Mound:
Throw strikes. Early and often. You are not better off flirting with the outside corner and walking the world. Trust your stuff and go after hitters. You’re in charge. You’re in command. Act like it. Attack.
Note: A 400 foot foul ball is just as dangerous as a 15 foot foul ball. Both are strikes. Both are harmless. Both get you closer to an out. Get back on the rubber go again.
This game will not reward you for being afraid of hitters. Every man you walk is a run waiting to happen. Every ball put in play is a chance to make an out. Every time you get on the mound you have the chance to win. Hit your spots. Stick to the plan. Breathe and stay the course.
Trust your defense. When you throw strikes the ball is going to get hit. And that’s okay. The manager runs 8 other players onto the field for that very reason. Their job is the catch the ball, throw the ball, and keep you in the game. Your job is to let them do their job.
At The Plate:
Be ready to swing. If you walk up to the plate looking for 4 balls you’re probably going to take 3 strikes. Have a plan. Do your homework. Be ready. And attack the ball with authority.
Your job is to hit the ball hard. You can’t always hit home runs. You can’t always get on base. But 3 times out of 10 over your career could get you in the Hall of Fame. Get the bat off your shoulder. Get set. And have a hack.
Take what the pitcher gives you. I know you want to pull the ball 450 feet down the line. But it’s not easy to do that on a 97 mile-per-hour fastball on outside corner. Stay patient and get it. That gap in right-center is where doubles live. And it’s not a bad place to hang out.
In The Field:
Keep your head in the game. You need to know the count, the score, the runners, how many outs there are, where the dude hits the ball, where the coach wants you to be. You need to be prepared and paying attention. Give yourself a chance.
Stay on your toes. There’s a strong chance that the next pitch is going to be hit and it’s going to come your way. If you’re not ready, that’s on you. If you are ready you have given yourself a chance to make the play and to succeed. The more chances you give yourself to succeed the more successful that you will be.
Hit the cut-off man. He’s there for a reason, he’s the safety switch. He’s the guy who is going to give you another chance to succeed. He’s the guy that is going to stop the runner from taking an extra base. He’s your teammate. You are not here to do this alone. Get to the ball and get it to him quickly and accurately.
Now, if you can’t go back and read those points and see how they apply to your life, you probably aren’t a baseball fan. And that’s okay. But if you are, remember that you are not alone, there are times when you can and need to rely on others. And times when you have to attack and stay in control. Do these things and you will give yourself a chance to succeed in life and on the field.
Play Ball. Be Awesome.
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creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.
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Of Baseball & Life
By Joshua Murray
On The Mound:
Throw strikes. Early and often. You are not better off flirting with the outside corner and walking the world. Trust your stuff and go after hitters. You’re in charge. You’re in command. Act like it. Attack.
Note: A 400 foot foul ball is just as dangerous as a 15 foot foul ball. Both are strikes. Both are harmless. Both get you closer to an out. Get back on the rubber go again.
This game will not reward you for being afraid of hitters. Every man you walk is a run waiting to happen. Every ball put in play is a chance to make an out. Every time you get on the mound you have the chance to win. Hit your spots. Stick to the plan. Breathe and stay the course.
Trust your defense. When you throw strikes the ball is going to get hit. And that’s okay. The manager runs 8 other players onto the field for that very reason. Their job is the catch the ball, throw the ball, and keep you in the game. Your job is to let them do their job.
At The Plate:
Be ready to swing. If you walk up to the plate looking for 4 balls you’re probably going to take 3 strikes. Have a plan. Do your homework. Be ready. And attack the ball with authority.
Your job is to hit the ball hard. You can’t always hit home runs. You can’t always get on base. But 3 times out of 10 over your career could get you in the Hall of Fame. Get the bat off your shoulder. Get set. And have a hack.
Take what the pitcher gives you. I know you want to pull the ball 450 feet down the line. But it’s not easy to do that on a 97 mile-per-hour fastball on outside corner. Stay patient and get it. That gap in right-center is where doubles live. And it’s not a bad place to hang out.
In The Field:
Keep your head in the game. You need to know the count, the score, the runners, how many outs there are, where the dude hits the ball, where the coach wants you to be. You need to be prepared and paying attention. Give yourself a chance.
Stay on your toes. There’s a strong chance that the next pitch is going to be hit and it’s going to come your way. If you’re not ready, that’s on you. If you are ready you have given yourself a chance to make the play and to succeed. The more chances you give yourself to succeed the more successful that you will be.
Hit the cut-off man. He’s there for a reason, he’s the safety switch. He’s the guy who is going to give you another chance to succeed. He’s the guy that is going to stop the runner from taking an extra base. He’s your teammate. You are not here to do this alone. Get to the ball and get it to him quickly and accurately.
Now, if you can’t go back and read those points and see how they apply to your life, you probably aren’t a baseball fan. And that’s okay. But if you are, remember that you are not alone, there are times when you can and need to rely on others. And times when you have to attack and stay in control. Do these things and you will give yourself a chance to succeed in life and on the field.
Play Ball. Be Awesome.
Author profile
creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.
My dad was my baseball coach….he played some semi-pro catcher….I think a lot of what he taught me on the diamond has helped me in life…
My mom and dad were my first coaches when I was 5. I learned a lot about baseball from them and from my grand-dad. I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything and I still love baseball and think it’s the greatest game on earth.