Call for nominations - Mental Skills MVP (Playoffs 1st round)

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Rowlett for two come from behind victories against Plano East. This was after losing game 1.

In fact, now that I think about it, I nominate the Rowlett and Plano East parents who had to watch it!!! I didn't think my heart could take it.

quote:

Originally posted by CoachTraub:
Let's give credit where credit is due! Please nominate any player who "Did his job" on the field extremely well this week. Mental skills are always important, but particularly in the post-season!

This award will not be given out solely on stats, although consideration will certainly be given to athletes who were "in the zone" and had great stats. ....

No nomination from me.. I think it is a nutty idea in the first place. It's difficult fans to gauge how a player was doing his job other than by the obvious results... hits, nice fielding plays, etc. How do we know what the coaching signals were and who really screwed up? How do we know what the coaching instruction was? In other words, how can you know if the job was done if you are not sure what the job was? Sometimes HR's are hit after missed hit and runs, etc., etc. How do we know who inspired who in the dug-out or in practice or on the field?

beenthere -- I agree.

Don't know how you gauge mental performance from an outsider's perspective. All of the boys are mentally tough to play in the playoffs, and face a large amount of pressure knowing that it's win or go home.

Dillon,

Call me Monday. I can't access your cell no. via my contact list in my cell phone.


Kirk

PD, BT..... I dont think you fully understand where coach traub is coming from. Its more of the player who can show the ability to bear down under pressure, example.. the pitcher who in a tight game strikes out the last 4 hitters to ice the 1-run lead, or the hitter who is behind 0-2 and battles back to walk/or hit...ect... I agree there are a lot of times when a so-so player just has a good day against a bad team, I think coach traub states its not about stats. JMHO

In that case, I nominate Steven Okert from Rowlett. He had pitched 12 innings all year and came into a game where his team really needed him to throw strikes. He went on to pitch three scoreless innings against Plano East in Game 3.

im sorry to be rude.
but this topic is ***

ntbaseball -- I think I know exactly where he is coming from.

The kid from Rowlett made an unexpected contribution in a big sitation -- but (with no disrespect Ringer1) he was/is no more mentally tough than anyone else on the field.

quote:

Originally posted by Panther Dad:
ntbaseball -- I think I know exactly where he is coming from.

The kid from Rowlett made an unexpected contribution in a big sitation -- but (with no disrespect Ringer1) he was/is no more mentally tough than anyone else on the field.

No disrespect taken but he walked into a game where no one could find the umpires strike zone. And I mean no one. I believe PE was up by five runs at that point. He had the weight on his shoulders to come in and throw strikes when no one else could and not to allow PE to increase their lead. Needless to say he came in and shut PE down for three innings. As I mentioned before, he only pitched 12 innings all season and that was when we were playing in the tournaments. He knew his job and did his job. He wins it hands down in my book. The Eagle nation is extremly proud of him.

It doesn't hurt that he's an ex Garland Cub I kinda favor those guys!!

PD, Beenthere, 2good, Dillon,

Is it ever a bad thing to recognize players? Why does this bug any of yall? Is it because your son hasnt been nominated PD? 2good, are you just too good for this kind of thing? Maybe all of you haters just got knocked out of the playoffs and yall are still bitter. Who knows.

Did you really need to bash this guy? Do yall feel better now?

TTU -- does it really bug you that much that some have this opinion? Apparently so. I couldn't care less about what my son has or has not been nominated for --- and you don't know my son, so why are you even bringing him up? If you really want my opinion on this subject, ask me in private, I'll be glad to share it. I'm not bashing anyone. Believe it or not, not every opinion that is shared here is related to our sons -- he was in 6th grade when I started posting here.

I'm sure your defense of the award is appreciated, but I guess you aren't ready to nominate anyone -- just here to be negative yourself?

Ok, am I being controversial yet?

Peace.

Wow PD, I've never seen this side of you. Are you OK

TTU,

i really dont want to hear your opinion on what you have to say.

and i do not have a kid.

o and i dont know how to get kicked of the playoffs...
thanx see ya have a nice day pal!

Ringer1 -- my response did not show mental toughness -- perhaps it's my post HS baseball player side showing. JAFO knows where I'm coming from here. Most of you know I'm kidding -- or am I????

CT,

do u not have mental toughness when u throw a bat in the state championship game? or self control

quote:

Originally posted by nortexbaseball:
PD, BT..... I dont think you fully understand where coach traub is coming from. Its more of the player who can show the ability to bear down under pressure, example...

Playing under pressure is important, but there is a lot more to mental skills than not succumbing to pressure. Alertness, studying the opposing pitcher's tendencies, etc., etc. Perhaps he should rename it the "Clutch MVP" or just drop the idea.

quote:

Originally posted by Panther Dad:
Ringer1 -- my response did not show mental toughness -- perhaps it's my post HS baseball player side showing. JAFO knows where I'm coming from here. Most of you know I'm kidding -- or am I????

Oh I knew you were kidding. Just trying to egg you on a little.

Can we put this award (with the ever-changing name and description) to bed for one last time? For many reasons it's not a good match for this website IMO.

I'm all in favor or recognizing kids and great performances, but this "award" is not the way to do it.

Can someone please tell me what the harm is in this?

There isn't any real harm, other than there will always be several kids overlooked. And I wish he would really look at kids that overcame something or got thrown into a tough situation in a game and came through, not the kids blessed with incredible talent that play well that week.

Always the skeptic, it looks to me like Coach Traub is keeping his book and website in front of everyone without paying any advertising to Julie.

First, thank you all so much. I love the banter! (And, of course, the free publicity. FYI, I have contacted Julie re: advertising. I want it here and she knows it, but alas, she's a very busy lady.)

Now I can go on and on about mental skills, and I already felt like my initial post was too long each week, but all this discussion makes me want to clarify my opinion about what mental skills are. To me, performance is determined by a combination of physical skills and mental skills. Physical skills are unknown constants of talent, speed, strength, and you could put mechanics in there, but adjusting mechanics is clearly mental, so that one's a mixed bag. Mental skills are EVERYTHING ELSE that impacts performance, from teamwork and self-esteem, to baseball IQ, to toughness. I think mental skills impact performance more than physical skills, especially as the level of play increases. (Former Mets GM Joe McIlvane "Ask any MLB player, manager, or GM, and they'll tell you it's 80% mental, or more.") And these are skills - things that can be learned and that improve with practice. The biggest ones for enhancing performance are, IMO, focus, attitude, and courage.

I have been blessed with great teachers, and I am fortunate to now have the opportunity to pass along these lessons to a high number of wonderful student-athletes. If you're reading this and your son hasn't had the benefit of a sport psychologist or mental skills coach, you don't have to hire me, but I strongly suggest looking into someone, or some book(s). I think of mental skills training as weight training for the mind, and something that will be standard in 75 years, just as weight training is now, but wasn't 75 years ago.

I try to give the award each week to the most deserving nominee. It is clearly a flawed system, but since it is free for everyone except me, I think it works out okay. The point is public, positive feedback. Nominations from parents in the stands are not only biased, but limited in detailed knowledge of what's going on in the athlete's head and in the dugout. Fine by me. I do, of course, accept nominations from players and coaches, too.

The nomination of Steven Okert is a perfect case of why this award is a good idea. This performance was obviously HUGE for Rowlett, and if you weren't there to see it, you probably have never heard of Steven before. That's certainly the case for me. Even if I was there, I wouldn't know if Steven got a bit lucky, or if he was just flat-out mentally tough, but I'm happy to err on the side of assuming it wasn't luck.

Finally, I want to thank PD, who to date doesn't seem to be on my side in this debate, but has nevertheless allowed it to continue.

Thank you sincerely for your time. Have a wonderful day.

-Aaron

Coach T,

I just happen to think that mental toughness is difficult to measure in one performance. When a hitter wins a battle and doubles on an 0-2 count, is he stronger mentally than in the circumstance when he flies out to the CF fence? If he fouls off 6 pitches, then K's on a nasty change up, is it a sign of mental weakness? Of course not. The pitcher won the battle -- it's baseball. If a kid battles through a sore arm because his team needs him in one instance.....and is unable to do it in another....is he mentally strong during the 1st outing and weak during the 2nd? If a kid sees an opportunity to drag bunt and utilizes his speed for an IF hit, is he mentally tough or just a good bunter -- or was the 3rd baseman sleeping? In my opinion, you have to judge focus, attitude, and especially courage over time -- not after a single strong game. I know a kid that went 0-11 entering the playoffs, who then responded with a 4-4 game. Was his perfect game at the plate a sign of mental toughness or the fact that it followed an 0-11 slump the true indicator that his focus remained solid? Others here have contributed their reasons for believing that the award is....I don't know the word....and it doesn't matter.

Is Plano West mentally tougher then their opponents because they're unbeaten -- or just a better team? Was Rowlett mentally tougher than Plano East? or just more talented? Maybe both. **shrug** No one will argue that mental skills are paramount to an individual's success. TTU believes I agreed with beenthere earlier because my son hasn't been nominated for this award. He's welcome to take a shot at me....no big deal....but I would never nominate my son for any award -- here or otherwise. To be honest, my son didn't see the value in, "when you make an error, pick up a handful of dirt and throw the error away". Yes, baseball requires a short memory. Against Wylie, with the wind blowing out, he surrendered 4 home runs.....and hit one off of a pretty good pitcher to tie the game. Was he mentally weak on the mound and mentally tough at the plate?

And, I do happen to agree with tychco -- I believe this award is designed as a way for you to receive free advertising on this site.....but you and I have discussed that issue in private and I'm ok with the topic.

PS III recently received a "suggested" reading list from one of his future college coaches. It includes 2-3 books on the mental aspects of the game. Obviously, many coaches see the importance of gaining mental strength. So, I don't think your ideas are wacky. But the topic seems more like a weekly beauty contest.

I don't type this too often but.....I'd like to hear Ken's ideas on this subject. And Go Stars, so I cam sleep! Wait -- Marty Turco almost had a mental letdown. (I'm KIDDING!!!)

-PD

I am still confused on why this "award" bothers yall?

quote:

but I guess you aren't ready to nominate anyone -- just here to be negative yourself?

PD - i dont come on here to be negative, i posted because i didnt see the need in you guys being negative. And i dont nominate anyone because i am not able to go to any games right now. Why dont you nominate someone? Did you post just to be negative? apparently so.

No need to continue the debate TTU -- I think I explained myself above. We can agree to disagree, I have no problem with you. Disagreeing with someone is not necessarily being negative. Coach T is mentally tough, he can handle consenting opinions.

Certainly, we must all know what's controllable and what's not if we are to completely win the "mental game" of anything.

Mental skills are indeed difficult to evaluate. I spent 13 years as a college baseball coach trying to figure out why performance fluctuates so much. You can imagine that I got pretty frustrated at times. I have literally devoted my professional life to trying to answer this question, and figure out what we can do about it. One of my stated goals: figure out what works and repeat it, and what doesn't and change it. I suggest athletes do the same.

quote:

To be honest, my son didn't see the value in, "when you make an error, pick up a handful of dirt and throw the error away". Yes, baseball requires a short memory.

In the case above, it is my hope that:

First, I explained this technique well the day I met your son, and...
Second, your son tried this kinesthetic cue (it's designed to basically remind oneself that "a release equals forgive and forget") with an open mind, hopeful and optimistic that it would help him improve in this challenging (mental) skill. Even if he did this (I don't try to guess if this happened or not because I have no idea), it certainly might not work for him. It's merely a suggestion, so if it works, do it. If not, don't. I do know- because they've told me- that it's a suggestion that makes a significant difference in performance for a small percentage of athletes I work with.

P.S. I am getting free advertising, but I'm also happy to share these ideas for free. Professionally, my first goal is to add value to good people's lives. My second is to add value to my family's bank account by meeting that first goal.

Not all free publicity is good publicity. You reap what you sew... and so be it.

I never officially announced it, but Steven Okert did win last week, and should receive his award at school today if the USPS cooperates.