All players, regardless of ability, will have the occasional rough one (except maybe Erik Davis!). My '08 RHP has had his share over the years. But this year, when things got rough, he did something he'd never done before. He kept enjoying what he was doing. He even smiled at times in the midst of it all! This is not the same kid of 2-3 years ago who would let a bad outing bother him for days.
Here's the deal. Prior to yesterday's bad game, he had pitched 15 innings, walked only 3, and K'd 41 of the 45 outs needed over those 15. He'd only given up two hits.
Yesterday we played the team he no-hit two weeks ago. Did they suddenly rip him this time? No! He threw a one-hitter this time. Here's the rub, though....he walked nine guys in the five inning time-limit game. NINE! We lost the game on a one-hitter. After the game when the team circled up, son took complete ownership of the loss. His chin was up and he just basically said he stunk it up. He was smiling and just said 'it happens'. He didn't make excuses (pitching off a portable 8" high styrofoam mound that he couldn't stride on because of the 2-inch drop-off on the front). Welcome to Korea! Our umps are also somewhat inexperienced and made a lot of mysterious calls -- but they did it both ways, and they did their best. Those are MY excuses, though!! He never came up with any - not in front of the team, anyway. Later, at home, he talked about the mound issues, but said he should have found a way to adapt. I told him I was glad he didn't, because it would have meant not really pitching anymore, but more like throwing BP and I don't want him to mess with his mechanics because of a Little League porta-mound. I wonder if they would have let him throw off of flat ground? We do have to play their again, once more, and not sure really what to do. I did tell him to treasure the proper dirt mounds he'll finally get to next fall!
Anyway, I was really happy to see his reaction to his first bad outing of this season. For the first time, he took it in stride and Captained-up when talking to the team afterwards. I was proud of him.
As he goes on to play in college, he'll remember that 'it happens'. And he'll remember how he still felt good having handled it mentally the right way instead of blowing it out of proportion as in the past. Progress!
Players -- there are rough games ahead. At the plate, in the field, on the hill.....next time it happens, take a breath and remember all the GOOD things you've done and will do. It's not always easy, but you will feel much better and have yourself where you need to be to go out next time and turn it around. Yep - that was one of the ones that comes along now and then - glad to have it out of the way. Now put me back in Coach, I'm ready to play!
Good luck everyone, and stay on the sunny side of the street!
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