I'm fairly certain Joe is properly preparing for the physical stresses from next year's 142 game season, but it's the mental grind where he/we may be short.
Can anyone point to resources that will help prep for the mental grind (besides meditation)?
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Does he have a girlfriend?
A girlfriend may make it worse!!
Buy Heads up Baseball by Ken Ravizza. Used on Amazon for probably $5. Seriously. That is all he needs to start. A lot more to build on, but that is a solid and simple foundation.
JCG posted:Does he have a girlfriend?
I think the Manchester City Manager is prohibiting sex on the nights before a match.
Yes, but she's a FT student and will stay a FT student. I'd prefer NOT to be a grandfather right now.
Depends on the girl for sure! It seems like many of the most successful athletes I've seen over the years have some kind of foundation they seem to rely on - whether it's girlfriend, wife, church, hobbies, whatever - something solid they can go to that is separate from their identity as a player.
Corn Jr. went 100 plus games last year and 120 or so games this year as a catcher no problem, he could have gone more. His body was beat up, one big bruise but that never stopped him. You just have to want to be there everyday, be able to weather the tough times when you are struggling or cost your team a game. You need to be able to handle the stress of if you don't get it done, someone else will come in and take your place because it's going to happen. You need a love of the game above all else (except God and family of course), and the realization of how tough it is on any relationship and a willingness to put the game above that relationship if necessary. You have to get up everyday looking forward to getting to the field. Good teammates and management go a long way to making it happen. There is no magic formula, your best bet is having him talk to those who have been there to see what they went through. In many ways it's easier than a 50 game college season where classes, homework and social life intrudes.
Never, ever look at your average on the scoreboard
Too many games to do that
I had to look it up: son played 119 games and had 454 at bats from last February to August. Quite a bit more than the 20 game high school season in our area.
Like Corn said above, you have to love it. Everyday, love it. It's a grind.
I bought Steve Springer's CDs one year as a stocking stuffer. Here is a link. He used to post on the boards here a while back:
http://www.qualityatbats.com/b...-speaker-request.php
It couldn't hurt. I actually enjoyed listening to them, too. He has one called "The "Mental side of Hitting"
I feel there's been some good suggestions here and that Heads up Baseball by Ken Ravizza is an excellent read. But, to get ready mentally in the off season it seems best to divert one's mind and let it rest concerning what one needs to do during the season. Diversions are good in the off season.
More pointedly, what can really help in the off season is when one starts their conditioning training with goals of getting into the best physical shape they can. If you're not in great physical shape during the season, the grind can wear you down and affect your mental side a lot. The longer a player can stay fit during the season, the more they can handle the stress. This was one of the big factors that my son figured out after the first season, as he really struggles through his first year of pro ball as he got pretty tired physically when really did affect his mental side.
Now my son has found a place that does a great job of training. It is one that does a lot of work with the highest level of pro athletes. It is somewhat pricey, but son feels it is well worth it. He says it's best if one doesn't try to skimp on training in the off season.
Here's a web site for that kind of training: http://www.pmr-performance.com/
JCG posted:Does he have a girlfriend?
Life in the minors is tough, best thing that happen to my son was when his girlfriend (now his wife) started traveling with him. She was very supportive.
When my son was 9, he was absolutely crushed when the last tourney of the year got cancelled and he only got 97 games in that spring/summer/fall. He wanted 100......lol. I think that's when we first noticed that he might really like this stupid game. He's 19 now and I think he still feels the same way a the end of the year.
I dont know about the boys mental state but I always keep a few cold ones on ice in the cooler for those long doubleheaders in the dead of summer. Hot cocoa in the Mid Atlantic during Oct-Nov with a little spiced rum or equivalent....
joemktg posted:I'm fairly certain Joe is properly preparing for the physical stresses from next year's 142 game season, but it's the mental grind where he/we may be short.
Can anyone point to resources that will help prep for the mental grind (besides meditation)?
Every player is different. He has had a taste now with Rookie Ball so he will be fine going in. I think one thing that is critical, not so much for off season Prep, but for regular season grind is this: Do not be afraid to give your body a break when you need it. He will slump & want to go take 500 hacks in the cage & this can often compound the problem. He will need to find his own routine & rhythm. Talk to veteran guys. Ask his coaching resources how they did it & the mistakes they made. What would they have done different? These are guys with tons of Big League experience & a wealth of knowledge. Try some different approaches & when something clicks, ride that wave as long as it carries you. Make adjustments & stay positive. Forget about the #s & focus on approach. I am pulling for him.
Regards, Steve A.
