I think you see a lot more successful pitchers with what I'll call quiet confidence than you you see successful pitchers with "swagger". The more you play at a higher level, the more the swagger gets knocked out of you. The ones that hang in there are the quiet confidence guys. Swagger's over rated.
Tx-Husker,
I agree and welcome to the Big 10!
I agree and welcome to the Big 10!
quote:Tx-Husker,
I agree and welcome to the Big 10!
Looking forward to the Hawkeye Fry after Thanksgiving!
We're sitting right where I thought we would be after 5 games. Hopefully they can correct a few things and start clicking.
Not sure I am! But I'm looking forward to that rivalry in years to come. Your coach looks like a MAD MAN!
quote:Your coach looks like a MAD MAN!
Who wouldn't be after that showing in cheeseland. Hopefully that will be the motivation they need.
quote:Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
I think you see a lot more successful pitchers with what I'll call quiet confidence than you you see successful pitchers with "swagger". The more you play at a higher level, the more the swagger gets knocked out of you. The ones that hang in there are the quiet confidence guys. Swagger's over rated.
I agree with the quiet confidence assessment, however, IMHO that's what swagger is. People seem to be putting swagger in the same category as cockiness and that's not how I've defined it over the years...of course, I could be wrong.
This is one year, I'm very glad we don't play the Badgers. I think they are going to have a long list of victims.
Just thought of something, there is a slight chance we might play them this year and there is the possibility the Huskers might play them again.
Just thought of something, there is a slight chance we might play them this year and there is the possibility the Huskers might play them again.
quote:I agree with the quiet confidence assessment, however, IMHO that's what swagger is.
Not sure how adults translate swagger, but when kids refer to and identify swagger it's what us older folks define as visible cockiness....in my opinion.
bsbl247,
If you have enough ability and you are successful... Do you automatically have "swagger"?
If you have enough ability and you are successful... Do you automatically have "swagger"?
quote:Just thought of something, there is a slight chance we might play them this year and there is the possibility the Huskers might play them again.
I'm HOPING we get another shot at them. Not sure we win, but we'll give them a much better game.
quote:Originally posted by PGStaff:
bsbl247,
If you have enough ability and you are successful... Do you automatically have "swagger"?
I guess you can say that the swagger (quiet confidence) comes from your success and ability...hmmm, I get it.
quote:I guess you can say that the swagger (quiet confidence) comes from your success and ability
Swagger and quiet confidence are opposites, not the same.
confidence comes from success and being six foot five does not necessarily make a good pitcher
quote:Originally posted by Tx-Husker:quote:I guess you can say that the swagger (quiet confidence) comes from your success and ability
Swagger and quiet confidence are opposites, not the same.
Swagger is a slang term, therefore it's not defined in the dictionary...unless of course we want to utilize the Urban Dictionary, and they have a number of examples that support you and me. So, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.
It's a "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" thing, huh?
Swagger to me has always been defined as an outward attempt to show "confidence" in one's ability. Walk a certain way, talk a certain way, act a certain way. I am much more impressed with the players who simply play a certain way. Or the teams that simply play a certain way. There are some very talented players who carry a swagger with them. There are some very talented players who simply play the game and do it very well. But there is not much worse than seeing a kid with a bunch of swagger with no game. But I love to see the kid who has a ton of game but carries himself with respect and humility for it. JMO
quote:Originally posted by Coach_May:
Swagger to me has always been defined as an outward attempt to show "confidence" in one's ability. Walk a certain way, talk a certain way, act a certain way. I am much more impressed with the players who simply play a certain way. Or the teams that simply play a certain way. There are some very talented players who carry a swagger with them. There are some very talented players who simply play the game and do it very well. But there is not much worse than seeing a kid with a bunch of swagger with no game. But I love to see the kid who has a ton of game but carries himself with respect and humility for it. JMO
I'll chime in late on the "swagger" issue. I think it's the wrong term.
How about quiet confidence? The kid who makes an error, or strikes out, and instead of dwelling on it, they immediately move on. They know more so than anyone they made a mistake, but in their mind they are thinking "Do that again, I'll get it done this time."
I also see it in the way kids carry themselves on the field and in the dugout. There are vocal leaders sure, but there are also quiet leaders who lead by example and are the first to pick a player up when he's down, get everyone fired up etc...
How about quiet confidence? The kid who makes an error, or strikes out, and instead of dwelling on it, they immediately move on. They know more so than anyone they made a mistake, but in their mind they are thinking "Do that again, I'll get it done this time."
I also see it in the way kids carry themselves on the field and in the dugout. There are vocal leaders sure, but there are also quiet leaders who lead by example and are the first to pick a player up when he's down, get everyone fired up etc...
Ok, my two cents: Quiet confidence implies optimism in ability to overcome temporary setback or failure. Swagger often lacks that optimism.
Swag or swagger. To act like your a baller. To walk and talk like you have game. To act like the game owes you something and everyone should be excited because you are in their presence. To strike out and laugh or smirk because you don't want for one second for anyone to think it bothered you. In fact you want them to think you don't care if you fail. To hit a home run and act like your the only one that can hit a home run and you can do it anytime you want to. You just did so you proved your point. To walk with a proud look and to act like your the shiznit. Why? Because in your mind thats the way you show it. You care when you do well you don't care when you don't. You have the Oakleys turned up on the hat during a night game. You have the Mr T starter kit going on around your neck. You have enough bands on your arms to tie up the opposing team if you wanted to. And if you wanted to you could because you have swag.
Quiet confidence. You let your glove, bat, arm and ability speak for itself. You wear your uniform like everyone else because your a team mate just like every one else. When you strike out you simply get back to the dugout. You dont want to bring any negative energy to your team or the guy your passing as he is headed to the plate. When you get a hit or hit a jack you act like you have done it before because you have. Your quiet confidence rubs off on your team mates. You respect the game because you know no other way to play the game or treat the game. You understand you just hit a jack and you could have struck out to end the game. Why? Because you have. So you get around the bags and on the outside you are showing your opponents the respect they deserve and on the inside your screaming "Hel Yes." And your team mates see that quiet confidence and they are inspired by it.
I don't expect people to agree with me. But I am not running for any office so I really don't care. If you have to act like you have something you dont have it. If its who you are and how you play the game then it comes naturally because its who you are. You understand that failure is part of the game and your thankfull not pridefull.
If you have to act like your confident then your only acting. If your confident there is nothing needed to show you are. You just are.
Quiet confidence. You let your glove, bat, arm and ability speak for itself. You wear your uniform like everyone else because your a team mate just like every one else. When you strike out you simply get back to the dugout. You dont want to bring any negative energy to your team or the guy your passing as he is headed to the plate. When you get a hit or hit a jack you act like you have done it before because you have. Your quiet confidence rubs off on your team mates. You respect the game because you know no other way to play the game or treat the game. You understand you just hit a jack and you could have struck out to end the game. Why? Because you have. So you get around the bags and on the outside you are showing your opponents the respect they deserve and on the inside your screaming "Hel Yes." And your team mates see that quiet confidence and they are inspired by it.
I don't expect people to agree with me. But I am not running for any office so I really don't care. If you have to act like you have something you dont have it. If its who you are and how you play the game then it comes naturally because its who you are. You understand that failure is part of the game and your thankfull not pridefull.
If you have to act like your confident then your only acting. If your confident there is nothing needed to show you are. You just are.
quote:If you have to act like your confident then your only acting. If your confident there is nothing needed to show you are. You just are.
You nailed "It" Coach May, well written!
Coach,
I think your "second" paragraph defines "swagger" the way I see it. Your first paragraph describes a "wannabe".
I've never heard anyone say... We don't want that kid... He has plus tools... He has plus makeup... But he lacks swagger!
I think your "second" paragraph defines "swagger" the way I see it. Your first paragraph describes a "wannabe".
I've never heard anyone say... We don't want that kid... He has plus tools... He has plus makeup... But he lacks swagger!
Perfect, Coach.
Coach May - There must be six or eight good books in your bank of experience and wisdom.
I started reading this thread out of boredom since there is a rain delay on the Rangers game. My two cents worth - - let your playin' do your talkin'! That's what my husband always told our son when he was younger. It started with little kids trying to one-up each other in coach-pitch ball. It continued for several years until our son was a high school freshman. He was the only freshman at his HS to pitch in varsity games that year and we were told only 3 or 4 had done so in the last 20 years. The varsity coach came to me during the year and said he couldn't figure son out. He said he acted like he couldn't care less about baseball. I told him that was just our son's personality. Coach was a real yeller during that period! I told coach that our son didn't respond very well to yelling. Coach mellowed over the rest of our son's time in high school, son PROVED just how much he cared about baseball, got a scholarship, won the starting catcher position as a college freshman(he changed from pitcher to catcher as a HS sophomore), and just last week his HS coach and I were laughing about how he had mistaken our son's quietness for indifference. Incidentally, now, when he's on the field, he's a real tiger!
Sometimes, kids just have to grow into their body. Our son was big and tall for his age and oftentimes I thought folks mistakenly believed him to be older.
Sometimes, kids just have to grow into their body. Our son was big and tall for his age and oftentimes I thought folks mistakenly believed him to be older.
When my son was senior in high school I told him it was his turn to lead. I told him he needed to show some emotion. Be the "let's go get 'em" holler guy.
He told me he leads. He said he leads with his bat, glove and baserunning. He said when he makes a mistake he doesn't act like it's the end of the world. When someone else performs he's there to high five him.
His junior year the team won the conference with a walk off hit. He was on base. He was the last to arrive at the dogpile at the plate. He looked at the pile, calculated and carefully jumped on. He didn't know how to display excessive passion.
I think my kid hates losing more than he enjoys winning. He expects to win.
He told me he leads. He said he leads with his bat, glove and baserunning. He said when he makes a mistake he doesn't act like it's the end of the world. When someone else performs he's there to high five him.
His junior year the team won the conference with a walk off hit. He was on base. He was the last to arrive at the dogpile at the plate. He looked at the pile, calculated and carefully jumped on. He didn't know how to display excessive passion.
I think my kid hates losing more than he enjoys winning. He expects to win.
Maybe he will be a coach one day. I have never enjoyed any win as much as I hated a loss. I expect to win. I feel we have done what we expected to do when we win. I hate to lose. As soon as a win is over I am thinking about what we need to do to get better. What we need to learn from this game. What we can do better. What we need to focus on in practice the next day. Winning is a relief in many ways for me. There are a few wins that stick out over the years. They are all games where I knew we were not as talented as the team we played. But we won because we did all the little things you can control and overcame the things you can not control. Every loss sticks with me. Losing motivates me to work even harder. Winning is just a result of working harder.
quote:Originally posted by PGStaff:
Coach,
I think your "second" paragraph defines "swagger" the way I see it. Your first paragraph describes a "wannabe".
That's how I've been interpreting the definition all these years, quiet confidence. The first paragraph in CM's definition appears to be flat out cockiness...something I'd never endorse, nor would the majority of people on here.
Every kid is different.
And some kids are leaders on team, even if they don't realize they are. I have a couple of guys on my team who have matured into this role. I think they finally realized that the many of the other players key off of these guys.
If these guys aren't worried when we're down, and they are still in it, then the whole team follows. When these guys tend to waver, so does the team.
Some kids get upset when they don't do well. Some players, parents and coaches see this selfish. It can be sometimes. But watch the reaction of these kids when THEY have a good game and the team doesn't. What about when they have a mediocre to bad performance but the TEAM does well. How do they act then?
I once asked a question of my team. Would they rather go 4-4 with 2 Home Runs, and make some spectacular plays or would they rather have a bad game and the team does well and wins.
Baseball players are just like any other human being. They are all different, and treating or teaching them the same way will never work for all of them.
And some kids are leaders on team, even if they don't realize they are. I have a couple of guys on my team who have matured into this role. I think they finally realized that the many of the other players key off of these guys.
If these guys aren't worried when we're down, and they are still in it, then the whole team follows. When these guys tend to waver, so does the team.
Some kids get upset when they don't do well. Some players, parents and coaches see this selfish. It can be sometimes. But watch the reaction of these kids when THEY have a good game and the team doesn't. What about when they have a mediocre to bad performance but the TEAM does well. How do they act then?
I once asked a question of my team. Would they rather go 4-4 with 2 Home Runs, and make some spectacular plays or would they rather have a bad game and the team does well and wins.
Baseball players are just like any other human being. They are all different, and treating or teaching them the same way will never work for all of them.
quote:Originally posted by Coach_May:
Swag or swagger. To act like your a baller. To walk and talk like you have game. To act like the game owes you something and everyone should be excited because you are in their presence. To strike out and laugh or smirk because you don't want for one second for anyone to think it bothered you. In fact you want them to think you don't care if you fail. To hit a home run and act like your the only one that can hit a home run and you can do it anytime you want to. You just did so you proved your point. To walk with a proud look and to act like your the shiznit. Why? Because in your mind thats the way you show it. You care when you do well you don't care when you don't. You have the Oakleys turned up on the hat during a night game. You have the Mr T starter kit going on around your neck. You have enough bands on your arms to tie up the opposing team if you wanted to. And if you wanted to you could because you have swag.
Quiet confidence. You let your glove, bat, arm and ability speak for itself. You wear your uniform like everyone else because your a team mate just like every one else. When you strike out you simply get back to the dugout. You dont want to bring any negative energy to your team or the guy your passing as he is headed to the plate. When you get a hit or hit a jack you act like you have done it before because you have. Your quiet confidence rubs off on your team mates. You respect the game because you know no other way to play the game or treat the game. You understand you just hit a jack and you could have struck out to end the game. Why? Because you have. So you get around the bags and on the outside you are showing your opponents the respect they deserve and on the inside your screaming "Hel Yes." And your team mates see that quiet confidence and they are inspired by it.
I don't expect people to agree with me. But I am not running for any office so I really don't care. If you have to act like you have something you dont have it. If its who you are and how you play the game then it comes naturally because its who you are. You understand that failure is part of the game and your thankfull not pridefull.
If you have to act like your confident then your only acting. If your confident there is nothing needed to show you are. You just are.
I am so proud of Coach May for sharing his feelings here. He is one of the main reasons why I have remained a member here for so long. He is just like the rest of us and can get down from time to time but he has a wonderful spirit and is blessed by God to be able to convey true feelings, emotion, and passion this way.
He believes in the same things that I do about the game and almost all of them have nothing to do with the game. I am proud he is my friend and proud that he continues to be one of the top contributors to our site.
I hate losing more than I enjoy winning....but at least FOR ME it depends on how we lost.
If we lose a good, tight game to a GOOD team...that doesn't bother me NEAR AS MUCH as making mental errors and losing to a team that wasn't better than us.
I tell my guys that errors happen. Strike outs happen. Walking batters happens. But mental errors? That JUST BURNS ME UP. Knowing what to do, and making an error is one thing. Making an error BECAUSE you didn't know what to do before the pitch just gets my goat.
If we lose a good, tight game to a GOOD team...that doesn't bother me NEAR AS MUCH as making mental errors and losing to a team that wasn't better than us.
I tell my guys that errors happen. Strike outs happen. Walking batters happens. But mental errors? That JUST BURNS ME UP. Knowing what to do, and making an error is one thing. Making an error BECAUSE you didn't know what to do before the pitch just gets my goat.
I need a button on my computer that prints out:
"Coach May: I AGREE WITH THAT"
"Coach May: I AGREE WITH THAT"