The mental side of the game

Good topic.

I am not sure many realize that no matter how good the skills are, playing at the ML level requires mental skills as well.  

As talented as he is, I think he needed a lot of growing up.

The higher up you go the more the talent there is and the main differentiation is mental approach. I know at the end of my son's college career he was used a lot at the back end of games because he was mentally fearless. 

Great topic!  And great(er) example!!

I think there's plenty of opportunity along the way as parents to help with this process. 

Don't offer your kids many (if any) excuses (e.g. 'your coach sucks,' 'your coach plays favorites,' etc...).

Ask them how they're going to address shortcomings...listen, guide...nudge.  But let them own it even if its driving you nuts inside.

Let them make mistakes...and learn from them.  You probably learn better from experience than someone telling you - let them do at least a little of the same.

- Ask them how they're going to address shortcomings...listen, guide...nudge.  But let them own it even if its driving you nuts inside. -

My father only offered one piece of advice when I complained: You can be a pussy and quit or you can suck it up and deal with it.

It's the kind of advice you get from a WWII Marine. 

When I coached baseball, softball and basketball I told kids at the end of close games ...

"This is us what you sign up for. You don't sign up to play in one sided games. Cherish these moments as the best times you will have playing the game. But be prepared for when these situations arise."

Almost everyone in college ball was at least all conference at some level. In college ball half these players will be on the bench waiting for their opportunity. It may only occur once. Be prepared mentally and physically.

I will always remember this story...

When my son was a freshman getting ready for HS tryouts, his pitching coach was the pitching coach for the Red Sox AA team at the time.  When we were seeing him shortly before tryouts, I was talking to him about what I would like to see happen with my son.  I said I would like to see him pitch some varsity and play position on JV.  His response was "If he doesn't pitch varsity, the coaches are idiots.  And if he does make varsity, I hope he gets rocked".  I was dumbfounded.  I asked him why he would say something like that.  He said at his level, the biggest obstacle they have to overcome is the mental aspect of their pitchers.  He said most of the pitchers at that level have been dominant their whole lives.  He stated that at some point, everyone will get hit.  The hitters are just too good.  And he's seen way too many pitchers wind up getting shelled at some point, and their confidence gets rocked as well.  They just don't know how to deal with the adversity and are never the same again.  So, he wanted my son to experience that so that when faced with adversity later on, he would know how to deal with it.  

Fast forward to the HS season.  My son did wind up pitching varsity as a starter.  Pitched some really good games.  One start in particular, he did wind up getting rocked.  I mean he gave up something like 7 runs in 3 innings.  Everything he threw up there, got hit hard.  We lost the game.  Afterwards I talked to him and said, well, you can either think that you just stink, or you can believe that you stunk today and go out and get them next time.  He basically said, I know I stunk today...  Next start, he threw a complete game in a 3-1 win.  Gave up one earned run on 71 pitches in 7 innings.  Now that's the way to come back from adversity.  

I'll never forget that lesson from his pitching coach and I don't think bballson will either.

Thanks, RJM, for such a good topic! 

Here are a couple books on the subject that I gave to son many years ago, that reinforced & help him learn this most important aspect of the game. Would recommend these to parents & players who are interested in preparing their strategy for growth in this game...

The Mental Game of Baseball & The Mental ABC's of Pitching by H A Dorfman, Sports Pscychologist.

Many coaches pay lip service to the mental side of the game, but sabotage it because  of their inability to control what comes out of their mouths.

As a coach, I'm happy about that, because their lack of self-discipline helps my teams win more games.

But the fact that coaches are imperfect is no excuse for the players.  The successful ones take it upon themselves to mentally harden themselves against the mentally counterproductive words coming out of their own coaches' mouths.