I can vividly recall from my playing days the voice of my coaches calling out to me on the field “Know where you’re going with the ball!”. I had great coaches who taught the fine details of the game. They made sure that every player on the field was aware what was happening at all times. They taught my teammates and I that every player had a job no matter if your team was in the field or if you were at bat. This was an easy concept for me because I was a catcher. The catcher is the field general and is one of the two important defensive players along with the pitcher because these two positions touch the ball, by far, more than any other player on the field. They have been nicknamed “the battery” as coined by Henry Chadwick in 1860 due to their combined effectiveness in providing defensive firepower.
Self-Knowledge Week 3 (Part of the baseball mindset curriculum try a trial here) really drills down to a player’s focus on situations so that swift action can be taken when called to action. This lesson focuses on knowing clearly what you should do in every situation that could occur during a game. Every player should have the same mentality no matter if you are in the game or not. What inning is it? How many runners are on? How many outs are there? Go through your progressions. If I’m on second base and a ball is hit through the hole to right field what should I be doing as I approach third base? If I’m on first and there is a fly ball to left center where should I be as a baserunner? If the team is down a run and there is a guy on third with less than two outs what should I be trying to do with the ball as a hitter to score a run? What types of pitches should I be working for to knock the runner in? What types of pitches should I avoid? Does my spot in the lineup matter? Who is coming up after me? If I’m in right field and a single is hit to me with a runner on first what do I need to do to prevent the runner on first from making it to third?
As you can see, baseball is very situational. Your mindset must focus and recalibrate not only from at bat to at bat but even from pitch to pitch. Here are four tips for maintaining laser-like focus:
- Repeat the situation – This is as simple as stating to yourself the inning, score, outs, count, etc. The situation is the foundation for everything that comes next.
- Know your “why”. Go through your individual progressions each pitch – Once you know the situation then go through your progressions. This is your “why”. If you’re in the field and the ball comes to you what are you supposed to do? What is your role in your at bat? Where should you be pitching this batter?
- Recalibrate – Have a mental reset button. If you play in the outfield, have the same routine between every pitch so that from the start of the game to the end of the game you can see a path being worn down in the grass. If you’re an infielder, after each pitch you smooth out the infield dirt in front of you as you recalibrate. If you’re at bat, maybe as you step out you take the same number of practice swings or maybe you tighten your batting gloves. These things will be your ritual or process to recalibrate between pitches and go through your progressions.
- Verbalize or Signal – Talk to your teammates in the field. Communicate in the dugout. Talk to yourself at the plate. Have some signals to each other that communicate that you both understand what to do. Be confident and follow through.
– Brian Walters