I like to spend Sunday evenings relaxing and during this time of the year, watching the Sunday Night Baseball Game of the Week! Maybe you saw some of it too, if not it's a great way to pick up on some great skills if you play baseball. With summer almost here, you can probably talk your parents into letting you stay up later to watch it! Last night the Dodgers played the Cardinals. The Dodger's pitcher, was having trouble from the start, and by the middle of the second inning, after he had loaded the bases with no outs, I was saying to myself that they should take him out! If you're a baseball fan, you know that this is something that you never do... take out a starting pitcher, unless absolutely necessary, prior to the 6th inning, because it messes with your starting pitcher rotation. None-the-less, I was thinking, for the sake of THIS game, TAKE HIM OUT!
Well, their Manager, Don Mattingly, didn't take my short-term advice... and by the 7th inning, the Dodgers were behind by 2 runs. And just like that, in one swing of the bat, a pinch hitter drove a ball over the left field fence, bringing in 3 runs and giving the Dodgers the lead which they kept through the end of the game!
After the game, I was thinking about my knee-jerk, emotional reaction in the second inning, my desire to TAKE HIM OUT shortly after the pitcher started having difficulty, regardless of the consequences to the rest of the team, the rotation, the other pitchers, and his confidence. In that moment, there were a few things I forgot:
1. Sometimes when the going gets tough, the tough need a chance to stay in, stick it out, and get going. Taking the pitcher out, effectively forcing him to quit, could, quite possibly destroy his confidence and effect his performance for way more than one game.
What do you tell yourself when things get tough? Do you give up, and look for your "reliever." If so, what are you saying about yourself, and how does it effect your confidence the next time things get tough?
2. There isn't always a back-up to get you out of sticky situations. Sometimes you need to "hold the line" and when it gets tough, DIG IN.
When things get tough for you in your life, do you throw your hands up in the air and quit? If you're really in, truly committed, and you keep yourself in the game in spite of how difficult it is, you'll usually find that you have the ability to rise to the occasion, coming up with incredibly creative ideas that you never would have come up with otherwise.
3. When you're playing on a team, winning and losing is a TEAM effort. If one person struggles, on a winning team, the others pick up the slack. Team builds character and confidence. Team requires FAITH.
Who is on YOUR team? Do you give your teammates the chance to support you, and pick up the slack when you're not at your best? Do you have back-up that you're confident in? Do you have faith in your team?
Warm Up
21-15-9
DB Sumo Deadlift High Pull
Tire Jumps
DB Swing
*100m Run after each round
Skill
3 Rounds
5 Medball Clean
5 GHD Sit Ups
WOD
3 Rounds
200m Run
10 Medball Cleans
1 Rope Climb
