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| Baseball the mental game: |
The Mental Game
The goal of a baseball player is simple: to play as well as his ability allows. In order to do this, a player must perform the difficult, seemingly contradicting task of being aware of his abilities, but eliminate expectations of either positive or negative performance.
First off, a player must become fully aware of his talent, both in the present, and potentially in the future. This self-awareness lets a player know what he realistically can and cannot do as a player, allowing him to work on his deficiencies in practice.
But once game time comes, a player needs to throw out all notions of his talent, all his expectations, and focus purely on the present.
No Expectations
The key to playing well in games is to have No Expectations. That is, a player must not impose any ideas of success (or failure) on to his present action. Expectations are merely external thoughts which inhibit a player from remaining focused in the present. Examples of expectations include trying to impress the coach, trying to get a hit, trying to hit a home run, trying to throw as hard as possible, trying to make an all-star team, trying to make up for the last at-bat, trying to show everyone how much you care, and trying not to fail.
After all, when high expectations are dashed, there is despair. When high expectations are met, there is complacency. When low expectations are not met, there is despair. When low expectations are met, potential is not reached.
This premise is not to say that a player should be indifferent and not care about picking up a ground ball or throwing a strike. It’s just that athletes play better when they are doing things naturally and relaxed, and the same as they do in practice or visualize in their dreams. Everyone has heard about “The Zone”, where a player goes to another place and always hits the ball perfect, or always throws pitches where he wants to. In fact, The Zone is a real place, a subconscious state which occurs when a player has eliminated all of his expectations, and is simply doing what he has taught his body and mind to do through practice and experience.
In addition, the byproducts of having no expectations are amazing. It means a player’s emotions won’t get too high, nor get too low. Great swings of emotion, while sometimes causing great lifts, can also cause great falls. Too much emotion may be successful in the short run, but not in the long run.
No Expectations also means being focused solely in the present. If a player has No Expectations, he won’t be able to carry a bad at-bat out into the field because he didn’t have expectation of good or bad at-bat in the first place. Nor will he let bad at-bats affect future at-bats; nor will he let poor batting practice affect him in the game; nor will he let a fielder’s error ruin his concentration on the mound; nor will he let a throwing error cause worry that the same thing will happen on the next play.
In short, having no expectations is liberating. No more will stress, anger, cockiness, and failure affect your play. Instead, you will have a greater chance to play to your potential – the same potential you show in practice, or just glimpses of in games.
Anecdotally it makes sense too. The best players are known for not letting anything bother them. They aren’t intimidated, they don’t care if they’ve struck out five times in a row, they don’t care if someone just hit a home run off of them, they don’t care if the ball is hit to them with the winning run on third. They simply forget what happened in the past (even if it was only one minute ago), move on to the present, and let their body perform without interference from the mind. This is often referred to as having great focus, and it is achieved by not imposing any external expectations on the present situation.
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Baseball is so filled with failure that it is lethal to expect success all the time. Contrary to popular misconceptions, the more a player understands failure’s role in the game, the better he will play. This doesn’t mean being fatalistic, just simply that if you understand that you will fail a decent amount, you won’t fear it as much. In turn, you will play better because you will play relaxed with no fear of failure.
It is possible to have confidence while having no expectations. True confidence is the notion that nothing can bring you down, while on the same hand, nothing can over-excite you. Confidence is a relaxed air that you are in control, you can do the job, and nothing can faze you. The combination of confidence and living only in the present makes for a successful baseball player.
Confidence can be learned and can be jump-started during the most difficult of times and comes from numerous ways:
1) No expectations
2) Practice quantity
3) Practice success
4) Faith in proper technique
5) Game success
6) Game experience
7) Positive feedback from coaches, teammates
8) Rhythm
9) Relaxation
10) Visualization of success
11) Winning
Once a player has practiced his skills, done his homework on the opposing pitchers and hitters, and understood what he can do in relation to situations in the game, then he must apply both confidence and the concept of no expectations. Then, only then, can a baseball player maximize his physical talent.
Maximizing the mental game
Dealing with Failure
Theoretically, if a player has no expectations, then failure is not a factor. Yet, failure still abounds in the game, and when it does, it must be counteracted immediately. Breathing, visualizing, cheering for teammates, and living in the moment are key techniques.
Technique for Frustration
The worst thing about getting angry or frustrated after making an out, throwing a bad pitch, or making an error, is the after-effect it has on the upcoming performance of both the player and his teammates. A perfect way to keep this from happening is if a player immediately cheers for his teammate after he makes a mistake. This forces the player to forget what happened and focus on the present, to help a teammate, and to let his team know that he is not pouting or letting mistakes bother him.
Don’t Bring Baggage to the Field
Each thing which happens to a person during the day contributes to a person’s psyche. When distractions occur off the field, players must do everything possible to put them aside and focus on the task at hand. It helps to invert the situation by taking that negative energy and turning it around by helping your own teammates. Also, it’s important to stay deeply rooted in the present.
Be Open to Change
Much unnecessary stress and struggle comes from conflicts about technique. Often times, it is used an excuse for failure, although it should be understood that a player must take one step back to take two steps forward. Players must realize that any advice is meant to help, not a personal attack. While sometimes advice can be misguided, the advice should still be given its due thought and only discarded if it is deemed not correct, and the coach is given an educated reason for the differing opinion.
Keep it Simple
Too often, players confuse situations by imposing too many irrelevant factors into the equation. When this happens, even on an advanced level, baseball players must remember to keep things simple - throw the ball, hit the ball, and catch the ball - and rely on their technique while remaining firmly rooted in the present.
Breathing
The single most effective way to remain focused, confident and relaxed in baseball is to maintain steady breathing. Taking a deep breathe can be a focal point to bring the player back to the present. Concentrating on the breathe inherently forces you to be focused in the moment. In turn, the player will not over-think, will have more awareness, and will react better both mentally and physically, letting the body’s trained reactions take over.
The best times to get in a steady breathing rhythm are in the on-deck circle, and between each pitch when batting, pitching and fielding. This steady rhythm will then carry over naturally when the physical action actually takes place. The most difficult, yet important time to do it is when a hitter is awaiting a pitch. He should maintain focus on steady breathing, while at the same time watch a point on the pitcher, whether it’s his eyes, his hat, or his whole face.
Pitcher–Hitter Dance
One way for a hitter to focus is to look at the pitcher-hitter relationship as one single force as opposed to two conflicting powers. Instead of looking at the pitcher as the enemy, the hitter can look at the pitcher as his accomplice. That is, the hitter needs, actually depends upon, the pitcher throwing him a good pitch in order to perform his task of hitting the ball hard. So, the hitter can envision the pitcher-hitter duel as really a pitcher-hitter dance, with the hitter simply accepting the pitcher’s offering as help in hitting the ball hard.
Visualization
Visualizing a successful outcome is a highly effective way to both instill confidence and practice baseball. It’s a tremendously simple exercise which can be done in a mere 30 seconds or longer, while at home, while driving, or when walking to class. It’s also important to do before entering the batter’s box.
The best time is to devote 30 seconds in the on-deck circle to picturing a successful at-bat, or for a pitcher, between innings. Simply visualize yourself in a situation in real time. Follow through on the mechanics of a play or a situation from start to end. Try to feel the same senses you would in that situation. You know you’re doing it right if you feel nerves, or the mind racing, or the uncomfortable or exciting feelings of competition.
1. Problem: Trying too hard
Remedy:
Focus on breathing instead of the situation
Relax the muscles
Eliminate external expectations
2. Problem: Fear of failure
Remedy:
Have no expectations of either failure or success
Accept that you will fail a certain amount no matter what
Trust success accrued in practice
3. Problem: Trying to impress coaches, friends, family, others
Remedy:
Remain in the present
Have no expectations of either failure or success
Focus on breathing instead of what others think
4. Problem: Distracting thoughts while at the plate
Remedy:
Focus on breathing in and out
Stare at the pitcher’s eyes, hat, or face
5. Problem: Having expectations of grandeur
Remedy:
Focus on the present
Accept failure
HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS
6. Problem: Carrying at-bats into future at-bats
Remedy:
Focus on breathing/staying in the present
Accept failure as part of the game
Eliminate expectations
Trust success accrued in practice
7. Problem: Worrying about making bad throws from the infield
Remedy:
Focus on breathing/staying in the present
Eliminate expectations
Trust success accrued in practice
8. Problem: Failure in high-stress situations
Remedy:
Eliminate expectations of success or failure
Focus on breathing/staying in the present
Treat it no differently than practice
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| Club | G | V | D | Pnct. |
| 1 Kvint |
12 |
12 |
0 |
36 |
| 2 Abator |
13 |
8 |
5 |
29 |
| 3 SDISOR |
13 |
7 |
6 |
27 |
| 4 Scorpion |
12 |
6 |
6 |
23 |
| 5 Hawks |
12 |
5 |
7 |
22 |
| 6 Cojusna |
12 |
3 |
9 |
18 |
| 7 Corsairs |
12 |
2 |
10 |
16 |
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|
| Name | AVR | SLG | team |
| 1 Burmei |
521 |
667 |
CRS |
| 2 Covalenco |
476 |
738 |
KVT |
| 3 Vloscinschii |
459 |
486 |
ABT |
| 4 Butnari |
432 |
705 |
CRS |
| 5 Belous |
423 |
462 |
KVT |
| 6 Postolachi |
407 |
519 |
CRS |
| 7 Novac |
400 |
543 |
ABT |
| 8 Fleostor |
385 |
500 |
ABT |
| 9 Soltan |
382 |
529 |
HWK |
| 10 Cuceric |
357 |
357 |
HWK |
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| Title | Name |
| MOST VALUED PLAYER |
Fleostor |
| BEST HITTER |
Burmei |
| BEST PITCHER |
Novac |
| BEST RBI runs batted in |
Butnari |
| MOST STOLEN BASE |
Fleostor |
| MOST RUNS SCORED |
Burmei |
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