The Fine Balance

This is something I've always struggled with. Not balance like standing on one leg, although I could use some work, I am talking about the balance between the mental game and mechanics. They are both important and they need to work together.

The mental game is obviously important. I've wrote about it many times and I read books and watch videos of sports psychologists and I'd say I'm pretty informed about the subject. But mechanics are also important. It helps improve raw skill and makes for better play. Funny, that last sentence can describe both mechanics and mental game.

There are things that need to happen in a swing. Hip turn, weight transfer, etc. And players spend hours upon hours in the cage, off a tee working on mechanics of hitting. They think about it, they are aware of their problem(s). But most of the mental game preaches, in a nutshell: don't divide you focus from the ball to mechanics. Keep all focus on the ball.

Makes a lot of sense. And so true. It's undeniable. But to get good at baseball, you need that time in practice to sharpen your skills. Dr. Tom Hanson (sports psychologist) says the number one key is practice. The idea is that practice improves confidence, because you know you can succeed.

Now that I think about it, practice time should be reserved for analyzing mechanics but game time should obviously be just thinking all ball. Although, if focusing on all ball makes you better, why not just do that in practice? When do you say, mechanics can succeed well enough to stop focusing on them?

These are the struggles I have.

Instant Replay

Oh my, what a topic. From here on, this should be more spoken about than steroids, because it affects the game so much more now.

As you know, the only play that can be overturned upon replay is a home run, or potential home run. This is a great start, because I honestly feel that you must try to get every call right. Like umpires. But we know humans aren't perfect, and that's why we need cameras, super slo-mo, and a system to implement.

It's fairly obvious, especially over some recent postseason games, that there needs to get a better system. I'm not going to get into plays, I'm sure everyone remembers some. But why choose to get calls wrong? Anyone who doesn't want to advance the implementation of instant replay is choosing to get wrong calls in a baseball game.

The three questions to ask are:

1) To what extent will calls be argued or reviewed?

2) Whose decision will it be to "challenge" the play?

3) How often can you argue?

I don't even know if anyone is trying to decide this. Should fair/foul plays be reviewed? I think so. Safe and out? Definitely. Ball or strike? Ideally, but I don't want to use any TBS or FOX pitch tracker. I don't think those are very accurate, but I don't have another solution. I personally want to see the view from up top and the view from side of hitter. (As a side note, my father, who is probably not reading this, came up with a good solution for balls and strikes, but it gets rid of umpires all together. You have laser like rays that should across the strike zone - horizontally and vertically. If the ball crosses through both set of rays, steeeeerriiiiiiike. Not a bad idea. I just hope it doesn't give the batters cancer.) But this leads right into the next question.

Who will decide what to challenge? Managers? Umpires? Shall we go with the red flag like football? I guess manager is a good idea but umpires should reserve the right, like they do for the current situation.

Lastly, how often? Ideally, there should be no limit, but you'll have the Bobby Cox type manager who would argue every close play - what's there to lose? Maybe three plays all game, and for every call overturned, you get another opportunity back.

Anyway, please comment if you have any ideas or insight. I have a feeling this issue will be brought up big time and stir up some good baseball talk.

The Battery

So Molina has been able to get some good ol' PT by becoming Burnett's personal catcher. Question of the day: Is that cool?

It's weird, because you think at least one side of the battery would be willing to give in and play the game with the best team on the field. But then - who should it be? Should the pitcher start trusting the catcher over his instincts? Should the catcher ignore advanced scouting reports and visible adjustments by the batter, so the pitcher can throw what he wants?

I'll say this - there's always a reason why a catcher calls a pitch. Whether it's because he thinks it's a hitter's weakness, pitcher's strength, or just to set up another pitch. Now there are absolutely some pitchers who are smart and they are aware of the batter's intentions and adjustments. But most just want to throw a pitch for no specific reason. At least, when I get shaken off, and I ask the pitcher why he wanted to throw a certain pitch, I am seldom met with a good reason.

I don't mean to be so against pitchers. False. I do. But I can understand that if I was on the hill, I'd like to take charge as well. I can definitely understand that kind of Type A personality. But there has to be an understanding that the catcher is using game strategy. Now, if the pitcher is also using his own strategy and just feels more comfortable using his (and it's working), you can't argue with that. But as a catcher, if my pitcher has another method that works, I have no problem using it.

I just finished reading a book by Chris Coste, The 33 Year Old Rookie. Great book, and one of his early points was that pitchers loved throwing him, and one of the ways he almost made the Phillies after a great spring training was many of the pitchers requested to throw to him. At least, it got him into many spring training games.

I hope it's very clear that there is a lot more going on in those 60 feet 6 inches than just throwing and catching. And obviously, it's not something with a clear answer. Ultimately, the starting catcher needs that day or two off, and if a certain pitcher likes throwing to the backup backstop, it works out well. In the playoffs, though? Hasn't worked badly for the Yankees so far.

I'll finish off with one quick story. I had been playing on a team, but didn't get to catch for a while. I don't think most of the players knew I caught, I had been DHing and a little first. When the starting catcher was late to a game, I finally got the chance to start, and was really happy to finally get it. The first inning was a bit rough. I was shaken off a couple times and a couple hits (one XBH) led to some early runs, and this wasn't what I needed, as this pitcher was a rock for us all season, and his first bad appearance was with me behind the plate. After the first or second inning, we get to the dugout, he says to me, "OK, that was last time I'm shaking you off." I was very happy to hear that. He didn't give up a run the rest of the game, and we ended up getting the runs back, and either tied or won the game, I don't remember exactly.

My point is that I had never caught this pitcher before and I let him call the game. But he realized it wasn't working, and gave me control. It worked. It won't all the time, because it ultimately relies on the pitchers stuff and command.

Answer: Yes.