Practice in the Present

OK, so two weeks from tomorrow is opening today. Granted, the chances of the field being playable are slim, so we’re likely three weeks away, but you never know. And as the season draws closer, I start breaking down my game and seeing if I’m ready to go. I’m not.

From the defensive perspective, I’m not blocking well. Granted, on a hard-wood gym floor, it’s difficult to really get in front of that baseball. Also, pitchers are all working on new grips and refining mechanics, which tends to lead to loss of control, and hence fifty-footers, which, as any catcher knows, it’s really tough to block a pitch that bounces ten feet in front of you.

I think my throwing has been pretty good, although that’s tough to gauge because being stuck in a gym inhibits me from using my throwing program and getting long toss in. Lately my elbow has been hurting and I need to make sure I keep my throwing at about 70% so as to not aggravate it further.

We finally got an indoor cage, which is a huge help. But we have one indoor cage, and while pitchers get to really work well off the mound and throw to batters, the batters get maybe 1-2 at bats a day, which leads to about 20 at bats left until the season starts. Thinking about it – it’s a lot – I got zero the past three years (and we know if we take out my first twenty at bats of every season where my batting average goes), but it’s tough to be satisfied - having real at bats is priceless before a season. I get just as many reps as the next guy, but I still feel like I’m being gypped.

So seeing this negative, like I’m not getting enough at bats – that’s completely positive! I’m actually getting at bats! And being honest with myself, I’m having good at bats, too. I’m focusing on timing and approach and really leaving mechanics aside. In two weeks from now, I could see myself really being ready to go.

It is important, in my opinion, not to over-think practice. It’s too late to think about what you could have done or even how much you need to do. It’s important to keep a very simple approach – do right now what you’re supposed to do, at 100% effort. Every swing, every throw, every repetition is done with a focus and specific purpose. I can relate this to life outside of baseball too. I’m someone who always regrets not going to class, not taking good notes. And when finals come, I spend time complaining how stupid I was, why didn’t I do a better job? But, at the end of the day, you need to look at right now. It’s finals, you’re behind, sit down, and get it done.

With this attitude, you spend less time thinking about things that are already over with. You are also maximizing the time you have left. Hopefully, I can keep this sort of attitude and go full swing into the season.