I don't understand something about baseball

[Ed62]

I've been watching baseball for a long time, and there's one thing in particular that I just can't understand. It seems to pertain to pitchers more than position players. How can a guy be absolutely great one year, then absolutely terrible the following year? It happens all the time, especially with relief pitchers. The ones who are good, year in and year out, are the ones who make the hall of fame or get crazy big contracts. Why is it? I can't think that position players figure out the pitcher's style during the off-season.

Ed

[cabinetman]

Ed

The only way I can try to answer your question is to say that when I was 21, I could make it up Hill 9 at Ft. Bragg in 33 seconds. Seven months later I did it in 47 seconds. That bewilders me.

Now I doubt I could make it to Ft. Bragg without stopping at a bathroom every 100 miles, and be pleased as punch to make it up the hill in 47 seconds.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[LarryG]

I think it's partly psychological (on both sides of the ball), and partly that good pitching mechanics are exactly like a good golf swing in that if even one little element is just slightly off, the whole affair goes to pot in a fat hurry. Which just feeds the psychological side ... the pitcher loses his confidence, the batters stop believing that the guy is unhittable.

[Warren]

Distractions are a big contributor. It happens to great golfers all the time. Winning means you become marketable. Winning means more money. Golfers tend to become distracted by other business opportunities.

I think ball players get into endorsements, outside businesses, and other distractions. This takes time away from preparation, reduces desire, etc. When you're young and all you have to do is throw a ball, life is easy and good. Suddenly you're successful and everyone wants a piece of you. Your time is no longer yours. Public appearances, investments, etc. start to suck the joy out of life and you lose focus, priorities change.

The really great ones, learn how to order their lives and regain the joy of sport for the sport's sake. Being the best they can be at their sport has to be the driving influence in their life. If they become satisfied with being less then they can be, the game becomes toilsome and the jock complacent. Skills and knowledge have to improve all the time in order to stay on top. This takes focus and dedication. Success can sap that focus and dedication.

[Ed62]

That's a real possibility that I've never even considered. I'm a White Sox fan, have been for a half century (WOW!). In 2005 we had Cliff Polite and Neal Cotts, two relievers that were nearly untouchable. They both had fantastic years. Early this last season, Cliff Polite became a pitcher the other team wanted to see come in. It wasn't long, and he was shown the door. Neal Cotts also had a real bad year, and he was recently traded to the Cubs. Maybe Piniella and company can straighten him out. These two guys were part of a team that won a world series for the Sox. So the distraction theory seems like a good possibility.

The part about mechanics is something that everybody looks at. With very good pitching coaches in both leagues, you'd think a slightly different pitching approach would be picked up by the pitching coach or someone else. But I guess there are times when it's so subtle, it's really hard to catch.

I've always thought the self-confidence factor was huge when it comes to a guy struggling. The more he struggles, the harder it is to keep the confidence.

Ed

[ufg8r85]

It's also amazing how they seem to perform better when they are in the last year of their contract.

[Warren]

Ah yes, contract negoiations, yet another reason to focus on improving performance.

[TK421]

Also, opposing teams are constantly scouting the teams they are about to play. If they see something that the pitcher is doing that could give their hitters an edge they pass it on to the team. At the pro level the game is about adjustments. The hitter adjusting to pitchers, and vice versa. I've noticed that it seems to pertain to starting pitchers as well.