The Mental Battle: Get Out of Your Own Way
Your mindset can be an asset or a determent to your performance. If you doubt yourself, lose composure after mistakes or over analyze your performance, your mindset can hurt your performance. You can be your own worst enemy. In these situations, it’s hard to bounce back with confidence and composure during the game. Many baseball players struggle with these mental game challenges. Cleveland pitcher, Justin Masterson is aware of the mental battle... [Read More...]
Why Pitching or Hitting Routines Help You Focus
Do you have a pre-pitch or at-bat routine? Some ball players have a routine, but don’t use it consistently. Others don’t have a routine at all. Without a consistent routine at the plate or on the mound, you’re more likely to lose focus or become distracted. A pre-pitch or at-bat routine is designed to help you: Focus on what’s important Prepare consistently for the pitch or at-bat Feel confident before execution Trust your swing or... [Read More...]
Joe Saunders Stays Positive After Loss
You can react to losses positively or negatively. You can beat yourself up, become frustrated with your performance and lose confidence, taking a negative approach to your game. You can also take a more positive look at your performance learning from your losses. The Los Angeles Angels fell 0-6 to the Toronto Blue Jays Monday night. Angels pitcher, Joe Saunders, didn’t perform his best allowing three runs, four hits and five walks over 6 1-3 innings. “It’s... [Read More...]
Do You Ride The Confidence Rollercoaster?
Doubt is the number one killer of your baseball confidence. You might think, “Can I get a hit off this pitcher?” or “Don’t walk this batter!” Your doubts cause you to lose confidence, question your ability and get down on yourself. Without confidence and a strong mental game, you crumble under pressure, play tentatively and under-perform in games. Doubt isn’t the only challenge for baseball players though. Many players have fragile self-confidence.... [Read More...]
The Mental Game of Pitching and Trust
Are you able to perform freely and let your performance happen in games? This is a common challenge among all baseball players, including pitchers. You may try to “fix” your pitching technique after a wild pitch. Some players become too mechanical and over think their pitching motion. When you over think your pitching motion, your mind and body are at odds with one another. Your mind is sending verbal commands about “how to” pitch the ball.... [Read More...]
Lester Draws Confidence From the Save
Some baseball players thrive in crunch time, such as when the bases are loaded. They want to be up to pitch or bat in this situation. These players demonstrate their confidence and trust to perform their best in critical moments. Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester is one of those players who thrives in crunch time. Lester pitched his way out of a bases loaded scenario to help the Sox beat the Angels 5-1. “It’s nice to be able to fight out off that and... [Read More...]
Stop the Mind Games and Play Ball!
Some baseball players worry too much about what others think about their game. For example, do you worry too much about what your coach thinks about your batting technique or about performing well to gain respect from teammates. Many baseball players don’t want to let teammates, parents or coaches down. When you make assumptions about what others might be thinking about your game, you engage in “mind reading.” You don’t really know... [Read More...]
Dotel’s Composure Helps Pirates Win
A baseball player’s ability to stay composed is critical to success. When you’re composed, you can play up to your physical ability. You don’t get rattled by a couple of bad calls. You’re able to stay relaxed after mistakes. You can let go of mistakes or mishaps quickly. Pirates’ relief pitcher Octavio Dotel knows a thing or two about staying composed in crunch-time. Dotel was sent in to keep a 3-3 tie with the L.A. Dodgers Wednesday night.... [Read More...]
Focusing on the Process Key to Winning
“What was I thinking?” you mutter in frustration after you struck out at bat. You lost your focus temporarily and it cost you the at-bat. Most players at times, lose focus, blank-out, get distracted, or are too stressed to concentrate. Even the greatest players in the world have trouble concentrating under pressure. Outcomes and winning are stressed in a result oriented society, making it difficult to focus on what really matters—sticking to... [Read More...]
Mental Keys to Staying in the Moment
The ability to concentrate is critical to successful performance in all sports, especially in baseball. Each game requires you to turn your concentration on and off several times. When it is time to go to the plate, you have to turn on the concentration. When you’re in the dugout, you can relax your concentration. Total concentration is the ability to immerse yourself in a task without becoming distracted or pulled off task. Great players talk about... [Read More...]
