What Guarantees Can You Count on During The Season?
Summary: Nothing in baseball is guaranteed — playing time, health, or results — and dwelling on that uncertainty only adds pressure and hurts performance. This article covers mental habits for managing the ups and downs of a season by focusing on what’s actually in your control.
In baseball, there are no promises. You are not guaranteed a starting role throughout the season. Additionally, your health is not guaranteed, regardless of how well you take care of your body.
Even when you are inserted into the lineup, you are not guaranteed to put up game-changing stats, even if you have been consistent in your training and preparation.
In sports, nothing is promised. There will always be variables outside of your control, such as manager decisions, weather, and the opponent’s level of play.
The following scenario illustrates how uncertainty can impact you. Ever since preseason, you’ve worked to take your game to the next level. You showed up early for practice to refine your swing, take extra batting practice, and dedicate time to strength and conditioning.
You did everything right in terms of preparation. But when the season started, you received little playing time.
When you did play, you feared a hitless game would result in being benched. As a result, you started putting more and more pressure on yourself, but it only hurt your production further.
However, you can minimize the effects of uncertainty by taking a proactive approach to managing the ups and downs throughout the season. This involves building positive mental habits.
3 mental habits used to manage uncertainty with these:
- Control the Controllables – Elite players focus on what they can consistently control: effort, attitude, focus, preparation, and their response to adversity.
- Positive Mental Routines – Successful players establish pre-game, pre-pitch, and post-game routines that help them stay grounded, regardless of the circumstances.
- Objective Performance Evaluation – Top players don’t gauge their performance strictly by stats. They look at how well they stuck to their approach and how they handled situations beyond their control.
Baseball is challenging enough.
When you simplify your mental approach to the game, you lessen the pressure to perform and free yourself to play uninhibited.
Philadelphia Phillies prospect Mick Abel faced uncertainty after the Phillies called him up from the minors for a spot start. Abel struggled throughout his 2024 minor league season, posting a 3-12 record and a 6.46 ERA.
However, his 2025 minor league performance, with a 5-2 record and a 2.53 ERA, earned him the call-up to make this one start. The question was which version of Abel would show up.
Abel answered with six shutout innings, nine strikeouts, and a 1-0 win for the Phillies in his MLB debut.
ABEL: “There were times [last season] where I didn’t think I would be [up with the Phillies], but there were other times where I would. I think it’s just going through the ups and downs and trying to understand how to go through those. Thankfully, I was able to think about it in the offseason and understand ‘Yeah, I’m still pretty good at baseball.“
Uncertainty in sports is inevitable. However, with a proactive approach, you can maintain a sense of control and train yourself to respond effectively to adversity.
It’s a player’s response that separates consistent performers from those who spiral downwards when things don’t go their way.
Each day, work on developing the three mental habits of elite players: controlling the controllables, establishing positive mental routines, and evaluating your performances objectively.
A proactive approach helps you manage uncertainty, allowing you to focus on just playing the game.
FAQ
How do I deal with uncertainty in baseball?
Focus on what you can control — effort, attitude, focus, and preparation — instead of things outside your control like playing time or matchups.
What are the 3 mental habits for managing uncertainty?
Controlling the controllables, using positive mental routines before and after games, and evaluating your performance objectively rather than strictly by stats.
How did Mick Abel handle uncertainty before his MLB debut?
After a rough 2024 minor league season, Abel worked through the ups and downs, earned a 2025 call-up, and delivered six shutout innings with nine strikeouts in his debut.
Why do mental routines help manage uncertainty?
Pre-game, pre-pitch, and post-game routines keep you grounded regardless of circumstances, reducing the pressure created by things you can’t control.
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- How to Overcome Slumps in Baseball
- Are Your Trying too Hard at the Plate When Hitting?
- How this Yankee Manages Losses in the World Series
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