“Control the Controllables”

What can you control?

Double-header Saturday is at it again. This Saturday, April 25th, the skies were blue and a cool breeze to keep the day beautiful and perfect for baseball.

When we talk about controlling what we can control, it’s hard sometimes to actually focus on what that truly means. When it comes to everyday life, controlling the controllables is harder than we think. This weekend our players controlled every bit of both games they could. With both games coming down to the last inning, we had to keep control of our game and make sure the other team was playing our game of baseball. 

If you come to one of our games, you’ll hear me talk about playing “our game” in pregame talks. Playing our game is a way for me to control the conversation and let them know that if we play the way we’ve been practicing, we can control our mindset going into the game. The weekend before, we had some calls not go our way in our second game which we ended up losing 11-8. With that short statement, you would assume I’m blaming the bad calls for our loss. What the score doesn’t tell you is that we left 5 runners stranded in prime moments that could put us ahead. 

We had bases loaded with one out. Our batter hits a pop fly and instead of our runner on third tagging, he runs home. Allowing a double play to end the inning. The next inning, we had runners on second and third, with one out. Again, we hit a pop fly and our runner on third fails to listen to the coach and runs home. Allowing another double play. In those two moments, controlling our running is the difference between us potentially winning or the actual result, a loss. 

When these young players are out on the field, it’s hard to keep their mindset in the right place. When we talk about control at 10, we need to make sure the situations can be controlled and managed. When a player makes an error, we as coaches can control how we handle that situation. We can either 1. Yell, and tell them not to make that mistake again. Or 2. Find a way to get the team back into the game and help that player move past that mistake. We as coaches, and parents, forget at times that errors are a statistic of baseball. Yes, they’re a negative statistic, but we our players aren’t able to make those mistakes, how do you know if they’re developing properly. Controlling that situation is key to a player's development. 

As I close this post out, I want to assure everyone reading that I’m not a perfect coach. I make several errors throughout the week in practice and games and just like the players, I have to continue to develop myself. But that’s the difference. I’m choosing to control my ability to adapt week by week. We all have systems that work, but at times, we need to find different ways to teach our players. Baseball is a sport that continues to evolve through mechanics, fundamentals, and the game of play. So ask yourself, or better yet, challenge yourself this week. Find ways to control the controllables on and off the field. How does it change your mindset? Were you able to overcome that situation with a different mindset? 

Game Update - April 25th

GAME 1 - Outlaws vs. Rocky Mountain Reign

With the two late games and over an hour of travel, today’s games were going to be tough battles before hitting the diamond. We hit the field for the first game as the home team and we came out a little slow to start. We were up 4-0 heading into the third inning. We then gave up 8 runs on great hits and mental errors. Between innings, it was on me to control this situation. We had one of our quick pep talks and told them we needed to get back in control. The players came out and put 7 more runs up, putting us up 11-8. We were able to shut them down in the top of the 4th but gave up three runs, with the score now tied 11-11. 

As a coach, you have to find what motivates your team. I chose to make them believe that we had to continue to fight harder than we have. I told them we were down by one and this is our last opportunity. We’re at our last batter in the lineup moving back into the top. We are now in control. Camero hits a single down the third base line. The go ahead runner now on 1st. Smalls is now up and battling hard at the plate. Camero stole second and now the count is full (3-2) with the winning run in scoring position. Smalls hits a solid ground ball into right field but they make a solid play holding our runner on third. Smalls was able to take second standing up so now runners on second & third, no outs. 

With Laces now at the plate. With all the confidence he falls behind in the count (2-2). The next pitch comes and he hits a rocket into the outfield allowing both runners to score. GAME OVER! Reign 13 - Outlaws 11. 

GAME 2 - Rocky Mountain Reign vs. Spartans

Game two the Reign came out on fire. We put three up on the board in the first and shut down the Spartans through the first two innings only allowing 1 run through two. Heading into the third, we were able to put more on the board putting the score at 10-1. I continued to tell the team to keep playing “our game.” Heading into the bottom of the third, we started to let go of our control. With some great hits and fielding errors, they were able to put seven runs up making this game a nail-biter (RMR 10 - SPARTANS 8 END OF THE THIRD). 

As I talked with the players, I spoke about getting back in control of this game. It’s our game to lose but we’re going to keep pushing and stay in control. Our lineup came out strong and put six more runs up (16-8). As we headed into the bottom of the 4th, they were able to draw a walk with the first batter and gained a hit on their second. With throwing errors, they were able to get one on the board (16-9). The next batter hits a screaming ground ball to second base but Juice is there to make the play. One out now with a runner on third. The next batter comes out swinging allowing the count to be 2-2. Kash Money is on the mound and he places a great curve ball causing the batter to swing and miss, but it’s a dropped strike three. Batter is running hard to first, but Camero makes a solid throw getting the runner out. With that throw, they were able to advance the runner on third (RMR-16 - SPARTANS-10 - 2 OUTS). 

The next few batters fought hard. With two singles and a walk, they’re adding more runs to the board shortening the gap. With two outs and the recent hits the score now sits at 16-12 with a runner on third. A passed ball allows that runner to score 16-13. I call time and walk out to the mound to talk with the infield. I told them that we’re still in control but we need to dig deep and do everything we can to get this final out. If we continue to make them play our game, we will come out on top. With the count now full, two outs, and no runners on. The Spartan’s batter hits a solid fly ball to center field. In my mind I’m yelling back to my player but in the moment realize I’m wrong. Red, our center-fielder, is tracking the ball beautifully. Next thing I hear is the sound of the ball hitting his glove. THIRD OUT - GAME OVER!

I chose this weeks’ topic specifically because of these two games. The boys stayed in control even when we were making mistakes. Control the controllables and the game can be won!