The Mental ABCs of Pitching by H. A. Dorfman

Author:H. A. Dorfman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781630761851
Publisher: Lyons Press

∎ GOALS [See APPENDIX A and APPENDIX B]

The most successful people in the world are known to be goalsetters. The problem I have come across in baseball is that too many players set goals over which they have no control. Won-lost records, earned-run averages and the like direct a pitcher’s attention to what he wants, while diverting it from what he must do. In the doing, though his behavior is exemplary, the pitcher may still not reach his goal. So many of the outcomes in the game of baseball are left to the doctrine of chance.

I am reminded of Friedrich Nietzsche’s parable. “Not every end is a goal. The end of a melody is not its goal; however, if the melody has not reached its end, it would also not have reached its goal.” The pitcher who focuses on the notes of the “melody” as he plays is unconcerned with its end. Unconcerned with the goal; with the result. A baseball game, like a melody, will reach its own inevitable end. The pitcher should be attentive to the means to that end.

A musician and a pitcher have as their goals the effective execution of notes and pitches. This is achieved through concentration, confidence, control—of himself, of the instrument, of the ball. Other appropriate thoughts and behaviors have already been discussed; others are yet to be discussed.

By addressing these thoughts and behaviors a pitcher recognizes that he is responsible only for what he can do within the context of a game. As great as that responsibility is, still greater is the pitcher’s obligation to be resolute in maintaining his mental discipline throughout the competition. [See GIVING IN/QUITTING/RELENTLESSNESS] Circumstances within the game that affect “his numbers” (statistical goals)—or any result goals (“winning this game”)—most often test the pitcher’S mettle. If a goal appears to become unattainable, the goalsetter may “give in” to the perceived failure. The real failure is in the behavior, and in the inappropriate goal he set. [See RESULTS]

And that is why I am always so adamant with pitchers about setting very specific, individualized behavioral goals. But they must be goals that are completely within their reach. The individual pitcher can impose his will on his thoughts and acts. He cannot impose himself on bad hops, bad umpiring, bad defense, or wind direction. If those factors influence the pitcher’S behavior, he has already failed to satisfy a goal. The kind of goal that lends itself to self-assessment—from pitch to pitch.

The value of goal-setting has been established by research and by elite athletes’ anecdotal reports. Studies and athletes reveal that specific goals direct their attention and provoke them to physically act on this focus. In addition, goals help to sustain their efforts and enable them to evaluate themselves on a regular basis.

Players who tend to use “I’ll just do my best” as a goal fail to commit themselves to a real challenge. The goal is too high in subjectivity and too low in responsibility. It is often stated in an off-handed manner.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.