As baseball coaches, we all thoroughly enjoy winning and watching our marquis players perform. It can be just as rewarding to help our lesser talented players. I had one of the best experiences in my "baseball life" and it was extremely rewarding to me.
As a baseball coach,
I've always enjoyed watching my so called "superstars" perform. Hitting a "seed" up the gap or pitching six scoreless innings is lots of fun to watch. But I also enjoy watching a player who has been struggling and then overcomes any baseball struggles. I've had my share of baseball championships and have enjoyed them tremendously. After one of them, my 10-11-12 year old team doused me with many different colors of an athletic beverage. One of my player's mothers asked me, "Larry, doesn't that feel terrible?" I was sticky, slimy and multi-colored from head to toe, including my glasses. I looked at her and replied "No not at all, it feels great." Being a very competitive baseball coach, what mattered to me was my kids were celebrating their championship victory. Okay, so we all enjoy winning and I'll put myself at the top of that list.
Now I want to switch gears for a moment and let's forget about winning, home runs, shutouts and all the other things our outstanding players accomplish.
I want to share with you a story about Nick, a 12 year old I coached back in the year 2002.
I knew Nick off the baseball field and knew he was a great kid with great parents. That's why I drafted him that year and in future years as well.
We went to the batting cages about three weeks before our baseball season began. I had never seen several of the kids swing a bat, including Nick. I had my clip board in hand to jot down notes as to what I need to work on with certain players.
I watched Nick and after only one or two of his swings, I saw a glaring baseball hitting weakness. Nick had this "long and looping" swing and was over matched by every pitch. Constantly late every time he swung the bat. I jotted this down, considering being short to the ball is one of the most important baseball tips on hitting. I mentioned this to Nick, a very intelligent kid. We went to the batting cages a couple of more times and he is still "long and looping" to the baseball. I'm not getting through to Nick.
Our regular season begins and Nick is struggling big time. (Which means I"m struggling too because I really feel for Nick.) After about ten games, Nick is hitless for the year. (Hitless as in 0-20.) I'm coaching third base and Nick is up. He has a count of 2-2. For about the hundredth time, I call out to Nick, "Come on Nick, short to the ball." I then actually demonstrated it to him as if I were swinging the bat.
Nick is a right-handed hitter and the pitcher throws him a fastball over the outside portion of the plate. With this lightning quick motion, Nick throws the head of the bat directly at the ball. Short and sweet.
Nick hits a seed into the right-center field gap and gets a stand up double.
I can't describe the great feeling I had. Wow! Remember, this is a great kid who had been severely struggling at the plate. Nick is standing on second base and looking toward home plate with his normal humble expression on his face.
I called out to Nick. Before he completely turned his head toward me, I could already see a very, very huge grin. When we are making eye contact, I wave my right fist in the air at about head height. Nick, who is usually very low key and quiet, shakes his fist back at me so aggressively that I honestly thought he could have injured his right shoulder. Really, I give you my word.
Sure, I remember many details of baseball playoff victories and championship victories. Who got the big hits, who pitched great, who made game saving defensive plays, etc. But I remember Nick's seed to right-center like it happened five minutes ago and not seven years ago. If you are into baseball coaching, maybe you have a player similar to Nick on your team.
I promise you that helping that player will be at least as rewarding as any playoff or championship victory. And believe me, I love to win as much as anyone you will ever meet. Nick never got to play high school baseball. He turned into a pretty good second baseman but his bat never really got going. But that's okay. When I see Nick or think of Nick, I think of that day where Nick had his moment of glory and I thank God for that double to right-center. He and I both needed it very much!
Once in a while, it's good to take a step back and look at baseball from a different point of view. It is extremely rewarding.
