Late last week, Trevor Hoffman became the first player in Major League Baseball history to record 600 saves. After making a name for himself as one of the best closers in baseball with the San Diego Padres, like many players toward the end of their career, Trevor moved on after a long stint with his signature team and took his trademark change up to the Milwaukee Brewers before the 2009 season.
After recording 37 saves in 2009, Trevor struggled at the beginning of the 2010 season and Brewers manager Ken Macha decided to turn to rookie John Axford to close out games.
All too common in today's world is the talk of veteran players being "disrespected" in situations like this where a 27 year old rookie steps in. Many times a very public feud ensues, the true personality of a player shines through and a legacy is potentially tarnished.
Trevor Hoffman didn't take this route. In a true professional manner, he accepted the role that was given to him and tried to do it to the best of his ability to help his team win. But more than that, he turned his attention to helping his replacement succeed. In an Associated Press article, John Axford says, "In all honesty, he's meant everything to my development. He carries about his business perfectly. He's been the best mentor for me."
Learn a lesson from Trevor Hoffman. Accept whatever role you are asked to play and do it to the best of your ability. And don't act like you are too good or busy to help a teammate out.
www.tothetopperformance.com
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
...the San Diego Padres
If you have been following baseball this year, one of many stories has been the upstart seasons of the Cincinnati Reds and the San Diego Padres. Most commentators, analysts and casual fans have been waiting for one of them, if not both teams, to fall off and be taken over by the Cardinals and Giants, respectively.
And the Padres have almost been caught.
They finally broke through with their first win in 11 tries and in the last two weeks the Giants have climbed within a single game of the Padres lead.
For all the young players out there, this is a good opportunity to learn from the Padres and see how they respond. Not in the sense of "don't lose 10 games in a row." Losing streaks will happen. But it is how you deal with your problems that show you, and others, what you are made of.
Some people will start to believe what others think. They will start to agree that they are not good enough or they don't deserve to be there or they are playing above their potential. I've played with and coached players whose performance, at the first hint of criticism, starts to rapidly decline.
The excitement that Heath Bell showed after recording the final out last night against the Dodgers tells me that the Padres feel a huge relief off their back. It also told me that the Padres are not going to fold under the pressure of the last three weeks of the season. I'm not predicting that they will hold on to their lead. But the Giants aren't going to run away with the division.
www.tothetopperformance.com
And the Padres have almost been caught.
They finally broke through with their first win in 11 tries and in the last two weeks the Giants have climbed within a single game of the Padres lead.
For all the young players out there, this is a good opportunity to learn from the Padres and see how they respond. Not in the sense of "don't lose 10 games in a row." Losing streaks will happen. But it is how you deal with your problems that show you, and others, what you are made of.
Some people will start to believe what others think. They will start to agree that they are not good enough or they don't deserve to be there or they are playing above their potential. I've played with and coached players whose performance, at the first hint of criticism, starts to rapidly decline.
The excitement that Heath Bell showed after recording the final out last night against the Dodgers tells me that the Padres feel a huge relief off their back. It also told me that the Padres are not going to fold under the pressure of the last three weeks of the season. I'm not predicting that they will hold on to their lead. But the Giants aren't going to run away with the division.
www.tothetopperformance.com
Thursday, September 2, 2010
...K-Love
Yesterday, while listening to national Christian radio station K-Love, morning hosts Lisa and Eric were talking about a subway driver that was able to save the life of a woman because he was paying attention and wasn't distracted by his cell phone as many of us today have become.
And Lisa said something powerful that translates into the world of sports. She said that there are two kinds of pain in world - the pain of discipline and the pain of regret.
I am not, and will never, suggesting that in order for a young athlete to become better at his sport, one has to practice all day, every day. I think that it is very important for kids to lead well rounded lives and experience many things. But if you want to be truly great at something - athletics, instruments, dance, theater - you have to stay disciplined with your practice.
It may be tough to walk away from the television or computer for 30 minutes a day. It may feel "painful." But the success you can achieve through disciplined practice will be worth it. There is no greater feeling than knowing you were able to put everything you had into a competition. While winning is always a better experience, if you can walk away after a loss knowing you competed to the best of your ability, that is all you can ask of yourself.
There is nothing quite like regret in this world. Many people carry around the burden and sorrow of regret. Missed opportunities and the inability to redo some of life's moments can tear a person down. The disappointment of regret can lead to a a feeling of failure and the pain of regret is real.
Though it is difficult to lead a disciplined life, it is better than living with the regret of what could have been.
www.tothetopperformance.com
And Lisa said something powerful that translates into the world of sports. She said that there are two kinds of pain in world - the pain of discipline and the pain of regret.
I am not, and will never, suggesting that in order for a young athlete to become better at his sport, one has to practice all day, every day. I think that it is very important for kids to lead well rounded lives and experience many things. But if you want to be truly great at something - athletics, instruments, dance, theater - you have to stay disciplined with your practice.
It may be tough to walk away from the television or computer for 30 minutes a day. It may feel "painful." But the success you can achieve through disciplined practice will be worth it. There is no greater feeling than knowing you were able to put everything you had into a competition. While winning is always a better experience, if you can walk away after a loss knowing you competed to the best of your ability, that is all you can ask of yourself.
There is nothing quite like regret in this world. Many people carry around the burden and sorrow of regret. Missed opportunities and the inability to redo some of life's moments can tear a person down. The disappointment of regret can lead to a a feeling of failure and the pain of regret is real.
Though it is difficult to lead a disciplined life, it is better than living with the regret of what could have been.
www.tothetopperformance.com
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