Stoicism and Baseball

I've always found lots of overlap between principles and Stoicism and baseball, and with it being a slow day in the baseball world I figured I would share some thoughts. This might be interesting to some, completely irrelevant to others, and that's okay. Hopefully at least one person enjoys thinking about what I have written.

That which blocks the path is the path

This is an important Stoic idea which applies to baseball. For example, say you're building a bridge but have to deal with bureaucracy to get it done. Your bridge building isn't being interrupted by the bureaucracy--instead, dealing with bureacracy is part of the task of building a bridge and if you are a great architect but get too frustrated dealing with bureaucracy than you are incapable of building a bridge

This thought often comes to me when hearing small market fans complain about having to compete against teamd like the Dodgers and Yankees with seemingly endless payrolls, and how it ruins the enjoyment when the deck is so stacked against you.

I would urge those fans to consider dealing with a small payroll to not view a small payroll as an impediment to their goal, but instead part of the goal. The Dodgers have a different goal than your team. Your goal is "Win as many games as possible with a $100 million payroll in a small market", and their goal is "Win as many games as possible with a $200 million payroll in a huge media market". And then it is never unfair that their team has more resources, because they are as unlikely to accomplish your goal as you are to accomplish theirs.

Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what's left and live it properly

Some fanbases are more excited than others about this upcoming season. Having trouble getting excited about the upcoming season?

Your team is getting relocated at the end of next season. You will never be able to attend one of their games again, never get to cheer on any of these players again. Never get ask your friend, "How are our guys doing tonight, do you have a score?" It is the very end of baseball in your city.

Wouldn't you appreciate every game your team had to play? Fortunately, your team is unlikely to relocate at the end of this season. So not only can you feel as excited about your team as you would be if you got to see them for the last time, but you'll be able to have this excitement for a long time! Ask Expos fans whether they would rather watch a team like the Marlins or the current team in Montreal.

Another person's behavior is a reflection of their beliefs, not you

This one comes up when dealing with all of you morons on here (a group in which I include myself). Let me give my perspective as a Nationals fan. The Nationals famously have struggled in the playoffs. If I talk about how much I enjoyed watching the Nationals, and someone replies "lol talk to me when they win in the playoffs", that does not reflect that the Nationals season is a failure.

This reflects that they either believe the only thing that matters in a season is playoff success, or they are upset and just looking to take shots at strangers. And this are both things on which I can consciously choose to have no opinion, and choose not to reply to because I choose not to give them power to affect how I remember my enjoyment of the Nationals season. Every single team has some sort of jab people take at them, and that always reflects the commenter's belief that whatever is being talked about is more important than your enjoyment of the games--an idea which is rarely true.

Thanks for reading the ramblings of an amateur Stoic and veteran baseball fan, and enjoy the upcoming season!