For the start of the World Series

Game Day

+++++

Baseball is ninety percent mental.

The other half is physical

Yogi Berra

+++++++++++

​

It's not easy, I mean

it takes real talent to get there.

You can't buy it or even rent it.

These sorts of things get picked out early

People can tell when a kid has,

It.

And even at that, it takes work.

Real dedication.

Day in- Day out type of stuff.

Attention to detail.

Coaching.

​

And after even all of that....

There is an element of luck involved.

There has to be an opening, that maybe,

Just maybe.

Had nothing to do with you.

​

Then

The moment arrives.

The planets line up.

The bases and bleachers are drunk

​

And it's a fastball count.

Everybody knows it.

He's nibbled

and caught the corner a couple times

and good for him.

But you didn't fall for the bender or the

junk in the dirt.

Now the count is full.

It's "mano a' mano".

​

The teams are up on the top step

Workin' that gum like a threshing machine.

The crowd has worked itself into a lather

and is ready for the pay-off.

Everything is leaning forward.

​

Except you.

​

You have your balance.

​

The bat feels light

The grip solid but not strained

Touch the other side of the plate for reference

Back of the box for that extra fraction of a second that

is the difference between a loud foul and

a trot home wrapped in glory.

​

In rhythm as he reaches back for that little extra,

start the weight moving forward

while keeping the hands back.

Front foot off the ground for just a moment

then planted and the base for the hips and

arms to start moving forward.

​

And

​

​

WWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFFFFFFFF

​

Change-up.

​

​

Probably a good twenty miles an hour off the heater.

A pitchers pitch.

Used your own talent and what everyone told you

"was right"

against you.

​

And the experience of having all that

preparation and expectation coming back around

Right in your face

At about a hundred miles an hour.

Screw yourself right into the ground.

​

It's why the great ones

Never seem to think too much.

It's gonna happen.

Stats don't lie.

​

There's a lesson in there.

Apply it to your love life.

​

​

​

​

​

+++++++

​

​

1

2