Here goes:
R (Defense) =
Realize the situation. Where are the runners? Where is the play? How many outs? What is the count? The hitter? Is it a bunt or a steal situation? The score? What are you going to do when the ball is hit to you? Get that news ticker in your brain going and check it.
Repeat yourself ... which is another way of saying: Communicate! Talk to each other about the situation, changes in coverage, your intentions, important reminders that you see on the field ... and, oh yes, CALL for balls in the air and let fielders know when you are taking charge of a play, i.e., an unassisted double-play.
Routine plays. Make them. Do this and we'll be fine. Play good defense. Our defense needs to be good rather than perfect. Web gems are great for ESPN but not required.
Remind yourself of the situation again. Check the ticker one more time. A good defensive player and team has the mind working always. We can rest after the game.
E (Hitting) =
Expect your pitch and hit it where it wants to go. Know exactly what you are looking for and expect to see it, a la Al Oliver in "The Mental Game of Baseball." If you think our approach is passive, you have yet to understand it. We are aggressively hunting for the pitch we want to hit and then hitting that pitch hard where it tells us it is meant to be hit hard. Do you think an ambush is passive? We are planning an ambush at the plate, and it builds throughout the game.
Every one has a two-strike approach, which is both a mental and mechanical adjustment. That is, our hitting zone with two strikes becomes the strike zone + 2-3 inches. We also make a mechanical adjustment -- every one of us -- to enable ourselves to be quicker and be able to cover the whole plate.
Eyes -- Always remember to use your eyes -- broad to fine focus. This is a slump buster and the most important element of hitting.
Expand your approach if/when the pitcher has shown that he is able to deny or alter our ability to find our pitch. Make an adjustment -- it could be physical or mental -- to get to your pitch and remain the aggressor on offense.
Remember: Our goal at the plate is to have a Quality AB (6 or more pitches, a hard hit ball, and/or get on base) each time. Following our approach helps us get there.
S (Baserunning) =
Situation -- Know it. How many outs? What is the count? Where is the force? What am I going to do when the ball is hit? Consider the options.
Sign -- Get it. No conversation with the 1B. Get it quick before the opposition zeroes in on the coach.
Stretch your lead. Rather than simply happening, leads are worked for. Getting an extra step could be the difference in a stolen base vs. and out or a run. Work on the field. Always.
Say it again. Keep the ticker going. Develop a habit of self-talk re: the situation and what is happening in the game. Use positive self-talk to coach yourself as to what you are going to do before it happens. A prepared runner is an effective runner.
T (Pitching) =
Three-pitch approach. Our goal is by the third pitch to achieve the following: We want the runner ON, OUT, or the count at 1-2. We do this because we want to throw strike one, make the hitter hit our pitch and then get hitters into pitchers' counts. We also want to manage our own pitch counts and keep the number of pitches seen by the opposition as low as we can under the circumstances. The odds are in the pitchers' favor, so we use these odds. At two strikes, we either throw a pitch to get the hitter out or we are setting up a pitch to get him out on the next pitch. Remember ... and think ... tournaments. Here, we are seeking to have our opposition do the opposite on offense as we are doing (see "Expect" above).
Tempo -- We keep the game moving, pitching at a reasonable pace (albeit our own) so that our fielders stay ready and engaged. "Human rain delays" are hard on defenses. Also, when runners are on base, we keep our minds on the hitter but we get to the plate quickly and also vary our tempo to give our catcher a better chance on steal attempts.
Target -- As with the hitter and his eyes, the pitcher must remember to use his eyes to locate the target and remember to throw at it. Sounds simple, but if you are struggling throwing strikes (as with hitting), go back to using your eyes and focus. You'll be amazed at the results.
Task-at-hand -- A lot happens on the baseball field that is outside a pitcher's control. All a pitcher can do is focus on the task-at-hand, that is, throwing the next good pitch. Our pitches need not be perfect; good will do. Once the pitch is released, the pitcher has done his job. Now, it's on to the next pitch. Rather than umpires, fielding miscues, the on-deck hitter, or coming out of the game, the pitcher must stay on task. As he does so, then the results get easier to attain.
Remember ... As pitchers, our goal corresponds to our goal as hitters. That is, our goal is to prevent the hitter from getting a Quality AB. Following our approach helps us attain our goal.
So, there you have it ... R-E-S-T. Got it? Now you can relax.
See you on the field,
