Catfish
Registered
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2006
- Posts
- 4,551
- Reaction score
- 64
What a wonderful difference in watching this year's team compared to last year. The biggest change I see is in the confidence the players have in themselves to get the job done.
Last year, hardly anyone wanted to be the batter who was due up in the last inning with two out and a runner in scoring position. Most were afraid to fail, especially in the spotlight. The same could be said for the defensive positions. No one wanted to be the guy who had to make the pressure play when the game was on the line. We lost many a game because the guys were afraid to be under the spot light with the game on the line either offensively or defensively.
Turn the page to this year. Although it did not come without growing pains, (and acknowleging that some talent has been brought in to the mix), it is plain to see that Gibby and the staff have done a remarkable job with this year's product. He has carefully encouraged them to make the big play, and has shown over and over that he will not sit them down because they tried and failed. He knows that confidence can only be gained by success, and he has kept those that have tried, right in the mix of being able to contribute and to gain confidence in doing so.
He has accomplished this not only with position players, but with the pitching staff as well. This year's product is not afraid to be the guy. They aspire to be the one that makes the great throw, or the great fielding play, or the pitching sequence that shuts down the opponent. Offensively they have come to accept role of being the guy to get the hit with a runner in scoring position.
After that West-Coast road trip where they went 1 and 6, losing 6 one run games, Gibby said that he believed they were ready to break out. Break out they did. They came home to win a seven game stand with 6 wins in the seven games, and they have not looked back since.
Yes, last night they lost, but that will happen. They played a competitive game against a pitcher who was giving up next to nothing. They were never out of it until the last out was recorded. That is the most you can ask of a team. No one wins them all. After all, 15 out of the last 17 were recorded wins prior to last night. My guess is that more often than not, this group will be on the long end of such scores. They are confident in their abilities as individuals and as a team-----and confidence is the 'X' factor that will take them to a successful season.
Last year, hardly anyone wanted to be the batter who was due up in the last inning with two out and a runner in scoring position. Most were afraid to fail, especially in the spotlight. The same could be said for the defensive positions. No one wanted to be the guy who had to make the pressure play when the game was on the line. We lost many a game because the guys were afraid to be under the spot light with the game on the line either offensively or defensively.
Turn the page to this year. Although it did not come without growing pains, (and acknowleging that some talent has been brought in to the mix), it is plain to see that Gibby and the staff have done a remarkable job with this year's product. He has carefully encouraged them to make the big play, and has shown over and over that he will not sit them down because they tried and failed. He knows that confidence can only be gained by success, and he has kept those that have tried, right in the mix of being able to contribute and to gain confidence in doing so.
He has accomplished this not only with position players, but with the pitching staff as well. This year's product is not afraid to be the guy. They aspire to be the one that makes the great throw, or the great fielding play, or the pitching sequence that shuts down the opponent. Offensively they have come to accept role of being the guy to get the hit with a runner in scoring position.
After that West-Coast road trip where they went 1 and 6, losing 6 one run games, Gibby said that he believed they were ready to break out. Break out they did. They came home to win a seven game stand with 6 wins in the seven games, and they have not looked back since.
Yes, last night they lost, but that will happen. They played a competitive game against a pitcher who was giving up next to nothing. They were never out of it until the last out was recorded. That is the most you can ask of a team. No one wins them all. After all, 15 out of the last 17 were recorded wins prior to last night. My guess is that more often than not, this group will be on the long end of such scores. They are confident in their abilities as individuals and as a team-----and confidence is the 'X' factor that will take them to a successful season.
