Whether you feel down and out on your luck or your back is pressed against the wall as a pitcher, there is only one way to go….UP!!!  As bad as it may currently seem, no matter how disastrous,  the internal driving force you possess as a competitor will not let you give up on yourself. When adjustments are forced to occur, here is the first step towards getting back into the promised land. F’ It! You have nothing to lose as this point.

I am not going to lie. As Tuesday is BLOG DAY, I just couldn’t come up with a topic to write about. Mulling it over and over as I was putting my little one to bed kept me uneasy. Something had to be published for my loyal subscribers. Then I saw the Yankees and White Sox were in extras and the recently demoted starter Sonny Gray was pitching in the 11th. Indeed, I was curious to see how he adapted to life as a long reliever/mop up man. Nonetheless, as a long man in extra innings, the game is in yours. You are getting a decision, for better or worse.

 

F’IT!!!
Your Resurgence Awaits
Dealing With Failure

This is a part of baseball, as well as a part of life. If you expect to live Scot-Free, you are crazy! The adversity monster thrives off of making life a living hell. SO WHAT? Never let something outside of you dictate whether or not you quit an endeavor at which you want to be the best.

 

F’IT!!!
Your Resurgence Awaits
Past Success is Unforgettable

Success may seem like a distant memory at this point. Hower, subconsciously, it keeps you going. Legitimate victories on the mound are not to be taken lightly. Consistently getting out good hitters and standing tall to challenge the greats are not forgotten by your peers and coaches. Of course, neither by you.

 

F’IT!!!
Your Resurgence Awaits
Nothing to Lose 

When you ask yourself, ‘How much worse can it get?’ It is time to change mindsets and roll with it. Fearlessly, of course. You know what you are capable of as a pitcher. When you hit rock bottom, it comes with an obscure feeling of alleviation. A positive energy appears which inspires you to work back to where you belong. Now it is time to rebound. Even a demotion in status can be the necessary reset button. It brings a simple perspective to the forefront. The past is past and all you can focus on is the NOW. The previous snowballs have melted and Hell has not frozen over. You are still here!

 

“Ten million years from now, when then sun burns out and the Earth is just a frozen iceball hurtling through space, nobody’s going to care whether or not I got this guy out.”

 

– Tug McGraw

 

Rejection and failure commission time to think. So as the process goes, consider subtraction. Eliminate what is not working nor comfortable. With a simplified approach, focus on attacking hitters with a minimalistic standpoint. Even if it means just using your fastball to reclaim your Dominance. It helps you realize how good you are and how the odds are always in your favor. This eliminates nibbling and trying to be too delicate with pitches. You get back to Going Right At The Hitter!!!

Once you get burned a few times as a pitcher, you learn how to deal with the situation and learn from it. And actually…is it really that bad?

 

 

F’IT!!!
Your Resurgence Awaits
Accept the Challenge

Wherever a temporary demotion may take you, acquiesce the summons with a vengeance. Go out on the mound and do your thing like you have something to prove. Because You Do! Chips on the shoulder are welcomed. It’s part of the intestinal fortitude that gets you through the bleakness.

 

F’IT!!!
Your Resurgence Awaits
As for Sonny…

3 scoreless innings for the Win. 1 hit, 1 Walk, 4 Strikeouts and a regained look as a competitor. Painting corners like a man on a mission. F’It! That’s right! As he struck out Nicky Delmonico in the Bottom of the 13th to seal the victory, the emotional release signified a personal gratification in getting back on track to help the team WIN.

One thing to keep in mind when setbacks happen. We tend to over magnify and complicate too many aspects of the craft. This leads to uncertainty and lack of conviction. Pitching is Pitching. Keep it simple. Don’t get sidetracked by curiosity and experimentation. Stick with what works and rock it will full conviction. F’IT! Go Get ‘Em!

 

Keep Dominating!!!