Hitting Until My Hands Bleed or Hard Work Pays Off

It's amazing how good players make everything look easy. On their best days, they make it look effortless and on their worst days, they're still the best on the field.  

It always catches me off guard when parents and players make comments like, "I wish my son could hit like that." "I'd do anything to be able to hit home runs like him." "He has a lot of natural ability and God given talent." 

God given talent and natural ability are certainly a big part of an athlete's success, but wanting to be better tomorrow than you are today takes more than wishing.  Cher said it best in her 80's fitness commercial, "If it came in a bottle, everyone would have a great body." Well, if it came in a bottle, anyone who picked up a bat would be a great baseball player.

 Are You Willing to do What it Takes?

 “Many years ago the legendary golf pro, Gary Player, was hitting balls off the practice tee one morning, and the first ball he hit went 280 yards straight as a bullet.  A guy in the gallery just within earshot said, ‘Man, I’d give anything to be able to hit a golf ball like you.’  Gary walked over to the guy and said, ‘No, you wouldn’t.’  The guy said, ‘Yes, I would.  I’d give anything to hit like that,’ Gary said, ‘No, you wouldn’t.  You wouldn’t be willing to do what it takes.  You have to rise early in the morning and hit five hundred balls until your hands bleed.  Then you stop, tape your hands, and hit five hundred more balls.  The next morning you’re out there again with hands so raw you can barely hold your club, but you do it all over again.  If you do that through enough years of pain, then you can hit a ball like that.’ 

Take a minute to read that again, let it sink in and then read it to your son. As an athlete, are you willing to do what it takes to be better tomorrow than you are today?  I can almost here the resounding, YES!  However, I believe the true answer is a resounding, NO! 

Put Down The XBOX Controller

Athletes that want to be the best put in far more effort off the field than they do on the field. They know preparation is key to success. They believe once they've prepared for the game, the game will take care of itself.

Hitting, pitching and fielding lessons assist the player in becoming more skilled, but lessons amount to 30 minutes per week. When other kids are playing video games, the best players are:

• Running a mile to increase their base running speed and stamina.
• Hitting several times a week, in the cage and off the tee.
• Taking extra fielding wherever they can find an open diamond.
• Working out several times a week to increase their strength.
• Eating right and paying attention to their diets.
• Studying the game.
• Playing on any team, anytime, anywhere!

What most people don't know is the best players didn't start this routine a month ago, they've been doing it for years! It's part of their lifestyle and they are self motivated. No one is dragging them to the cage or begging them to work out. The best players do it on their own, when no one is looking. 

Is There a Price To Be Paid?

There is always the road not taken. Maybe there's something they give up, or delay having, in order to focus on being a better ball player. Often times the price they pay comes in the form of criticism from players, parents and coaches.  They are the center of protests, bat checks and intentional walks or some kind of attack designed to get into their heads. 

Bryce Harper was called a 'travel player for higher' having played anywhere from 80-130 games a year.  

When asked if he was deprived of his childhood, he replied, "No, I had a great time." 

Did it bother Harper when people criticized him? "I love the way people talk crap, I hear it all the time. Overrated. You suck. I'll just do something to shut them up, like, I'll show you. 

The best players practice harder, play more and put up with comments most of us couldn't handle. They are not only physically strong, they are mentally tough, and like Harper, use any negativity to their advantage.  

You're Just Lucky!

Does luck factor into success?  Some people think it does. There's no doubt, being in the right place at the right time helps.  But once there, the player still needs to perform. You can't minimize the importance of coming prepared and taking advantage of an opportunity when it knocks. 

A friend of mine told me he overheard a player tell his son, "I wish I could hit like you, you're so lucky!" I love what his son replied, "Well, the harder I practice, the luckier I get.”  Couldn't have said it better myself! 

 Baseball's Lebron. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com June 08, 2009