What is your in-season hobby?

I remember standing in front of a mirror practicing my swing in a hotel room in North Carolina.  It was 1991.  I was in the Southern League (AA) at the time and it was a rare off-day on the road.  It was a beautiful day but I spent it largely indoors practicing my swing in front of that mirror and largely agonizing over my sub-.200 batting average.

Success in baseball has a lot to do with learning how to handle the down times.  Hitting was never one of my strengths as a player so I certainly had been through some ruts/slumps over the years.  However, I had never done this poorly before and not generally handling it well.

Like countless other players that have donned a uniform, the game had turned me into an emotional wreck.  I’d like to say I turned the season around but that was not the case.  The Twins converted me into a pitcher after that season so clearly my bat never returned.

Like a lot of young players who struggle, my remedy was to just work harder and put in more reps, even if it was in front of a hotel mirror on an off-day.  I didn’t know it at the time but I desperately needed an in-season hobby.  Writing, puzzling, fishing, crafting, gardening, touring museums, … anything that would have given my brain a rest by forcing it to think about something totally unrelated to baseball.

If you are a young player or a coach of young players, be sure to encourage yourself / your players to find one or two in-season activities that are non-baseball related in any way.  Often it will be the most passionate players who need this the most because, like me, these are the players who will be standing in front of a hotel mirror on an off-day.  You don’t want that.

Working hard at your craft, paying attention to detail, and making adjustments is certainly a huge part of the game.  But another big piece of the puzzle in baseball success is knowing when to step away from the game to give your body and mind a much needed breather.

Get a hobby!  

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