99 Perfect and 1 Miss

Name something you do in your life you will do 100 times every time you go to do it. Can you think of anything?

For arguments sake, let's say a pitcher will pitch on average 100 pitches in a game.

That means a pitcher has 100 chances to make a mistake. A pitcher can make 99 perfect pitches, and that would go unnoticed if she made one mistake that scored a run to lose the game. In a game, every time a pitcher goes out, she takes the risk that she might throw 1 pitch and that 1 pitch can be the mistake that loses the game.

All eyes are on you.

High risk. High reward.

Now think about it....the 100 pitches I am speaking of, is not over the course of a year. That 100 pitches is 1 game -- a couple of hours.

So yeah, pitchers are hard on themselves and sometimes a little mental. And yes, sometimes pitchers can get in a funk. But when you really sit and think about it, it's not so surprising that pitchers put a lot of pressure on themselves. It's not surprising they try to be perfect. It's not surprising most pitchers are people pleasers. They are trying to please and be perfect 100 times every single game.

A fielder might get 1 ball all game. Maybe they get 0?

A hitter might get 3 at bats all game. Maybe they get 2?

What do you do in your own life that has as much pressure on it times 100 every time you go out to do it?

Pitching is special. You wonder why sometimes you don't know how to talk to or handle a pitcher? You wonder why sometimes your pitcher gets down and has slumps? In sports, maybe other than a quarterback, no one does what a pitcher does. No one handles what a pitcher will handle.

100 times you attempt to throw the perfect pitch without getting too tight.
100 times you attempt to throw the perfect pitch without getting too much in your head.

It's a balance. And it's hard. Not saying it can't be done, because it absolutely can. But do you understand maybe a little bit more why maybe pitchers are so hard on themselves and take on a bunch of nerves? Can you understand more why your pitcher might go through tough times?

It's so much more than just putting in the time at practice....