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Going Mental
2003-07-28 09:48
Playing right-center field in a four-man outfield at my pickup softball game Sunday, I made 16 putouts in 13 innings. Isn't that remarkable? I'm not bragging about it - I just think it's amazing that so many people could hit the ball my way. At the plate, things were shakier. I started out 0 for 4, robbed of a hit once but otherwise making very meek outs. I decided to change my approach, and told myself to go to the plate angry. Not desperate for a hit, but determined. I got solid hits the next three at-bats. The day got hotter and tireder, and I finished only 3 for 9. What the hell, I'm still an amateur. But the game really is a mental one, isn't it? It's not all about talent, but about how you use that talent. There are limits, but the limits shouldn't be players at their worst. I cannot help but think that Dodger hitters have room for growth in their ability to produce. I take these two concluding paragraphs from Mike DiGiovanna's Saturday game story in the Times as progress for the organization: Batting instructor Jack Clark's job seems more and more tenuous in light of the Dodgers' offensive struggles Ñ they rank last in the league in batting, runs, hits, home runs, walks, sacrifice hits, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
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