All it Takes is One Time!

Quick and to the point: I've been a catcher all my life. My dream like many of you was to be a professional baseball player and stare out into Wrigley Field from behind the plate. I was always taught that when you step on the field you give nothing less than 110% and for years that is how I approached my game and have continued to preach to the kids I work with.

A long time ago I was watching a game with Mackey Sasser behind the plate and Matt Willimas was the runner at second base. My dad had always told me to fire the ball back to the pitcher harder then they were throwing in to me, so you would never see me throw a bleeder back to the pitcher. I wasn't programed to do so and therefore I don't even think I could throw one back easy. I'd probably hurt myself or launch it over his head. Anyway, Mackey Sasser was catching and has always lobbed the ball back to the pitcher, almost painful to watch. His thinking is probably that he doesn't want to wait his arm on a simple part of the game. Here's the deal though, everyone knew that he did this ever single pitch so when Matty was on second he waited until Sasser was going to lob it back like he'd done every pitch prior, Matty took third base without even a throw from the pitcher once he received the ball.

Yesterday, my favorite catcher in the big's right now (Russel Martin for the Dodgers) was catching against the Phillies. Martin has always been, since being a big leaguer, a leader and a go getter. For some apparent reason though he had a lazy moment and decided to lob the ball back to the pitcher. Jason Werth for the Phillie's was on third and a right handed hitter up at the plate which blocks the catchers view of third base. Here we go, the ball is thrown from the pitcher, strike, Martin lobs it back to the pitcher and Werth takes off. The pitcher grabs the ball and tries to make a throw to the plate but throws high and Werth takes the plate.

So back to my original title of my blog.. "It only takes one time." I would imagine that you won't see anyone steal home again on Russel Martin. He got complacent for a second and paid the price.

Again, kids at home. When you put the uniform on, give it your all and when I yell at you from the dugout, not to get lazy.. remember Mackey Sasser and Russel Martin.. they got lazy and I'll always remember both plays. I would like to remember the catchers that I work with in a positive way rather than saying, "remember the time so and so got lazy and the other team took advantage of them?"

That's my thought of the day. Work hard in life and succeed, get lazy one time and the world will pass you by! Chew on that for a while!