This Stat Makes Game Days Way Better

I remember I loved checking my game stats when I pitched for Ithaca College.  The sports information department would put up the box score with more information than ESPN does for the MLB!  As soon as I got back to my dorm room after a game I'd hop on the computer and look up my ERA. My goal was to stay under 1.0. Being able to see the eb and flow every day really motivated me. The best softball pitchers at the time were under 1.0 ERA and I knew that if I could do that I'd be a great pitcher.

When I didn’t reach my goal for a game, I forgot about it and tried to accomplish it during the next game. The key was to never give up, have a short memory, and understand what motivated me. Unfortunately, during my senior year, my coaches decided to take the stats down from our website. They didn’t want other teams to use the information to scout us. I didn’t speak up and ask to see my stats, and I let it hurt my performance.

Now that I am a coach myself, I see this situation from another angle. I’m still numbers-driven, but I’ve heard some instructors say they dislike giving numbers to their pitchers. Pitchers are known to get a little, how should I say, self-centered and perfectionistic. I would love to deny this in myself, but I can’t.

When I was in college I did not think I was self-centered. I thought I was goal-oriented and taking responsibility. The results of this were apparent in two big ways. First, I achieved a sub-1.0 ERA and accomplished a school-record 576 strikeouts. We won an NCAA National Championship my junior year. The other result was less impressive. I still remember when the college newspaper asked me for a comment on my no-hitter, I forgot to thank my team. Actually, I didn’t forget to thank my team, I didn’t even consider they needed to be thanked. My team played stellar defense. They saved my no-hitter with a couple double plays and a home-run defending catch in center field. While I followed through on my end of the bargain, I forgot I couldn’t have done it without them. How embarrassing! I got all the way through college not learning this lesson!

While we as youth coaches and parents are trying to get athletes to accept a ton of responsibility, we are also trying to teach them it is not ALL their responsibility. That’s a hard lesson! Pitchers have a win or loss listed next to their name, they have their earned runs listed, and they get the ball every play. To help athletes develop appropriate expectations, some coaches keep the stats unavailable leaving the analysis to the adults. All the way up to the collegiate level, many pitchers care more about being an all-American or throwing a no-hitter than trying their best to win a tournament with their team.

When I was in college, I also needed to understand this team concept both ways. My team didn’t just help me win. If we lost, surely we all lost. It wasn’t all my fault. If I’m not on my A-game, my defense needs to pick me up. The offense needs to produce more hits. That’s what a team is. We help each other and make up for each others mistakes. The teams that win are those that make the least amount of mistakes, and then make up for the ones they do. Their athletes don’t blame and they don’t take all the credit. That is, they make up for their teammates mistakes, and do so happily.

Are there ever games where no mistakes are made? I don’t think so. Watch college softball this week. Tell me if the winning team gave up no walks, had 100% great at-bats, or made no errors. They didn’t. There are always mistakes.

While competition brings out the best in athletes, remember the only thing they can control is themselves. Use stats not to compare. Instead use them to set goals and accomplish them together.