Preparation + Practice = Success

The aches, pains, and bruises physical, and otherwise, those checks eventually come due for us all.  Aging is natural and inevitable. Plus, injuries and stresses we have incurred over the years accumulate to produce some of the limitations we have today. We exercise, play a sport and are reminded with more aches and pains. But, come on, we feel those aches and pains getting out of a car or getting off the couch and reaching in the refrigerator for a tall one. So, we may as well enjoy our youthful exuberance as long as we can.

Bob Feller is quoted to say "I can still throw as hard as I ever did. It just takes longer to get to the plate." We generally accept the fact we are achieving less in our ball skill set than we did in the past. That’s just the way it is. Our heart and mind can be in conflict with one telling you can do this and the other saying oh no you can’t. Which is right? The answer is a quote from a Clint Eastwood, “A man’s got to know his limitations”. Can you still back hand a ground ball and make a jump turn from short to first…and throw the runner out? Can I run that double into a triple or run that triple into a double? The answer to many of those questions happens during practice. Either you can, can’t, or can with some modifications such as a one hop throw. Aging requires modifications but one needs to know when.

Practice, aerobic and anaerobic exercise will make you more physically ready.  Games can make you more mentally ready. How many players do you recall who decided to “get back into the game” after a multiple year layoff and then upon returning, immediately pull a muscle or strain a ligament? Playing ball uses different muscle groups than other sports and requires time to prepare and condition one’s body. Most important for us, in this game is to maintain speed and strength as best as we can as we get older. With a good exercise plan and a proper diet, we can minimize the effects of aging to our once Olympian bodies. (Or something like that)

"His bat speed hasn't slowed down at all. It's just that his decision to swing takes three business days." – Anonymous Manager. Mental preparation happens every time one comes to bat.  Don’t overthink what you do. Stay true to your form and hit the strike that is delivered to you. Simple solution but hard to stay focused with all that is happening in the game. Plus, your true form varies slightly with the pitch, (i.e. strikes that are low and away or high and inside), and with runners on base. Again situational hitting practice is important to match your form to the pitch given for the situation. You need to work on being a successful hitter in practices, batting cages and recreational games.

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." — Benjamin Franklin

"Before anything else, preparation is the key to success." — Alexander Graham Bell