Control What You Can Control

• You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your reaction to it.

• You must be in control of yourself before you can control your performance.

Your Thoughts are a Choice

• You are responsible for what goes on in your head.

• The thoughts in your head have a big impact on how well you are going to play. 

• Negative emotions like worry, tension, and doubt are a result of your own thinking. 

• Choose to focus on the positive over the negative.

• Start with a good deep breath and focus on process over outcome.

In Game 2 of ALDS in 2013, the bases were loaded in the bottom of the 9th of a scoreless game. Stephen Vogt is due up and is having a rough day… 0 for 3 with 3 K’s.

As he is in the on-deck circle, he sees that Detroit has both a righty and a lefty throwing in the pen. He knows that if they bring in the lefty, he will get pulled for a pinch hitter. He later said he was praying they would bring in the righty so he could hit and that his prior 3 strikeouts never entered his mind. The way he saw it, a 1 for 4 day with a walk off hit and a playoff win would be a pretty good day. The Tigers brought in the righty and he came through big with an RBI single to walk it off. 

In big moments, pressure only exists when you start worrying about the outcome. Think of the next pitch as a new opportunity, then make the most of it by focusing on the things you can control… like seeing the ball and taking a good swing on a good pitch. 

Play One Pitch at a Time

• Self-Control... Are you nervous or tight? Is your mind racing? Or are you confident, composed, and relaxed? Get your mind right if it isn't already.

• Plan... Tell yourself exactly what you want to accomplish on the next pitch and fully commit to it.

• Trust... Let yourself play. You are under control, you know what you want to do, now do it. You are not trusting yourself when you are trying hard.