THE TRUTH ABOUT MOST LESSON PROVIDERS The Most Important Decision You May Ever Make
A vast majority of lesson providers in baseball are wonderful, caring people. I personally have never met an instructor who wished to harm an athlete or take him or her backward in their skill development. They all have the very best of intentions.
SPARKY ANDERSON’S COMEBACK This Month in Baseball History Born in 1934, George “Sparky” Anderson flopped during his first season in the Big Leagues. In his debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1959, Anderson didn’t steal any bases and had trouble hitting the ball. He was soon sent back to the minors. Nicknamed “Sparky” for his gutsy play, Anderson was singled out by a sharp-eyed minor league owner for his leadership abilities. He went on to win World Series titles with both American and National League teams. Anderson’s story shows how hitting, base-stealing, and fielding skills aren’t required to be a great manager. Billy Martin was not only a bad player but a bad influence on good players, including Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford. As a manager, however, Martin led teams to two pennants and one World Series win. Tony LaRussa played for six lackluster seasons before winning World Series titles as a manager in both leagues. Tommy Lasorda flopped in three seasons as a player but snared two World Series wins as a manager. Clearly, lackluster playing skills don’t preempt the strategic acumen and coaching skills that propel great managers to success. to land an instructor even in the top 10%. The top 3% almost never can be found without great effort. The law of supply and demand rules supreme here. Most instructors will market themselves as knowledgeable, competent, high-caliber teachers. Therefore, you will have to do some research to discover if this person really is of the caliber you are seeking. If you needed some critically important, life-or-death medical or law expertise, advice, or direction for your son or daughter, I seriously doubt you’d look to that person based upon location, price, or convenience. Instead, most of you would travel any distance and turn over any stone necessary to find that right advisor. Bottom line: If pitching a baseball is VERY important to your athlete, your choice of teacher or mentor is probably the most critical decision you will ever make. Time is always of extreme value, and exceptional teachers are skill accelerators. Buy a cheaper glove if you must, but don’t scrimp on your athlete’s education. The cost is almost always much too dear.
But like almost every other provider of skills or services, only the top 3% of instructors are truly exceptional and world class. The top 10% are very good. The top 23% are solid. The middle 60% tend to be second-rate, sloppy,
casual, and haphazard. The bottom 15% are inept, incompetent, and bungling. But you already knew that. Therefore, if you choose an instructor casually or based primarily on location, price, or convenience, it would be a stroke of extreme good fortune
UPCOMING RANCH EVENTS SUMMER INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: • MAY 27–AUGUST 7
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