| I'm not a Yankees fan. There, I said it. I know | | | | players mutter under their breath about not |
| that half of you are now finished reading this | | | | having fun any more with baseball. Sometimes |
| article, and I'm ok with that. I guess I should | | | | coaches can remove some of the fun from the |
| explain my opening sentence a bit more | | | | game, however, I think typically players can |
| thoroughly. While I'm not a Yankess fan, I AM a | | | | regulate their own fun-meter while playing ball. |
| fan of good, solid baseball. I consider good solid | | | | Those who enjoying working on developing their |
| baseball players those who have a firm grasp on | | | | hitting mechanics or pitching skills over and over |
| both the physical as well as the mental game of | | | | again think baseball is fun. They know at some |
| baseball. One of the first players I think of who | | | | point they will enjoy the benefits of their hard |
| has both components under control is Derek | | | | work. Those who go head to head with tough |
| Jeter. | | | | competition think baseball is fun. And finally, those |
| As with most years in his professional career, | | | | who continue to work through mistakes and |
| 2009 was an outstanding year for Jeter. First and | | | | achieve great things think baseball is fun. Fun |
| foremost, he was a major contributor in the | | | | doesn't always have to be easy. I tend to think |
| Yankess winning the World Series. Some of his | | | | Jeter would agree. |
| 2009 personal accolades included: | | | | "We just want to win. That is the bottom line. I |
| 1. Appearing in his 10th All-Star game 2. Winning | | | | think a lot of times people may become content |
| his 5th World Series Ring 3. Has become the | | | | with one championship or a little bit of success, |
| Yankees all time leader in hits wit 2,747 4. Won | | | | but we do not really reflect on what we have |
| his 4th Gold Glove 5. Won his 4th Silver Slugger | | | | done in the past. We focus on the present." |
| with a.334 batting average and.406 on base | | | | Derek Jeter |
| average 6. Won the Hank Aaron Award as the | | | | * Getting stuck in what you did or did not do in |
| best hitter in the American League | | | | the past will destroy your forward momentum. |
| If you get a chance to read Derek Jeter's book, | | | | Lingering too long on your accolades from a |
| The Life You Imagine, you will quickly learn what | | | | couple years ago does nothing productive for you |
| makes him tick. The mental game of baseball is | | | | or your team in the present. I think Jeter has |
| high on Jeter's list of reasons why he has become | | | | nailed this by saying that he doesn't reflect on |
| a highly successful baseball player. I've added a | | | | what he or his team has done in the past. A new |
| couple quotes by Jeter below with some of my | | | | year is a new year. Another athlete who has |
| own commentary following. | | | | talked about this quite a bit is Albert Pujols, who |
| "You have got to have fun. Regardless of how | | | | by the way won the Hank Aaron Award for the |
| you look at it, we are playing a game. It is a | | | | National League last year in 2009. |
| business, it is our job, but I do not think you can | | | | If you are looking for a couple good resources |
| do well unless you are having fun." | | | | for developing the mental game, I'd suggest |
| Derek Jeter | | | | picking up the following books for starters. Both |
| * Hard work, competing, and winning are what | | | | are fairly east to comprehend and will help you |
| make baseball fun. Once in a while I hear younger | | | | out in the baseball psychology department. |