Control the Controllables

Imagine you are a major league pitcher within a single out from pitching a rare perfect game (only 23 pitchers have thrown perfect games in 135 years and 300,000 + games played).  On a routine ground ball the batter sprints to first base.  The ball is riffled to the first baseman in time for the out.  The batter is out.  Clearly.  Everyone in the stadium sees the play.  Well, not everyone.  The first base umpire blows it.  That first base ump mistakenly calls the base runner safe.  A blown call.  No more perfect game.  No bueno.  What do you do if you are that pitcher?  How do you respond?  Maybe your only chance at joining baseball’s history books blown by a mistake outside your control.  Your process was perfect; the outcome was not.   

How could you change the above outcome after the game?  You can’t.  Nobody can.  How much time would you spend replaying over and over again the idea that you got cheated, you were wronged, and all the frustration and baggage that comes along with this kind of disappointment.  And how does that baggage impact what you need to be focused on right now?

The above situation is a true story.  This happened on June 10, 2010 to Detroit pitcher, Armando Galarraga.  His response?  He pressed the delete button.  He took it in stride.  He didn’t let it eat him up inside.  He moved on to the next play, next game, next season (and he never did pitch a perfect game, only 23 in history have).  He put in the effort.  His process was correct.  The outcome within reach.  But the outcome didn’t match up with his process and effort.  Galarraga’s response after the game regarding the blown call, “Nobody’s perfect.”

The benefit of process-oriented goals is that the athlete gives up ownership on all the other factors outside his or her control.  The athlete can’t control the last play, the play after the next play, refs, weather, injuries, personnel decisions, coaching strategies, bleacher noise, etc.  So why bother burning calories on stuff that can’t be controlled?

More sports parenting tips @ Zero Offseason: Divorce, Youth Sports & Tips for the Insanely Busy Sports Mom.  Available at Amazon.com