Baseball allowed a young boy to maintain his confidence and self-image because he knew that on the next pitch he could be the hero, he could perform well. In addition it was a non-linear progression, from worst to best one minute to the next. This was very appealing to me because, in the process of socialization, it iis a process that is taught as a linear progression; plan, work hard and you will get there.

It is true, one does not become a good reader without steady work, many of life’s skills are a progression. This was what was taught by parents and teachers. But what of the inspiration of the poet, the painter? I wanted that kind of learning too, that kind of gratification. Baseball, as a player gave me that alternative process, hero, goat to hero in a short period of time. I studied baseball as a linear progression too, taking ground balls and trying to catch the ball on the short hop at first base

The draw of the game was the drama and the capability of performing amazing acts at just the right moment. And even if you failed to perform, there was sure to be another opportunity in the near future. It was easier to accept failure if the opportunity of redemption was close at hand. Even today I tell people working with other people, even the best hitter only succeeds one-third of the time. The trick is not letting the failures color the next opportunity, keeping that perspective, that the next time I’ll get it.

This led to another insight. As I kid I always wondered why the manager of a major league baseball team would often put a player back out there to pitch the day after the same pitcher had a spectacular failure? The rabble at the ballpark wondered this too, expressing themselves by booing when the relief pitcher came into pitch the day after his complete failure.

Human resources as they are called now are limited, especially on a baseball team with twenty-five players. How do you get the most from each one? You have to allow them to feel like when given the opportunity they can make a significant contribution. The manager is managing twenty-five egos. He has to give the guy who failed yesterday an opportunity to succeed today or tomorrow. If he loses faith in himself he is lost to the team. The manager then only has twenty-four players.

How do you assess talent when there a lot of variables?

Baseball