Paul Articulates – State of Mind

 

The St. Louis Cardinals recently went on a tear of 17 consecutive victories, clinching a wild card spot in the NL playoffs.  During that streak, they won big, they won close games, and they had come-backs. 

On August 14, the Cards and the Mets were both at 60 wins.  Since that time, the two teams have been on very divergent paths.  It is certainly not because the Cards are a more talented team – both have a team batting average around .240 (Mets .238; Cards .244) and a team ERA just under 4 (Mets 3.89; Cards 3.98).  On paper, both teams boast capable infields with Alonso, Baez, Lindor, and Villar compared to Goldschmidt, Edman, DeJong, and Arenado.  The Mets are stronger up the middle and the Cards have an advantage on the corners.  Comparison of the outfield, starting pitchers, and relief staff yields no significant difference though there are some position-to-position advantages.

Fans in St. Louis are on the edge of their seat waiting for the next big play, cheering on every player who strides to the plate.  Fans in NY are slumped in their seats waiting for the next big failure, ready to jettison every last player in the off-season if they were in charge.

 

As difficult as it is to be a Mets fan lately, this is why I love baseball.  It is an extremely difficult game to play, so even the best players in the game fail 70% of the time.  Games can turn on mis-hit “swinging rollers” or long drives that just stayed in the park due to the prevailing winds.  Any team can win on any given day, so fans root not only for their favorite team, but also for a break from the baseball Gods.  That doesn’t mean that the outcomes are random – teams can influence their success by employing good strategies, building compatible teams of players, and utilizing the right tactics at the right time.

There is one other factor that influences outcomes, and I believe it is the primary reason for the divergence between the Mets and the Cards over the last 40 games.  I’ll call it “State of Mind”. 

State of Mind is the mental edge that supplements all the physical skills to bring a player (or a team) to a peak (or valley) of performance.   There is a saying that, “When you believe you can, you are right.  When you don’t believe you can, you are also right”.   Every ball player that makes it to the show (and many that don’t) has the world class physical skills to hit a baseball travelling 95+ mph or track a baseball on a full sprint and make a leaping catch.  The ones that succeed have a level of confidence that removes doubt and allows their physical reflexes to take over.  Hitters call it “having a quiet mind” at the plate.  Other athletes call it being “in the zone”.  This is not something that we are capable of summoning at will – it is a sub-conscious state that is built through success and eroded through failure.  It is behind every hitting streak and every slump. 

Now let’s talk about the teams.  The Cardinals have developed the State of Mind where they believe that they can win every game.  Whether they are winning or losing at any point in a game, all it takes is one key hit or fielding gem, and in the subconscious mind of every player something says, “Here we go”.  Momentum builds, and they prevail.  This is how you win 17 in a row without top 3 talent in every position.  The Mets have developed the State of Mind where they believe that that something will prevent them from winning the game.  Whether they are winning or losing at any point in a game, all it takes is one strikeout with the bases loaded or a reliever walking the first hitter in an inning, and in the subconscious mind of every player something says, “Here we go”.  Momentum withers, confidence wanes, and they lose.  This is how you lose 10 of 12 games even with capable players at every position.

There is no time in the 2021 season to turn this around, so the season will end and everything will reset.  In the off-season, the NY Mets will hire a president of baseball operations, who will then hire a GM, who will evaluate the talent and management of the 2021 team and make moves for the following season.  I can only hope that when they do, it doesn’t become a total teardown as some are wishing for, because this Mets roster is not as bad as their performance record.  The new GM needs to adjust the roster so we have a team full of mentally tough players and find a manager who has a track record of utilizing the right tactics at the right time.  When the 2022 season starts, this team will begin with a fresh State of Mind, and if we get on a roll, it could be a season to remember.  I’ll be watching from the edge of my seat!