We had some good moments today but we were too mistake prone to pull out a win. The MB's took advantage by combining some timely hits with our charity to come away with the victory. They played like they wanted to win and frankly, we didn't.
With the exception of a mind-numbing meltdown on the bases, we played a much more disciplined game than last week. Defensively, we booted a few here and there (which is to be expected) but we were free of the numerous mental mistakes we committed the previous week. Our problems are primarily with our offense. For our first two-and-a-half seasons, our offense has typically been good for 15-25 runs per game. For the past few weeks we've been scoring in the 10-12 range and it has been costing us. When we're not hitting, we can't afford to give away 2-to-3 outs on the bases per game, yet that's what we have been doing with our inexplicable baserunning blunders.
In addition to the problems we're having scoring runs, we're now experiencing playing time issues. In last week's game against the Outlaws, we played a lineup of only ten players and left five of our players on the bench for the whole game. This understandably stirred some discord within the team. This week, we tried to make amends by fully utilizing the EH position so we could get everyone on the team in the lineup for the entire game. We also tried to distribute some time in the field to those who haven't received much. Now we are at the opposite end of the spectrum. Some of the players who come to practice regularly don't understand why those who don't practice were in for the whole game. The concerns on both sides are valid.
It seems we are a team with some decisions to make about our team's direction. We have a bigger roster now but only so many innings to share. It's not 2008 when we struggled at times to avoid forfeiting games. (A couple of championships on the mantle makes us more attractive than we were then.) Part of our team appears to have a sense of entitlement to playing time whether or not they attend our practices. Others feel if you don't come to practice and work out with the team, you shouldn't expect to play. There's no easy resolution to this. If one must attend practice to play, we would have forfeited our last two games. If we just show up on Thursdays without practicing, we get too much sloppy, error prone play.
This isn't something I can decide for everyone. We have to come to an agreement collectively on what kind of team we're going to be. My assumption has always been that when you sign on to play with this team, it comes with the understanding that we practice every week, we play hard, and we play to win. If you don't practice with us and execute your assignments in the games, you're going to take a backseat to those who do.
Perhaps I've been wrong about this. Would we prefer to be like the other teams who just show up to swing the bats a few times on Thursday then stop for a beer after the game? That's the impression I'm getting of late. We had less than half the team show up for any of our recent practices. We have people showing up for our games late or without their gloves and cleats. This doesn't look like a team that cares about what it's doing.
I can assure you that I care. I'm going to be out there at our practices to sharpen my skills and to help my teammates sharpen theirs, whether I play in the games or not. If there's something I can do to help, the team, I'm going to do it. On some days, I'm at the practice field for a half hour before anyone else shows up and I'm the last one to leave. I've been out there most Mondays and every Tuesday. I spend countless hours each week maintaining our website and two blogs (which almost nobody utilizes). I buy softballs, bats and training equipment for the team to use.
When I have someone pissing in my ear about his/her playing time and that person doesn't come to practice, doesn't show up for games on time (by 4:45), and doesn't handle his/her responsibilities in the games, please pardon me if I don't have a lot of sympathy.
I'd really like to hear how the everyone feels about the direction of this team. You know my opinion but I certainly won't assume everyone feels the same way I do.
Mark, I read and re-read your comments. I totally agree with what you are saying. My only issue with the practices is that there is some understanding on the issue of being on time to all of the practices being that we can not all get to work at the same time. So the staggering in to practice is kinda expected. Having said that, we are all adults and know when we should be at practice and if we are to be a team, a team is how we should practice. I said it before but Ima say it again, 1 band, 1 sound...how does that apply to us? If we practice together, we play good together...so I will committ myself from here on out to be there when it is expected of me to be there. I also committ myself to working harder and doing what i must do to learn this craft and improving my game (with your help of course). BUT let me also say this, we are supposed to be on accord with one another, we cannot be worrying about who is playing and who is not. When you are not playing, support those who are...no one needs to hear grunts and gripes when we make mistakes. No one needs to hear a whole bunch of shit because no one is perfect and that is going to the whole team, take it or leave it, like it or love it! We say we are family, lets act like a family, as disfuntional as it may be (lol). I love this team, Brick for life.....
ReplyDeleteAnd all of your efforts Mark are very much appreciated, I told you that before. So please do not feel like what you do is in vain...I appreciate it all big brother
ReplyDeleteAs I have stated b4, I have been playing this game for a long time & mainly in men's league only format. With these given teams that I have played with u had to fight for your position, playing time & where u bat in the lineup & where that all begins/ends is practice. I told Mark last year that I wanted to practice w/the Bricks (as a mod squad member) to keep myself sharp to beat the Bricks!! None of my fellow mates came out with me & it showed on gameday. I agree that everyone deserves playing time due to the fact that this is a work-related league & co-ed. Im not gonna point fingers about folks practicing but I will say that counts tremendously when its time to play. You can tell immediately who's doing it or not by the decisions made during real game situations. When your on the field or bench, you should know what to do in that given situation..or do you??
ReplyDeleteThats exactly what we do in practice in order to make sure we are all on the same page. We win as a team & lose as one too! There should be no gray matter in between. I personally know I need the practice to stay sharp as a tack, the day I say I dont need practice, im a retired player. When our team does come out, we have super fun & vibe off one another real cool. Mark has been a valuable friend, co-worker & teammate & I commend him for all he has done for me, my boys & especially the Bricks!
Lets make this happen & do what we know
I appreciate the input, Lynecia & Carlos. I should make it clear that I get just as much out of playing for this team as I put into it. When we work together to achieve our common goals, it's an extremely rewarding expereince.
ReplyDeleteIt's not easy to make out the lineup each week and keep everybody happy. It's a very difficult balancing act. On one hand, we want to put a team on the field that gives us our best chance to win. On the other hand, we want to spread around the playing time so everyone gets a chance to contribute.
The reality is, some of the veteran members of this team are a lot better at playing softball than others. It's natural that they are going to soak up a greater share of the playing time. The rest of us are going to be role players who will share the remainder of the playing time. I understand that everyone likes to play but everyone also likes to win. We can't win consistenly with our best players sitting on the bench in high leverage situations.
I have no expectation that I am going to play as many innings as James, Brandon, Carlos, and Lawrence. We need them in the games as much as possible if we want to win. I know I will be called upon to pitch when James is serving in the Army Reserves. Outside of that, I try to keep myself ready in case I'm needed at another position. If the call never comes, I'm satisfied I can help the team in other ways.
Until recently, I thought everyone on the team thought the same way I do. But lately, I've been hearing a lot of "I, me, mine" where I used to hear "we, us, ours." I understand the dissatisfaction with the way the Outlaws game went down but I will be very disappointed if that mistake opens the door to a rush of blatant selfishness.
One more thing, when James returns I fully expect to take a seat on the bench. Tanya appears to be perfectly capable of handling first base and at age 50, I no longer have the wheels to cover the outfield the way our younger players can. I will handle the scorebook, take pictures, coach the bases, run our practices and whatever else is needed to help our team.
ReplyDeleteTo expand on Carlos's comments, there were some spots in Thursday's game when a casual observer could tell who has been practicing and who hasn't. We turned some pretty good plays on the infield and they were plays we rehearsed several times at our practices. There were also some routine plays we didn't turn and I don't think it's a coincidence they mostly involved players who haven't been practicing.
ReplyDeleteNobody expects every player to attend every practice. Just about everyone encounters situations that will keep them away sometimes. But that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about players who consistenly aren't there for us. If we don't have enough players present at our practices, we can't run all of the drills we need to keep our team sharp. Skipping practice hurts your teammates as much as it hurts yourself.
Additionally, when players who don't practice are put into our games, they often don't do the things that are expected of them. We see weak at bats, bases not covered, throws going to the wrong place, teammates not being backed up etc.
I spend a fair amount of time pitching extra batting practice and hitting extra balls to some of our best players. That kind of effort is part of the reason they are so good. Anyone who thinks he/she isn't playing enough should keep this in mind. Come to practice and work hard. It increases the chances that you will execute well when you get into the games. Players who produce in the games will force their names onto the lineup card more often. If all you bring to the ballpark is a sense of entitlement, you're not going to impress anyone.
Neci wrote:
ReplyDeleteMy only issue with the practices is that there is some understanding on the issue of being on time to all of the practices being that we can not all get to work at the same time. So the staggering in to practice is kinda expected.
Little Sister, I understand that sometimes unforseen circumstances will cause one to be late to practice. But it shouldn't be a regular thing. Why can our team get to the park by 5:00 on Thursday but not on Tuesday?