Dirt is the very base of life on Earth.

It has most of the important nutrients in which organisms need to grow.

Ancient cultures have known for centuries that being close to the Earth benefits one’s state of mind.

Some of the happiest times in a ballplayer’s life is spent digging their cleats into the dirt of a ball field.

Perfectly manicured or not, it does not matter.

We look for dirt to give us traction.

Dirt keeps us from slipping. Giving us the support we needed to perform. The small clouds of dust kicked up from underneath our feet serve as reminders of our connection with the earth. Maintaining your footing no matter how difficult the situation allows for the error of the moment to be quickly forgotten, and grants us the ability to dig back in and focus on the next “play.”

We look for the dirt to have playability, allowing balls to bounce true.

As ballplayers we spend countless hours learning the art of reading the hop. But there are days when nothing reads true. We stay back when we should have charged forward, we stay down when we should have come up. It is a perfect metaphor for everyday life, a reminder the universe supplies us with plenty of bad hops, it’s up to you on how to play them.

Dirt possesses a power of resilience, the ground gives when a player’s body strikes it.

Although we walk off the field with bumps, bruises, scrapes and cuts the streaks of dirt that cover our uniforms show that you made the effort and should be worn like badges of valor.

And when you take a tumble or the pitcher plants one off your thigh an ice pack can help but any good ballplayer knows to…

Rub Dirt On It

SACRIFICE. A word that can define a successful ballplayer on any level.

Hours upon hours of what I have come to call “Lonely Work.” The training put in when no one is watching. Tee work, strength & conditioning. Visualization and video work.

Baseball is a game defined by individual achievement inside a team construct. Sounds a lot like life doesn’t it? What can you do to put your teammates in a situation to achieve success?

As a lifetime number two hitter (back before it was the sexy spot in the line-up) it was my responsibility to set up the middle of the line-up. Whether it was advancing the baserunner or fouling off enough pitches so the batters behind me had the opportunity to see every bullet in the pitcher’s arsenal. It was role I understood and took great pride in.

How can I sacrifice myself for my team? What did I learn from every at bat or play in the field?

It’s a message I preach to every ballplayer I have the honor to work with. Learn how to coach yourself.

This blog will discuss many things, but at the heart of it will be the motto Hard Work Beats Talent.