SUCCESS

 

“I spent my 30s looking back at the best times of my 20s in an attempt to do them better in my 40s.”

My father said that.

He wasn’t around very much.

I didn’t know him enough to miss him, so really his lasting legacy in my life is that quote. I remembered it and it took a while before I was able to translate it into something I could actually use.

When I was a young pitcher, I tried to throw the ball as hard as possible. It’s what every young pitcher does, unless they’re blessed with a natural breaking ball or learn the grip for a slider before sophomore year.

It took a while, but I finally realized that my best games were the ones where I was pinpointing my pitches and painting the black, a great euphemism for throwing on the inside or outside edge of the plate.

But I would still rear back and throw it; more than I should have when I look back. And thanks to technology, I can go and look back.

Often.

More than you’d think was necessary…

And a lot of the time, it’s not necessary…

But the fear of the one time it is necessary keeps me watching film, and hitting the weight room to run at least five miles a day, and 90-minute sessions with the trainer and I haven’t even hit the field yet.

While some of it sounds good, everything in life requires moderation. A toddler would love chocolate for every meal, but we all saw what happens to Augustus.