MMV #044: How to Overcome Paralysis by Analysis

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Read time: 3 minutes

Most pitchers are consumed by their stats.

• ERA

• Strikeouts

• Win-Loss record

I was one of them.

Don’t make the same mistakes I did.

I was OBSESSED with my numbers.

So much that I would literally be doing math in my head about what my ERA would be if I didn’t give up a run the next inning.

My identity was in my performance.

Pitching for George Mason University in 2014.

And it usually involved things out of my control like my win-loss record.

This caused 2 things to happen:

1. Added pressure

I added extra pressure to myself by constantly thinking about my numbers.

2. Anxiety

As a result, anxiety built.

Anxiety about how every mistake hurt my numbers.

Anxiety about maintaining good results.

Do this instead:

Focus on good process, not good results.

To be a clear, a good process DOES lead to good results.

That is the purpose of a process.

The results show us if we are on the right track.

Next season try this:

Don’t look at your:

• ERA

• Walks

• Strikeouts

Only track your:

• Strike %

• First Pitch Strike %

• Early and Ahead %

Your overall numbers will be better if these are good.

I know it’s not easy.

Especially when friends and family are asking what your record or ERA are.

Block out the noise and trust your process.

The same can be applied to coaches.

Are you consumed with wins and losses to the point it is effecting the way you coach or treat people?

As coaches we are examples and leaders to our team.

If we want them to trust their process and focus on what they have control over, we need to as well.

That's all for today.

See you next week! 

This Thursday at 7:00 p.m. ET I will be hosting a Twitter (X) Space.

With fall practices and games coming to an end for high school and college teams, now seems like an appropriate time to talk about shutdowns and winter throwing.

I'll discuss how to decide if you should shutdown, de-load, keep throwing, how to build back up for spring, and more!

Click here to set a reminder on your Twitter account!