season end

The 2011 season is nearly over and as the Mets have made some progress that progress is not reflected in our record. As I was a member of the Mets’ team in the early 80’s, I have seen this trend before. In other words, the 86 Mets team was a byproduct of the early struggles with young inexperience players. So for one more year, we must cherish the memories of a happier time. For all Mets fan, this year is the 25^th anniversary of the 86 World Series Champion Mets. Bill Buckner has jointed me in recreating one of baseball’s more memorable moments though a work of art. The original painting can be viewed in the Mets hall of Fame at Citi Field. But if you wish to own your own private piece of Mets history, a framed copy of this piece of art work can be purchased at www.theplay86ws.com.

Thank you for following Mookie’s View this year. I will continue to update with small article during the offseason.

Thank You and May God continue to bless you.

Mookie

Evolution of Baseball

The Evolution of baseball

Just like most things, baseball has evolved. No matter what phase baseball has gone through, the objectives remain the same; scoring runs for the offense and preventing runs for the defense. Unlike the other two major sports, basketball and football, time is not a factor. The evolution of baseball can be compared to the fashion industry. People design different style and looks and if others like what they see, people will wear it and it becomes a fashion craze or fad. Baseball has a tendency to follow the same pattern. If one team does something that show a certain degree of success, other teams will eventually adopt the same philosophy creating change.

    Many changes have been made in the passing years for various reasons; to promote safety, speed up the game, promote more offense or to bring the level of competition between the pitcher and hitter closer just to name a few. Some view these changes as being intrusive and unnecessary while other see it as progress improving the game. There are some who contend, to some degree, that these changes have contributed to the declining use of some of the game’s most exciting skills: base stealing, base running, bunting and complete games while promoting others such as the home run, strike outs and relief pitching.

   The changes in the game have affected the way players perform, managers manage, and coaches instruct. Marketing of teams has affected the way team dress and owners run their organizations. For better or for worst, the game has survived all of our interference and tinkering.

    Some of the most obvious changes are in the offensive schemes of more teams. Teams have shifted their focus to relying more on power, even those that once was known for their passion or dependence on speed, St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland A’s and let’s not forget the New York Mets. Positions that once were considered defensive positions are now asked to have a heavier offensive impact. The arts of base stealing and bunting have dwindled but appear to be making a comeback. Where speed was once a priority is now a luxury. Pitching has become more specialized and bunt defensives have become more sophiscated where bunting itself is used less. As bigger, stronger athletes claim their influences on the game, smaller ballpark has forced many of these changes as well. Accept for Sunday afternoon, day games are a rare occurrence. However, Sunday afternoon games are often being adjusted to night games because of TV. For marketing purposes, teams are regularly changing color schemes. Teams once owned by families now have corporate ownership and all of us have noticed the economics of the game. I’m not saying that the changes are bad or good just noting the changes I have seen in my short career.

   Baseball, once only considered the great American pastime and now the life line of many communities, is constantly evolving and I am waiting for the next phase. Until it happens, I will continue to enjoy and promote the great game of baseball.

Evolution of Baseball

The Evolution of baseball

Just like most things, baseball has evolved. No matter what phase baseball has gone through, the objectives remain the same; scoring runs for the offense and preventing runs for the defense. Unlike the other two major sports, basketball and football, time is not a factor. The evolution of baseball can be compared to the fashion industry. People design different style and looks and if others like what they see, people will wear it and it becomes a fashion craze or fad. Baseball has a tendency to follow the same pattern. If one team does something that show a certain degree of success, other teams will eventually adopt the same philosophy creating change.

    Many changes have been made in the passing years for various reasons; to promote safety, speed up the game, promote more offense or to bring the level of competition between the pitcher and hitter closer just to name a few. Some view these changes as being intrusive and unnecessary while other see it as progress improving the game. There are some who contend, to some degree, that these changes have contributed to the declining use of some of the game’s most exciting skills: base stealing, base running, bunting and complete games while promoting others such as the home run, strike outs and relief pitching.

   The changes in the game have affected the way players perform, managers manage, and coaches instruct. Marketing of teams has affected the way team dress and owners run their organizations. For better or for worst, the game has survived all of our interference and tinkering.

    Some of the most obvious changes are in the offensive schemes of more teams. Teams have shifted their focus to relying more on power, even those that once was known for their passion or dependence on speed, St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland A’s and let’s not forget the New York Mets. Positions that once were considered defensive positions are now asked to have a heavier offensive impact. The arts of base stealing and bunting have dwindled but appear to be making a comeback. Where speed was once a priority is now a luxury. Pitching has become more specialized and bunt defensives have become more sophiscated where bunting itself is used less. As bigger, stronger athletes claim their influences on the game, smaller ballpark has forced many of these changes as well. Accept for Sunday afternoon, day games are a rare occurrence. However, Sunday afternoon games are often being adjusted to night games because of TV. For marketing purposes, teams are regularly changing color schemes. Teams once owned by families now have corporate ownership and all of us have noticed the economics of the game. I’m not saying that the changes are bad or good just noting the changes I have seen in my short career.

   Baseball, once only considered the great American pastime and now the life line of many communities, is constantly evolving and I am waiting for the next phase. Until it happens, I will continue to enjoy and promote the great game of baseball.

Freqently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

As professional athlete and member of a championship team, I am asked to attend many functions. It is not uncommon to be asked to speak to the audience. The topics are usually predetermined by the organizers. Part of my presentation requires me to allow the people in attendance to ask questions. This is always the highlight of the evening. I will take this opportunity to answer some of those frequently asked questions.

How did you get the name Mookie?

Contrary to a previously publicized explanation, I did not get my name because of not being able to pronounce the word milk nor did my grandmother give it to me. I don’t know how I got the name and I don’t know what it means. To my knowledge, it has no specific meaning. Sorry, that’s the best I can do.

Do you miss playing?

Most players will not admit it but they are some that would love to turn back the clock to get one more chance to play the game that they love. This is not to say that they miss playing but they miss the competition. When you get to a certain age, playing is easy but preparing to play is what becomes difficult. No, I don’t miss playing but I do miss the thrill of competition.

What field was your favorite to play on?

Every ball player prefers playing at home because he always has the fan behind them and playing on the road can be difficult because of the fan factor. That being said, there are ballparks that have great playing surfaces, good hitting backgrounds and perfect lighting. Wrigley Field was that park for me.

What manager did you enjoy playing for the most?

During my career, I played for 5 managers but for discussion purpose, I will only name the 3 that I had for a length of time, David Johnson, Joe Torre, and Cito Gaston. All were very good managers that communicated well with their players. Because of his coaching style, I must say Cito Gaston.  He seemed to embrace the running game more which I enjoyed the most. It must also be noted that I was a little older at this time and was more accepting to the managing and coaching philosophy. In other words, I had a better understanding of the game and the manager’s job.

Do you ever see or talk to Bill Buckner?

People ask this question a lot and they appear surprise when I give them the answer. Bill and I have become very good friends over the years and we either see or speak to each other quite often. As a matter of fact, we are currently working on a joint project that will hopefully be announced in the near future.

How often do you get asked about the Buckner play?

I’m asked about that play very often.  If it is baseball season, the topic comes up every day.

What were you thinking when you hit the ball to Buckner?

Because of censorship, I can’t say what I was thinking, just trust me, you don’t want to know.

Would you have beaten Buckner to the base?

I would love to tell you yes because it would work wonders for my ego. In all honest, I don’t know. Bill and I have talked about this many times and we both agree that it would have been interesting to know what would have happened.

Do you feel sorry for Buckner?

I do not and he doesn’t want me or anyone else to. I do regret that both of our careers have come to be defined by one play. If you are a baseball fan, you must know how good of a player Bill was.

Would you like to manage in the future?

Yes! I don’t think that there are many coaches in the majors or minors that would not want to try managing at some point. As coaches, we must keep in mind that all good players and coaches do not always mean that you will be a good manager but I think that I can handle it.

The questions can go on for hours but just like at most events, I have to stop at some point. See you next week.

Safe Haven

Safe Haven

Many of us have been or seen people react to fear, uncomfortable situations or the grind of daily pressures. I remember watching my daughters cover their heads with the blankets on the bed when they were afraid. Getting under the bed itself is a popular reaction in the movies. I never really understood why but that was a place where they felt safe from whatever was outside the covers even if it was in the same room.

As adults, we have those places where we feel untouchable and it is comforting to know that you have that one place where you can go to feel safe. A place you come to know as your safe haven where your mind can be at peace free from distractions and pressures. This place is not a place produced through the consumption of alcohol or other mood changing substances. A place created through the consumption of mood changing substances does more than remove you mentally from the realities of your circumstances but also the realities of life.

Athletes have a common place they call a safe haven. For me and many other athletes, our safe haven is the clubhouse. The clubhouse is a place where athletes feel isolated from the outside world realizing that it still exists but is unaffected by it for 2 to 4 hour of the day. For this short period of time, players can be exempt from the normal rules and pressures of the outside world and only those whom they choose may enter into this paradise of peace.

The clubhouse, unlike the covers or bed, is not a hiding place. It’s a place where athletes can go to temporarily escape, gather their thoughts and be revived for the next day’s challenges. It is shared by others who see it as that place and welcomes the fellowshipping with others in search of that common peace. Everyone who shares the clubhouse is not in search of that safety or therapeutic value that it provides but they do respect the space and time it represents and understands its importance. However, since sports has progressed so has the demand for more access to the athletes forcing management to make the clubhouse more accessible to outsiders, mainly the media. Athletes are now looking to find refuge within their safe haven. Places, such as the player’s lounge, weight room and training room which are off limits to ever one except players and management, become regular hangouts. Occupants of the clubhouse are annoyed when their space is invaded by outsiders; people they feel do not belong. The clubhouse is more than the work place. It is a safe haven and that’s why it is guarded and protected with the strictest of rules. There are clubhouse rules, protocol and clubhouse etiquette that must be adhered to assure the sanctity of its existence.

Outside The Classroom

Outside The Classroom

Sports have been a part of many cultures for centuries serving a multitude of purposes. In earlier years, sports were mainly used as entertainment, some rather cruel displays of competition. Yet, people assembled to watch. Today, sports still serve as a major form of entertainment but the participants are viewed quite differently. Most of today’s athletes are considered celebrities or heroes. In addition to entertainment, sports are the life line of many families, communities, cities and states. Of course, this aspect of sports is limited to the professional and collegiate levels. Sports, being a cash cow in many respects, is often disregarded or disposed of at the lower levels where it does not produce income. States, cities and schools appear to deny or fail to realize the other values of sports. Convincing, our political and educational leaders that there are some things more important than the dollar, can be an almost impossible task.

The sporting arena is a melting pot where participants of all races, sizes, religions and sexes can come together to learn and display their athletic abilities and wits. Since everyone is not what we consider a true athlete, it is important to realize that sports provides a place where kids of all ages can experience more than the thrill of competition, the celebration of victory and the agony of defeat. Sport teaches as many lessons including some of the very virtues we hope our children will process at some point in their lives. I’ve always viewed sports, particularly baseball, as an extension of life giving all who play an opportunity to experience, learn, build and display life’s realities and virtues.

Sports provide an opportunity to experience the joy of success and victory as well as the disappointment of failure and rejection while learning the value of compromise and communication necessary for success as they realize that determination and patience is needed to overcome the feeling of failure and rejection. As we build character and relationships, we become confident in our ability to compete, never forgetting to display humility, acceptance, cooperation or trust.

With an understanding that there is an economic factor involved, I still feel that we are not taking full advantage of the opportunities that sports can provide. It’s very disturbing to hear that whenever budget cuts are mentioned in our cities and schools, recreational and sport programs almost always are at the top of the list and looked upon as having no real positive impact on the development of our youth. We constantly state that our children are our future but in my opinion, we fall short of completing the task preparing them to be successful in carrying the torch of leading or competing in a demanding environment. We are making a mistake in thinking that everything needed to succeed is learned in a classroom. I do not intend to imply that sports are more or just as important as an academic education but I am suggesting that there are many valuable lessons to be learned outside the classroom; lessons that can only be learned through experience, lessons that sports will expose our children to daily. I’ve played sports baseball all my life, in fact, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t playing baseball or some other sport. The experiences, through baseball and other sports, have helped me to overcome many of life’s cruel realities: failure, rejection, prejudice and disappointments while achieving a level of success with determination, patience, acceptance, cooperation and trust. Through these same experiences, I’m better prepared to handle many of today’s opportunities and accomplishments. The most important of all the lesson learned were humility and that there is reward in failure. Without question, I can say with confidence that there is plenty to be learned outside the classroom.

Coaching

Coaching

With the weather finally appearing to be stabilizing, baseball season can be enjoyed in the comfort of warmth. Thousands of leagues with millions of kids are engaged in competition and hopefully some fun. However there is no denying that many kids will be looking to gain an edge by looking for some added coaching or instructions. Sound coaching is at a premium this time of year. Knowing the importance and demand for good coaching, it should be the responsibility of every coach and parent to provide the best instructions available. I realize that coaching at most amateur levels is a matter of choice. However, it does carry a certain degree of responsibility. After playing baseball for 30 years, amateur and professional, I did not think that anything could satisfy the competitive hunger that dwelled in me. However I’ve been involved in coaching since 1994 and find it to be very rewarding and satisfying, not to the level of playing but certainly a great substitute. As a matter of fact, with 13 years of coaching experience in addition to my playing experiences, some may consider me an expert. As this is a flattering compliment, I question if anyone is an expert when it comes to coaching. There are numerous books and videos claiming to have the answers taking the guess work out of coaching. Many of them promote generic philosophies and techniques. Based on my experience, most of them fall short of explaining sound coaching techniques.  Even as I may be considered an expert, I do not have all the answers needed to master the art of coaching nor do I claim that other information is useless. I do have some advice that may help: (1) There’re no absolutes in coaching (2) Never demand more of an athlete than is physically possible (3) Coaching style such be tailored to the level of players (4) decide whether your coaching will be instructional, development or for winning. Whatever your coaching style will be, patience will always payoff. In a sport full of ambiguous terms, getting your message across can be challenging. It would be to a coach’s advantage to use terms that are easily understood. Avoid or full explain terms like level swing or squash the bug, which is used frequently at the lower amateur levels, can lead to misinterpretations of instructions. Coaching is more than instructing. It involves giving options in techniques and mentally preparing athletes to perform.

Coaches have the task of motivating players. It is the hope of every coach that the thrill of competition is enough to motivate every athlete but this is not always the case. Most athletes are visual learners therefore are motivated by the appearance of results. It is the desire of every athlete to be the best, accepted, experience the thrill of competing and victory. The fulfillment of these is among the highest motivators, however, the lack of either can cause an athlete to lose confidence in the coaching and, eventually, the motivation to continue trusting and practicing the techniques. An important fact for any coach is to remember that the majority of athletes are result driven and it is this fact t can make it difficult to get athletes to understand and trust the process. Therefore, a relationship of trust must develop to maximize a coach’s efforts. The athlete must trust the coach even when the results are not immediate.

Since players don’t always respond to the teachings of the coach, coaches need motivation as well. They need to see some positive results of their efforts, some measure of success. For a coach, there are many variables that determine success and unfortunately, for coaches, success is measured by victories. Recognizing and managing variables such as; physical ability, mental awareness and knowledge of the game just to name a few, will increase your chance of success. Above all, you must have patience.