The Art of Fielding
14
Mar
2012
I'm locked into The Art of Fielding at the moment. If this novel is made into a film I reckon it's got a great chance to enter the all-time baseball movie list in the Bull Durham/Field of Dreams range. I encourage everyone in the British baseball community to snag a copy.
The Art takes me back to my days playing with the Junior National Team and then at college. The book will strike a chord with anyone who's played college ball and provide an accurate insight into the lifestyle of a student-athlete to those who haven't. Like Bull Durham and Field of Dreams, it's not really about baseball. I'll let you discover the real themes.
Without wanting to give too much away about The Art of Fielding, we need more British players to be like Henry Skrimshander in their effort to be the best player they can be. The Skrimmer makes baseball, and the work that goes into achieving his dream, a lifestyle. Daily baseball practise is obviously easier in the US than here, thanks in part to the facilities available. I'm excited about the plans to build fields in Buckinghamshire with Sport England and Baseball Tomorrow funding. These new facilities will inspire players to be the best they can be.
What separates Henry Skrimshander from most players, most people, isn't that his dream is any different from everyone else, but rather that he acts upon it to makes it happen. For players, coaches and teams that get to play once a week it can be "harder" to act everyday. Perhaps motivation can be found by creating, or formalising, a mission for yourself or your team. Why do you play (or coach) baseball? If it's to have a good time and be social, then sure - play once a week. If it's to be good, or great, or the best you can be, once a week won't cut it. Less than everyday might not, either. Reminding yourself of that mission (especially on those days when you don't want to act) might help you find a way to get better every day.
Things are getting dicey for the Harpooners of Westish College...looking forward to getting on the tube for more reading.
LC
tagged under: baseball, coaching, mlb, facilities, books, baseball tomorrow fund, funding, college baseball, the art of fielding, farnham park
