By Trevor:
Of the many different types of approaches to the game of baseball, there is one that brings a team together more than all others, this is the “balls to wall,” “dirt-dog,” “hard-assed” player. Modern examples of this: Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Edmonds, Chuck Carr, Bryce Harper, Yasiel Puig, Derek Jeter, Josh Reddick, Coco Crisp, and Aaron Rowand. There are many other names that I’m sure I’m forgetting, but these guys are just a few examples.
These guys are momentum creators. These guys bring a ton of influence and a crazy amount of energy. This approach has a couple different factors to it. These kind of players have: the ability to change a game with one play, the willingness to put their bodies on the line, and the desire to do whatever it takes to win.
When I say a guy can “change a game with one play,” I literally mean that. Let’s take Derek Jeter for instance. This guy is running up towards the first baseline to be a triple-cut man for a throw from right field. He somehow ends up being in the perfect spot to catch and shuffle pass the ball to the catcher to get the out at home.
If you’re a baseball fan, you’ve seen this play thousands of times. This kind of effort changes the dynamic of the game. If you’ve been around the game at all you know that momentum comes in swings. There are usually 1 or 2 plays every game that change the swing of momentum and change the outcome of the game.
This play by Jeter was one of those plays. This play actually changed the entire outcome of the playoffs. The Yanks ended up going to the World Series. One play has the chance to change an entire season. These guys are the ones who have the ability to change a season with their play.
Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the best players in the history of the game. Period. No one would argue that. And one of the defining qualities of Griffey Jr. is that he is “willing to put his body on the line” to make a play.
We all remember when he made that great jumping catch into the wall and broke his wrist. He would sacrifice health and limb in order to make a play. This willingness does a couple things for his team. #1- it shows his pitching staff that he is willing to do anything to make a play for them.
Believe me, as a pitcher myself, we appreciate the effort. There isn’t a much better feeling as a pitcher to know that there are guys behind you who are going to leave their feet to save your behind. These kind of players can change the mentality of an entire organization with a desire to put it all on the line for their team, and put their body at risk to make a play. These guys tend to be a pitcher’s best friend and it’s not out of the ordinary for a pitcher to take the guy out for dinner after a game saving play.
The last thing these guys are really known for is they are going to “do whatever it takes to win.” It would be wrong to say that not all guys in the League want to win, because they do. But there are some guys who will do anything to win. These are the guys who will run through the stop sign at 3rd to score the winning run. These are the guys who will push for a triple when they hit a ball in the gap.
Each one of these guys will go hard no matter what inning or what the score is. These guys will leave their feet every time a ball is anywhere near them. These players are the emotional leaders on their teams! Their play lights a fire under their team and gives them the boost they need when they need to make that 8th inning rally or need to win the next 3 games.
These guys are one of the most valuable players a team can have. They may not be the best players or even the most consistent players, but they bring an energy and spark that no one can discount. The game of baseball needs guys like this. These guys show the true character of the game of baseball: it’s a bunch of grown men playing a game for a living. This game is meant to be enjoyed!
Don’t forget to read Approaches to the Game part 1