Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

TUNE INTO GAME 7 OF THE WORLD SERIES TONIGHT (10.28.11) TO SEE WHAT PRESSURE LOOKS LIKE WHEN LIFE AND DEATH DO NOT HANG IN THE BALANCE. FOCUS ON THE FANS. GAME 6 WAS A “CRACKER!”

It is that time of year again. When the “boys of summer” over-do their stay and play a game intended for warm weather with socks on their head and gloves under their gloves. The fans look like they are going skiing and the best selling drink at the ballpak is hot chocolate.

Watching the World Series brings back memories to me. It is true that “the older I get the better I was,” but I dare say that in my day I knew more than a little about the game. That being said, I never did make it to the Big Show.

Let’s cut to today’s message before I start crying.

Knowing a little bit about the game (my team in college made it to the College World Series in Omaha back in ’68, and in fact I had a try-out with the Cardinals) I find myself cringing when a million dollar baby one hands a fly ball. On more than one occasion, the dudes drop the pill. Last evening I saw two of these. (Incredible! Or should I say “pithetic.”

It is another textbook example of why God gave us two hands … to catch fly balls.

Somewhere along the way ballplayers decided that in order to protect their manicure on their throwing hand, it would behoove them to snag air balls with the glove hand only. “Look at me Ma! One hand!” Why? Can someone explain the logic behind this foolish practice? I didn’t think so.

In business as in baseball, there is also a “right” way and there is an “easy” way. You can bet your bottom dollar that today’s young players think they can defend their one-handed catches. You can also bet that us “fossils” can justify the two-handed approach. Need I reference last night’s game?

This often boils down to a simple debate between popular vs fundamental. 
I can almost hear some feisty old major-leaguer scolding today’s players … telling them in not-so-flattering fashion: “You can take your “popular” one-handed catches and stick them where the sun don’t shine.” (Not my words. That is baseball talk circa 1968.)

Okay. Here is where I make the connection.

In business, “popular” can sometimes be equated to “easy” or “fast” … the way that takes the least amount of effort. Does “Twitter” ring a bell?
 Hey! I’m just saying …

Fundamental is sometimes equated to “hard” or “longer” … getting your face in front of people. Does presentations, phone calls and face-to-face meetings strike a nerve? (Remember them?) Where are the coaches I ask? Is the tail wagging the dog … in baseball and in business? I am afraid it is. Resulting in a whole bunch of whining and baseless excuses.

Million dollar ballplayers will continue to catch fly balls with one hand with or without my blessing. So-called business professionals will still opt for the easy way while continuing to blame the economy for their problems.

The beat will go on and the world will continue to turn with or without
 my TGIF Column.

But dropping easy “cans-of-corn” (lazy fly balls) in front of the viewing public is not what I call a good time, or a good show … or good TV or good baseball. Go out of business if that is your objective, but please use both hands whenever possible.

There are no bad hops in the air. Game 6 had its share of one-handed misses. When will these kids get it?

News Flash. I am fast at work fine-tuning my 2012 Members-Only Inner Circle Sales & Marketing Club. Want to learn more? Send your email to: Mike@MikeMarchev.com.