It's harder if you're stupid
Shane Victorino sure found out how hard it can be to play right field at Fenway yesterday.
Man did he hit the wall hard and if you missed the open letter to him, it's a must read. Word on the street is that he will be playing on Tuesday with the Red Sox having an off day on Monday. I think we all thought for sure that he would be on the disabled list again, after just coming back off it.
I am not saying anyone is stupid, so delete that nasty tweet you were about to send me. I am just saying that this incident can become a good lesson and it is never to late to improve some part of your game. I got to thinking after watching it happen live yesterday and here is what I suggest that Shane Victorino do.
Ask some of the other guys who play outfield positions what they do when they are running down a fly ball and hit the warning track. You know, that sandy part of the field where the grass ends and outfielders are given 3-5 steps to slow down before the wall takes care of it for you.
Take the answers, put them down on a small piece of paper, and put that inside of your hat. You can tuck that right inside the rim. Once an inning, before a hitter steps into the box just look at it. Remind yourself how many steps you have before you hit the wall again like you did last night.
Believe me, I realize it is not easy to do that. I also see nightly other outfielders make great wall catches and they seem to have timed their jumps based on the warning track signaling an approaching immovable object. So Mr. Victorino, please give it a try? For all of us out here that want to see you in the field every day tracking down the pitches that can be caught without involving the warning tracks?
By the way, there is a warning track for the wall on the first base side of the field too. Watch how Mike Carp plays foul balls that are just into the crowd. He does not go flying blindly into the wall, stands, or dugout after a ball. The same tricks learned for the outfield wall can be applied here.
Life can be hard, but if you practice counting when you feel warning track underneath you, I am convinced life will not involve full speed collisions with a wall.
Post a comment or hit me up on twitter @ericschabell with your thoughts.
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