Our at bat

Our family went to the Twins game on Saturday (a 6-4 win!) but one thing that struck me more deeply than it had before is how each person on the team is asked to fill a specific role; and sometimes a different role depending on the specific situation. As each person comes up to bat, the manager of the team instructs them on what they should to do during their at-bat. Usually, the batter is just asked to try to reach base using their strengths and the hitting coaching they have received specifically for their style -- that is to simply operate in their strengths to hit the ball as hard and as far as possible.

In other situations, they may be asked to bunt or otherwise advance the runner -- that is to sacrifice themselves for the advancement of the other runners to the betterment of the team. What is interesting about this is that when someone successfully sacrifices themselves to advance the other runners, they are greeted when they return to the dugout with the same enthusiasm as when someone gets a base hit.... because they've done their job and improved the chances of their team winning.

Being a good teammate demands putting on different hats at different times; sometimes we swing for the fences, sometimes we coax a walk, sometimes we allow ourselves to be hit by a pitch, sometimes we sacrifice for others, etc. Leadership of a team requires casting a great enough vision that the members of the team are willing to do what it takes, even at the sacrifice of their own glory or batting average, in order to achieve the goal of winning the game and ultimately the championship.

I love this analogy and could go on and on - about how sometimes we get up to bat and strike out without even swinging. I want to make sure I approach every at bat the way my manager wants me to and I don't have a called third strike get past me without taking a cut.