George Kirby - thoughts

The thoughts George Kirby shared with the media following a loss in which he allowed a two-run home run in the seventh inning on his 102nd pitch have caused quite a commotion on social media. It has led me to think about when it is appropriate to "cut it loose" and compete. In the Major Leagues, it is obvious, especially amid a playoff chase (which Kirby's Mariners are in the middle of), is about the most easily recognizable time to cut it loose and compete without too much thought as to pitch counts. Kirby indicated he didn't want to be out there after 90 pitches through 6 innings. Most "old school" baseball people on social media call Kirby out for this mindset. I suspect it is more of just a lack of preparation on the mental side - or simply a young pitcher deflecting some bad feelings after giving up a 2-run bomb in a big spot. Either way, there is a lot to learn from his statement.

In addition to Kirby's thoughts about not wanting to be in there, he also noted that the hitter "hit a good pitch" but at the same time stated that he "didn't execute.” To me, these are two very different things. I think these comments reveal a lack of mental skill development. If you execute what you were trying to do as a pitcher and the hitter truly hits a good pitch, you can tip your cap and feel good about what you did and just got beat. If you didn't execute what you were trying to do and the hitter hits a mistake, that is a wholly different thought process, as you would need to adjust to avoid making the same mistake again moving forward. 

Being able to compete and execute even when you are not feeling your best is the mark of a mentally tough competitor. There are many examples of this in pro sports and aspects of life where high-level performance is necessary. Developing a mindset for yourself where you want to be in the high-leverage moments is essential to achieving your peak level of performance. Instead of being outraged as a coach and perhaps confused as a young player looking up to pro guys like Kirby, it is vital to develop a solid mental game that will help set you up and help you want to be out there in those big spots - and execute once you are there!


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