Baseball's "Little Things"

Using oil to break in your glove is a bad idea!

Did you know this? I bet you didn't. Raise your hand if you've smeared oil all over your glove at some point. Just as I suspected. Why is this wrong you ask? Well...

Oil is a liquid that stays in your glove making it heavier and heavier the more times you use it. Baseball players, especially infielders, cannot afford to have a heavy glove since it will add time to the catch-and-throw process. Pro infielders rarely, if ever, use glove oil. They use various forms of saddle soap, leather conditioner, shaving cream with lanolin, and mink oil to keep the glove moist and clean but not heavy. Follow this step by step process after two or three games or if your glove gets overly dirty:

1. Using a damp rag, wipe your glove clean of all dirt.
2. Rinse and ring out a small sponge.
3. Put some saddle soap (comes in a can that looks like shoe polish) on the sponge and lather up your glove, particularly the inside pocket area where most dirt (and spit!) usually congregates.
4. Wipe the glove completely with a dry rag.
5. (If necessary) Use a dap of leather conditioner or mink oil and work into areas that seem to be drying out (usually the pocket area)
6. Let the glove air out in the glove open, facing down position! (see photo above)

Next up... My Motto and interpretation.

I believe the motto "Show up, suit up, shut up, and play hard" is a guide for success on and off the field. I first saw this quote on the blackboard of my father's wrestling room at Springfield (Montco) HS. He was a longtime teacher and coached baseball and wrestling at the high school and college levels. I used to go with him to Saturday morning wrestling practices and see that quote year after year. It was never erased. The more I played sports, the more I realized the true meaning of that quote. I believe the principles behind that motto were the reason for my success in baseball and give a better understanding of why people succeed in anything they do. The following is how I interpret each line of the motto:

Show Up:
Successful people show up. Just showing up is half the battle. We all have many distractions that pull us in many directions but winners still show up. They also show up on time. They are on time not because they are told to but because they know it is the right thing to do for themselves and others. They also show up ready to work. They don't coast or go on autopilot. With the game on the line, winners show up and make their presence known. They don't shy away from the difficult or challenging. They run toward it.

Suit Up:
Winners look the part also. They wear the uniform correctly out of respect for the game, their team, their family, and themselves. They understand that success in anything you do is in the small details, right down to how you tie your shoes or wear your hat. They understand that wearing a uniform is an honor that won't last forever. They understand that how you act in your uniform is just as important as how you play in that uniform.

Shut Up:
Winners know that talk is cheap. Sooner or later, you have to perform. They realize that if you have to tell someone how good you are, there may be a reason why they don't already know. However, winners are not silent. They know when to speak and when to listen. They understand that the key to learning is to do more listening than talking. They are not afraid to ruffle some feathers when someone is lacking discipline or needs to focus. They also know when a pat on the back is better suited.

Play Hard:
A strong work ethic is probably the most important trait of successful people. They don't work hard just to get something in return. They work hard simply for the sake of working hard. It is part of who they are. They understand that hard work is a skill just like hitting or throwing a baseball is a skill. They also know where to direct their hard work and make adjustments when needed. They understand the "termite analogy " : "The danger of termites lie not in their size nor their intelligence. They have the time and they never stop working."