Trevor Cahill’s psyche may be contributing to his first inning struggles
Apr 11, 2013, 6:03 AM | Updated: 4:24 pm
The mind is so fragile, isn’t it?
Professional athletes spend so many hours working on their bodies, getting physically conditioned to withstand the rigors of their sport, and very little time on strengthening their minds.
Trevor Cahill is a fascinating case in point. I wrote about Cahill on Monday. His troubles with starting games and getting out of the first inning without giving up a run (or runs) has turned the mound at Chase Field into the largest, dirtiest couch Dr. Phil could ever conceive.
Consider this to be an addendum to What is Trevor Cahill’s problem?
It’s not just finding his arm slot or release point; it’s not just about discovering how and where his sinker is going to break on any given night; and it’s not just about walking hitters early and then grooving pitches to make the base-on-balls monster go away. It’s also about the little bugs that creep into the corners of the mind and permeate the psyche.
I wonder if Cahill has over-corrected his thinking as he prepares to take the ball? I wonder if Cahill walks to the mound in the first inning repeating the positives over and over again? I wonder if he tells himself to just relax? I wonder if he reminds himself of how many times he has done this, how good his stuff is, how naturally his ball sinks, how he’s building this first inning thing up in his own mind, and how it’s just a Chase Field phase he’s going through? I wonder?
I wonder if his laid-back personality is also contributing to his first inning malaise? And if this is the case, I wonder if he can fix it?
