by Danny Orr
I was recently discussing player evaluation with a scout and what he was looking for beyond the 5-tools. He said if you take two players who are very comparable in terms of raw talent, the intangible pushing one player over the other would be his make-up as a person. Things like work ethic, intelligence and an ability to play the game without panic are all important, but maybe the most important intangible is finding a player who is “coachable.”
All coaches want players to be coachable. We want players to come to practice and games with an open mind and willing to do the things they may not want to do for the betterment of themselves and the team.
One of the best stories I have heard about a player humbling himself and admitting he didn’t know everything was from Randy Johnson. Johnson was pitching for the Mariners and was struggling with his control. Everything he tried was failing, so he came up with a plan: He was going to humble himself, seek out the best in the game, and learn.
Johnson contacted Nolan Ryan and Tom House and asked them to evaluate his pitching mechanics. The video revealed a problem in Johnson’s delivery; he was spinning out on his heel at release. Johnson took their advice of getting to the ball of his front foot at foot-strike, practiced it, and has since become one of the greatest pitchers of all time.
God wants us to be coachable as well. In Second Chronicles 7:14 we read, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
As Johnson humbled himself, sought the best for counsel, and put into practice all he learned, his career was forever changed. We have at our disposal, in the Bible, the ultimate source of wisdom for how we should live our lives. We are challenged to make ourselves humble, admit we need help, seek the truth in God’s word, and then put into practice all He has outlined for us.
In following His plan, one that we can trust is always grounded in love, we will experience things much better than a World Series ring or Cy Young Award. We will have peace, forgiveness, and the assurance of heaven through Jesus Christ.
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