Bagwell and Sadaharu Oh

[Bench]

An interesting article drawing parallels between Bagwell and Oh's early careers and philosophical quandaries.

“Right now, it’s a mental thing more than anything,” Jeff Bagwell said of his troubling sophomore slump. “It’s getting to the point where I think about it so much that I just can’t see any hits when I get to the plate, and that’s crazy.” In his vernacular, Bagwell at his best could actually see the hits that he was about to produce. Now that is clarity. A slump, though, moved in like a fog, dulling his ability to see the future, and to visualize success. His brain churned out a new product: doubt. He questioned his own sense of himself. He wondered, like a young Sadaharu Oh, how to reconcile his body with his mind, struggling, as many young people do, to put to language his toil.

...

One or eight; all or nothing, When faced with failure, Sadaharu Oh chose the batting stance that embraced nothing. Bagwell’s stance incorporated all, every muscle fiber, every available point of tension.

[OregonStrosFan]

Thanks for the link!!!

[Limey]

When the article talks about the "guy-wire tension" of Bagwell's stance; I hope I'm reading that right.

[EasTexAstro]

Very nice. Thanks for the link.

[Texifornia]

When the article talks about the "guy-wire tension" of Bagwell's stance; I hope I'm reading that right.

Why? Is your guy-wire tense?

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Great read.  And I enjoyed the video link as well.

And all that happened nearly 20 years ago.  Good grief I'm getting old.