The Baseball Observer - June 2015
There has been an underlying theme throughout several articles published recently in the The Baseball Observer; the importance of analyzing your current abilities – accurately. Many people may scoff at this process and not take it seriously, but self-evaluation can make the difference between success or failure.
Dr. Charlie Maher PsyD, CC-AASP routinely educates players on how to be an accurate self-evaluator. Here is our Q&A with him on the subject.
Q: What is accurate self-evaluation?
A: With respect to self-evaluation of performance, I use the term, accurate self-evaluation. This term emphasizes that self-evaluation should be accurate that is, it should be based on things which are factual, controllable by the player and, to the extent possible, which can be observed by others. Accurate self-evaluation means that the player is as honest as possible in their review of themselves---in relation to their performance---as much as they are able to do so.
Q: Why should a player be an accurate
self-evaluator?
A: The player should engage in accurate self-
evaluation primarily because they care about
themselves and their development as a player
and as a person. They should be motivated to the best that they can be since playing baseball has many challenges to it and the game is something to enjoy, if approached with humility and honesty. Therefore, if the player wants to accept the challenges involved in playing the game, the player needs to be accurate and objective in terms of evaluating things over which they have control in relation to their performance in games.
Q: Why is self-evaluation of performance important for the player?
Q: Why is self-evaluation of performance important for the player?
A: As an athlete, the baseball player is responsible for their development--- physically, mentally, and fundamentally---not only on the field but also off it. One very important way in which the player can assume responsibility for their development is by evaluating their performance. In this regard, performance is considered as the manner in which the individual plays the game, pitch to pitch, in terms of things over which they have control and which relate to performance . This includes such player controllables as: making solid contact with the ball as a hitter; fielding the ball; having command of their pitches; receiving signs from the coach; holding the base runner; staying composed; hitting the appropriate cutoff man, how they prepare for games, and how they manage the competitive moment, etc.
Q: How can a player be involved in this kind of process?
A: First, by learning to recognize that baseball is, in essence, a game where the
26