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silveradept[This is part of a series exploring the Baseball Tarot.]
"Bases Loaded", in baseball or softball, signifies that each of first, second, and third bases are occupied by baserunners with outs still to go on the half-inning. The batter currently coming to the plate must be dealt with - a walk will advance all the runners one base, including the one on third, who will score a run without having to put in effort to avoid being put out. Most scenarios that have batted balls will result in a run scoring unless the defense can make enough outs off force plays to prevent that run from counting or make an out and be close enough to the next pay for the runner on third not to chance being thrown out at the plate.
For both pitcher and hitter, the bases loaded scenario is very high pressure baseball. For the hitter, they gave am opportunity to do some very serious damage with a base hit, or even keep the pressure on by walking in a run and continuing the bases loaded situation for the next batter in the lineup. That is countered by the possibility of striking out, hitting into a double play, or flying out shallowly, and only contributing an out instead of something better. For the pitcher, it's the prospect of giving up the big hit or home run that's the worry, and getting the K, the ground ball, or the short fly that's the benefit. Diametrically opposed goals with runs at stake in a showdown situation where someone is going to come away with a victory? Yeah, that's a pressure situation. Notice the fanatics are paying a lot more attention to the game at this point.
Because of the higher stress of these moments, mistakes are much more likely to happen and be consequential for the team that commits them. If you're looking for the players that are going to be The Hero and The Goat in any given game, barring last-inning heroics, what happens during the bases loaded scenarios are likely candidates. What constitutes a mistake in these scenarios have a much tougher standard. Even a pitch that is called a ball or a strike can have huge implications in the at-bat, in the way that it influences the pitch selection for the rest of the time. The more balls that have been accumulated, the more likely the pitcher is going to throw something that cannot be mistaken for anything but a strike, which means the batter can look for that pitch and take it for a ride. More strikes means the pitcher can dip into their arsenal of breaking and off-speed pitches to see if they can get a batter to chase something outside the strike zone. The ease with which both pitcher and hitter can mentally psych themselves out or overthink can make a situation like a Choke much more likely.
The best advice in this situation is usually the ones that are dispensed by the coaches to each of the players. "Just make contact." (i.e. "Don't try to swing for a home run and muscle the ball out. A normal, natural contact swing will do the job just fine.") "Throw strikes." (i.e. "Pitch balls the hitter will swing at and trust that the eight other positions defensively will be able to assist you in getting outs.") These are well-worn mantras of the coaching path, and players will hear them in just about every league and situation, but they are still the most relevant and sage words for the task at hand, because there's one thing more to remember about a bases loaded situation, even with all the pressure raining down on you to perform and execute: it's all potential. Nothing has happened yet. Breathe.
This card, in your reading, represents great potential. It can go well, poorly, spectacularly, disastrously, or remain mostly unchanged but for some movement in one direction or other. It's okay to feel the pressure of the situation. It's okay to panic and feel nervous and worried about it. Ultimately, though, trusting your training, assuming that the training and practice you've gone through is germane to the situation, is going to be the way to get through it.
The down side of this card is cracking under the pressure. Trying too hard to get through the situation is going to make it more likely that things will explode in your face. Running away from the situation isn't going to help, either - there are no bases to give, and going up hoping to walk will probably result in striking out, instead. (If it happens, try not to be too hard on yourself, okay?)
Throw strikes. Just make contact. The rest will follow, whether as in a Zen experience or a big ball of chaos.
"Bases Loaded", in baseball or softball, signifies that each of first, second, and third bases are occupied by baserunners with outs still to go on the half-inning. The batter currently coming to the plate must be dealt with - a walk will advance all the runners one base, including the one on third, who will score a run without having to put in effort to avoid being put out. Most scenarios that have batted balls will result in a run scoring unless the defense can make enough outs off force plays to prevent that run from counting or make an out and be close enough to the next pay for the runner on third not to chance being thrown out at the plate.
For both pitcher and hitter, the bases loaded scenario is very high pressure baseball. For the hitter, they gave am opportunity to do some very serious damage with a base hit, or even keep the pressure on by walking in a run and continuing the bases loaded situation for the next batter in the lineup. That is countered by the possibility of striking out, hitting into a double play, or flying out shallowly, and only contributing an out instead of something better. For the pitcher, it's the prospect of giving up the big hit or home run that's the worry, and getting the K, the ground ball, or the short fly that's the benefit. Diametrically opposed goals with runs at stake in a showdown situation where someone is going to come away with a victory? Yeah, that's a pressure situation. Notice the fanatics are paying a lot more attention to the game at this point.
Because of the higher stress of these moments, mistakes are much more likely to happen and be consequential for the team that commits them. If you're looking for the players that are going to be The Hero and The Goat in any given game, barring last-inning heroics, what happens during the bases loaded scenarios are likely candidates. What constitutes a mistake in these scenarios have a much tougher standard. Even a pitch that is called a ball or a strike can have huge implications in the at-bat, in the way that it influences the pitch selection for the rest of the time. The more balls that have been accumulated, the more likely the pitcher is going to throw something that cannot be mistaken for anything but a strike, which means the batter can look for that pitch and take it for a ride. More strikes means the pitcher can dip into their arsenal of breaking and off-speed pitches to see if they can get a batter to chase something outside the strike zone. The ease with which both pitcher and hitter can mentally psych themselves out or overthink can make a situation like a Choke much more likely.
The best advice in this situation is usually the ones that are dispensed by the coaches to each of the players. "Just make contact." (i.e. "Don't try to swing for a home run and muscle the ball out. A normal, natural contact swing will do the job just fine.") "Throw strikes." (i.e. "Pitch balls the hitter will swing at and trust that the eight other positions defensively will be able to assist you in getting outs.") These are well-worn mantras of the coaching path, and players will hear them in just about every league and situation, but they are still the most relevant and sage words for the task at hand, because there's one thing more to remember about a bases loaded situation, even with all the pressure raining down on you to perform and execute: it's all potential. Nothing has happened yet. Breathe.
This card, in your reading, represents great potential. It can go well, poorly, spectacularly, disastrously, or remain mostly unchanged but for some movement in one direction or other. It's okay to feel the pressure of the situation. It's okay to panic and feel nervous and worried about it. Ultimately, though, trusting your training, assuming that the training and practice you've gone through is germane to the situation, is going to be the way to get through it.
The down side of this card is cracking under the pressure. Trying too hard to get through the situation is going to make it more likely that things will explode in your face. Running away from the situation isn't going to help, either - there are no bases to give, and going up hoping to walk will probably result in striking out, instead. (If it happens, try not to be too hard on yourself, okay?)
Throw strikes. Just make contact. The rest will follow, whether as in a Zen experience or a big ball of chaos.
