So What?

You take a fastball at the knees on the outside corner for strike one.

Where does your mind go?

“Uh-oh.  It’s 0-1.  I’m behind.  Now he’s got the advantage and can throw anything, anywhere.  If it’s close, I have to swing, because if another one gets by me it’s two strikes and I’m cooked.  The wipeout slider is coming.  If he can dot one pitch, he can do it whenever he wants.  I better look slider so I don’t make an out.”

Does this spiraling thought sound familiar?

Now you’re not ready to hit.  You’re scared of a count that doesn’t exist yet.  You’ve abandoned your plan and flipped into auto-swing mode.  And now, when that slider shows up, you chase it—not because it’s your pitch, but because you’re afraid of it.

Best case?  You miss it and survive.

Worst case?  You roll it over for a weak out.

Either way, that thought is garbage.

Try a different one: So what?

It’s 0-1.

So what?  The at-bat isn’t over.

He dotted one pitch.

So what?  Pitchers miss all the time.

He might throw something nasty.

So what?  It’s not your pitch, so take it.

Don’t punish yourself for a good swing decision.

Stay out of the “what if” rabbit hole.

And when he makes a mistake—

smash it.