The 2011 World Series, which included the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers, was the most interesting series I have ever watched.
The 6th game of that series defines October baseball.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, the Cardinals were losing by 2 runs, and were facing elimination. The Cardinals came back to tie the game, and sending it into extra innings.
In the 10th inning, the Rangers took a 2 run lead again. The Cardinals tied the game again.
Eventually, the Cardinals won the game in the 11th inning, and went on to win the World Series in 7 games.
Unlike the Giants vs. Rangers World Series in 2010, the Cardinals vs. Rangers series of 2011 brought high levels of tension and anxiety. Every game was extremely close. Most were low scoring, so 1 run could have made the difference.
I love the idea that a pitcher has to be perfect in order to win. How a pitcher preforms under this kind of pressure can separate a good pitcher from a great one.
The idea that every pitch matters relates to my life too.
I think that I should have used this idea in a golf match I played recently. My golf team at Claremont Country Club and I were playing against Contra Costa Country Club. I was playing against a 17 year-old, who was much taller and stronger than me. After the 9th hole, I was leading the match by 4.
However, I lost my rhythm, and I did not take every shot seriously. By the 14th hole, my opponent was only 2 holes down. It was hard for me to get back in rhythm, because I had been out of it for such a long time. The last few holes favored my opponent, because the holes were long.
My partner could hit the ball farther, which resulted in him tying the game on the 17th hole. We were all square going into the last hole, and I played horribly. I ended up losing the match by 1.
It was disappointing, because if I had played as if every shot mattered, I most likely would have won.
Another example of “the importance of every pitch” was last year in my algebra class. I had a 92% in the class before the last test. The teacher said the test was going to be extremely easy.
I did not study.
That was not a bright idea. I did poorly on the test, earning a 77%. This dropped my grade from an A- to a B+.
If I had just studied for the test, I would have had a 4.00 GPA for two years in a row. It was disappointing watching everyone receive awards, and for me to be left out. It was frustrating to work extremely hard the whole year, and come so close to having a 4.00 GPA. My final GPA was a 3.95.
I learned my lesson, as now I study for tests, even if the teacher claims the test will be easy. Every test counts, just like every pitch counts in baseball.
Despite my failures, I have had successes too. For example, I have closed out a golf match on the 16th hole, reminding myself that every moment matters.
After the 6th hole, I was leading by 3, and I thought to myself “Oh no, here we go again.” Then I remembered my mantra. I played every shot the same. I expanded my lead to 4 holes by the 9th hole.
However, holes 11, 12, 13, and 14 were more difficult for me, because I do not hit the ball as far as an 18 year-old. I still was mentally tough, and I lost only 1 hole through that 4 hole stretch. Looking back on that match, I realized I won because I believed that every shot mattered.
I had learned from my mistakes, and I am proud of myself for how I bounced back.
The thought that every moment matters helps me, it makes me feel better as a person because it reminds me to give my best effort. It shows that I try my best. Not studying and still getting an A doesn’t cut it, because I did not give it my all.
I am tougher mentally. I never assume that I will win, or a test will be easy.
Every moment in life deserves my full attention.
