A Game of Wits

In today’s sporting world, I have seen that victories are earned more often by the team that can make “smarter” decisions than the team which boasts the strongest and fastest athletes.  For example, Butler can make two consecutive final fours with subpar “athletes”, Wes Welker can become a top 5 wide receiver in the NFL and even the brilliant Tony LaRussa’s Cardinals can be defeated by a team that seems to be playing consistently smarter all over the field. 

I saw this come to fruition last night in the Ranger’s 4-2 win over the Cardinals.  It was a great example of how much the mind can affect a game that is determined by physical exertion.   The story of Game 5 has been plastered all over the internet today.  See “GAME 5 SUMMARY” if you want the back story.  But to quickly summarize, the Cardinals made crucial mental errors the each of the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th innings.  In the 7^th and 9^th, Craig should not have been stealing.  And in the 8^th, Motte should have been ready to pitch to Napoli.   These errors are in sharp contrast to what I wrote last Thursday about Elvis Andrus and the 3 “smart” plays that he made in the 9^th.  We saw last night how crucial it is to remain mentally sharp on the field.  No matter how strong or fast you are, if you lose concentration for just one play, you will likely be outmatched by your opponent. 

Before I continue, I want to make a few disclaimers.  I DON’T want to imply that the Ranger’s physical abilities were not essential to last night’s game.  They scored 4 runs on 2 homers and a double.  Also, the lack of ability shown by the Cardinals by going 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position played an equally crucial part.  I also DON’T want to imply that Tony LaRussa is not a smart person or manager.  He is one of the greatest and most brilliant managers of all time. 

It just seems that throughout history the athlete has unjustly earned the dumb jock stereotype, when in reality being a successful athlete requires a greater amount of mental prowess than most people understand.  And, with the advent of more and more complex defensive systems in both football and basketball as well as increased stats and sabermetrics in baseball, being able to think quickly on one’s feet as both a coach and player is becoming an even more sought after trait.