As many of you know, our own Coach Flikke was fortunate enough to play college ball at Stanford University under legendary coaches Mark Marquess and Dean Stotz.  The following is an email that made its way to my inbox in which Coach Stotz dispenses some very valuable advice to one of his recruits.   For those of you who have attended Spring Training programs in the past, you'll definitely see the similarities between Coach Stotz's and our coaching philosophies.  Enjoy!

"Because our season has started and my team demands are greater, it is a little tougher for me to email as often as I would like.  Either you have just started your baseball season or it is right around the corner.  Thought I might drop a few tips on how to perform better.

1)  The only two things you have control over are your ability to PREPARE, and your ability to TRY.  One of the most difficult things in sport to overcome, is the reality that even if you prepare to the best of your ability, and give it your very best effort, that still does not guarantee success or a win.  In the long run if you are talented, preparing well and giving it you all should lead to more successes than defeats.

2)  Physical mistakes happen.  Be much more critical of mental errors.  I listened to Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers the day after they won the Super Bowl.  The host asked him about the 8 dropped passes in the Super Bowl and whether or not that upset him.  He said "No, physical mistakes happen at all levels".  What really gets him are mental mistakes, lining up in the wrong spot, no knowing where to go on a certain play, jumping off sides, etc.  Those errors go into preparing well.

3)  Worry about things you have control over.  You can't control whether or not the wind is blowing in or out, how small or big the ball park is, who is the umpire, etc.  If you are a pitcher you cannot get frustrated if your team is not scoring---you have no control over it--the same thing applies to the hitters when your pitcher is not performing well.

4)  Whether pitching or hitting don't complain about balls and strikes.  I have been coaching for 35 years and I have NEVER seen a umpire change his call from a strike to a ball because a hitter complained the ball was not in the strike zone.

5)  One of the greatest complements that can ever give an athlete is that he is "competitive".  That means that no matter how many times you suffer defeat that you get up "off the canvas" and tell your opponent he will have to prove to you that he is the better man again today.  Your effort should not deter in any way just because it isn't going your way.

6)  Don't worry about who is watching you, and how did you perform.  Look the college coach has way more "at stake" than you do.  If that coach doesn't win enough games someone else will be coaching that team next year.  Providing for our families is a great motivator.  That is my major problem with people who run showcases, or recruiting services.  They are simply making money.  Their "livelihoods" (jobs) are not at stake if they are wrong.  No one ever goes back 5 to 6 years ago to see if they were right or wrong with the evaluations of you.  Bottom line for me is I take evaluation as strictly one opinion of you, not the only opinion of you.

7)  Almost everything in sport is done "aggressively".  Pat Riley, the famous basketball coach has one of my favorite descriptions of "aggressiveness".  He calls it the "disposition to dominate" your opponent.  Aggressiveness has nothing to do with playing dirty, making fun of, or humiliating your opponent."