Derek Jeter: Peak Performance Case Study

"I don't know what it would be like, but I wouldn't change. Now don't get me wrong. I do understand it's a game of numbers and people are going to pay attention to your numbers, say you did this or did that. I would love to hit .400. That would be a lot better than .200. You take pride in how you play. But that shouldn't be your main focus. Your main focus should be whether you win or lose."
-- Derek Jeter, New York Yankee shortstop, discussing his attitude about winning and success.

In 2005, Derek Jeter hit .343 with 97 runs batted in and had a .417 on-base percentage. In 2006, he hit .381 with runners in scoring positions, had 14 home runs and, again, had 97 runs batted in.

"Everybody has always said that Jeter has all these intangibles and you can't measure him because he's got these other qualities that don't translate into numbers. But I thought this was the year (2006) you really could measure what he meant to the Yankees."

--Bob Klapisch, Hackensack, New Jersey columnist.

Relaxing with Derek Jeter: Success by Keeping It Simple and Cool

"You can tell he enjoys every aspect of the game. The good, the bad and the ugly, he thoroughly enjoys all of it."
--Doug Mientkiewicz, Yankee teammate.

From August 20, 2006 through May 3, 2007, Jeter had at least one hit in 59 of 61 games. That stretch began with a 25-game hitting streak, 14-game streak and a 20 game hitting streak. Since 1900 only one other player has had as many as 59 of 61 games with a hit. That was Joe DiMaggio who hit safely in 60 of 61 games in 1941, when he had his still-record 56 game hitting streak.

As of May 13, 2007, Jeter was leading the American League in hitting (.368) and hits with 50, despite the Yankees' poor start as a team.

With two outs and runners in scoring position early that season, Jeter hit .600, with nine hits in 15 at-bats, an indication of his pressure production and focus.

Leading the Yankees into the playoffs in 2007, Jeter finished the season batting .322, with 206 hits, 12 homeruns, and 73 runs batted in.

A Kid's Dream: To Be the Best Clutch Hitter of His Generation 

Timely Hits in Key Situations

"Even when you're a little kid you think about those situations. Every time you envision yourself in those situations, you come through. ... I like those situations," says Jeter, the long-time Yankee shortstop and team captain.

On September 16, 2007 Derek Jeter hit a three-run homer off Curt Schilling of the Boston Red Sox to break an eighth-inning tie as the Yankees held off the Red Sox 4-3 and cut Boston's AL East lead to 4 1/2 games.

"It's an honor to watch the best clutch hitter in history do his thing, and the best closer in history do his thing," said Roger Clemens, who in his first start since Sept. 3 dueled Schilling to a 1-all tie before leaving after six innings. "Jeter is one of the reasons that I got up off the couch and came back."

Jeter is batting .441 with runners in scoring position and two outs -- the best mark in the majors in 2007.

Schilling (8-8) outlasted Clemens but couldn't beat Jeter, who drove a 2-2 splitter over the Green Monster to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead. Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera, in typical fashion, held on, even after Boston cut the deficit to one and loaded the bases in the ninth.

Excerpts from ESPN.com.

Derek Jeter Continues to Have an Impact on the Yankees in the 2009 Playoffs

Captain October

VISION

"Our goal when we come into the season is to win a championship. That's how it is every year. You don't go home and celebrate regular-season championships. You don't go home and celebrate getting to the World Series. Our goal is to win it. That's been my mind-set since I've come up and it never change."

--Derek Jeter, captain and shortstop of the New York Yankees.

PASSION

"The one thing that I noticed very early on in 1996 is that he had as much fun playing this game as anyone I've ever seen," said manager Joe Girardi, who played with Jeter from 1996-99. "The amazing thing is that he did it from Day One. It wasn't like he took a couple of years to do it. He did it right away."

CONSISTENCY UNDER PRESSURE

He was the leadoff hitter for the best team in baseball in 2009 (103 wins), and the player most trusted to come through in the moments when the Yankees need it most.

"I try to get better every year," Jeter said. "I try to contribute and I try to be consistent."

Look at the career postseason leader boards in most offensive categories and you'll see that most of the top performers have had 50 or 100 plate appearances in the playoffs. Jeter's had 576. He's played nearly a full season of pressure games and enters this year's ALCS with a .311 average, .380 on-base percentage and 45 extra-base hits.

Jeter hit .412 in his very first postseason series, a Division Series win over the Texas Rangers in 1996. He was 22 and batting ninth. Jeter went 4-for-10 against the Minnesota Twins from the leadoff spot in his 26th October series in 2009.

In Game 1, he was on base four times and hit the first postseason home run at the new Yankee Stadium. In Game 2, he doubled and scored a run to draw the Yankees level in the sixth inning. In Game 3, he went 1-for-4 but made a critical -- and unusual -- play in the field to squash the Twins' best opportunity to tie the game in the eighth.

THE JETER LEGACY

"He just gets it done," Jorge Posada, Yankees veteran catcher said. "He just gets it done always."

Every postseason game, every at-bat, every hit furthers Jeter's legacy as one of the best ever in the playoffs. He's played more games than anyone (124), had more hits than anyone (155) and scored more runs than anyone (88). His home run hitting power even seems to increase in the fall. He has 18 postseason homers, tying him with Reggie Jackson and Mickey Mantle for third all-time, behind Bernie Williams (22) and Manny Ramirez (28).

Does Jeter's way of playing baseball have an effect on the Yankees' opponents?

"I hate it when I play against them, but I do enjoy watching the way they play. They are professionals. They are baseball players."

-- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, talking about his envious thoughts about the Yankees.

Excerpts from MLB.com (10/06/2009), Newsday.com (10/07/2009), New York Post (10/12/2009), Westchester (N.Y.) Journal News (10/14/2009).

How Does Jeter Do It? 

KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid

"I think that's where people get in trouble, when they start complicating things. It's really not that complicated. The more complicated you make it; the more difficult it is on you. You're playing a game where you fail more than you succeed. You've got to try to keep it as simple as possible."
-- Derek Jeter, discussing the essence of his ability to consistently perform at a peak level.

"Jeter is the most relaxed person that I've seen in the postseason. I would relate him to the way Ron Guidry approached it or Catfish Hunter or Mariano Rivera. There's a relaxed way to go about playing. At the same time, there's tension. You have to be mentally and physically alert. Jeter is always ready.

"The postseason is not just another game so you're not going to play it the same way. You're going to be nervous. There are going to be butterflies. But Jeter understands how to control the butterflies by getting them in the right formation. He does that very well.

"When you look across the room and you see #2 on your team, you know he's going to be ready. You know he's going to be calm. Everyone sees that and it makes them calm, too. The leader of all of this is Jeter. I put him on a high level as a postseason player."

--Famed major league baseball legend Reggie Jackson, talking about the calm approach Jeter takes to the game of baseball.

"Derek is the same person every day. He just seems to be able to play the game every day and not really concern himself with what it looks like as much as what the results are. And he's very unique in that regard."

--former New York Yankee manager Joe Torre, discussing Derek Jeter's approach to his high-level and consistent baseball performance.

Positive Outlook and Long-Range Vision

The Jeter Mentality

"I'm optimistic by nature. Even when things are going poorly, you've got to find something positive. You have to. Because if you get caught up in being negative all the time, you'll never get out of any kind of funk."

--Derek Jeter, discussing the value of positive thinking.

"I don't think about it, really. All I try to do, pretty much is to be consistent. I don't try to overanalyze anything. I don't try to sit back and say, you’re doing this and that. I just try to consistently help out every day.

"You look at it that way, especially when things are going bad, you're able to get out of it, because you're not concerning yourself with how you're doing individually.

"When the season's over, you get a chance to reflect on what happened during the season. One you sit around and start talking about what you've done, that's when you're in trouble. You always strive to do something better."

--Derek Jeter, discussing his anti-analysis approach during the season.

This Peak Performance Case Study was originally published in my book, Razor Thin:  The Difference Between Winning and Losing (2012).  

Alex Rodriguez Shows Leadership

"I couldn’t be happier for Raul.  Ten years ago, I might have reacted differently. I admit I might not have taken it as well. But I have matured. I told Joe when he came to me that he had to do exactly what he felt he had to do." 

--Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees All-Star, celebrating a winning home run by the Raul Ibanez, who replaced him in the lineup in the ninth inning.  

Wednesday night in the Game Four of their best-of-five American League division series with the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium, with the New York Yankees behind and facing a 2-1 series deficit, Alex Rodriguez saw Yankees Manager Joe Girardi walking toward him.  It was the ninth inning, the Yankees were trailing by a run, and Rodriguez had gone 0 for 3 in the game, with two strikeouts.  Girardi told Rodriguez that he was going to replace him with Raul Ibanez, a pinch hitter.
Ibanez tied the game, 2-2, with a home run to right field. Perhaps surprisingly to many people, Rodriguez was the first Yankee to greet Ibanez at the top step of the dugout after he rounded the bases.

Then, in the 12th inning, Ibanez did it again, winning the game, 3-2, with a second homer.

Asked if he was insulted by Girardi’s decision or if he would harbor any hard feelings, Rodriguez shook his head.

“No, no way,” he answered. “I’m one of the leaders of this team now. It’s about winning. We won; I’m pleased. Whatever it takes.”

Excerpts from nytimes.com (October 11, 2012), "Slumping in Middle of Lineup, Rodriguez Is Center of Attention" by Bill Pennington.   

Robinson Cano Can't Remember, and That's Good

“I’ve been struggling with men on base.  You just go out there every game, every at-bat, and forget about what happened in the past.”

--Robinson Cano, New York Yankee second baseman.

One of the most useful mental conditioning techniques that elite athletes use is the ability to quickly get past a mistake or error quickly.  During game conditions, it is highly valuable to be able to erase, recover, and move on.

Although you want to be able to learn from your mistakes, often game situations are not the place to dwell or analyze.  The time to analyze and evaluate is through debriefing and videotape sessions scheduled after one's competition is over.

As Robinson Cano emphasizes, a poor memory is perhaps the best tool that a hitter can utilize. Despite a recent slump, Cano's "poor" memory has allowed him to hit 30 home runs, knock in 82 runs, and hit for an average of .297 with 177 hits.

In addition, the Yankees are leading their division and have the second best record in the American League.  

Quote from nytimes.com (9/27/2012).  "With  Swisher and Cano, It's Trust and Symmetry" by Pat Borzi.

Adversity Fuels Championship Runs

“You’ve got to embrace the adversity. Otherwise, you are going to be miserable and don’t belong in this clubhouse. Adversity is to be expected when you put on the pinstripes.”

-- Russell Martin, New York Yankees catcher, responding to a sustained late-season losing streak.

Championship are not easily won.  Championship seasons do not go smoothly.  Injuries, slumps, trades, travel, difficult scheduling, fatigue, family issues, etc. are all part of the adversity that all teams must face.  However, it is the championship teams that deal with adversity well.  

Winners welcome pressure and embrace the challenge of adversity.  Teams that understand that adversity is to be expected and are willing to take on the challenge are the teams that succeed. Frustration, stress and pressure must be met head-on.  

Most importantly, successful teams and franchises that win consistently understand that mental toughness and the ability to deal with adversity must be part of their team DNA.  

Historically, the New York Yankees are a franchise that has been highly success at dealing with adversity.  Will this year's Yankees team successfully meet the challenge of adversity?


Excerpt from nytimes.com, "A Study in Pinstripes: ‘Embrace the Adversity’", Bill Pennington, September 8, 2012.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Nick Swisher Gets His Head and His Swing Straight

"I’m way more proud of the things I’ve been able to accomplish mentally this off-season than what I’ve done physically.”

--Nick Swisher, New York Yankees, who spent the off-season working out physically with other professional athletes, and mentally, with a sports psychologist.

Swisher was concerned about a slow start that morphed into a terrible slump last season.  He did not hit a home run until the end of April, and as June approached his batting average was barely above .200.

“You want to do so well, and in this game, I think, you get caught up in the numbers,” said Swisher, who finished the season with a .260 average, 23 homers and 85 runs batted in. “When I got out of the gate slow, it just ate me up. I wanted to pop out of the gate like a sprinter, and when it didn’t happen I started getting frustrated.

“Those are things I worked on. How do you deal with failure? How do you set your expectations to where you feel they’re obtainable and not a billion miles away? Because that’s where I’ve always kind of kept my goals. I do a lot of things now that are a lot more non-outcome-related — you know, the process of getting to a point.”

Excerpts from the nytimes.com (March 18, 2012).

New York Yankees Play The Right Way

Excerpt from the New York Times, September 25, 2011.

The Owner of the New York Yankees Acknowledges the Champions

"The Steinbrenner Family and the Yankees Organization are extremely proud of the members of the 2009 New York Yankees for bringing a 27th World Championship to New York City and our fans, the greatest fans in the world. Every World Series victory is special, but this one is especially sweet coming in the first year in our new home.

"The 2009 New York Yankees proved that we are the best in baseball. We beat truly worthy opponents in the American League Division Series, the American League Championship Series and the World Series. As we did all season long, we fought hard, never lost focus and gave a true team victory. Our players have a lot to be proud of. This group will become legendary -- similar to the 26 World Championship teams that preceded them.

"Joe Girardi and his team deserve great credit for racking up wins over a long, tough season.

"We are so grateful to our fans. They have never wavered in their faith or enthusiasm through the good and bad years. This World Series belongs to them and to all Yankees, past, present and future."

--George Steinbrenner, New York Yankees' owner.

It is clear that the championship grew out of a vision, confidence, a need to prove their abilities and meet a challenge, a family atmosphere, a sense of belonging and teamwork, perseverence, pride, focus, and passion. This is a successful formula for championships. Congratulations to the New York Yankees.

For more Team Peak Performance, click on Team Pulse.

New York Yankees Win World Series as a Team

"Look, a lot of other people were going the other way and my teammates and coaches and the organization stood right next to me and we finished together as world champs. I couldn't be prouder.

"I just knew then that when I had the 25 guys standing next to me and the organization and general manager, it meant the world to me and I said that day [that] this is going to turn out to be one of the most special years of our lives, and it sure has.''

--Alex Rodriguez, discussing his teammates' support since February when he admitted to steroid use and faced the media at spring training.

"He's a world champion," general manager Brian Cashman said. "No one can say anything about him anymore. He's performed in October. He's performed on the biggest stage. He's got a World Series ring coming his way, and he deserves it."

Hitting .365 in the postseason, Rodriguez slammed six homers and drove in 18 runs.

GOOD MANAGEMENT

Joe Girardi was instrumental in managing the talented Yankees.

"He lets us play, that's the thing. He writes down the lineup. He's open with us. He's honest with us, he communicates with us well. He gives us a chance to go out there and do our thing. He's done a tremendous job."

--Derek Jeter, giving credit to the managerial skills of Yankee manager, Joe Girardi.

DREAMS, PRIDE, AND TEAMWORK

"The joy is the same, but it's a different type of joy," Girardi said after the victory. "As a player, it's what you dream about ever since you were a little boy, and for me, it was listening to Curt Gowdy do all the World Series games. As a manager, you still have that joy, but the joy is for other people, because you know as a player what it takes to win a championship."

"It feels great," Rodriguez said. "I couldn't be more proud of 25 guys, coaching staff and an organization -- it takes everybody."

"I feel very blessed. I feel so lucky to be part of their fifth championship and my first. It's an honor to play with these guys."

--Mark Teixeira, Yankee firstbaseman, said of Yankee veterans Derek Jeter, Jose Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte.

. . .was happy to be able to hit and contribute to the team's win but more than that, just, us as a team, winning the championship - by far - that is such a great feeling. I guess you can say that this is the best moment of my life right now. If I were to look back, yes, this would be the best.''

--Hideki Matsui, Most Valuable Player of the 2009 World Series, who drove in six runs in the sixth and final game and hitting .615 with three homers and eight RBI during the entire series.

"This is what the Steinbrenner family has strived for year after year after year and has tried to deliver to this city of New York and George Steinbrenner and his family are champions and to be able to deliver this to the Boss, the stadium that he created and the atmosphere that he created around here, um, is very gratifying for all of us," Girardi said.

Excerpts from USAToday.com, NECN.com, VOANews.com, ESPN.com and MLB.com (November 5, 2009).

Yankees Taking a Team Approach to the World Series

“There's no question, I have never had a bigger hit. But if you look at what Mark Teixeira and I have done in this World Series, it’s not much, and it just tells you what a great balanced team we've had all year, and we're getting contributions from all our guys. It just feels to go out and help the team win.”

--Alex Rodriguez, Yankee thirdbaseman, acknowledging the teamwork needed to compete and win as New York takes a 3-1 lead over the Phillies.

Rodriguez is hitting .143 (2-for-14) in the World Series, combining with Mark Teixeira (1-for-14, .071) to form a slumping 3-4 punch. Neverthless, Rodriguez' two hits were clutch hits that have propelled the Yankees to two wins over the Phillies. The hit also was the 15th RBI of the postseason for Rodriguez.

"He's the reason why we're sitting here in Philadelphia right now," Johnny Damon said of A-Rod, who tied Bernie Williams and Scott Brosius for the most RBIs in a postseason by a Yankee. "Without him, who knows where our road may have stopped at. He has the RBI numbers and he's been driving us through the playoffs."

VISIONS, DREAMS, AND PRIDE

"It's always been all about trying to win a World Series," general manager Brian Cashman said. "It's very special in that we just opened up a brand new ballpark, and considering all the history we left behind in the old place, it's nice to open this one with a trip to the World Series. Hopefully we can finish it off with a championship."

"A lot of great players have never had the honor of going to the World Series," Rodriguez said. "It's been a dream of mine since I was a 5-year-old boy to play in the World Series. It's been a long wait."

"When you put that uniform on with these guys, for this organization, it's about winning," said A. J. Burnett, who was a member of the 2003 World Series Champion Florida Marlins, but missed the entire postseason due to injury. "Somebody in spring training, I don't remember who it was, said if we don't win the World Series it's a failure. And I agree."

"When you think about Yankees you think about the word ‘winners'. To be able to be a part of this team, and to be able to be a part of this organization, it's an amazing feeling. This is a great team, and there's great camaraderie with all these guys. I couldn't be more happy, more proud. I'm really excited to put those pinstripes on for the World Series."

--Nick Swisher, New York Yankees.

FOCUS

"We haven't accomplished anything yet. We've won three games, but that's not what we set out to do. We want the fourth."

--Johnny Damon, New York Yankees outfielder, after the Yankees have taken the 3-1 lead over the Phillies.

"We've been down this road before," Rodriguez said. "We have to stay very focused. These guys are the world champs, so they're going to come out fighting. So are we."

Excerpts from ESPN.com, sports.Yahoo.com, and New York Post.com (November 2, 2009)

For more on mental conditioning, click on The Handbook of Peak Performance.

World Series Game Two: Yankees Learn from Phillies About Confidence

"He talked about belief in his stuff, and all I told myself last night and today was the same thing. I went out tonight with confidence, and just, you know, the game just rolled by."

--A.J. Burnett, New York Yankees pitcher, who learned from the Philadelphia Phillies' pitcher Cliff Lee, about how to mentally prepare for his appearance in the 2009 World Series.

Prior to Game 2, Burnett was walking through the home clubhouse when he noticed Lee, Wednesday's winning pitcher, giving an interview on a nearby television. Burnett stopped to listen as Lee talked about trusting his stuff, pitching with confidence and using positive self-talk.

HANDLING PRESSURE

"All I told myself last night and today was the same thing," Burnett said. "I went out tonight with confidence, and the game just rolled by. I was in a good rhythm."

Burnett found himself in a pressure-packed situation in game two of the World Series. The Yankees did not want to go down 0-2 at home.

Rather than fail under the pressure, Burnett succeeded, outdueling Pedro Martinez, Phillies' starting pitcher and leading the Yankees to a 3-1 victory, evening up this best-of-seven World Series.

MENTAL PREPARATION
"I knew I had a big task ahead of me with Pedro on the mound, and I wanted to go out and pitch the best I could," Burnett said.

“You try to prepare for yourself for these games and this city and this crowd, but I think I fed off the crowd tonight,” he said. “They were up every time I got one strike, they were up every time I got two, and instead of over throwing, I kind of just stayed within myself. I was just trying to keep that going for them.”

HAVING FUN

"Nothing compares to today," Burnett said. "That was the funnest I've ever had on the baseball field."

CLOSING IT OUT AND DOING YOUR JOB

"You know what you have and what you can do. It's always difficult to pitch in those situations, but you have to do your job."

--Mariano Rivera, who came in as a relief pitcher to close out the win against the Phillies.



Excerpts from Yahoo Sports.com and MLB.com (October 30, 2009)

For more on mental conditioning, click on The Handbook of Peak Performance.

Confident New York Yankees Win ALCS, Head to World Series

The New York Yankees are American League Champions for the first time since 2003 because of their talent, their skills, their preparation and their confidence level. They were also aware of the danger of complacency despite leading 3 games to 1. They were keenly aware of the need to finish, to close out the Los Angeles Angels.

VISION OF A CHAMPIONSHIP

"We came in here with a goal in spring training of winning a championship and we're a step closer. It's really not a surprise that we're here. I hate to sound like that, but we're really a good team."

--C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees' pitcher and MVP of the American League Championship Series. Sabathia will probably start Game 1 of the World Series again the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.

Sabathia pitched 16 innings in his two starts in the ALCS, giving up only two runs , one in each game, and nine hits. In his three postseason starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA.

“It’s been a dream of mine since I was a five-year-old boy to play in the World Series, and it’s been a long time waiting. In order to the win the World Series, you have to get there first, and this is pretty incredible -- especially with all the stuff I’ve been through.”

--Alex Rodriguez, Yankees' thirdbaseman.

Through nine postseason games, Rodriguez is batting .438 (14-for-32) with a .548 on-base percentage to go with five home runs and 12 RBI. In the Division Series, A-Rod’s homered twice and tied the score each time, once in the Yankees’ final at-bat.

ANTICIPATION OF DANGER

"The danger against a team like that is they can just sort of let things go, as far as the pressure, and just go out there and actually start to play to their ability because they have nothing to lose. So the important thing is to make sure to close it out, to understand there could be that kind of danger. We have to make sure we're aware of that.

"We believe we're playing at a high level in all aspects of the game. I think it's important to have that attitude, and I truly believe that we are a team that is very capable."

--Hideki Matsui, New York Yankees outfielder, discussing their mindset against the Angels, even with a 3-1 lead in the series.

STICKING WITH THE GAME PLAN

Andy Pettitte was orginally scheduled to start Game 6. Then, it rained. Manager Joe Girardi decided to start Andy Pettitte for Game 6 even after Saturday's rainout rather than going with his hot pitcher, C.C. Sabathia. Girardi would then have fellow left-hander Sabathia ready for Games 1, 4 and 7 of the World Series.

"We stayed with our plan," Girardi said. "We were going to use CC in Game 7 if we needed it. We didn't need it. And now we have him for Game 1 [of the World Series], and that's good for us."

PREPARATION

"We worked hard, since spring training, for this and we are here. I can't be more proound of my teammates and the organization."

--Mariano Rivera, Yankees' relief pitcher.

EXPERIENCE AND LEARNING

"You go in there, you see Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada," Sabathia said. "Those guys have been through this situation a lot. You have to lean on those guys and talk to them in situations."

Excerpts from Yahoo.com, The New York Times, ESPN.com, The Hartford Courant, (October 26, 2009).

For more on mental conditioning, click on The Handbook of Peak Performance.

Management Lessons: The Joe Torre Legacy Grows

"The thing I'm most pleased about, probably, is coming here after leaving New York and inheriting a team with a lot of talent, then being able to add some special pieces and being able to have the success we've had in the last couple of years."

--Joe Torre, Los Angeles Dodger manager.

Strong Track Record

After taking the Yankees to the playoffs in each of his 12 seasons as their manager, he has led the Dodgers to the postseason in his two years in Los Angeles. In his two seasons in L.A., the Dodgers have won consecutive NL West titles for the first time since 1977-78The 14 consecutive playoff appearances equal the record set by Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox. Just as impressive is that only 2 of those 14 Torre clubs made it to the postseason as a wild-card team.


Calm Sense of Urgency and Immediacy

“They’re the familiar fingerprints of being very, very steady,” Frank McCourt, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ owner, said of Torre’s influence. “For us, this was a very up-and-down season, and Joe provides a certain leveling ingredient that prevents the team from getting too carried away in one direction or the other.”

“The one thing that separates Joe from everybody else is he knows how to defuse a bomb before it goes off,” said Doug Mientkiewicz, a backup Dodgers first baseman who played with the Yankees in 2007. “Whenever you see a team not playing well, or he sees something happen that he doesn’t like, he gets it right there before it gets out of hand.”

He added, “You know when he’s not happy.”


Consistency

"If the team is going in a certain direction that he doesn't like, he addresses it right away. He doesn't like to let things carry on," Randy Wolf said. "He doesn't get caught up in every moment, but at the same time, he realizes that you've got to keep the same attitude every day."

--Randy Wolf, starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.


Does A Manager Make a Difference?

"I definitely think a manager makes a difference," says Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, a special adviser to the Yankees who played for six different managers in 11 different postseasons. "Not nearly as much for the great players because the great players have a drive and are going to play for themselves, the spirit they respect, their family, their fans, the mirror they look in.

"All players attempt to do that. Some players don't have those ingredients in order. Some players' ingredients are different."

"Confidence, and knowing what to do in a crisis," Jackson, the Hall of Famer, says. "I know La Russa will be good with this. I know Mike Scioscia, Terry Francona, Joe Torre, Charlie Manuel and Jim Leyland are good with this. Jim Tracy. And Joe Girardi, he comes to the table with postseason history as a player.

"Watching those managers when things are difficult is much more interesting to me than when things are going well for them. Seeing a manager do something that's needed."

However, the manager's influence and leadership has its limits. The players have to perform.

"I think managers can make a difference in October because they've already established what they've done during the regular season," says Dodgers third-base coach Larry Bowa, who has played and coached under five different managers in six different postseasons. "In other words, they're not going to change what they do because it's the playoffs. They're going to be consistent with their players, they're going to treat their players the same whether it's a game in July or a game in October."

"If your guns don't do what they're supposed to do, it doesn't matter who's managing then," Bowa says. "Joe or Bobby Cox or Tony La Russa, you're going home. It's that simple. People don't realize that. They say, 'He's the manager, the guy should go further.'

"It doesn't work that way. He steers the ship, but it's the guys who go out there and make sure we get the runs for him to steer it and keep it in good waters. He can't make a guy go six innings if the guy doesn't have his stuff.

"That's how the playoffs are. If you don't get pitching, you're going to be in trouble. As great a lineup as the Yankees have, if they don't get pitching, they're going to be in trouble."


Management Experience

"He's just as relaxed whether we were winning 15-0 or losing 20-0. He keeps the same mentality," Hudson said. "When things weren't going well for us, he'd throw a speech in every now and then. But no matter what we were going through, he's seen it all already. So nothing that we do is new to him."

--Orlando Hudson, Los Angeles Dodgers' secondbaseman.

"I think it's harder to manage a team that's [expected to be] successful," said Jason Giambi, who spent seven years under Torre in New York. "It's tough to keep a team good year after year after year. It's like with Pat Riley when he was winning with the Lakers. People say 'Oh, it's easy to win with the Lakers.' It's not true. Sometimes you have a great team, but if you can't get that team to play together, it doesn't matter."

"The thing Joe is underestimated about is he has a great baseball mind," said Giambi, now a pinch-hitter for the Rockies. "He works well with people and puts people in successful situations. The biggest thing I've noticed is when we were [in New York] there was this aura about him where people feel comfortable."

"What Joe does day in and day out is deal with issues as good anyone I've been around," said Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly, who was also on Torre's staff in New York. "He doesn't let anything go. I think in New York people might have felt he wasn't tough enough on them, but that wasn't the case. He was on every issue that happens. ...

"That's as important as anything I learned from him, you can't let issues go. You have to address them right away and keep moving."


Excerpts from the New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer, October 6, 2009; CBSsports.com and Associated Press, October 5, 2009.

For more on Peak Performance, click on The Handbook of Peak Performance. For more on Teams, click on Team Pulse.