CRITICISM ONLY MAKES YOU STRONGER

We write a lot about giving youth a chance in the big leagues.  From high school ball to college to the minors and eventually, if you are lucky and strong enough, to the majors, there is opportunity to grow into a successfully ball player.  The key to growth is very simple: reflection.  By reflecting on your performance, feedback from your peers and coaches and visualizing the success you know you can have, you only get stronger and that's just what Johnny Barbato is going to do as he packs his bags to head back to Scranton/Wilkes Barre before last night's game against the Royals.

Yankee pitching coach Larry Rothchild provided two very essential pieces of advice for Barbato who earned the final bull pen spot after impressing Yankee management this spring.

"First, he told the 23-year-old righty that he still deserves to pitch in that majors and that his demotion came mostly as a way to fit onto the roster All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman, who returned from a 30-game domestic violence abuse suspension. The other? Find consistency with your slider, Rothschild told Barbato," according to NJ.com.

Why is this significant?  Because Barbato has an opportunity to come back stronger later this season, and potentially impact the team in a positive way.  This stick-with-it-ness is was separates him from the mass of millennials who either move on to something easier, less challenging or can't take advice from peers or supervisors.  Barbato stated very frankly that his slider has been flat lately and he believes it will work itself out.  With a little more practice and reflection, he will improve.  He believes it and that's the most important part.  He knows he needs to work harder and develop this pitch along with his fast ball and curve.  This is the kind of mindset we need in our young players.

As young people graduate college and move into new careers this spring, it is important to note that jobs are not just given to you because have a degree.  You have to earn your spot in the work world. There are many people ahead of you, with more seniority and experience and you have to respect that.  According to Forbes, "If you allow other people to get to know you over a long course of time, you’ll grow to trust their advice, and they’ll be able to point out the blind spots you may have otherwise never addressed. Furthermore, you’ll recognize and resolve your own weaknesses far more effectively if you stay put and address what bothers you rather than jumping ship and blaming your discontent on your former co-workers and boss."

Criticism only makes you stronger and Johnny Barbato figured that out on his trip back to the minors. We wish him the best and hope he stays focused on improving, one day at a time.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




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