Post by Boxing World Online on Jul 24, 2016 10:56:33 GMT -6
Our reporter and his blonde companion enter Front Street to find the normal Sunday morning trio, Rufus, Avril, and the Man In The Hat, sitting on stools in front of the center ring waiting for the ladies to return from roadwork.
Rufus: "And, here's the Fourth Estate..."
Reporter: "Could it BE any hotter out there? This is Africa hot. I don't know if I can STAY here if it's going to be this HOT..."
Tess (laughing): "He's been saying that line from 'Biloxi Blues' for two days now..."
Avril: "Well, it IS a little warm. Especially for a girl like me from The Great White North..."
Man In The Hat (rolling his eyes): "Here we go with the Canada talk. But, it's OK. As long as HOCKEY doesn't get mentioned."
Reporter: "Speaking of sports, the Buccos' hot prospect got roughed up yesterday."
Man In The Hat (shaking his head): "See, this is what people don't get. There's a big difference between AAA and The Majors."
Tess (nodding): "Sure is."
Man In The Hat: "And, that's why you can't use numbers. You can't look at a guy who's down there hitting .290 and tearin' the league up and figure he's gonna come up to the bigs and do somethin' similar. You have to examine HOW he's doin' it. Because, if that guy has a hole in his swing, if he's struggling with certain pitches and locations, he's gonna get KILLED in the bigs. Because, down in AAA, there are plenty of pitchers who can't take advantage of those weaknesses. In The Majors, they're gonna fill those holes with pitches, and you won't hit .290, you'll hit .180."
Tess: "And, the same goes for pitchers."
Man In The Hat: "Yes, it does. You're down in AAA and you've got one great pitch and maybe a second decent one, you can get a lot of guys out. There are holes in AAA lineups you can exploit. But, in the bigs, to be an effective starter, you need two plus pitches and you'd better have a third that can be effective. If not, big league hitters are gonna KILL you. They're gonna find your weaknesses and expose 'em. Again and again. And, this is why you have to look at HOW guys are succeeding. And what they'll NEED to succeed at the next level. The guy may have the tools. But, he still needs to refine them. He needs to get better at things to have a chance. So, you give him time to get better. Because, all you'll do by rushin' him is set him up for failure and hurt his confidence. And. sometimes, if that confidence breaks, it never comes back. The deal's the same around here."
Reporter: "Around Front Street?"
Man In The Hat: "Around the FCBA. How many girls who've succeeded at lower levels fight here or the BBU or the ACB and fail? Lots. And, I'm not talkin' about girls who were average fighters down there. I mean girls who won a lot of fights. The reason is the same. You can get away with some things at those levels you can't get away with here. There are weaknesses the girls here can and will take advantage of. This is why we bring girls along slowly here at Front Street. Any nimrod can toss somebody in the deep end and see if they can swim. A MANAGER has a job, and that job is to put his people in positions to succeed. So, you give them challenges and watch how they meet them. You give them chances to improve. You let them build confidence. And, if they fail initially, you keep working, keep helping them improve, keep giving them rounds and opportunities. It's how you develop fighters. Just like you develop ball players."
Reporter: "You think Glasnow will be OK?"
Man In The Hat: "Assumin' the injury isn't serious, sure. Just needs more time to work on things. And, that's no surprise. It's how ballplayers develop. They need time and work and repetitions. Just like fighters. Now. Get to church. We'll see you at Bazz."
Rufus: "And, here's the Fourth Estate..."
Reporter: "Could it BE any hotter out there? This is Africa hot. I don't know if I can STAY here if it's going to be this HOT..."
Tess (laughing): "He's been saying that line from 'Biloxi Blues' for two days now..."
Avril: "Well, it IS a little warm. Especially for a girl like me from The Great White North..."
Man In The Hat (rolling his eyes): "Here we go with the Canada talk. But, it's OK. As long as HOCKEY doesn't get mentioned."
Reporter: "Speaking of sports, the Buccos' hot prospect got roughed up yesterday."
Man In The Hat (shaking his head): "See, this is what people don't get. There's a big difference between AAA and The Majors."
Tess (nodding): "Sure is."
Man In The Hat: "And, that's why you can't use numbers. You can't look at a guy who's down there hitting .290 and tearin' the league up and figure he's gonna come up to the bigs and do somethin' similar. You have to examine HOW he's doin' it. Because, if that guy has a hole in his swing, if he's struggling with certain pitches and locations, he's gonna get KILLED in the bigs. Because, down in AAA, there are plenty of pitchers who can't take advantage of those weaknesses. In The Majors, they're gonna fill those holes with pitches, and you won't hit .290, you'll hit .180."
Tess: "And, the same goes for pitchers."
Man In The Hat: "Yes, it does. You're down in AAA and you've got one great pitch and maybe a second decent one, you can get a lot of guys out. There are holes in AAA lineups you can exploit. But, in the bigs, to be an effective starter, you need two plus pitches and you'd better have a third that can be effective. If not, big league hitters are gonna KILL you. They're gonna find your weaknesses and expose 'em. Again and again. And, this is why you have to look at HOW guys are succeeding. And what they'll NEED to succeed at the next level. The guy may have the tools. But, he still needs to refine them. He needs to get better at things to have a chance. So, you give him time to get better. Because, all you'll do by rushin' him is set him up for failure and hurt his confidence. And. sometimes, if that confidence breaks, it never comes back. The deal's the same around here."
Reporter: "Around Front Street?"
Man In The Hat: "Around the FCBA. How many girls who've succeeded at lower levels fight here or the BBU or the ACB and fail? Lots. And, I'm not talkin' about girls who were average fighters down there. I mean girls who won a lot of fights. The reason is the same. You can get away with some things at those levels you can't get away with here. There are weaknesses the girls here can and will take advantage of. This is why we bring girls along slowly here at Front Street. Any nimrod can toss somebody in the deep end and see if they can swim. A MANAGER has a job, and that job is to put his people in positions to succeed. So, you give them challenges and watch how they meet them. You give them chances to improve. You let them build confidence. And, if they fail initially, you keep working, keep helping them improve, keep giving them rounds and opportunities. It's how you develop fighters. Just like you develop ball players."
Reporter: "You think Glasnow will be OK?"
Man In The Hat: "Assumin' the injury isn't serious, sure. Just needs more time to work on things. And, that's no surprise. It's how ballplayers develop. They need time and work and repetitions. Just like fighters. Now. Get to church. We'll see you at Bazz."