Positive About Optimism
By now, you all should know that I am an optimistic person. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that I believe in the power of the human spirit to overcome incredible obstacles, and that without an optimistic attitude one might never try… let alone succeed, in…
By now, you all should know that I am an optimistic person. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that I believe in the power of the human spirit to overcome incredible obstacles, and that without an optimistic attitude one might never try… let alone succeed, in overcoming incredible odds. The Miracle on Ice would have never happened if the coach and players had said “We are realists. We know that they are better than us and that the odds of winning are not very good. We aren’t pessimists. We are realists. We know they are better than us.”
They would have been beaten before they started.
What about the 1988 Dodgers without their MVP in the Playoffs and World Series? “The Mets beat us 11 out of 12 times in the regular season – we have no chance, but even if we did, in the World Series, we have to face the best team in baseball with the best closer in baseball. We are just being realistic.”
They would have had no chance, but guess what? They did not buy into that pessimistic thinking. The rest is, as they say, history. Often pessimists disguise their pessimism by saying, “I am not a pessimist – I’m just a realist!” Yeah, right! No matter how you try and cloak it, you are a “glass half full person.” Well, they say that they are “realists” but in reality, they are pessimists through and through. I feel sorry for them because they always feel that the worst will happen (which makes them miserable) and when it happens… well they are still miserable because they were right. When something good happens, they might feel something less than elation, but it doesn’t last long.
On the other hand, optimists believe that the best will happen and until it doesn’t, they are happy. When it doesn’t they might be less than miserable, but it doesn’t last long. I think that is a better way to live. I never have a bad day. Maybe a bad hour… but never a bad day. William James was an American philosopher, historian, and psychologist, and the first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States. He said this:
“Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.“
We live in an age today of victimization. So many people proclaim their victimhood from racism, police oppression, obesity genes, bad breaks, alcoholism, drug addiction, being born in the wrong place, in the wrong place at the wrong time, etc., etc. Some say they are too thin, too fat, too black, too white, too tall, too short, too smart, too dumb, too fast, too slow, too cheated, or too privileged. In psychology, James’ work is, of course, dated, but it is dated as is Galileo’s in physics or Charles Darwin’s in biology because it is the originative matrix of the great variety of new developments that are the current vogue. In philosophy, his positive work is still prophetic: Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.“
I believe in that 100% and if you don’t, well, as a pessimist, you usually get what you believe. Me? I am worth more than that. I refuse to believe that. I also realize that some people are just “wired” a certain way and nothing I do can change that. YOU can change your thinking from pessimistic to optimistic one thought at a time, but that has to come from you and no one else. I also happen to believe that there are only optimists and pessimists… and realists are just pessimists who refuse to identify as that.
Why am I talking about this right about now? Well, when things go bad and then they get worse, it is often very difficult to maintain a positive attitude. When a player like Cody Bellinger is mired in a horrible slump, day-after-day-after-day, how does he even begin to have hope? Well, it has to start with a short memory and a positive attitude, which has to be damn hard to get, let alone maintain. Cody was credited with two hits last night, but I am not ready to pronounce him out of his slump. However, it is a step in the right direction.
If we look back over the season, there were times when Dodger fans wanted to get rid of Cody Bellinger, AJ Pollock, Max Muncy, and Kenley Jansen, to name but a few. Pollock, Muncy, and Jansen have “fixed” their problems and are pretty much back to being staples of a hot Dodger lineup. Hopefully, Cody Bellinger is “in the process” of “fixing” his issues. Only time will tell, but the Dodgers with a horrid-hitting Cody Bellinger have been a Very Good team. If Cody’s problems get “fixed,” they become a “Super Team” and to me, that is worth the wait!
Last night’s game was challenging and when it came down to the last man in the bullpen, Shane Greene earned his pay… even if that happens to be the last game he pitches this season. What a game… and yet the Giants refuse to die. There’s still plenty of time for that. Hopefully, we see Mookie today!
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Discussion (108)
Disagree, not disagreeable
If Trea does not feel comfortable in second, why not use it in the center? Put Belli on right and Taylor on second, but if he doesn’t like playing in the outfield so much, and he just wants to play in the shortstop, then we have a couple of divas who just want to play that position (Turner and Seager) and if necessary choose between the two to sign only one, I would stay with Turner!
Mark, i feel compelled to take you to court on the following comment of yours :
“I also happen to believe that there are only optimists and pessimists… and realists are just pessimists who refuse to identify as that.”
To call a realist is pessimist illogical. Someone needs to get out their Merriam Dictionary, but because I’m feeling frisky and helpful today, I will do it for you.
Realist- a person who recognizes what is real or possible in a particular situation : one who accepts and deals with things as they really are
Pessimist- a person who is inclined to expect poor outcomes
Optimist – person who is inclined to be hopeful and to expect good outcomes
So, to say they are one and the same is Not even close. Here is a good example to make this tangible for you to grasp hold of…
I have played tennis against this one guy in my neighborhood about 20 times over the last few years. I have NEVER beat him, but tomorrow we are getting it on again.
Optimist says: you got this TM, I believe tomorrow will be your day
Pessimist says: lol, let me know TM if you bet $100 on this match. No offense buddy but I will take my chance that you 1% chance of winning wont be tomorrow .
Realist says: wow TM….you sure are a glutton for punishment, but I hope you are at least having fun losing, which will probably be the outcome tomorrow .
Conclusion: sorry mark, but methinks you misspoke again (Cody is a superstar). It’s okay…you don’t walk on water so it’s understandable.
TM
Nick Nastrini
Okay, let me get this straight. An optimist is an optimist and a pessimist is a pessimist. But a realist is actually a pessimist? No gray area there, right? So when it comes to Trevor Bauer, an optimist would say he’ll be back. A pessimist would say, no he won’t. A realist might say, highly unlikely.
The realist isn’t saying it won’t happen, but the odds don’t look good. Consider the same point with Clayton Kershaw. An optimist might say he’ll back in the starting rotation for the playoffs. A pessimist would probably say it won’t happen. The realist might point out time is running out so it’s highly unlikely he’ll return as a starter.
I guess it depends on what your definition of the term realist. A person who accepts a situation as it is and is prepared to deal with it accordingly. So a realist is a person who recognizes what is real or possible in a particular situation. Or a person who has a good grip on reality.
So I think there is room for an optimist, a pessimist and a realist. Okay, I go with the idea that optimism is better than pessimism. But a touch of reality certainly isn’t a bad thing.
I totally agree with Mark we live in the age of victimization and it tends to defeat people before they get started. As Tom Brady just said, stop blaming others. But then you have to accept accountability and for some that’s difficult. There are a lot of people in our society telling people it’s not their fault. Someone else is to blame. That kind of thinking leads to failure.
As to Cody Bellinger, I truly believe his best years are ahead of him. The talent is there, the same athletic skills I saw in “A” ball, that’s not going away. But realistically I’m not sure it’s all about fixing something, a lot more complicated than that. The shoulder surgery, healing and strengthening, then the leg fracture, which set the process back. No question this is playing with his head. You can see the frustrations. Realistically, the shoulder is probably not fully back to normal so it is was it is … his swing is longer so timing is incredibly important so you hope for the best, but a return to a his best years may not be in the cards in this season. Remember, he was having problems with the shoulder in 2020.
We may have seen something significant last night. The Dodgers refused to give in, going to 16 innings to win it. That probably wouldn’t have happened a couple of months ago. The return of Mookie Betts should have a dramatic impact if he stays healthy over the next couple of months.
On the Trey-play. If he would have made a good throw the play would have been close, but an out. It was not a hard hit ball and he had to charge it. If he would have let it go, and CS would have made the play I do not think he could have caught the runner. It was a do or die play and the unfortunate thing was that the throw went out of play. If it stayed in play they wouldn’t have scored.
CT’s play reminded me of the play AJ made on a home run the other night. It looked like he either hit the wall on the way up or he didn’t get a good push on the jump. That’s a really difficult play when you run a long distance and don’t get a chance to set yourself before you jump. You make it sometimes and sometimes you don’t. Pads made it, we didn’t.
Interesting stat I saw on the game last night.
>>> The Dodgers’ bullpen went 9 1/3 innings and allowed one hit. Per STATS, since 2000, the only other bullpen that has tossed that many innings while allowing one or fewer hits was also the Dodgers on April 29, 2007, also against the Padres.<<<
cheers
pb+
Well I’m not very optimistic about the Padres chances after last nights brutal loss for them! Who could have seen the Padres and Giant seasons at start of this year. Is 5 months a slump or who you really are? At least this year. This will be a huge off season for Bellinger to heal and strengthen and next season will be very telling for him and the Dodgers.
The power of positive thinking all right. It’s a great way to live your life!
Today is a great day after an insane win last night. I guess the Greene over Feliz decision has already paid dividends even if he only got into the game when there was no other choice.
Congratulations Kenley Jansen! 1000 career Ks!
Baseball is a weird game indeed. Consider this, everyone clamoring for Trea Turner to take over for Seager at SS and CT3 for Belli in CF. The only runs the Padres scored were misplays by TT and CT3.
It’s ironic that Vesia, who blew a few of those extra inning games early is so comfortable now that he breezed through the 10th inning.
Blake Snell has our number, but once again he’s left in a little too long. Thank you Will Smith!
AJ Pollock comes up huge once again. People will still want to trade him in the offseason.
It’s too bad that Trea cutoff that ball early in the game. Seager was in a perfect position to make that play. Shift confusion? Bueller would have got the W and the game would have been finished in regulation. What a difference a play makes.
Belli hit the ball pretty well last night. He’s getting close and there is absolutely no reason to sit him down. CT3’s misplay that allowed that Tatis HR is more proof.
How about that crappy bullpen?
16 innings and only one mid inning pitching change when Kelly came in to finish off Bueller’s night. Bueller was gassed. No unnecessary double switches. It’s not that hard. Good things come when you don’t overmanage. Maybe Doc is finally learning.
Mookie will be back tonight, as will Yu who will be facing off against the other Mad Max. 6PM start.
That’s as strange a box score as I’ve seen. 10 for 57, 18 Ks, 38 LOB. 5 for 27 WRISP.
Pessimist realist again huh? The mystics tell us this realm of consciousness, which is the bottom of creation by the way, is in perfect balance. The laws of physics see to it, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. I trust they know what they are talking about. Me? I’m a half full guy of course.
Cody 2 for 7, raising his average. Muncy 0 for 7, Seager 0 for 6. Ouch.
All of those innings because of a first inning error by Trea Turner. As good as he his, so far with us he’s a negative dWAR player. You know what’s interesting about that – with Washington he put up a positive .7 dWAR at shortstop, which by the way is something Corey Seager hasn’t done in 4 years and probably won’t do again. Hope Trea gets comfortable at second before the playoffs start.
Cy Young? That stat about Buehler pitching at least six innings in 25/26 [I think] is beginning to look unparalleled.
(Even though it’s not about individual awards . . .)
Question for the prospect hounds: Duran pitched last night, but does anyone know the rest of the Quakes’ starting pitchers for the Visalia series? Thank you.
Bullpen was fantastic last night, every guy made his contribution to win this epic game, Walker as usual almost unhittable. Great team win. Knebel gave up t hat tying HR to Tatis but CT3 almost made a spectacular robbery .
Belli got two hits but still looked overmatched in his at bats.
I do not want to see Snell in a do or die game against us. Guy is having a so-so season but he still has our number.
If only the Giants would let up at least a little bit but they keep on winning in every possible way.
Keibert had his second straight two HR game for the Nationals AAA club. happy for him.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
Watched all 16 on the East Coast (NC)…had a very 2018 Game 3 WS vibe to be, without the extra runner of course.
MUCH better to win a game like this than to lose it. Pen was outstanding. Beaty was robbed too….