When You Can't Trust Your Bullpen

As you probably already know, I’m a baseball fan and specifically a Tampa Bay Rays fan. And, as you’ve probably heard, our season hasn’t went how we wanted it to go. (It’s quite possible we could lose 100 games this year) ugh.

That being said, I’ve found it interesting to watch what I believe to be one of the best leaders in all of professional sports, Joe Maddon the manager of the Rays, lead through a down year. It’s one thing to lead through the good times, but it takes an entirely different skill set to lead when things go bad. And it’s been refreshing to see Joe lead well, even in the midst of down times.

One of the issues the Rays have had this year is inconsistency in their bullpen. Specifically, the bullpen can’t hold a lead when they get it. There is nothing more demoralizing to a team then when you don’t have confidence that another department within your organization, or even one particular team member can fulfill what’s being asked of them to do.

A Few Obvious Things this Does to a Team:

1. It makes a team not want to work hard. Why bust your rear to get a lead, produce and put your organization in a position to win when someone else is going to drop the ball?!?

2. Trust evaporate. It’s not good for a clubhouse (or board room) when guys start blaming and pointing fingers.

3. It Crushes Morale and Momentum. Nothing will take the wind out of an organization’s sails like this issue can.

It is demoralizing to get a lead and then not have faith that your bullpen can hold it.

So… Let me ask you a question leaders:

Got any “Bullpen” issues?

If you see someone’s face in your mind right now, then you do.

3 Ways to Spot a “Bullpen Issue”:

1. You manage around them.

2. You make Excuses for them.

3. You hesitate to Pass the Ball to them.

If you’re doing any of these 3 things, you’ve got a bullpen problem.

So what do we do?

Wise Leaders do 3 Things:

1. Wise leaders deal with problem “bullpens” swiftly (not rashly or reactively) but quickly and adequately.

2. Wise leaders communicate to the team what’s going on and what they’re doing about it.

3. Wise leaders don’t sacrifice the good of the whole out of fear or to protect the fragile ego of the one.

As a fan of the Rays and a student of leadership, trust me, I want our bullpen issues dealt with as fast as we can.

I’m betting your team does too.

Don’t second guess it, just do it…

The manager who 2nd guesses has already lost the game and will soon lose his team.