The Pitcher and the Team
The parameters of "individual" success
Jordan Wicks is not a household name. Yet. Picked in the first round in the 2021 draft he moved through the minor leagues as an above average pitcher. No press releases, though, as the next Maddox
He had good but not great pitching statistics in Triple-A. And Chicago brought him up to the “show” when they needed another starter. For his first three starts he pitched like a superstar. Should that be a surprise? Is it another example of a small sample and the expectation that his performance will return to the norm?
I suggest it is an example of the “team affect.” If a pitcher pitches to contact, i.e. doesn’t strike out many of the batters he faces, he is as good as the defense behind him. Chicago has outstanding defense. Balls put in play that might have been hits if pitching for other teams, are outs when playing these days for Chicago.
The generalization is this. Team performance improves individual performance. It is true, I believe, in far more than just baseball.
The individual performance of a person is enhanced by the support that he or she receives from teammates.
For example, in education does a good teacher becomes an excellent teacher when surrounded by other teachers and office personnel that function well as a team with common purposes. After a 50-year career of teaching, I'm ready to say that this is both true and often overlooked.
How is this possible?
Some of this is attributable to the positive nature of a group’s view of their work. And perhaps people perform better when they realize their work will be appreciated and their success will be added to the success of others. And the rewards will be shared.
I think there is more involved.
Individual performance becomes more effective when enhanced by the performances of other “players.” A student is more likely to be responsive to an individual instructor if other instructors have created a culture of providing useful and appropriate education.
The willingness of students to believe in the value of what is being taught by any one instructor is affected by their experience with other members of the instructional team. And in so many subjects learning is a cumulative process that lies before and beyond the actions of a single instructor.
Many have described America as an individualist culture, a society that expects its heroes to “go it alone.” Think of Western films. The stranger comes to town and rescues its people and then rides into the sunset.
That isn’t how life works. Take the simple example of committee work. Your suggestion can be either improved or ignored. You may initiate a line of thought. Others will take it further, find the flaws, anticipate objections, and provide satisfactory implementation.
Creative people are rarely the “lone wolves” they appear to be in popular culture. Implementation of ideas is a matter of teamwork. You put the ball in play, and they bring the initiative to success.