Major League Performance

I was recently talking with my colleague Lupe, who played baseball for years and really knows the game.?I have to stay on my toes when we talk.?We always discuss the Yankees (my team) and Dodgers (her team).?The common link lately was a trade made between the teams this season. Our discussion got me thinking about how performance can change dramatically when trades are made – or in our case, when you make a career change.?

The LA Dodgers acquired?Joey Gallo ?from the Yankees at the 2022 Trade Deadline.?They made the trade to build bench strength and thought that the outfielder, who was struggling with the Yankees, could be an asset if they reworked his approach. It worked.

In 82 games with New York, Gallo slashed .159/.282/.339. In 12 games (eight starts) with the Dodgers, he’s slashed .267/.371/.667 in 35 plate appearances. (source: MLB.com).?Why? Here are some factors that can impact a big league player, and a top performing professional in their institution.

Gallo was arguably the worst full-time player the Yankees had ever seen for a full calendar year. His offense was poor, and his defense was far from his “Gold Glove” status. While it is quite possible that Gallo was just not in the right club, for our purpose, let us considered other factors that impact performance:

o??Play in the position that suits your strengths. Gallo’s preferred position is right field, where he’s won two Gold Glove Awards. However, he was relegated to left field while in New York.?The position discounted highly valued skills and worked against the player and organization.

§?Lesson: Know you skills and values, and then advocate for the position that best puts them to use.

o??Don’t be redundant. Gallo was a lower performing version of the Yankee’s top players. How could he ever distinguish himself? How could management objectively evaluate his production? ?This scenario motivates managers to wonder why they need a low performing version of players they already think highly of.

§?Lesson: Think about where you fit in the organization.?Are you making unique contributions that place you at the top of the team, or are you being overshadowed by someone doing exactly as you do, but has the success and management attention??

o??It’s not just about changing your team colors - environment is key.?What is the culture of the club or organization??Know what the setting, pace and operating style of the organization is, then determine if it means that you will thrive or fight to survive.

o??Make sure you have the right support.?Joey Gallo did not have the support of the New York fans, but he does in Los Angeles.?Think about your own situation. Do you have fans who support and build you up, or detractors who only look for reasons to tear you down? This can have a huge impact on your psychology, which profoundly impacts personal performance.?

o??Lack of performance may not be entirely your fault.?In Gallo’s case it was the front office.?They tried to stuff a square peg into a round hole after being told it was a bad idea, and they paid for it in ways they did not imagine.?

What is considered a detriment in one organization could be an asset in the other club.?Players change teams, at times against their wishes, but sometimes for the best.?Fortunately for us, we are never in danger of being traded, and have the ability to choose our key player position inside?or outside of an organization.?Doing your job well is just part of the total performance equation.?To be in the major leagues, you need to think about all the factors that make you an A player.