Jordan Westburg is a hot topic among O’s fans. A rising infielder for the Baltimore Orioles, it may seem to watchers that manager Brandon Hyde should play him as often as he can. Already Westburg shows an incredible range of offensive and defensive skills. He’s thought to have some skill at the plate by seasoned professionals and generally has solid glovework. However, while putting the promising athlete into play repeatedly might be tempting, there are more significant considerations to factor in.
Yes
Practice: Westburg is still a young player, and regular playing in real games is necessary for his development as a player. All athletes need a large amount of experience to improve, and the more he is exposed to different scenarios and gameplay, the more likely he will become a star player.
Building rapport as a team: The more a team plays together, the better they will play together. It takes time to build up an instinctual understanding of how a teammate will move, how they will react under a variety of conditions, and how they will respond to certain situations. The only way that can happen on a team of any kind is constant practice together as a unit. Even socializing and building up a rapport between players is needed so that each member knows they can rely on the other and predict how a person will react.
Demonstrate long-term potential: Management and coaches cannot get a good understanding of a player’s long-term or future potential if they do not regularly see them play. It’s only possible to get a feel for how a player is evolving as an athlete if you can see the incremental changes with practices and games. These insights, in turn, impact decisions made about the team’s future, especially regarding the roster or trading players.
No
Play strategically: Players will always do better against some athletes than others, such as left hand vs. right hand opponents. Of course, as mentioned before, the more games Westburg is exposed to, the more experience he gains, but if he struggles with a type of gameplay or against a certain type of pitcher, then it makes more sense to be strategic and only place him in certain games rather than playing him every day. By being strategic, managers and coaches can maximize his strengths and what he does best while leaving him to shore up his weaknesses in practice.
Physical and mental exertion: Constantly playing high-level professional games is physically and mentally draining on players. If they’re over-used, it can lead to burnout, injuries, and an overall drop in performance. This is why it’s important for players to have proper time off to rest and indulge in more sedentary hobbies, such as playing computer games. Online games at sites like Jackpotcitycasino.com appeal to many as they can dip in and out on slots or play a longer hand of poker. Sites like this are also using the latest technology in AI and encryption to provide players with a secure and state-of-the-art experience. This is much more likely to appeal than sitting down to do some painting.
The rest of the team: In any team sport, it is all of the players that matter and not just one. Westburg is an impressive player, but if promoting him comes at the expense of neglecting another player’s development or it disrupts the lineup’s chemistry, then the team as a whole will suffer and start to fail.
