Players whose careers have been ruined by the "It's in his head" syndrome?

[oolalaa]

Last night, in the Dodgers @ Reds game, I watched the sumpremely talented (Defensively at least) but mentally frail Dee Gordon (Who relieved for the injured Ramirez at SS late in the game) botch two routine throws to first base. The first sailed 8 feet over the head of Gonzalez, the second pulled Gonzalez 2 feet off the bag, who happened to make a great play to catch it and tag the runner on his way to 1st (For the final out).

Clearly, as the commentators were referring to, "It's in his head". He has the yips. His confidence has been completely shred. He doesn't cope well with mistakes or errors (18 errors in only 84 games so far).


Basically, have there been any other players in the past whose careers (Or maybe just individual seasons or other significant periods of time) have been ruined by mental frailties, and things "getting in their head"?

[Rich the Giants fan]

Well Rick Ankiel had his pitching career ended in such a fashion. Steve Blass comes to mind, as does Steve Sax, though he played through it. Chuck Knobloch had similar issues to Sax.

[ian2813]

Chuck Knoblauch and Steve Sax both had troubles making the throw to first base during their careers. I believe Sax overcame them, but Knoblauch only played a few more years after that, and he was moved off second base in the process.

There was also Mackey Sasser, a journeyman catcher from the late '80s/early '90s, who was a pretty good hitter, but had trouble making basic throws to the pitcher. I think he's a true case of someone whose career was cut short by psychological problems.

[Biggtone23]

Former Yankee prospect David Walling.

In 2001, Walling continued to struggle as he only made 10 starts, going 4-4 with an ERA at 5.40. Walling split the year between Tampa, Norwich and the Columbus Clippers. In May he left the Navigators to go back home to deal with "personal issues". During the season he developed a compulsion to throw repeatedly to first base whenever a runner was on.

Despite these problems the Yankees were high enough on Walling to invite him to major league spring training in 2002. He pitched well enough giving up 2 runs in 6.1 innings of work. He was assigned to Columbus to start the season. But once again his compulsion plagued him and he left the team in June. After seeing a sports psychologist and not seeing any improvement Walling decided to take some time away from the game. He has yet to return.

[oolalaa]

Former Yankee prospect David Walling.

In 2001, Walling continued to struggle as he only made 10 starts, going 4-4 with an ERA at 5.40. Walling split the year between Tampa, Norwich and the Columbus Clippers. In May he left the Navigators to go back home to deal with "personal issues". During the season he developed a compulsion to throw repeatedly to first base whenever a runner was on.

Despite these problems the Yankees were high enough on Walling to invite him to major league spring training in 2002. He pitched well enough giving up 2 runs in 6.1 innings of work. He was assigned to Columbus to start the season. But once again his compulsion plagued him and he left the team in June. After seeing a sports psychologist and not seeing any improvement Walling decided to take some time away from the game. He has yet to return.

That's quite sad

[OmartgSS]

Billy Beane in the batters box. Guy was selected above Strawberry and was a major league fail.

[RubeBaker]

Dontrelle Willis. How he ever went from Cy Young runner up to just being completely mentally unfit to pitch is just baffling.

[EdTarbusz]

Tony Horton of the Indians.

[metfan13]

Jason Bay - has anyone so completely 'lost it" at the plate?

[SamtheBravesFan]

Jason Bay - has anyone so completely 'lost it" at the plate?

Bob Uecker, but he never really had "it" to begin with.

[m8644]

Billy Beane in the batters box. Guy was selected above Strawberry and was a major league fail.

Straw was the first pick in the country.....Beane was selected somewhere in the 20's.

[FrenchyLefebvre]

Joe Cowley, starting pitcher.

Ben Grimm may remember him vividly, and have more details. He was a current (in the '80s) top pitcher - may have won a Cy Young; who joined the Philles and something "happened" -- he just couldn't pitch.

[wu-tang clan]

Though he's currently a starting catcher in MLB, Jarrod Saltalamacchia comes to mind; he had a very hard time accurately throwing back to the pitcher at one point, to a high enough degree that his career would have likely been on the line had he not remedied it.

[dominik]

Last night, in the Dodgers @ Reds game, I watched the sumpremely talented (Defensively at least) but mentally frail Dee Gordon (Who relieved for the injured Ramirez at SS late in the game) botch two routine throws to first base. The first sailed 8 feet over the head of Gonzalez, the second pulled Gonzalez 2 feet off the bag, who happened to make a great play to catch it and tag the runner on his way to 1st (For the final out).

Clearly, as the commentators were referring to, "It's in his head". He has the yips. His confidence has been completely shred. He doesn't cope well with mistakes or errors (18 errors in only 84 games so far).


Basically, have there been any other players in the past whose careers (Or maybe just individual seasons or other significant periods of time) have been ruined by mental frailties, and things "getting in their head"?

to be fair you have to consider that Gordon did not start to play baseball till late in HS. He was a basketball player before. This is a big disadvantage to all those players who started at age 6.

[Jackaroo Dave]

Jackie Jensen's fear of flying wasn't an on field problem, but it was just as disabling professionally.

Frankly, I'm surprised there's not a lot more head cases. It must take real mental toughness to mess up in front of 50,000 people, again and again, as all ballplayers do.