I too agree with Jim. It isn't if you win or lose...its if you win. Work hard, pay attention, do what you are told...you win. Scratch in the sand, swing like Babe Ruth, watch the ball roll past vs. putting fear aside and getting in front of it....you lose.
My third baseman has natural talent. He doesn't care. The fact that he has NO work ethic probably means he will have a tattoo across his throat that says "Drug adict, thief, and unemployable". I now have three kids on the team that will do what they are told to the best of their ability, and one of them is the little blind boy! I have one kid that I would give my bank account to have the opportunity to beat...and since I'm willing to pay so much, I'd like to beat his mom too. She will not discipline the brat, and sets up in the bleachers mouthing the umpire, because her son is an idiot! Honest to God, I'd almost rather cover the entire field with the three boys that listen...that would keep the others from screwing things up.
I had to remind myself, and tell my assistant coach the other day what Cotty said earlier - we are still dealing with kids that need weeding out, and thankfully, many of them will quit after this season.