There is an old saying that states “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” (Actually it says “one man’s” but I have updated it for the modern era. You’re welcome.)

This concept definitely applies to softball, especially if you are one of those players who is struggling to get playing time at a particular position so you can prove what you can do. It all revolves around what football fans call “garbage time.”

The term “garbage time” typically refers to a point in the fourth quarter where one time is so far ahead the other team has no chance to catch up, but there are still several minutes left to play. That’s usually where you will see the second string quarterback (as well as other bench players) take the field to run out the clock while keeping the starters from suffering a stupid injury.

The softball equivalent would be a game where one team is clearly over-matched, down by several runs, and there is a time limit. It’s clear the team that’s down isn’t going to be able to overcome the deficit in time but they have to keep playing anyway.

Here’s how you can turn this unfortunate situation into an opportunity.

Let’s say you’re the third or fourth pitcher on your team. You started the fall season kind of rough but have been working hard over the offseason and have improved your pitching considerably over the last few months.

Now that it’s summer you’re eager to prove what you can do, but your coach still thinks of you as you were back in the fall and is reluctant to put you in to pitch.

So suggest to your coach that you will take all the “garbage time” innings you can get. (Although you may not want to refer to them as “garbage time.”)

Frame in the context of helping the team: The team still has to play, but why waste one of the “good” pitchers on meaningless innings? Wouldn’t it be better to save them for a game where you have a better chance of winning?

That logic should make sense to most coaches – at least the ones who are honest with themselves. Worst case you go out there and give up a bunch of runs and the game ends early due to the run-ahead rule.

Embarrassing, sure, but does it really matter if you lose by 7 runs or 10 runs? And if you do get run ruled your team gets a little extra time to rest, relax, and reset before having to play their next game.

But you’re not actually planning to give up any runs. In fact, your plan is to show the coach that you’re ready to pitch by holding your own against a team that was beating up on your #1 or #2 pitcher.

Do that a couple of times and your coach may start to look at you differently. Perhaps he/she will let you start or relieve in a pool play or “friendly” game where the outcome isn’t already decided.

Do well there and he/she may start giving you more opportunities, and eventually turn to you as a regular member of the staff instead of the pitcher of last resort.

All because you volunteered to eat up the innings no one else really wanted.

While this strategy probably works best for pitchers, it can be applied to other positions as well. After all, field players need a break from time to time too, especially if they’re already nursing injuries or you’ve been playing a lot of games either in one day or on back-to-back days.

And who knows? Maybe your eagerness and positive attitude can spur the team to keep fighting and do better even when it feels like all hope is lost.

In the right conditions it just takes one spark to light a major fire. You could be that spark.

It’s said that luck doesn’t just happen; we make our own luck. Volunteering for “garbage time” is a way to make your own luck – and turn what looks like trash into your own personal treasure.

Gold bars photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com