Comments on: Perfect Game Pitcher: “Nobody’s Perfect” http://businessconflictmanagement.com/blog/2010/06/perfect-game-pitcher-nobodys-perfect/ Conflict Management Expertise from F. Peter Phillips Fri, 18 May 2012 07:39:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Tim Flanagan http://businessconflictmanagement.com/blog/2010/06/perfect-game-pitcher-nobodys-perfect/comment-page-1/#comment-1680 Tim Flanagan Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:31:28 +0000 http://businessconflictmanagement.com/blog/?p=589#comment-1680 Peter, What a great example of how the parties in a dispute have so much more influence over the process and the outcome and the perceptions of others than it may first appear. In the moment, Jim Joyce's mistake was unbelievably horrid and cruel. Yet, in the moment, Armando Galaraga's response was so effective that the stage was set for healing even as Detroiot manager Jim Leyland and the Tigers protested in vain. I always say to folks with whom I work that the choices we make in the moment and in the seconds and minutes just after "the moment" have incredible power. Had I been in Galarraga's position, I'm not sure I would have chosen the response he did. If there is anyone who deserved to react with anger it was Galarraga. Instead, he chose to smile. He chose to walk away confident that the one true thing about baseball is that it's a game of errors, chance, and mistakes as much as it is a game of skill. His acknowledgment of our human condition ("We all make mistakes") enabled the umpire to have a place from which to admit his mistake and apologize. And kudos to Jim Joyce for doing exactly that. Is is sad that a pitcher was denied a place among so very few who have thrown a perfect game? Absolutely. But I believe that Armando Galarraga's achievement is even more memorable now. I hope I choose my responses more eloquently in the future. I am sure I'll use this example frequently in my work with individuals, teams and organizations dealing with conflict. Thanks for a great piece Peter. All the best, Tim Peter,
What a great example of how the parties in a dispute have so much more influence over the process and the outcome and the perceptions of others than it may first appear. In the moment, Jim Joyce’s mistake was unbelievably horrid and cruel. Yet, in the moment, Armando Galaraga’s response was so effective that the stage was set for healing even as Detroiot manager Jim Leyland and the Tigers protested in vain.

I always say to folks with whom I work that the choices we make in the moment and in the seconds and minutes just after “the moment” have incredible power. Had I been in Galarraga’s position, I’m not sure I would have chosen the response he did. If there is anyone who deserved to react with anger it was Galarraga. Instead, he chose to smile. He chose to walk away confident that the one true thing about baseball is that it’s a game of errors, chance, and mistakes as much as it is a game of skill. His acknowledgment of our human condition (”We all make mistakes”) enabled the umpire to have a place from which to admit his mistake and apologize. And kudos to Jim Joyce for doing exactly that.

Is is sad that a pitcher was denied a place among so very few who have thrown a perfect game? Absolutely. But I believe that Armando Galarraga’s achievement is even more memorable now.

I hope I choose my responses more eloquently in the future. I am sure I’ll use this example frequently in my work with individuals, teams and organizations dealing with conflict. Thanks for a great piece Peter.

All the best,

Tim

]]> By: Joe Markowitz http://businessconflictmanagement.com/blog/2010/06/perfect-game-pitcher-nobodys-perfect/comment-page-1/#comment-1643 Joe Markowitz Sat, 05 Jun 2010 17:18:41 +0000 http://businessconflictmanagement.com/blog/?p=589#comment-1643 One of the things that is interesting about baseball is that we keep track of so many kinds of statistics, many of which have no effect on the game whatsoever. It shows you how much we value individual, historical achievements, and that the question of which team wins or loses is usually secondary to our appreciation of the game. This umpire's bad call, for example, affects only the record books, by keeping a deserving pitcher out of the very small company of pitchers who have pitched a perfect game. But it had no effect on the outcome of the game. And there are lots of other deserving pitchers who have been kept out of the record books due to factors totally beyond their control, such as whether one of their teammates makes a play or not. We have to value the role that human error and that luck plays in every game of baseball. I don't think it would be good for baseball if we installed an electronic strike zone, even though it might be more accurate than the umpire's calls. What I especially like about this story is how Galarraga went out of his way to let the umpires know that he accepts the fact that they make mistakes. Every player knows that is just part of the game, just as they accept the elements of chance that might make the difference between a home run ball and a foul ball. It goes almost without saying that this post has everything to do with mediation, and I'm sure I'll find a way to use this story in that context somehow. One of the things that is interesting about baseball is that we keep track of so many kinds of statistics, many of which have no effect on the game whatsoever. It shows you how much we value individual, historical achievements, and that the question of which team wins or loses is usually secondary to our appreciation of the game. This umpire’s bad call, for example, affects only the record books, by keeping a deserving pitcher out of the very small company of pitchers who have pitched a perfect game. But it had no effect on the outcome of the game. And there are lots of other deserving pitchers who have been kept out of the record books due to factors totally beyond their control, such as whether one of their teammates makes a play or not. We have to value the role that human error and that luck plays in every game of baseball. I don’t think it would be good for baseball if we installed an electronic strike zone, even though it might be more accurate than the umpire’s calls.

What I especially like about this story is how Galarraga went out of his way to let the umpires know that he accepts the fact that they make mistakes. Every player knows that is just part of the game, just as they accept the elements of chance that might make the difference between a home run ball and a foul ball.

It goes almost without saying that this post has everything to do with mediation, and I’m sure I’ll find a way to use this story in that context somehow.

]]> By: Don Philbin http://businessconflictmanagement.com/blog/2010/06/perfect-game-pitcher-nobodys-perfect/comment-page-1/#comment-1641 Don Philbin Sat, 05 Jun 2010 13:35:37 +0000 http://businessconflictmanagement.com/blog/?p=589#comment-1641 Peter, Great piece. I had a little fun with the last big decision error in baseball during the American League playoffs in the Harvard Negotiation Law Review last fall. http://www.hnlr.org/?p=471. In what ESPN dubbed "the worst umpiring performance at an Angels game since Leslie Nielsen in "The Naked Gun", Tim McClelland's missed calls sparked the fire for instant replay then too. You're right. We all make mistakes, including in negotiations. Instant replay may mitigate errors in baseball and there are deliberate steps negotiators can take to debias their own cognitive errors. More about that soon. Best, Don Peter,

Great piece. I had a little fun with the last big decision error in baseball during the American League playoffs in the Harvard Negotiation Law Review last fall. http://www.hnlr.org/?p=471. In what ESPN dubbed “the worst umpiring performance at an Angels game since Leslie Nielsen in “The Naked Gun”, Tim McClelland’s missed calls sparked the fire for instant replay then too.

You’re right. We all make mistakes, including in negotiations. Instant replay may mitigate errors in baseball and there are deliberate steps negotiators can take to debias their own cognitive errors. More about that soon.

Best,

Don

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