Always Next Year vs. All In

In 2007 with Boston trailing the ALCS three games to one to the Cleveland Indians Manny Ramirez

was heavily criticized when he said

"Pressure? What pressure? We're confident every day. It doesn't matter how things go for you. We're not going to give up. We're just going to go and play the game, like I've said, and move on. If it doesn't happen, so who cares? There's always next year. It's not like the end of the world or something. Why should we panic?"

Classic Manny being Manny, as he and his Red Sox team were a loose, experienced, and confident team that would come back to win seven straight post season games and earn another championship.

The "There's always next year" is a cool baseball/softball saying, but unlike Manny (and other MLB players) in softball we don't have guaranteed big money contracts. Softball is more like the NFL and is a year to year sport where player loyalty/happiness is fleeting commodity. So while "there is always next year" a manager/team/player should also keep in mind that it is possible that "Now will Never Come Again" and would be wise to take an

"ALL IN"

approach to the season and deal with next year, well next year.