Damage Control

It's that time of year again: the Major League Baseball All-Star Break! Being an avid baseball fan, I found this to be a perfect blog topic. Philadelphia's second baseman Chase Utley and pitcher Brad Lidge both made starting spots in the National League's All-Star team. Congratulations, guys (and good luck Pat Burrell for the Final Vote)!

Today is about damage control, or crisis management. All sports teams go through it, including the wonderful Philadelphia Phillies. Both Chase Utley and Brett Myers have had some issues lately, but they have been handling it pretty well.

-Chase Utley was at zero hits in 20 at-bats a few weeks ago. Of course the Philadelphia media were all over that one. However, Utley didn't hide or deny it. He replied to the media: "That's why baseball can be frustrating. It is a game of failure and you have to deal with that failure." He knew he was in a slump and went on to fix it - which is why he is an NL All-Star.

-Brett Myers hasn't been doing too hot lately either. As a pitcher, Myers had a 3-9 record with a 5.84 ERA (earned run average) and lead the Majors with 24 home runs allowed. And, about a week ago he got sent down to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Myers isn't denying his slump either. Being sent back to the minors isn't the best feeling for a Major League pitcher, but he knows that he needs to improve. "If I'm not pitching good, I'm not going," is what Myers had to say about making his way back up to the Majors.

Anyone, anywhere has to do damage control eventually during their lives, and if you're a professional athlete, having the media in your face doesn't help much either. Remember, if you do have to manage a crisis, to always tell the truth. Don't deny or hide from the situation. That will only make it worse. Be organized and take a deep breath. Everything will get better eventually.

**Quotes courtesy of www.phillies.com