Don’t Widen Home Plate

Building off last week’s chat about personal truth, and with the MLB playoffs kicking off (which, let’s be honest, is about the only time I really pay attention to Major League Baseball), I’ve got a special message for you. This one ties together sports, life, and, of course, a good dose of humor.

Ever heard of John Scolinos? He was a legendary college baseball coach who set a record with 1,070 career wins. But what made him even more memorable wasn’t just his win-loss record—it was the timeless life lesson he delivered with a simple object: home plate.

For those of you who don’t know, home plate in baseball is exactly 17 inches wide. Whether you’re playing Little League or stepping up to the plate in the Major Leagues, the size doesn’t change. It’s 17 inches for everyone, no exceptions, no excuses.

Now, Coach Scolinos had a pretty powerful message to go along with that plate. His point? Standards don’t change just because life gets tough. You don’t expand home plate just because someone can’t throw a strike. So why, in life, do we let things slide, make excuses, or lower the bar for ourselves and others?

Think about it. How many times have you seen this happen? A kid’s struggling to get a good grade in school, so the teacher bumps up their score just to pass them. Or maybe someone’s not showing up for work on time, but instead of holding them accountable, the boss lets it slide. And then there’s the classic, “Well, if it makes you happy, you do you.” Sound familiar?

Let me ask you this: If you were a baseball coach and your pitcher kept walking batters, would you walk out to the mound and say, “Hey, no worries! I’ll just ask the ump to widen home plate for you”? Of course not! You’re probably chuckling just imagining it. Why? Because it sounds ridiculous. You don’t change the rules of the game just because someone’s struggling to meet them.

But here’s the thing—we’re doing this every day, in big and small ways, in our homes, marriages, schools, and communities. We’re widening the plate.

STOP widening it. Home plate is 17 inches for me, for you, for everyone. That’s the standard. And it’s not just in baseball. This applies to our values, our rules, and the expectations we set for ourselves and others.

We all have standards we live by, or at least *should* live by. Coach Scolinos’ message was clear: Hold yourself to the same 17-inch standard you expect from others.  Don’t widen the plate just because it’s easier. And don’t let others convince you to lower your standards because it feels more comfortable.

Now, here’s where things get tricky: the strike zone. While home plate is 17 inches and never changes, the strike zone is a whole different animal. It’s subjective, influenced by the umpire, the pitcher, the batter, and let’s be honest—sometimes even the fans. Life is a lot like that. The truth (home plate) is fixed, but how we interpret situations (the strike zone) can get a little fuzzy. The corners of the plate? You’ve got to protect them. And those high-and-inside pitches? Watch out! Those are the sneaky moments in life that try to intimidate you off your stance or flat-out knock you off course. But here’s the deal: just like in baseball, your job isn’t to change the plate; it’s to stand firm, guard the strike zone, and hit that sweet spot.

It starts with you and me. If we can hold ourselves accountable to that standard, we’ll inspire others to do the same. We’ll create a ripple effect that goes beyond the ball field and into the real world—our homes, our relationships, our workplaces, and even our schools and churches.

The root cause of many problems today is simple: we’ve been widening the plate. When we let things slide, we lose the discipline and integrity that builds strong families, communities, and, ultimately, a better world.

So, the next time you’re tempted to bend the rules, think about Coach Scolinos. Think about that 17-inch plate. Demand the best from yourself and inspire the best in others.

In the words of the good coach himself: “Coaches, keep your players, your children, and most of all, keep yourself at 17 inches.”

Let’s keep the plate where it belongs.

Your home plate coach,

Brock 

P.S. Just to be clear: I do love baseball. Fun fact: in high school I was part of the State Champion baseball team. ⚾ It was an absolute blast. 

P.S.S. Speaking of the playoffs…Check out our Night At The Ballpark Trio! With hand-crafted Peanut Turtles, Milk Chocolate Drizzled Caramel Corn, and our delicious Trail Mix, it's a home run for any occasion.