Pregame Pre-Suasion

A few years ago I read a book called Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini. 

A book reviewer said that it: “Examines the art of effective persuasion to argue that its secret lies in a key moment before messages are delivered, sharing strategies for how to psychologically prepare one's listeners to render them most receptive.”

This book is really about “priming,” which is the idea that decisions are substantially influenced by seemingly trivial items.  Here is an example:

“For instance, the Disabled American Veterans organization reports that its simple mail appeal for donations produces a response rate of about 18 percent. But when the mailing also includes an unsolicited gift (gummed, individualized address labels), the success rate nearly doubles to 35 percent.”

Heading into last Tuesday, the Cougars had a 100% success rate and a 2-0 record for games for which we had a pregame celebration. 

The Cougars recognized this pattern and arrived early to Tuesday’s pregame to properly prime ourselves before the contest.

So how’d we do…did it work?  Read on…

1^st Inning

Titos scored one in the top of the first to take an early lead.

In the bottom of the frame, Boom led us off with a crushed liner right up the middle for a single.  Kev had an infield bouncer and Boom moved swiftly moving to third.  Charley Rads laced a single up the middle scoring Boom to tie it all up.

Cougars 1   Tito’s 1

2^nd Inning

Stellar defense held our opponent to one hit and three outs.

Stellar defense by our opponent held us to a rocket single by Bobi and three outs.

Cougars 1   Tito’s 1

3^rd Inning

The Cougars came out strong and got two quick outs on Tito’s.  Then Tito’s got stronger and scored three runs.

We started the inning down three with some work to do.  Boom led off with a walk and then Kev beat out an infield single.  With two men on and down by three, Charley Rads arrived at the dish.  He took a strike and then took a ball.  Then he took a deep breath and hit the next pitch right on the nose.  All three quick Cougars sped home as we all celebrated Chuck’s second homer of the year, which tied it up.  Tiny Rads was carrying the Cougars on his big back with all four of the Cougar ribbies.

Cougars 4   Tito’s 4

4^th Inning

The first batter for Tito’s pounded a hard-to-handle ball to Charley Rads at third.  Chuck grabbed the ball and threw a blazing hard to handle ball to Li’l Rads at first base.  Charley hit it on the nose again as the ball bounced off Li’l Rads face.  Our first base superstar saw stars but quickly recovered for the next play.  With the runner on first, the next batter hit a grounder to Charley who flipped it to JD at second.  JD clasped the ball tightly, tagged the base, turned swiftly, and cannoned it to Li’l Rads to finish off the double play.  The last batter of the inning hit another grounder to Charley Rads who easily threw it to his uncle at first base for the final out of the inning.   No harm done in the inning.  Well, except to Marc’s nose.

Three more for the Cougars in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Martini pummeled the first pitch to right center for a double.  Bobi mirrored his last at bat and lined a single to left scoring Martini.  Then Li’l mirrored Bobi for another hit to put runners at first and second.  Pastor Ted hit a beauty of a single to center and a great throw got Li’l at second while Bobi went to third.  Boom with another hit, flattened the ball again to score Bobi.  Pastor Ted took third and Boom took second on the play.  Kev finished it off with an infield single scoring Pastor Ted.

Cougars 7   Tito’s 4

5^th Inning

Tito’s fought back and claimed a run.

After two quick outs, Fort got an infield single.  Martini followed with the same but the infielder could not handle the ball or the throw.  Fort’s fancy footwork got him all the way around the bases to score while Martini made it to second.  JD was next and took a walk.  Bobi came up and punched it through third and short for his third hit of the game and his second RBI. 

Cougars 9  Tito’s 4

6^th Inning

Titos had one hit and no runs.

Cougars had hits by Pastor Ted, and Boom but we could not plate them.

Cougars 9  Tito’s 4

7^th Inning

One hit and no runs for our foe in the top of seven.

No need for the Cougars to bat in the bottom of the inning because we had enough runs to win. 

Cougars 9  Tito’s 4

The Cougars have hit upon what seems to be a winning formula as we improved our record to 3-0 for games preceded by a pregame party.

Postscript – we did still have a winning postgame because you could never persuade the Cougars out of that!

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Game Video

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