San
Diego Padre slugger Tony Gwynn swings the bat with patience and
effortless energy. Is this just because he’s got that Taurus calm,
or is it more?
A
Tiger at the Plate
Tony
Gwynn (May 9, 1960, Los Angeles, California) steps to the plate.
He picks his pitch and swings. Ho-hum, another base hit. His ability
to hit the ball makes him the most solid, reliable hitter in baseball
today. Could there be a better description of Taurus, the sign
that’s known for its steadiness and dependability? Tony Gwynn
has his Sun in Taurus. He holds the record for most consecutive
years hitting over the magical .300 mark (sixteen seasons). He
led the National League in batting average eight times while striking
out the least in baseball nearly every year. His constancy makes
him an awesome threat when he’s at bat. How does he do it?
It’s
easy. He practices. Along with the strongly determined Taurus
nature, he possesses a solid work ethic, due in part to his Saturn
in Capricorn (hard work, discipline), which believes that no slack
gets cut for slackers. He’s on the field early taking his smooth,
yet ferocious, rips. A tiger at the plate, he uses every technique
he knows to place the ball exactly where he wants, mostly where
the outfielders aren’t. It’s drill and it’s work, all things associated
with Saturn and Capricorn. And as Tony shows us, it pays off.
But some players practice a lot and they can’t hit like Tony Gwynn.
A
Jedi Batter
With
his extremely small bat in his hand, Tony bears a slight resemblance
to Luke Skywalker during his blindfolded efforts to sense the
“force” with his light saber. A hitter like Tony must sense the
direction the ball will turn. Such psychic sensitivity comes from
Mars (the planet that shows how he does things and directs his
energy) in Pisces (intuition). Like a fish, he senses the vibrations
of the horsehide in the air and connects.
Tony
is said to have once credited his looseness and “sense” at the
plate to playing a few video games before stepping out of the
clubhouse (to the horror of mothers in America trying to wean
their children from the addictions of video games). Nonetheless,
his focus comes from his awareness and an exceptional ability
to “see the ball,” as hitters say.
Taurus
and Venus Contradicted?
The
chart of Tony Gwynn carries three planets (Sun, Mercury and Venus)
in Taurus, with a Libra Moon. Both Taurus and Libra are ruled
by, or associated with, the planet Venus. One assessment of such
configurations suggests a strongly materialistic nature. Another
shows a person who knows the true value of things. The Libra Moon
has the reputation for diplomacy that borders on co-dependency.
How is this like Tony?
Gwynn
once observed that staying in San Diego, his home and the city
he loves, far outweighed being traded on a high-level salary deal
for him. Not only that, but there’s the pressure of performance
equaling an astronomical salary. No thank you, San Diego’s fine.
He wants to play ball and get hits.
Gentle,
soft-spoken and impeccable in appearance, Tony Gwynn offers a
fantastic role model for the youth seeking to have hitting greatness.
He doesn’t hot dog. He doesn’t need such displays. His staggering
numbers speak for themselves. His bat and glove articulate everything.
The
Taurus Lineup
With
the major configuration of Taurus planets that’s coming up (in
May, 2000, the Sun and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter
and Saturn will be lined up in the sign of Taurus), you might
suspect Tony would be affected, since he has so many Taurus planets
himself. He will be. His contract with the Padres expires this
year. Prior to the season, he attempted to get contract talks
over and done with. The Padres did not comply. So he went to spring
training, hard feelings seemingly in the air.
His
Libra Moon shone (Libra Moons are “team players”) as he suggested
that he play ball now and talk later. Priorities (Venus-ruled
items of importance) prevail. It’s a new season. There’s work
to be done. And all of that has nothing to do with whether he
feels fairly treated. Recently, the Padres gave him a generous
one-year contract.
Living
well is the best revenge, the Chinese proverb states. Watch Tony
rack up the hits. If the Padres are not paying attention, they
may not be able to keep their prized possession next season.
Take
a moment to watch Tony bat this season. Tony renders us a pure
Taurus metaphor of life. He takes his time (like the Taurus bull,
never to be rushed). He’s patient. He waits for what he wants.
He is a tiger at the plate. And like a cat, he’s not interested
in wasting effort. He senses his environment. Then, at exactly
the right moment, he pounces with his bat. The white baseball
skidding across the outfield grass in between fielders offers
testimony. And the hits just keep on coming.