What happened: Denver sports columnist Troy Renck endorsed NLCS MVP Jake Bauers' perspective on detaching from on-field outcomes. Renck noted that maintaining confidence without immediate results remains one of the hardest challenges for athletes.

Why it matters: Focusing on daily preparation rather than box-score outcomes gives players a healthier framework during slumps. Bauers credited that mental adjustment with unlocking a new level of freedom during his postseason run.

What to watch: Bauers carries hisNLCS MVP momentum into the World Series as a centerpiece of the postseason lineup.