wow.

Mrs. Gempp,

This post kind of reminds me of Bod Howdeshell's post about 3 years ago under similar circumstances. Bob is the founder of the hsbaseballweb (for those who didn't know).

While I have never seen your son play, it sure looks like he is quite a player!

Started 55 games for UIC, batted .388 with 7 dingers and 54 RBIs. You should be very proud.

I don't know a whole lot about scouting...sometimes it befuddles all of us. This seems like one of those cases to me.

Don't know what your son plans to do next...but I am quite certain that he will never forget his college career nor the great season the Flames had.

Give him a hug and tell him he has a fan on the left-coast!

.
To be brutally honest...and I have taken heavy criticism for this view in the past...there are times on the HSBBW here when it seems that the board is comprised exclusively of parents with sons who get NLI's, make big time collegiate names for themselves, and then get drafted...

...This is one of those times...

Hang tough, the reality is that there is a lots of company out there...and those who are much smarter than me and way ahead of mine in the process will tell you that there are options if a player has a real passion to continue. Two of which I heard thrown around in the stands a few weeks before draft week by parents of star players who were not likley to get drafted.

Your son obviously has talent...If the fire remains....I would research both independent leagues and playing overseas, as well as any other "free agent" options for players not taken...

44
.

O44, you make a good point. How many kids wanted to play college ball, but didn't make it? How many never had a hope of being drafted?

SW's son already has accomplished a great deal, more than so many.

Very good post 44. No criticism coming from this camp.

You have offered stickwatcher some excellent suggestions.

Great post O44

O44 -

Most of the guys I know who were drafted a few years ago are back playing senior elite ball. There are some amazing talented players who eventually got cut. Most were smart enough to get a college degree. Some times they are victims of the numbers. I watch a lot of senior ball and it is full of these guys.
Very few make it.

quote:

...there are times on the HSBBW here when it seems that the board is comprised exclusively of parents with sons who get NLI's, make big time collegiate names for themselves, and then get drafted...

...This is one of those times...

quote:

the reality is that there is a lots of company out there...

Yep, it's a roller coaster.

.
Thanks.

For the record I want to say that by no means do I undervalue or underappreciate the wonderful things that are happening to the talented and lucky few...

But when you not one, it can feel pretty lonely...when the reality is that there are many others in the same way...and the good news is that there are options and opportunities for those with a passion to continue...

44
.

It's actually Mrs. Gempp, and I truly apprecite the words of compassion...
Never underestimate the days you have.

Name change! Name change!

Observer 44 will now be known as Wise Observer 44.

Another wise and great post!

And stickwatcher...thank you for getting this thread started.

Stickwatcher...you have a PM

I think the NCAA television spot where a student-athlete says, "There are 360,000 NCAA student-athletes and just about all of us will be going pro in something other than sports” pretty well sums it up.

I wish your son success in all his life pursuits.

I think I am missing the opening post in this thread - anyway I don't see the one that started it.

I might be able to offer a little commiseration, if it's not off base:

Our son was drafted 25th round last year out of high school. We felt pretty good about it, all things considered. Thought his stock had risen this year from the indications he got. He went to a JUCO this year and then did not sign with the team that had him as DFE from 2006, but had many indications that he would be redrafted and go maybe 10th - 15th and he was totally ready to sign this year, really wanted to, had a good year out there, is a great kid with good work ethic, had a NLI to a D1 if he wanted to go that route, etc.

Yesterday when the 30th round was reached and his name hadn't been called, we turned off the computer and went on to other things and thought, oh well, that's weird. Then he learned he got taken in the 48th. Ouch. Slid 23 rounds.

Though we can speculate forever, we'll probably never know why. He is grateful that he was drafted at all, but his thoughts now are all mixed up wondering what message was the MLB sending him with this slide.

After a day of feeling weird, he went out to hit and work out this a.m. make plans to get on with summer league.

Rollercoaster is the best metaphor I have ever heard for this process. A big hug to stickwatcher's family. Best of luck with whatever lies around that next corner.

Thank you for sharing that with us ktcosmos.

stickwatcher's original post was simply...

wow.


I thought it was very well stated actually! The brevity of the message was powerful...something I have yet to learn with my posts!

Best of luck to all the players who were drafted, but maybe in the end the luckiest ones are those not drafted. They can get to the business of real life sooner and still find outlets for their love of the game.

Everyone is offering soul-searched thoughts regarding NOT being drafted. I think 44 has it right when he refers to "luck"...I think luck is even more important than "talent". We all know extremely talented kids who don't ever get to sign a D1 National Letter of Intent or get to play baseball in college (even if they are "on the team") or get to hear their name on the computer.

And I think that jemaz has it right, too, about the "luckiest ones are those not drafted. They can get to the business of real life sooner..."

My heart goes out to all whose dreams were shattered this year. Either by way of their college choices or the draft.

No one ever wants to see their children's dreams end. Sometimes I really don't know who suffers more, the child or the parent. As parents, we can only continue to love and support our kids in what ever career path or life decisions they choose. One only has to read the "The Odds on Playing College/Pro Baseball" in the HSBBWeb Articles for a reality check.

"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."

Alexander Graham Bell

That was no pint-sized comment! You're absolutely right eddiegaedel..."No one wants to see their children's dreams end" and parents don't want to see their own dreams end either. Many, many young and enthusiastic ballplayers from the very start dream of being a major leaguer and the parents often times dream right along with the player...I know...I've had those dreams.

But, alas, the dream ebbs away for most over time...it's inevitable and realistic for this to happen. For some, this comes early, for others it comes later, but it does happen for almost every player... and his parents.

The fact that the major leagues do indeed exist is the reason why these dreams exist of course. The amateur draft last week is an exciting part of the process and will always undoubtedly stoke the fires which warm the dreams of older and younger players alike...their parents too.

It shouldn't be a sad realization...it should just be a realization. I can understand the frustration being at it's highest as the dream is at it's longest.

And it is true that "you won't know unless you try." And the 'trying' takes an immense amount of time and hard work. It takes a toll on the player and his family, but it is necessary...and sometimes...on occasion...it pays off.

For those players who worked hard, invested the time, had perseverance to stick with it, and were blessed by God to have what the scouts are looking for...you have my utmost respect...and that includes your parents as well.

Those dreams should always be allowed to flourish...isn't this a big part of the attraction and allure of baseball? The inevitable end of the dream is also a part of baseball...yet baseball remains. The dreams are forever and baseball is forever as well.

And to you eddiegaedel...welcome to the HSBBW. I'm looking forward to more of your input!