OB44, great post. My son has many friends who play college baseball who were not drafted, many cape players as well. It may seem like everyone was drafted but they were not.

The draft is based largely on teams needs, finding the best players (exposure) and a players INDICATION OF HIS INTENTIONS. Unfortunetly it is not always based on talent first.

ktcosmos,
If your son had an opportunity to sign with his drafting team before this year's draft, by not signing he most likely indicated to MLB that he was going to go to school, it was the message he sent, not the other way around. If they did not offer him anything, then he needs to work harder for the next time around. Your son will still have the opportunity to be drafted again, he most likely made the right choice to head out to his new school.
No more draft and follow, but if a team drafted a player and really interested and he does not sign they most likely will be watching this year.

SW,
If your son has no eligibilty left, there are many options. One of my son's BF did not get drafted last year (no eligibilty left) and is now playing in an independent league and doing well. The independent leagues are swarming with scouts looking for talent they missed. One can play independent ball, get signed with a nicer signing bonus than if they were drafted late. That is why the issue of eligibilty is so very important, and the importance of red shirting comes into the equation. So many dread the reshirt thing, but I know of some players who took that year and came out so much better in the draft as an older player. My son's roommate a good example, he redshirted due to TJS and elected to tell scouts last year he wasn't interested, after a successful year he was drafted much higher than he would have. He has no school or eligibility left, so money will most likely not be as high as he would like, but he will gladly settle for being taken quickly this year.
Some players feel because it is their draft year, they will be a consideration, this is not true. If one has not spoken to anyone to let their intentions be known, or had exposure, then one has to find a way to get that done. As gotwood said, it takes a huge amount of time and effort.
In the end, it's not about hearing your name or your son's name come draft day, but what one intends to do when his name is called.

Talk about interesting screen names - eddie did you get your first job working for Bill Veeck up in gotwood4sale's neck of the woods?

Nice post Woodrow, OB44, and everyone else in this thread.

I don't have any magic words to say.

I followed the draft this time and examined "stats" on many players who also played my son's position. This guy had more hits and that guy had a higher fielding percentage and another guy had more homeruns and that guy had more stolen bases and that guy had more rbi's and that guy over there was five inches taller and 30 pounds heavier....

Then I read some of the scouting reports and watched some of the videos. Sometimes, a kid was drafted because he had one truly outstanding tool such as speed. In those cases, the scouting reports said that the team that drafted them would have to work to develop the other tools. Can drive yourself nuts trying to figure it all out.

If it were just stats, we wouldn't need scouts at all. The computers could figure it out perfectly and we would all have certainty. Clearly there is more to it than that.

Many of our new members who join have younger pre-highschool players who are all stars for their age group. Some of those never even succeed at the high school level. Some of our most successful highschool players never succeed at the college level. Some of our most successful college players never get the chance unfortunately to see if they can succeed at the final levels of the game. That is the heartbreaking part.

At least give my boy a chance. As a parent, those thoughts have indeed entered my mind.

Great posts

Stickwatcher...There is more than one way to skin a cat! You have a pm.
......(not that I'd ever want to see a cat skinned)

"Can drive yourself nuts trying to figure it all out."

CDad, That's the ONLY thing you can be sure of concerning the draft.

BTW, Tyler looked good in the one game I was able to see him. Congratulations on a great
year for him and Coastal.

Also, Guess they finally saw the light at UT. Just sorry we didn't know about it beforehand.

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...

quote:

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

Forgive me for quoting that...twice now.

My son signed an NLI, made a big time collegiate name for himself, and then got drafted, in the 14th round on Friday by the Oakland A's.

But, I've been a member here for a long time now.

I've been through "one of those times before."

In 2003, I was disappointed/surprised that my son had not received an Area Code invitation. He ended up getting to go. I think that is the first time that you realize that there are a lot of boys that are bigger, better, stronger, faster, and have better luck than your son.

As the pitcher cuts were made, I saw was shocked as I saw boys leaving that I knew were tremendously talented pitchers dejected and with tears in their eyes leaving the ballpark.

Corey Kluber was one of the ballplayers that got cut and Thursday he was the 134th pick in the MLB draft.

I could name several others and my son, too.

Like all of us, we expected the phone to ring off the wall on July 1st. It didn't. It didn't ever ring, until about two weeks before November the 1st. It only rang then because a school had decided to sign a catcher after going through there fall practices.

Now, I've been throught waiting on the phone to ring from July 1 to November twice............

I'm gonna skip three years of college baseball and three years of high school baseball here. I can tell you though there are ups and downs during those years, our own, and, now, many, many other baseball friends.

I'm gonna fast forward to last Thursday.

There was a slight possibility and indications that Matt's name might get called that day. But, it didn't.

When it started on Friday, his mother went to wake him, and he said, "I don't want to listen......."

But, now we are to the rounds where there was definite interest. And, as the rounds came up and the time came for the team's that had indicated interst his name didn't pop up.

As we passed the rounds where it might make sense to forego a senior year of college baseball in the Big 12 conference, I gave up, too, although I enjoyed seeing all the young me that I know get picked.

Maybe he won't get picked at all. What happened? Did we say something wrong?

quote:

Can drive yourself nuts trying to figure it all out.

As I was leaving, Matt came into the room, and said, there was a message on his phone from Oakland, I am going to call them back.

"We're going to select you in the 14th round"
"How much is the money?"
"Not very much"
"I know, I can tell you that I am going back to school"
"OK, thanks"

There in the time frame of thirty seconds he rejects what he has been trying to accomplish since he was 12 years old.

That quick and the decision is made..........

On the way to my office, my phone rang, "Dad, they picked me anyway..."

Now he's been picked.

He still has a nice opportunity to finish more school and play another year, and, as a senior, a relatively comfortable position with far more college experience than most.

And, like all of us he still faces the end of the ride...........................

The longer you ride. The bumpier it gets.

"You can't steal second base with one foot on first"

Give it all you've got and when it's over you know you did. You will have a ton of memories, and, a lot of

..friends.

Another great post on this thread. Thanks for sharing that FO.

FO - classic post and honest.

We never received a phone call on July 1st. I didn't even realize phone calls were made then - a blessing I might add. I never heard of early signs until we were lucky enough to get an offer in early November.

If it were about the money, we would be playing at another school. When my son's high school coach found out about the offer he was upset because he felt we could hold out for more. We looked at the location, the schedule, the school, and the results and determined it was perfect for us. We couldn't believe the opportunity and I am still thankful to this day.

This game is all about humility. You don't have to look hard to find it - no matter how talented you are.

Moc1 thanks for the kind wishes - sent you a pm.

quote:

This game is all about humility. You don't have to look hard to find it - no matter how talented you are

So true CD

.

Great thread...a gem...

TPM...CD...FO...JB..TEXAN..WOODMAN..KTCOSMOS...PLAYBASEBALL...EDDIEG...

...finding great value in the posts and the stories...

Thanks to all..

44


And this from CD...

quote:

This game is all about humility. You don't have to look hard to find it - no matter how talented you are.

...is front of the frige material


.

Don't ever try to figure out the draft.

One of our most celebrated HS players from this area was not drafted out of HS, signability, he suffered an injury and redshirted, then slighty hurt again this year, he was drafted in the 28th round.

Another player we are all familiar with, Andrew Brackman, had not played in a month, elbow and arm issues, but taken 30th by the Yankees.

One former player from CU, not happy with lack of playing time because he was young and others more experienced, left and returned to a JUCO and drafted this year in the 3rd round.

If you try to determine the draft by college stats, it is deceiving. If one went soley by stats, I can assure you mine would not have been drafted so high.

Tools, athleticism, projection, physical attributes, signability and sometimes overall health all play a large part into drafting a player. So does a teams need for that position at the ML level and within their farm systems. So does the ability for a player to be moved from one position to another. Having success in HS does not always lead to a big college scholarship, having success in college does not lead to being drafted.

For future reference, never have your player tell a team no because of $$$. Maybe 5 before you will not sign, making more available to you in the end if the team really wants you. If they didn't want you they wouldn't have drafted you.

I didn't like the live coverage because it was so drawn out (then a very large compensation round to follow that was as big as the first round) and it put what should have been the first day rounds into the second day making some feel disappointed. If I remember corectly the first day was usually up to 15, maybe 20?

JMO

Former Observer,

My son and I thank you for giving us a personalized close view of how things happen.
To the average HS baseball player,
the draft is a lifetime dream with no real tangibles to hold on to. Most read and hear
the headlines from afar, but rarely to they get to watch/read how events unfold, first hand.

Your brutal honesty is a true treasure and the life lessons within your story are enormous.
We are most gracious.

quote:

Originally posted by CatSureMom:
...(not that I'd ever want to see a cat skinned)

That's completely understandable CatSureMom considering your screen name.

How about a cat skinner? Would you want to one of those?

Yes you say?

You're in luck CatrSureMom!


The guy staring at you is the cat skinner.



A dozer operator is often called a 'cat skinner' which bears some explanation. First off understand that the 'Cat' is really a reference to Caterpillar Tractor, largest American manufacturer of dozers and something close to the inventor of them. It happens to be a trade name of theirs but is often used generically to describe all dozers, though the latter use will get you 3 lashes by Cat's trademark police.
The 'skinner' part of the description is really a 19th century term. The bull teams that were used extensively prior to the 20th century as beasts of burden where driven by 'bull whackers' or 'bull skinners'. Both terms refer to the fact that the team driver used a leather whip to control the team. It is only natural that if the guy driving a bull team is a bull skinner, then the guy driving the cat is a cat skinner. Oh, well! From: www.vanattabros.com

Now there are fewer seats, but the music still plays..............

06/10/2007 5:18 PM ET
Notes: Suzuki arrives, ready to learn

SAN FRANCISCO -- Catcher Kurt Suzuki was called up from Triple-A Sacramento to join the A's on Sunday and became the sixth member of the club's 2004 Draft class to reach the Majors.

Oakland traded backup catcher Adam Melhuse to the Texas Rangers on Saturday, and veteran starter Jason Kendall is in the last year of his contract, so Suzuki, 23, appears to be the catcher of the future.

FO - It seems like yesterday that I was watching Kurt Suzuki catching for Cal State Fullerton in the 2004 College World Series (on TV).....time flies....

Thanks for sharing your experience this week....I am sure it is a roller coaster ride. I hope some chairs opened up for MS.

The cousin of one of my son's teamates was called and told he be taken in the 4th round if he'd sign for about $170K. He turned it down and wasn't drafted until somewhere around the 20th round. Fortunately, he's got a good D1 scholarship. I'm guessing he won't be signing unless someone is going to go well over slot money.

quote:

Originally posted by CADad:
The cousin of one of my son's teamates was called and told he be taken in the 4th round if he'd sign for about $170K. He turned it down and wasn't drafted until somewhere around the 20th round. Fortunately, he's got a good D1 scholarship. I'm guessing he won't be signing unless someone is going to go well over slot money.

Good for him. 4th round slot money is a lot more than that.

It was a rough two days

By all the interest, questions about signability, round etc... we thought our youngest son would get drafted too.

My only regret is that we spent two days listening to it. Looking forward to college ball!

I know its disappointing to the players not selected in this years draft.
But remenber for every player selected there will be one released.
Baseball ends for every player, some sooner some later.

quote:

Originally posted by wvmtner:

quote:

Originally posted by CADad:
The cousin of one of my son's teamates was called and told he be taken in the 4th round if he'd sign for about $170K. He turned it down and wasn't drafted until somewhere around the 20th round. Fortunately, he's got a good D1 scholarship. I'm guessing he won't be signing unless someone is going to go well over slot money.

Good for him. 4th round slot money is a lot more than that.

Not sure if there is a solid answer on this but since the supplemental round was bigger this year and for example the 4th round this year finished with selection 154 last year was 136...I assume that slot $ is based on selection not round??? Just wondering...

Last year 154 selction signed for 154K. Meanwhile 1st pick in 4th last yr was 850K and last pick was 100K. Not sure what it all means except because each player drafted has a different situation

stickwatcher,
I have waited a few days to post because your post was, to me, very powerful, with so few words.
I will say, that whenever MLB ultimately says "No," it hurts... a lot.
A very close friend/teammate of my son heard it in April, when he was released. It was crushing news because it was so sudden and it seems to dash every hope and belief you have about yourself as a baseball player.
With that said, that player has signed with an Independent league team and, the last time I looked, had a 19 game on base streak. He is looking to have the type of season that will create interest in one of those other teams.
If your son does try and pursue free agency or the independent leagues, he needs to remember that he is playing for 30 teams, not one.
I wish your son the very best!