OS8

quote:

I love being misunderstood!!

You've made it clear to me that you would prefer he ( your Player ) goes Pro out of HS.
Nothing wrong with that at all, If that is how you feel?

It's that you slam other player's that choose to take a differant
path.
And point out that fact in your post's with number's and graph's about the Odd's.

So Be it, We all here no the odd's are not that good that any of are player's will make HS let alone College are the Pro's.
So why take just one look at thing's.
It's all a personal decision anyway.
A player's personal decision.

I know you have your player's best interest at heart.
Just think before you slam other player's decision's as not being the right one for them
JMO EH

OS8, I have no idea where you get your information that only 10% of the high school players are redrafted after playing 3-4 years of college baseball and only a few bettered their draft position. Here are some BA stats that seem to suggest you actually might be wrong.

"A total of 42 high schoolers who were top-two-round picks or talents from the 1998-2003 drafts attended four-year colleges, and all but one have exhausted their eligibility. Twenty-four of them signed for money at least comparable to what they could have gotten out of high school, and several of them soared past that mark. Another six received at least $200,000 in bonuses."

From the interview I read with your son, and what Shep has posted, your son could be a "valued talent." Knowing that, it would seem prudent to know whether your impression, as contrasted to BA's reporting, is closer to the truth.
When I referred to your comments as "mean spirited," I truly meant it. From everything I have read, your facts are not correct. Additionally, you are not going to find articles or studies on those picked out of high school who sign and are out of baseball 3-4 years later.
I certainly don't claim to know nearly as many things as I would hope about professional baseball. But I do know a few things that I share in hopes of helping from some of our son's experiences. One thing that causes me to cringe and my stomach to churn is reading about, and talking with our son about those who get released. You worry every single day it could be your son. Our son is aware of it every single day.
I read your posts talking so caustically of "weeding" out players. We have seen that happen. We have seen the tears that accompany the process. Your son is soon to be involved in the "weeding" out process. Maybe you will be less cavalier about it when it is quite personal. Those players being "weeded" out are young men with huge dreams, great heart and unbelieveable work ethic. They are just like my son...and yours.

OldSlugger-As a parent, I have been down this path, and mine chose to sign out of High School. I pray every day that it was the right decision. It is three years later, and he has had some success, and I still can not tell you it was the right decision. I also cannot tell you that if I am lucky enough to have the same options with my younger son, that I would not push for him to go to college.

Take it from somebody who has been there, you plan and God laughs.

quote:

Originally posted by deldad:
OldSlugger-As a parent, I have been down this path, and mine chose to sign out of High School. I pray every day that it was the right decision. It is three years later, and he has had some success, and I still can not tell you it was the right decision. I also cannot tell you that if I am lucky enough to have the same options with my younger son, that I would not push for him to go to college.

Take it from somebody who has been there, you plan and God laughs.

Nice post, Deldad, and very profound one from a father of a player that most likely will be a MLB player.

And infielddad, another great post.

I have learned a lot since my son's first experience with the draft. I was and still am a firm beleiver in the college experience over signing out of HS. That is not to say that it is the right decision for everyone, but as a pitcher's parent whose son dominatated in HS over many players, I find the statement offensive. It was not his intention to go to college to dominate over college players, nor do I think that is the intention of any player. In fact, the college experience has been a very challenging one, so I can imagine what going pro might have been like, with what I have learned from others here and professionals in the business.
Having discussions on the subject, here on the HSBBW, among us parents,I feel, is very helpful for those who will be facing the dilemma.

It's easy to get carried away and dream with home visits from pro scouts, pre season rankings and scouts at the game. However, it's january, draft is not until June. Between now and then, you are going to LEARN alot. Just like it is easy to get carried away from recruiting letters from every top baseball school in the country. Trust me.

The one thing that I have learned through all of this, is that one never knows what the future holds for any of our players. The journey belongs to them, and to them alone, we are just there for the ride. We have absolutely no control over our son's future ability beyond HS. And if we take time to really enjoy that ride, when the time comes to make decisions everything will fall into place and become clearer.

I think we are all guilty of looking at athletes as objects, to be released, traded or booed. Infield dad is right there is a very human side to the game. I went to spring training and talked with a few of the players, All were excited about starting the season anticipating where they would be sent,how they would do. Any thing and everything was possible. I found out a few weeks later that two of the players I talked to were released out of spring training... weeded out... I felt so bad,they never saw it coming .
I know its apart of the job,they are healthy and moving on to other things. but they were so excited, they were living their dream. I hope they find that same passion in their new endevors

quote:

Originally posted by deldad:
OldSlugger-As a parent, I have been down this path, and mine chose to sign out of High School. I pray every day that it was the right decision. It is three years later, and he has had some success, and I still can not tell you it was the right decision.

And infielddad, another great post.

That is not to say that it is the right decision for everyone, but as a pitcher's parent whose son dominatated in HS over many players, I find the statement offensive. [/QUOTE]

***so what that he dominated, so did my kid against kids 3-4 years older because he played up, so did every good player out there since they were babies, whats your point man???

he's not a pitcher, and it ain't my decision

if it works out, great, but it has nothing to do with YOUR experience............we are all on our own..............YOURS is different than OURS

NEW HSBBW RULE

PITCHER PARENTS ADVISE PITCHERS

POSITION PARENTS ADVISE NOBODY

In a nutshell, all these kids possess talent. Instead of blasting the parents(ME),why don't you just be more encouraging.

Every reality out there I make mention of, you people turn it against me, and the funny thing is, I DON'T MAKE THE RULES, but you sure as he** treat me that way.

Oldslugger-Believe me when I tell you that having all the answers is not my specialty. I was trying to emphasize the point that there are no black and white decisions on this subject. You will get your college people and your sign out of high school crowd and I was just making the point that I am not buying into either one. This decision is like a marriage and I sure as hell am not going to tell anyone who they should marry.

I am not blasting you, I was attempting to let you know that you should leave all your doors open and whatever you and your family decide, I am wishing you the best of luck.

OS8,
I'm sorry,
I promise I won't blast you anymore.
We all have are opinions,
And sometimes are opinions hit to close to home.
From what I gather from your posts, is you've been a player and have seen the inside part of the game.
You have a very tough love approuch to what you feel is the right way to do it, whatever IT is?
I respect that.
So for what its worth, don't stop posting.
But You must [We all must] get thicker skin to survive as a parent of a Baseball player?
JMHO
EH

quote:

Every reality out there I make mention of, you people turn it against me,

OS8, I am not trying to turn "reality" against you, I am raising questions about your view of "reality" at the collegiate and professional levels.


"***so what that he dominated, so did my kid against kids 3-4 years older because he played up, so did every good player out there since they were babies, whats your point man???"

My son never dominated kids 3-4 years older. In fact he wasn't the MVP of his high school team or league and his name was not listed in the 150 top high school seniors in our area. The way you describe "reality," in your view, my son was not a good player.
In my world of "reality," he is a good player. Success in high school is not a predictor of future success. Success after high school proves whether you are a good player. Like I said, I am not trying to turn "reality" against you. I think there is a view of "reality" that occurs after high school that you have not seen.

"

Infielddad, you’re not alone…

I have a son who had never, not once, since he started playing organized baseball been the best pitcher on his team.

No not in little league, youth leagues, high school, college or 12 years in pro ball was he considered the best pitcher (let alone player) on his team..

But other than at the pro level, he was the only one on all those other teams that actually made it to the top. All his teammates who dominated the lower levels did not make it! In fact, the only other of his youth teammates who did well in pro ball also did not dominate the younger levels!

His teammates that dominated the youth leagues… Some played in college, one played DI, both went no farther.

His teammate who was the dominate pitcher in high school was drafted and signed out of high school. He played three years, never got above low A and now drives a bread truck.

8 players were drafted from his college team, including an all American. None of those who were most dominate made it above low A.

My older son did dominate at every level. I’ve mentioned this before. He never made it out of A ball.

I do understand that this is not the general rule, but it is something to keep in mind. The number of people who have been unpleasantly surprised by lack of success in pro ball is mind boggling!

infielddad... Your son actually has a big advantage over many others. Things weren’t handed to him. He has earned his opportunity and will have many people pulling for him. He probably understands better than some others that things don’t end on signing day!

Everytime my son has gone through a period of struggle at the plate he has come out of it a much better hitter than he was before he started to struggle. Why? I really believe it is because this failure drives somes kids to work even harder. It causes them to make adjustments and learn that they constantly have to make those adjustments. Players that have never had to work their way out of a slump or a tough time on the hill have a much harder time learning to make those adjustments later down the road. This is just my opinion. I really feel like kids that have some talent but have to work really hard to be elite type players gain an advantage in the long run. You have to understand that hard work and persistence to prove yourself everyday if crucial. And the trials of failure will only make you a better player in the long run if you have the work ethic and desire to fight through it. JMHO

quote:

Posted by PGStaff: He probably understands better than some others that things don’t end on signing day!

Profound statement that! The work is all ahead, whether you are playing for pay or text books.