I can get that info.

I was just pointing out your stats obssesion. I didn't thyink you did that.

Adam Loewen struggled for 3 years. If he can struggle so can you son.

You keep thinking you are the only one who knows what they are doing. My son is struggling like never before. When i try to make sense of it you insult me and litteraly call me a liar. Get some mirrows in your house.

Big bonus players like Adam get more chances tha small bonus people.

I have no dog in this match,
But I feel that the pressure is not only felt by the players, but by the parents also.
It's not easy being a parent of any pro or college athlete.
And as close as we all are here on the HSBBW, Things can become somewhat Irrational feelings toward are players and there up's and down's as they go thru the process of being the best they can be.
You should all be very proud, and realize that your all going thru the same thing.
PRESSURE.
The pressure is felt by your players no matter when are were they were taken in the Draft.

I'm concerned about the feelings that parents have towards the process.
Is it worth it to you. Do you feel blessed or is the pressure and process just to agonizing.
Lets think back to earlier times in are players life.
Did you ever think you would be were your at today??
Everybody take a deep breath, again, again.
Now let it all go. No Pressure.
EH

One of the biggest things my boy has had to adjust to is the fact that the result is not always the most important thing. He has pitched numerous games this season where the pitching coach limited the number of changeups he could throw for the game to two. Forcing him to use his other pitches. Last year they would ask him to throw nothing but fastballs for the first three innings. No curveballs til the second time through the order. All of these requests are hard to adjust to when you know if you had all your pitches you could perform better. Add this to the players desire to win and it makes for pressure situations.

I feel no pressure. I don't have to throw a pitch. He is a grown man. Moral support and a fan is all I can add at this time. Once in a blue moon I play pitching coach but that is rare anymore.

I think mine falls under that prospect category, but believe me that doesn't mean squat. If somebody is out there performing better, in his organization, they get advanced not the prospect. With the large number of arms in his organization, you can get lost in a hurry.

The comment that mine made recently, was that the hitters in AA are much more advanced than A ball and the difference between double AA hitters and major league hitters is small. The pyramid really begins to narrow.

Bud Black told him in spring training two years ago that he will have 30 starts a year. 10 of them you will be lights out. 10 of them you will be ok. 10 of them you will suck. It is what you do with the 20 starts that you don't have your best stuff that matters. Struggles will happen to them all, it is how they learn. Just keep cheering.

Blessed.

quote:

You should all be very proud, and realize that your all going thru the same thing.
PRESSURE.

EH, I fully agree that is what you would expect. But, I agree with Deldad. The pressure is on the player. I feel I am a much better fan at this point than ever before.
For the first time, I realize how hard it is to play the game. Even more, I appreciate how hard it is to play the game at the level I get to see it played in minor league baseball.
Added to this is the fact that the quality of at bats and how you play is measured more objectively and by quality professionals, and, often times, the quality is measured by the quality of the at bat, not the result of the at bat.
To be candid, after a period of time, you realize it is a business but, much more often than not, the guys in charge know what they are doing in evaluating talent. If your son sticks around 3-4 years, he has talent and then it is a question of how much.
One fascinating aspect this year is to watch a player who didn't get an assignment from Spring training in 2005. He is now, perhaps, having the best season of every player in the organization in AA ball.
It does show how things change.
Our son's organization is quite different than Deldad's in terms of promotions. This year, there have been very, very few at any level, despite some wonderful performances. To me, that does not put pressure on the players, it puts it on the organization because most of these guys are now Rule V players.
While I readily admit I hope our son gets another chance, I know he has given more than 100%. He has provided us some truly wonderful days and nights sitting in wonderful parks, with great people, in parts of this country I would never have visited, but am grateful I did.
More than anything, this is a time to enjoy what your son is doing. More than anything, this is a time where you really feel for kids. Some are told they are not good enough and you watch how much they hurt. Some are traded and you watch your son's friends drive into the night. Some get promoted and are playing with the Jays and you cheer for them on ESPN. Some on the 2007 Blue Jays were kids you took to dinner in 2004 in Lansing, MI. You realize what terrific young men these players really are. Whether they get to the MLB is a measure of their baseball talent. It isn't a measure of their qualities as people.
There isn't any pressure because you are cheering for them all and realize that the process of Milb is usually right in telling which ones have that ability. But they all lived the dream, and not many get to do that.

Awesome post, infielddad.......

Great post Infielddad!!!

Thanks for posting deldad and infielddad. Great posts.

From what I've observed firsthand (excuse me FormerObserver ) infielddad has his finger on the pulse of what our kids are going through.

3rd rounder with 20+ ERA still getting chances now in his 3rd year. Don't think that would happen for a low round guy.

TPM, sorry you feel offended, but DK has earned his right to be one of the top picks and as such will be given much more latitude than most. You know I wish him and all of our sons the best.

For those who are following this thread, yes, it's not always a bed of roses, but even with the injury I know my son feels blessed and is happy to be playing a game for a living.

quote:

Bud Black told him in spring training two years ago that he will have 30 starts a year. 10 of them you will be lights out. 10 of them you will be ok. 10 of them you will suck. It is what you do with the 20 starts that you don't have your best stuff that matters. Struggles will happen to them all, it is how they learn. Just keep cheering.

That is great advice. I always told my son he would be doing well if 10% of his games were lights out and the rest are down hill from there. Young ball players need that kind of advice to cope with the bad outtings.

I just wanted to thank all of you parents of pro players for posting in this thread, and I truly hope that no one gets a bad taste in their mouth because of a few disagreements or misunderstandings.

As the parent of a college player who is not likely to ever play pro ball, it is so interesting to me to follow your stories of your son's experiences, and your own enjoyment and/or stresses over the ups and downs of your son's ride. I don't know of any other place where I as a parent could "ride along" with you and see what this journey is really like. I wish all of your sons the very best, and hope that they treasure this experience whether it lasts for one season or for twenty.

Julie

I really enjoy hearing from tpm and from the other parents about their new experences. Its a very exciting time!
This is my sons 4th season I know about the thin ice...they will find out about it too ..But right now they are upbeat ,excited and I enjoying sharing this next stage in their sons lives. I think others will learn from it too.
Since my son started playing "complex" ball out of HS I wondered how the college players compared school ball with proball. I think I understand what TPM is saying college is more pressure on winning now.
In the minors there is a plan for each player's development and as long as he achieves the goals the club has set for him, he will continue to play.
Anyway, Keep the up dates coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!

External pressure comes in all shapes and sizes and amounts. It can be fair - or unfair.

It can be more at a big name school - and maybe less at a small name school. It can be more - or less - for a pro player depending on what round they were chosen in.

But there isnt much you can do about external pressure. You are not the one applying that pressure.


Internal pressure - IMO - is a totally different story.

Whether it be the little league championship or the World Series - only the player knows how much "real pressure" exists.

Internal pressure - and the way a player deals with it - drives champions.

Its not the only skill they need to succeed - but a players ability to deal with his/her "internal pressure" is a big factor in their success. IMO.

A burning desire to succeed - all the time - is constant internal pressure. How you deal with the realities of that desire has alot to do with your future successes.

IMO

quote:

Originally posted by itsinthegame:
External pressure comes in all shapes and sizes and amounts. It can be fair - or unfair.

It can be more at a big name school - and maybe less at a small name school. It can be more - or less - for a pro player depending on what round they were chosen in.

But there isnt much you can do about external pressure. You are not the one applying that pressure.


Internal pressure - IMO - is a totally different story.

Whether it be the little league championship or the World Series - only the player knows how much "real pressure" exists.

Internal pressure - and the way a player deals with it - drives champions.

Its not the only skill they need to succeed - but a players ability to deal with his/her "internal pressure" is a big factor in their success. IMO.

A burning desire to succeed - all the time - is constant internal pressure. How you deal with the realities of that desire has alot to do with your future successes.

IMO

Nice take its.
The pressure from within is what drives the great ones. You have to be able to handle both types to succeed.

My son was drafted 22nd round 2006 as a senior in college. He's been treated very well and gets a lot of innings (over 70 so far this year) coming out of the bull pen. We understand that he could be let go at any time but he's having a great time playing baseball. He sat with some old guy named Nolan for lunch at his first spring training, saw a lot of some big guy named Roger who has a boy on my sons team. Gets to go to a ball game almost every day and even gets paid a few bucks for it!
He graduated from college with a degree in business management and something in finance but for now he's playing baseball and loving every minute! He stays with a host family about a mile from the park and even has a job when he's in town. He also helped out at a few baseball camps during the season and mows grass for the host family. The host family treats him like royalty and kids are always wanting autograghs.
His little brother was standing by some boys after a game and he walked by and says "hey catch" and tossed him his mitt, the other boys looked in disbelief and then one said "awe dude can I have your hat"? He said nah, I just give away gloves.(So mean)
We talk almost every day and he seems glad to hear from his old dad, and dad loves hearing from him!

what a great life, even with the unknowns involved. to most of us they have it made. i'm happy for all of your kids who are there. 1st round 50th round they are the best of the best.

Orlando Jr caught Prepster Jr tonight, and Prepster was there to see it. Great night for the websters. The Ems pitchers are on a strict pitch count, so Rob only threw one inning.....culminating in, according to his catcher, a beautiful double strikeout --- blue didn't like the pretty third strike, so Rob had to throw an even better looking one!

Small baseball world; not only are the two websters' sons playing together, but my son's team also includes two of the opposition from his last college season, a former GSU teammate, and a summer league teammate -- all in the opposite corner of the country.

Quote;
Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical.

I understand completely the excitement. Remember it really is a marathon rather than a sprint for nearly everyone.

No single game (maybe the last one) is all that big a deal emotionally in professional baseball, because there's nearly always another game tomorrow. And then the next day and the next day, unless you're a starting pitcher.

If a player looked at everything like a big college weekend series... He'd go nuts at some point! I always looked at professional baseball as another form of education. If you don't learn anything... You flunk!

It's great that we have all these poster's sons now in pro ball. In the end, a few will make it to the top and most won't. Unfortunately, that is the way it works. We might be totally surprised by who makes it and who don't.

Yes, they will give high draft picks more rope, but all of those who are now in the system, have a chance. For the most part, everyone is equal when they take the field. There will be ups and downs for all. But they are all doing what they want to do. No one will ever take away the fact that these kids played professional baseball.

Congrats and best of luck to these kids and to you moms and dads during these exciting times that will probably drive you crazy once in awhile.