Would it too unbearably repetitive of me to mention once again that I think this is the best thread on HSBBW?
FO - I can't tell you how much I appreciate your descriptions of your experiences following your son. You are a gifted writer, who has the ability to even make your car trip to the game entertaining!
For all of us whose sons are several levels below even dreaming about playing professioanally, to get firsthand accounts from parents of current pros is incredibly valuable.
TPM - thank you also. I really treasure your insight and wisdom. Its - same.
Sorry to gush, but I do hope you ALL realize what a service you are providing!
Great Post, FO --- thanks for the detail. It'll give me some questions to ask tomorrow. I keep catching mine in the middle of watching the postseason games with the guys....so not much info this past week!
I was sorry to hear about your loss; my thoughts are with you.
Originally posted by Rob Kremer: Would it too unbearably repetitive of me to mention once again that I think this is the best thread on HSBBW?
FO - I can't tell you how much I appreciate your descriptions of your experiences following your son. You are a gifted writer, who has the ability to even make your car trip to the game entertaining!
For all of us whose sons are several levels below even dreaming about playing professioanally, to get firsthand accounts from parents of current pros is incredibly valuable.
TPM - thank you also. I really treasure your insight and wisdom. Its - same.
Sorry to gush, but I do hope you ALL realize what a service you are providing!
Thanks Rob, that was the intention of the thread. I agree with njbb, sometimes it's hard to pull the info from them, and since mine had a different summer, my perspective is different and seeng it from a pitcher's side. I learned a lot this summer, son learned alot this summer. First of all, first rounder or 45th rounder, everyone is the same when they arrive, same food, same accomodations, same attention when you get hurt, etc. in other words, everyone rides the same bus. At first his rehab was somewhat frustrating, college is a quick fix, we need you asap, in the professional world, it's a sloooooooooow process which can become frustrating. But they have their reasons for doing things and you have to abide by them. I didn't realize this until just this week, son looks totally different than he did in July, there was a reason for all those weeks of reps.
Posts: 10902 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
FO, the reason for the lemons is the funny tasting water, other teams use bottled water
Things I have learned... It is a positive,encouraging environment, but take it VERY seriously every thing you do ends up in a report.
Players are not allowed to wear team logo off the field. (security reasons) Security....players have numbers to call if they or their families feel the are being stalked or harassed. Players can be at risk, there are a lot of nuts out there (remember the Natural) also some may think players make lots of $$$$$.
As I've said before It's impressive what goes into putting a MLB team on the field.
Posts: 1187 | Location: NJ | Registered: December 30, 2002
Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom: I learned a lot this summer, son learned alot this summer. First of all, first rounder or 45th rounder, everyone is the same when they arrive, same food, same accomodations, same attention when you get hurt, etc. in other words, everyone rides the same bus. .
TPM, we have discussed this before and we will, I think agree to disagree. Maybe it is experiences in different organizations or maybe it is a difference observed over a longer period of time. IMO, a 45th rounder who is paid a bonus commensurate with that pick is not treated the same as a 5th rounder in many ways. Does not mean that the 45th rounder cannot eventually "earn" equal treatment/playing opportunities and does not mean the 5th rounder cannot play himself into the opposite result. As a practical matter, when both are at the start line competing for that which is most important, playing time, the 5th rounder is going to receive far more chances to fail than the 45th rounder is going to receive to succeed. The reality of Milb baseball is that whichever one ultimately wins that position, one players moves forward and one goes home.
'You don't have to be a great player to play in the major leagues, you've got to be a good one every day.'
Posts: 2079 | Location: ca | Registered: February 11, 2003
infielddad, There are many postives and negatives in pro ball. All teams obvioulsy do things differently. I was under the impression that some folks liked hearing about some experiences, good and bad.
I was relating to a few short weeks in ss and a month in fall ball. First rounders, second rounders, 2Oth rounders, all drafted in different places, no rounders, 17 year old DR league players, HS, college. Within the organization (is that better), everyone eats the same food, stays in the same hotel, gets the same pay, rakes the same field, places the same ball in teh buckets, everyone has to show up at the same time, go to the same meetings, and, all ride the same bus, so to speak, for now.
I see Txmom's son is in the AFL. Would like to hear about those experiences.
Posts: 10902 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom: infielddad, There are many postives and negatives in pro ball. All teams obvioulsy do things differently. I was under the impression that some folks liked hearing about some experiences, good and bad.
I thought so too until Fungo, FrankF and I, the "woebegone troika," were suggested to be interrupting the fun.
'You don't have to be a great player to play in the major leagues, you've got to be a good one every day.'
Posts: 2079 | Location: ca | Registered: February 11, 2003
My view is a bit different because my son was drafted out of high school and went to complex ball which is very much like instructional league. In complex ball like instructional league players are treated about the same. Lower round picks receive the same instruction and have the opportunity to show the coaching staff their talent. If they show the organization they have the talent to be a MLB player they are considered "a great scouting find" Once a player advances to short season or low A there are more games and less instruction, playing time is based on your value in the organization. So if college players are just starting their 1st season in ss or low A their playing time is based on draft status and signing bonus. that gives the lower round college kid less playing time and fewer opportunities. Where the hs player moving up from complex ball has already had the opportunity to up his value regardless of where he was drafted.
Posts: 1187 | Location: NJ | Registered: December 30, 2002
TPM I'm having trouble finding it, could you post the link?
-------------------------------------------------- I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I toss one that ain't never been seen by this generation
-------------------------------------------------- I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I toss one that ain't never been seen by this generation
Originally posted by TxMom: First, you hear it all the time, but making adjustments at every level is key to success. However, learning HOW to make adjustments often requires struggle combined with guidance from people who have "been there." Everyone at the top understands this. Its probably why they don't make life too easy in the minors and why most coaches have Big League experience. Some call this "old school," but I think it’s just a proven method for success. In looking back, I can see how our son's struggles both on and off the field prepared him for the future...how they taught him flexible thinking and strengthened his mental approach.
........
Finally, I now better understand that it’s important for me as a parent to portray a genuine sense of peace with everything that happens in his world...especially for our his sake. More than anything, these guys need people they can count on for stability and hope. They live a crazy, exciting life and everything they do at work is public knowledge. Most of us can hide our daily successes and failures, but theirs are broadcast live, published on the web, and analyzed by everyone from GMs to the neighbor down the street. They need someone who can sincerely say, "Everything is going to be fine," no matter what happens. I'm still learning how to be that person, but I hope I'm getting a little better at it over time. .
Of course there is good and bad, fair and unfair, golden chances and getting shut out in the minors. Sort of like, I don't know ---- life?
The biggest "Unfair" is the draft. In every other profession, the top talent can research and interview with the most attractive employers to them and their needs; in baseball, you play for the club that picked you. (With rare exceptions, mostly immaterial to this board) That club could have the worst rep for developing players at your position, could be GU, could be anything bad, and the only choice the drafted player has is to not play.
But our guys are still lining up for the job. Guess they want it.
Draft position and its impact on chances given is one part of the picture. And draft position will never, ever change. We can't do a blasted thing about it, either.
So, keeping in mind TxMom's wise words, we can, as parents, be aware of draft position's potential impact --- and be aware that our sons know exactly what it means --- without dwelling on it. There's a lot more to this experience than draft position. And our job, as the player's Safe Harbor, will be better accomplished by concentrating on the things that will help him cope rather than a single, unchangeable occurance.
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance." --- Terry Pratchett
So, keeping in mind TxMom's wise words, we can, as parents, be aware of draft position's potential impact --- and be aware that our sons know exactly what it means --- without dwelling on it. There's a lot more to this experience than draft position. And our job, as the player's Safe Harbor, will be better accomplished by concentrating on the things that will help him cope rather than a single, unchangeable occurance.
I think there is quite a difference between dwelling on it as opposed to pointing out that the experiences can vary depending on draft position, depending on your organization, and very legitimately as njbb points out, a combination of each.
My view is there isn't a single thing a parent can do as it relates to a player's draft status and place. The singular most important thing that makes a difference is how your son plays, and how he manages himself...after the draft. There are no safe harbors. It is a competitive business. It is filled with many varying experiences and equally varying emotions. The experiences and emotions magnify the longer the your son plays, I think. Next April, some of our sons are going to learn they have an assignment and, for those, the day will be exhilarating. Some are going to learn they don't have an assignment but will stay in extended Spring training to hopefully play another day. Some are going to learn they are being released. These decisions get made in ways no one ever understands, least of all players and their parents. I don't think anyone will ever say their draft position was the reason they were released or assigned. But, IMO, it would be a fallacy to say, for some, the draft position may not have impacted the opportunities that resulted in those decisions.
'You don't have to be a great player to play in the major leagues, you've got to be a good one every day.'
Posts: 2079 | Location: ca | Registered: February 11, 2003
I think that Orlando and infielddad bring up good thoughts. We have no control over much once they leave our nests, no matter where they head off to they are the only ones who have to make things happen by how they perform. The most we can do is be there to listen to what they have to say. We don't give advice, we just try to listen. And sometimes they get into a position where they want our help, but unfortunetly we can't, they are under the control of their team, their college coach, they and we have no choice, that I have found out from our experiences.
One thing to remember, most of our son's have gone from college to pro ball, and I think that makes a big difference in their perceptions and expectations. I have enjoyed discussions off board with njbb and have learned alot from her perspective (as a parent of a player out of HS) just as I am sure she has learned some from us. It's good for folks to see all sides. My son has a few freinds that have left on their own after a few years, with college degree in hand, it's much easier to make that decision to move forward. Many coming out of college have a whole lot of non baseball priorities than those out of HS, IMO.
It sounds like everyone has had some good experiences as rookies, and I am sure that parents reading this will understand that as well, it's like your first year in college, you get to cut some slack if you don't perform your best (no matter who you are ). Your success is not measured in W or L or your BA. I found it very interesting that teams are different, I know in the Cards if you perform well, you are up to the next stop or next level asap. They have a scouting director that believes you don't learn much by sitting around in a level where you dominated, as seen by the many players that moved quickly to ss to long season. Meanwhile very few HS rookies move out of rookie ball as quickly as the college draft guys. Meanwhile I am watching a player drafted very high out of HS who has been in low A (different organization) for two seasons as there is no where to go and he hasn't progressed much. Personally he most likely IMO would have been better off going to that big program he committed to, get 3 years of school in and now in his draft year again. Has his top draft spot given him a chance to continue, most likely. On the other hand I have seen some from HS move very quickly in their organizations, and some still in the same place after many years regardless of draft position.
As far as fall instruction, Deldad was pretty much right on, if the ones who got some nice money to sign had their choice, they would not be there, especially for pitchers who put in long seasons in college and summer. Many of the college rookie pitchers did not have to come and they were not unhappy about it. Personally, as a parent I would have preferred mine to go back for a semester of classes, because in the long run, that is where we always placed importance first. Many college players that I know (regardless of draft position) given permission to go back to get their degrees finished in they only have a few credits to finish up. That may mean a difference in where they will end of in the spring, but I think most choosing to play college baseball after 3 maybe 4 years of long hours in teh classroom, want that degree.
Posts: 10902 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
