tpm quote: 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,
Agree and disagree. The Yankees had no problem with Ryan turning down instructionals to go back to school. He did ask about how it may affect the spring training assignment and they said it would have no affect. Especially for pitchers, because you have minimal appearances in the instructionals and many who have thrown a lot of innings during the past college and rookie seasons are on the "down side" of the year, the 3 weeks of instructionals do not carry much weight if any toward the next Spring. This is a "what can you do for me now" situation and how you did in the short October instuctionals is almost forgotten by the time March rolls around.
Posts: 3877 | Location: Madison Wi | Registered: January 06, 2003
If a player signed for $ with the stipulation that he would return to school in the fall,everyone is in agreement. Otherwise when you sign that contract you are employed, baseball is your career and your career should be you #1 priority.
Instrucxs,winterball and mini camps are all voluntary but what does it say to your employer when you decline?
Will what you do in instruxs be forgotten ? Nothing is forgotten its all in the reports
Will it affect where you play in the spring? Well if you are going to instrucxs to learn new mechanics, then take that home with you and work on it over the winter,you will come into spring training ahead of where you were when the season ended. So yes it can
Its your career, the best will advance and the rest will go home. Remember there are only so many openings and there is ALWAYS someone wants your job.
Posts: 1177 | Location: NJ | Registered: December 30, 2002
Instructs are very important. It's usually quite an honor (and a very good sign) to be one of the few players in the organization invited. It means you're a good MLB prospect in their eyes. If they didn't think the instructionals were important, they wouldn't go to the trouble and expense of holding them.
Regarding the future, instructs can be very valuable. A friend of mine ran this year's instructs for the Twins. He is the head of the Twins Minor League system. He already has penciled in where players who were at instructs are going to be next year. Granted that can all change.
When my son was with the Yankees and was invited to instructional ball, he wasn't really asked as much as told they want him to attend. There didn't seem to be any volunteering involved. Guess I've never heard of a young player turning down instructional. Yet, I do think finishing school is a very good reason if a player doesn't attend.
It can be a very big benefit going to instructional, both because of learning a few things, but most importantly to get familiar with a lot of the "brass" who make decisions and them getting more familiar with you. On the other hand, if a player produces the next season, things will work out just fine.
Posts: 4859 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
Me too, in fact, they will often want to rest a first year pitcher out of college.
My point is... Instructs ARE a big deal with every organization, a very important, but low key, type thing and an honor. There are not many who have decided not go to them, but it's not going to stop the player who doesn't attend from being successful.
Of course, any player who continues to produce during the season will continue to climb the ladder.
Posts: 4859 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
pg & njbb you're absolutely correct. I've given myself a spankin' and a timeout for ignoring my personal hsbb pet peeve of making a general statement only using a personal situation
The Staten Island Yanks were across the river from the MLB Yanks so there was always MLB brass in the area, the scholarship program was part of the contract,, and Ryan, because of his surgical rehab had been throwing about 3 months longer than others preparing for his college season. This situation is different than most. Bottom line, if everything falls in place and the invite is made, the instructional's are a great way to end a season.
Posts: 3877 | Location: Madison Wi | Registered: January 06, 2003
BTW, he will find out that many of the most important people in the Yankees system reside in Tampa all year rather than NY. That includes Billy Connors who is a big favorite of mine.
Posts: 4859 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
I would agree they are a big deal but my guess is each team has its own philosophy too. My son was down almost 2 weeks earlier than all the other teams and almost all of the college pitchers were sent home right after the season & did not attend. Seems my son's team concentrated a lot on "first timers" or 2007 draftees but not exclusively either.
It really worked out well for him because he started school the day after he got home. Best of both worlds. Most teams start too late for kids to enroll in the quarter system. We really lucked out!
I guess you could say no and not attend but I don't think that is a smart move for a younger kid. You'd pay a lot of money to get that instruction and exposure. As a dad, I really enjoyed all the info he got from the trainers & pitching coaches. Not to mention, they have motivated him to work like he has never worked before too.
Posts: 424 | Location: IL | Registered: December 14, 2005
Most of the college pitchers I know that put significant time on the mound in college then in ss don't have to attend full instruction, they may show up for first meeetings, get some pointers and head home or just do not have to attend at all. Many do have prior permission to head back to school. Most of the players in son's camp were either from the DR or rookies from high school or position players or players who had been in rehab but also not exclusively, but in teh majority. Mine had not pitched all summer and needed the rehab innings and have some people see him who ordinarily might have in season. Since getting actual instruction in season is tough for most managers and coaches, fall instruction provides invaluable experience for teh younger ones.
Posts: 10788 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
My son loved Instructs. He didn't throw many innings in short season so that was not an issue. Besides meeting several of the Rockies "brass" he got to work with other coaches in the system. He got to know their approach and they got to know him a little. (He also got to meet Mel Stottlemyre - the first pitching video I had him look at was Mel's.)
TPM - this has been a great topic.
Posts: 151 | Location: Ohio | Registered: January 20, 2003
My son has returned to get a "quarter" of college in after his last two minor league seasons. This time his time at college is being broken up by one week of training in Australia and two weeks for the World Cup in Taiwan! Baseball is his number one priority but his professors are willing to work with him, so he may be able to salvage his courses . . . but no matter what he is having incredible experiences.
Posts: 34 | Location: Canada | Registered: June 11, 2003
Jimmy is playing for Canada. He has always lived in Canada until going to California for college. His Canadian passport had expired though so that was a very stressful time, trying to renew it in time for the trip. He was on a first name basis with the people at the Candian Consulate in Los Angeles and they had given him their direct line for phoning. They have a real backlog at the passport office. He was not going to be allowed to travel with the team if he didn't have his passport. He finally got it on Thursday and he left on Saturday . . . very little time to spare!
Posts: 34 | Location: Canada | Registered: June 11, 2003
cdnmom --- just in case you didn't yet know, stadeo.tv.com is broadcasting games from Taiwan on the 'net. Go to their site and click on the '41 Games Live'
Good Luck to Canada --- there is nothing like playing with the name of your country on your chest!
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance." --- Terry Pratchett
This whole earth going around the sun thing can cause those little inconveniences. I went from games starting at 10pm to games starting at 5am my time. But is it ever worth losing a bit of sleep!
Italy may be going for it after their disappointing result in the Euros, and the Dutch are always strong, but there are some changes to everybody's rosters since October. Interesting.
I went from games starting at 10pm to games starting at 5am my time. But is it ever worth losing a bit of sleep!
