Thanks TPM. I will look for the book today. You, along with many other "regulars" on this site are truly insightful and gracious. It is really apprciated by a novice like me.
Posts: 159 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: August 29, 2007
Originally posted by fillsfan: Thanks TPM. I will look for the book today. You, along with many other "regulars" on this site are truly insightful and gracious. It is really apprciated by a novice like me.
Taking ownership of the process is rewarding. You are much less a novice today than yesterday. Good luck.
Posts: 4795 | Location: Florida | Registered: December 26, 2002
Originally posted by fillsfan: I am trying to find out what separates players who get drafted from players who do not. I know there are tools like pitch speed, running speed and power that can't be taught that stand out when you watch games. Are these the types of things that catch the eyes of scouts. I know there is no science to this but I am curious as to what gets a kid drafted, even in the 20th - 30th rounds.
That's an easy one. SIZE and SIZE alone.
Posts: 169 | Location: Kansas City | Registered: December 15, 2005
There are many discussions on this site and everywhere else that address the 'does size matter?' question but that is hardly the only factor involved in a player's draft potential.
That statement is far too general !!! And not totally correct by any stretch of the imagination. We know lots of players who are successful and not at the top of the height charts.
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08]
Posts: 3937 | Location: Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight ... | Registered: January 02, 2003
Originally posted by FutureBack.Mom: baseballregie ...
quote:
That's an easy one. SIZE and SIZE alone.
There are many discussions on this site and everywhere else that address the 'does size matter?' question but that is hardly the only factor involved in a player's draft potential.
That statement is far too general !!! And not totally correct by any stretch of the imagination. We know lots of players who are successful and not at the top of the height charts.
Not to mention the numerous amount of players who aren't/weren't sucessful who are at the top of the height charts.
-------------------------------------------------- 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 read where the goal is to make the 40 man, then the 25 man roster. I believe that the goal should be, at least, to be an above average major league player. Of course, everything inside the minor leagues seems to point to simply "getting to the show." So what separates players who can be above average in the show? Talent, for sure, but talent in the mental game is as important as tools. Tools are easier to see, and therefore draft for. Physical mechanics are easier to teach, perhaps, but winning the mental game is what separates good from great.
I did not mean to say that getting to the show is simple. Of course it's not. Just the concept is simple. Kinda like knowing what to do -- it's pretty simple to know, but really hard to do!
The last player I saw in the minors that had the look was Justin Upton. He never seemed like he was just going thru the emotions of being a baseball player and never seemed rattled. At his age, that stood out. Before that it was Elijah Dukes and Delmon Young, and before them it was Jeff Francoeur. Russell Martin also really looked stood out. I got to attend a interview at the Braves Fanfest with Chipper Jones. He was asked when being a veteran how do you know that a young player will succeed. His response was the player that has the look that he thinks he is the best one on the field but its not cockiness its confidence. The question was in regards to Yunel Escobar.
Also, a lot of times I see minor league players that look like they wish they were elsewhere. The last example of this was Matt Tuiasosopo. I really don't understand how you can have success with that mindset much less force the organization to take you seriously.
Players that had some buzz during their minor league stint that just did not look like they would exceed at the major league level based on their looks were Mark Reynolds and James Loney.
So I would say its a combination of looking like you are interested, your size, realize its a job, and always remembering you are going to fail 70 % of the time.
Posts: 18 | Location: Alabama | Registered: January 06, 2008
I would suspect that its a little easier to have that "look" of confidence when you're 18, fresh out of high school, and the best in the country.
It's much harder to keep it day in and day out when dealing with the setbacks, injuries, demotions, slumps, etc. that are sure to come. Any player on any given day can loose the "look" of confidence. The best players are the ones that find it again and again after each obstacle they face, believing they are still doing what they were put on this earth to do.
IMHO the goal isn't to be an above average major leaguer, but rather to do the best you can with the hand you're dealt. Success shouldn't be measured by where you end up, but rather by what you've overcome to get to where you end up.
Posts: 491 | Location: Dallas area | Registered: December 31, 2002
TX Mom; This is an interesting discussion. We recently returned from Australia with our 4 teams and the Beijing State Team. Each team played 12 games in 18 days. Several players improved each day.
One player, an outfielder from Los Angeles, played in the California Championship High School game *linebacker] and two days later landed in Adelaide, South Australia, played in the baseball game and hit a triple and double. Later in Perth he hit a "towering" HR off a pro pitcher.
Since 1983, 223 ML players have played in the Goodwill Series events, including Delmon and Dimitri Young, Adam and Andy LaRoche, Bobby Jenks, Aaron Hill, Jerome Bonderman.
Each player presents a story of "perseverance".
Bob Williams
Posts: 110 | Location: Santa Rosa, California | Registered: January 04, 2003
I would suspect that its a little easier to have that "look" of confidence when you're 18, fresh out of high school, and the best in the country.
It's much harder to keep it day in and day out when dealing with the setbacks, injuries, demotions, slumps, etc. that are sure to come. Any player on any given day can loose the "look" of confidence. The best players are the ones that find it again and again after each obstacle they face, believing they are still doing what they were put on this earth to do.
IMHO the goal isn't to be an above average major leaguer, but rather to do the best you can with the hand you're dealt. Success shouldn't be measured by where you end up, but rather by what you overcame to get to where you end up.
Somehow I'm not a bit surprised that this "great" post came from TXMom. Thanks!
Posts: 4853 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
According to perhaps the greatest coach ever (John Wooden), "success is the peace of mind that comes from knowing you did your best." Also, "don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should've accomplished with your ability" and "don't compare yourself to others, but never stop comparing yourself to what you can be." So I agree wholeheartedly with TxMom. That said, Nick Bollitieri warns that "Just do your best" can become a copout for many because they start to accept less than their best because they really have no idea what their best is. Therefore, "a" goal (not the goal - my mistake) for minor leaguers should also be to become an above average major leaguer, not just get there. I also think this should be a stated goal of minor league farm directors.
Please someone tell me what IMHO means. I've seen it a couple times, but have no clue. Thanks.
Coach, having heard Coach Wooden speak on two occasions, he has a way of making you aspire to utilize every talent you possess, in the best way possible, and then challenge yourself tomorrow to be even better. When you apply his concepts to life in Milb, I think you end up with a full appreciation for TxMom's post. From talking with numerous players in Milb you cannot set your goals to be something general and/or ambiguous, like being better than the average major leaguer. That isn't a "goal" that gets you out of bed to take extra BP in late July when you have played 110 games, and it is 97 degrees and 95% humidity. I would think most of them "aspire" to be a major leaguer who will stick, or they wouldn't do what it takes to play Milb. What gets you to the cages early and what gets you there to take extra infield is a burning desire, combined with the need to get better than you were yesterday, combined with coaches who create an environment for that to happen, because they are there with you, or there before you and stay when you leave. Milb isn't very artificial. When you arrive at Spring Training, there are about 120 position players. Every one of them knows that about 60 of them will receive playing assignments when Spring Training ends in 5 weeks. In Milb, many are competing for the opportunity to play tomorrow,and not be released and sent home. If you pay attention to the major leagues, you are missing the details needed to improve your game, to get your next AB and more after that. When you are in Milb, there aren't many who are dreaming. They work very hard, everyday with the knowledge that if they don't get better tomorrow, they go home. TxMom, that is a wonderful, thoughtful post and so applicable to this thread. Good luck to your son. Will look forward to watching him at AT&T this beginning in April.
'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: 2053 | Location: ca | Registered: February 11, 2003
I have just the article to back up what infielddad has posted. The Indians top draft pick from a couple seasons ago - Trevor Crowe - started thinking more about being in the majors after he "arrived" at Double A last year than focusing on the task at hand. In the article below, he clearly describes the pitfall's in that type of thinking - at least as it applies to his situation:
If Crowe hadn't been the Indians' No. 1 pick in 2005, who knows if he would have gotten 518 at-bats and a trip to the Arizona Fall League to find himself. The game not only favors the talented, but those perceived to have talent.
