Hi Ladies,
I am a new to the message board but not new to baseball. My son came home very discourage with his HS JV baseball coach. My son is a freshman and is use to playing every game on his travel team at either SS or OF he is also the team's closer. Well his HS coach only lets him pitch and then will usually have a DH hit in his place. I have been @ the games and this is generally the coach's philosphy for most of the pitchers except one. The coach has explained to my son that he wants him to rest his arm. Nevertheless, my son does not want to pitch any more. I have to mention he is one of the top pitchers on the HS team in 16 innings he has close to 25 KO's. He is a true athlete who plays for the HS football ans basketball teams also.
He says doesn't not want to get pigeon hole into the role of pitcher only. I have tried to listen and have him handle this himself since his father lives in another state.At the begin of the year the coach said playin time will not be open for discussions. Any advise on how to keep him thinking positive and motivated?

Survival is more likely for those who can adapt to change. I'm sure your son is not the only incoming Freshman who is accustomed to playing SS or OF. However, his coach has someone else pegged for that position (at this time). So - he needs to stop and think. Does he love the GAME enough to play where the coach needs him and to give his very best for the team, or would he rather end his career because he thinks he should be playing SS? It sounds a little harsh, but it really boils down to those two choices. If he decides he will not pitch, there will be several players eager to take his place. Remind him that being anywhere on the field, beats the **** out of sitting on the bench.......or in the bleachers. Personally, I hope he pitches. Pitchers set every play in motion!

Perhaps you could talk to him about his goals for baseball --- does he want to continue to play through high school, play in college, does he enjoy the experience of being on the team, etc., and relate that to his current situation.

Pitching is, as you know, exceedingly valuable. His role as a team player means doing whatever will help the team; this coach believes he will help the team by pitching. Whether the coach is right or not is beside the point; he's the coach, it's his call. If this is the first time he (or you) have disagreed with a coach's decision, you've been very lucky with coaches.

If possible, he could ask to participate in fielding and batting practice. If the coach sees his skills exceed a position player's, he may well get the opportunity to play that position in a game. If he hits well enough in BP, he may get the chance to hit for himself (although the whole issue of losing the DH comes into play, particularly if your son is a starter, so remind him of that --- it's not just his hitting that's an issue. But, that could mean he could be DH in between starts.)

If his complaint is PT, remind him that his both pitching and playing a position takes someone else's PT, putting another player in his current frustrating position.

I've never been a fan of a player playing both an IF position (with the exception of first; catcher is a whole separate discussion, had many tmes on this board) because of the arm motion in throwing. I believe it's not healthy for his arm/pitchign motion. OF allows them to air their arm out, if a pitcher must play in the field.


Should he want to play in college and continues to pitch well, remind him that a team needs many more pitchers than any other position.

Your son is young, and accepting the coach's decion requires a great deal of maturity. If he wants to continue to play baseball, this is the first of many times his maturity will be tested. Not knowing the situation, I would think this is early to pigeon hole a player; but he does still have his travel team to explore other options in baseball.

I just wanted to second the good advice you have already received.

It's the coach's call and if your son has already asked about playing an alternate position and was told that is not an option, he needs to say, "thank-you for your time, coach" and then work as hard as he can in the position he is given. Questioning or complaining about the coach's decision will not get him the result that he wants.

He also needs to be careful about telling the coach that he no longer wants to pitch because the result of that may very well be that he no longer plays at all.

Orlando wisely suggested that he work on his other positions on his summer and fall team. Next year when try-outs come along, he can try-out in those positions he prefers and avoid pitching altogether; however, if the team wants him to pitch, he needs to consider continuing in that role.

The truth of the matter is that specialization increases with every level. If your son can hit, he will have options to be considered a position player. If he is an average hitter, his odds to play beyond HS will increase if he pitches.

Good luck to him, and enjoy every moment he has on the field.

Mom, Baseball is a game of adjustments... playing time, positions, averages, etc. I think that's one of the wonderful things that it provides for our boys.... teaches them to adjust whether that means positions or trying to hit off a certain pitcher.

My own son was CF and LHP for his travel team at 13 and 14. I think most would say he was pretty good at both. In his HS though, he was needed at CF for several reasons. That's where the coach put him and that's where he devoted his game.

Now, in college, he's back to being a pitcher. This has been an adjustment for mom.... not him.

I think if your son can understand that he needs to focus on what helps the team the most, he will grow more as a person and a baseball player than you can imagine.

BTW, welcome to HSBBW and the ladies lounge! Hope you continue to join us as we all share our baseball journeys.

Morning gals,... I've been sitting and reading this post without posting. Couldnt really get my thoughts together in order to type something. Tnt mom,..you have gotten great advice and I don't think there's much I can add.
I want to tell you that the practical-sensible side of me says,..yes,..have him do what the coach says for him to do. He obviously has talent pitching, the coach saw it,..and the team needs it.
BUT,....but but but but,...the ol' famous " but ".
The mom part of me, feels for him. ( I'm being wishy-washy, I know ).
Pitching is such a challenging position, both physically and mentally. It's a demanding position with all eyes watching.
( hard to be in the spotlight when you aren't feeling it 100% )
So the mom part of me feels for him and his lack of love for the position.
Being the mom of a varsity SS, I get it. My son has been asked if would like to try to pitch a hundred times. He always said no,..for your very reason.
With that said, I must tell you that he also lost an opportunity to play on a well known showcase team because of his refusal to try pitching. This left us stunned and desperate. This could have meant that he might not get to play ball that season at all. NOT a fun situation to be in.

Sooo,...with all of that said,... I too would suggest that your son ask to participate in fielding and batting practice. If he does the footwork and bat work, perhaps the coaches will notice his multidimensional talents and that may slowly open their eyes. It could be along shot, but could be worth it too. Ya just never know.

I guess the bottom line is I am just here to say I support you all and feel for what you are going through. Cant seem to stand on one leg straight today,... so I will simply leave my rambling thoughts, and the hope that you know we are here to support and can understand the not-so-easy situations that we all find ourselves in at one time or another.

Welcome Tnt Mom!!,...welcome!

quote:

This left us stunned and desperate.

I so understand SSMom. My son's decision to focus on pitching in college has been ultimately his decision. I can tell you as I watched games yesterday, I continue to grieve over his not hitting. I don't know when I'll adjust.... perhaps by the time he graduates!?!?!

Again, whether these changes be their choice or a coach's choice.... it ultimately comes down to a team and what they can do most to help. In college, those HS players may have to adjust all over again. So may us moms (and dads)!!!!

Ladies,
thanks for all the great advice. I told my son what he choices were if he gave up baseball now. We also discussed what he's goals were for his baseball future. He decided to stick it out and make the best of it. Well... yesterday evening on the ride home from practice. He told me that the coaches asked him to move up to Varsity. He's glad he didn't follow his knee-"jerk" reaction and throw in the towel. He also realized his pitching efforts got him notice by the Varsity Coaches. Funny thing is though he may sit the bench most of the time for Varsity and he said He doesn't mind sitting the bench. "MOM THIS IS VARSITY!!" GO FIGURE It's going to be a looooong 3 more years!!

thanks again for given me the opportunity to see things clearer.

quote:

It's going to be a looooong 3 more years!!

Oh, I can promise ya, it will be some of the fastest three years you've ever experienced!! Enjoy every minute!

It won't be a long three years - you will blink and he will be 8 weeks from graduation. We got a reprieve today. My son will go on to the next level after high school. God has revealed His plan.

quote:

My son will go on to the next level after high school. God has revealed His plan.

Redhead!!,..you are soo right about how the time will indeed zooom by! Ya blink and poof,...the next thing you know, the band is playing the graduation theme and your son is walking across the graduation stage and on to bigger parts of his life.

Ok,....so I'm gonna bite on that juicy info I read above, and if you feel like sharing, going to ask you to please tell us the scoop-ola!

Even if you want to keep things private I havta' send you a huuuuge and hearty congratulations!!!!
That has to be very very exciting news for all of you!!!!

We had our first game of the season last night. Got snockered, which was expected, but never fun!
Hope things improve.

My son is not a happy camper this morning tntmom.
Moms of not so happy camper sons, unite.
I need more coffee,...and perhaps a donut,...a chocolate one!...maybe two!

Congrats to the little Redhead!!

Playing at the college level is
exciting...excrutiating...
tremendous...trying...
delightful...demanding...
cheerful...challenging...

You're all gonna have a GREAT time!!


(And if he's going away from home to play,
step in here for the hankies

McMurry University
Abilene, TX

He is thrilled to know where he is going. He looks like the weight of the world has been lifted from his shoulders. We will burn up the road between here and there. We plan to see a lot more ball in the future!

Redhead ...

Okay ... here are some congrats from the Left Coast as well And I can picture his shoulders lifting just as you mention it. It definitely shows on their faces, doesn't it?

And of course, people could never tell from looking at uz parents when such a weight has been lifted from our sons' shoulders (wink wink snicker snicker )

Double back flip, a couple of high fives, throwing in a few air pushups and some good ol' fashioned pats-on-the-backs to Redheads family and her son!!!

Thats GREAAAT news!,..and he'll still be playing in Texas, so we know you can get there! Awesome!

A hearty congratulations being sent your way. Thats really really great news!
May the baseball tradition continue on!!!

Congrats and thank you for sharing!!!! ( I had hoped I wasnt getting too personal by asking!!! )