Cut from team...what next?

I think things are a little different where we live versus a lot of places where others in the baseball community are from.  There are summer alternatives, but they are far less desirable.  Kids want to play for their HS's summer team and work to enhance their HS careers.

 

From my perspective there are 3 alternatives for my son.

 

One would be to bail on baseball.  I'm really opposed to this idea right now.  Somewhere in this convoluted mess is a life lesson.  I'm pretty sure of that.  It's not necessarily that it is baseball at this point.  It could be anything.  Tomorrow he'll wake up and he'll be 40 years old.  I'd rather the story he tells his kids is that things went sideways for him, but he persevered.  To me quitting is the path of least resistance.  Even if it's the right path, that won't be known for quite some time.  Once a quitter.  Always a quitter.  

 

Two would be to stay at the HS he's in and keep trying out.  Maybe he figures out what it is that is holding him up?  Maybe he reinvents himself in the image of what this coach is looking for?  I don't know.  Look, I can see how most people reading this would think the guy's kid just isn't as good or the same kid the coaches feel he is.  I'm 100000000% positive that this coach has an inaccurate read on my son's ability.  Of all the unknowns and questions rolling around in my head, that isn't one of them.  5 days of indoor tryouts, 2 ABs in a scrimmage (BB / K swinging against senior pitcher), 5 fielding chances in a scrimmage (all converted), and 1 outdoor day is enough?  If you asked every one of his teammates they'd say, they have been saying, why?  He said he'd keep 16.  And, you cut a skilled player with a bunch of tools who is 15 and one of the strongest kids in the entire school to get to 13?  I don't get it?  

 

Also, the character.  Here's an example.  Last year the freshman team had a team building party.  They all went bowling and stayed the night at one of the players' home.  One of the kids who is a bit frail and very young looking.  A little different from the other kids was being hazed by pretty much everyone else on the team that night.  It got so bad that apparently he called his mother in the middle of the night to come pick him up.  My son and another boy became aware of it.  They were outside playing basketball.  It ended!  Though several kids wanted to give them some push-back, they were the ones in the end that did the pushing.  He wasn't a very good player.  Other kids got on his back.  I'd see my son and the other kid I mentioned working with him behind the dugout during games on his swing.  Really?  That's the kid you want to sh*t-can?

 

Three would be for him and the current program to part ways.  It's a spring season of JV baseball lost.  No big deal.  Heck, he might be better off working out on his own with this new found motivation.  No hard feelings.  Like I said, he's a kid that's not going to be bitter.  I think that he thinks he's better than that.  Requires switching schools.  That's kind of a dramatic thing for a 15 year old, especially when it is by choice.

Oscar you did cover a lot..I tried to boil it down to a few points. You mentioned that your son thought he could play college ball. If that is his goal he can still get there, most high school baseball has little to do with getting to college. Get on a good summer team, find out the right showcases for your area and he can still reach the college level.

 

It does sound like your son wants to play high school ball and i think that is great...there is nothing like getting to play for your high school team. If you think a transfer is the best way to accomplish that goal then I think you should pursue it, sounds like you think staying at the current school and trying out for the team next year is a waste of time...I guess I would ask you to really make sure that is the case...many stories of kids being cut their fresh/soph years and make it later on this site.....

 

Do not have much advice on why the coach cut your son....no one really knows execpt the coach....it would do no good to send him video of your son now...he saw enough to make his decison.

 

It also sounds like your son is a good football player....again this subject has come up many times on this site,,,should you let your son play football....my advice if he wants to play let him play.

 

Sounds like you are in tough spot....but it does not have to be over for your and you....get on a good summer showcase team, and make your plan on how to get him in front of colleges that he thinks he might want to go, their camps or showcases they will attend...

 

This can just be a bump in the road for your son....it does not have to be a dead end.

 

Good luck

Hang in there Oscar.  I'm sure your son will find his way. If it's meant to be, it will happen.  Below is something I wrote on this very subject.  Maybe it can help.

Good luck. I wish him the best.

 

http://www.baseballbytheyard.c...e-the-team-now-what/

Oscar,

First I am sorry you son got cut. Never an experience any son or family wants to go through.  I hope next year you have an opportunity to provide a more positive post.  I may take a minority opinion here, but you mention you son is a very good student with good board scores.  Stating the obvious, but most high school players do not get an opportunity to play college ball.  I am not sure if you son will get that chance, but I would recommend you 1) consider schooling him at the best academic school, 2) have him try out / re-try out for that high school baseball team and 3) pursue the best travel team he can get on.  I think this is your best chance of a good education and a good baseball experience.

Hi Oscar,

Sounds like you have a great kid and I can feel your pain for him.  It also sounds like you have pretty good perspective, at least in regards to most areas that this situation touches on.  However, I can't help feel that there are some important missing pieces to the story here.  I believe that, in an earlier post, you had hopes of your son possibly making V.  There is a big disconnect between possible V and cut from JV, regardless of the circumstances.

 

I may be way off base, but your attention to detail with several events from a year ago suggest a very, very involved parent to the point where it sort of raises more questions. 

 

Is he your only child?  If not, do you have others who have reached a higher level of competitive sports or other performance based activities?  What part of the country do you live in?  You mentioned that summer ball options in your area are "far less desirable".  I do some contract work with an entity that conducts national, regional and local tourneys.  There are several good 15u, 16u travel teams from seemingly every state.  If he has the size, speed and talent you say and has impressed other coaches as you say, he will have options for summer ball.  The two of you just have to find them.  Use those coaches he has impressed for resources to lead him to a good summer option.  I'm sure you can track down the V coach that left and use him as a resource.  Once he gets a good summer ball season under his belt, that should set him up for a good shot at making the HS team next time around.

 

How many coaches were present at the HS tryout?  there are usually more than one and if he had five days plus of tryouts, there is likely more than just one coach's opinion that factored into the cut decision.

 

Lastly, I would strongly recommend that he go to the coach and ask him some straight forward questions in a respectable manner.  Again, from what you described of your son, he should be able to handle this (not to say it wouldn't be difficult).  He should ask the coach what areas he needs to work on and if he would encourage him to try out again next year.  Perhaps ask if there might be a chance for him to participate in the HS summer program so he can get the needed game reps to improve for next year.  He may also want to mention to the coach that if any of the 13 roster players comes up hurt or ineligible, he would love the opportunity to fill any role the team may need.  If he does these things, I believe he will come away with a much better understanding of where he stands and what he needs to do in order to compete for a spot with the current HS and in general.  

 

You said you'd like to see him transfer again.  Sounds like that's a viable option for you.  But, at the risk of offending again, I'll share another observation based on being very close to the HS sports scene for many years... when a kid transfers multiple times with sports playing a big part in the equation, it is never a one-sided issue where the school or coach is at fault or in the wrong. 

 

I hope you are able to benefit from the information myself and others will share with you here and I wish the best to your son.

Oscar, sounds like you're both having a hard time deciphering an explanation you can accept. You both need some 'closure' for unresolved questions. I didn't see any mention of individual instruction from a hitting or pitching coach, nor the experience or quality of the coaching he's had up to this point. Being big and strong and able to hit well during batting practice may not convert to hitting high school pitching. Having a general knowledge of the game versus acquired skills can be noticeable to an experienced eye. Proper mechanics or lack thereof for both hitting and pitching may well have been the deciding factor. I would bet if you contact the coach for a short meeting, he would be glad to tell you why he decided against keeping your son and suggest resources and avenues available to help your son achieve his goals. I do feel this is the most important thing you can do for yourself to answer your uncertainties. You could also seek out reputable instructors to give an honest opinion of his skills, assets and deficits so he can work on that this year as he continues his physical training. This would answer his uncertainties with reality. He may not like the assesment but it's easier to deal with reality than confusion. It would also offer a direction other than limbo. He could put his effort into training to overcome any deficiency or say the heck with it. Its obvious you love your son and are extremely proud of the man he is becoming, but he's at awkward years and may be too uncomfortable to talk to the coach himself. Being the bridge and support to get him properly evaluated and trained may be the best way to help him overcome his disappointment. My nickels worth.

Maybe not in baseball shape?  Work on his athleticism.

Oscar,

I hope that you take my comments in the spirit in which they are intended.

 

I understand your frustration.  As a parent I understand how  it hurts, but you have got to let this go and let him figure it out, and for heaven's sake, don't transfer him thinking that he might make the other school's baseball team.

 

I read over your posts 2 or 3 times. I think your son must be a very special person and a very good teammate. But as I have learned, as one moves up each year, that alone does not make you a better baseball player, or a football or soccer player, etc.  Also being big doesn't make it better either. At his hieght and weight if he had the skills he would be tearing the cover off the ball, and he would be pitching much harder and faster. Lifting all that weight doesn't make it better. I do have to agree with Bum,  he may not be in the best physical shape to play baseball, maybe for football, but not baseball.

Coaches don't keep kids on the team just because they are good kids, you also have to be able to earn your spot by showing that you have the skills to help your team to win.

 

Have your son go to speak to the coach to find out what he has to do to make the team, if this is really what he wants to do then he will do it. Tell him to ask the coach to be honest. 

 

Stay out of it and as mentioned find your own interests. If he wants to talk about it fine, if not, then let it go, again he needs to figure it out.

 

Best of luck to your son.

 

 

Appreciate you all taking the time to offer advice and lend their perspective based on experiences.  I really do.  And, I'll weigh a lot of it out based on how much it applies to our situation and help my son move forward in the best way possible.

 

meachrm, the link to the article was great.  Wish it was just an interesting read and not a guide as to what to do next for him, but it reinforces some of the better judgement side of how we are feeling and thinking.  

 

Here are my main concerns, sort of in order.  Once again I'm trying to be as objective as possible.  "As possible" is always the key coming from a parent.  I see my kids through rose colored glasses roughly as much as anyone.  I've posted on message boards before and have seen how everyone is better online.  I'm in "incognito" mode.  My wife's or kids aren't going to accidentally stumble on my post here and judge my honesty or lack thereof.  I guess what I'm saying is the anonymity to me can be part of a solution / resolution, and that's what I'm most interested in.  

 

1.  This came out of LF.  Every prior indication recently and over the long term up until now wasn't whether he'd make the team or not.  I speculated based on what I was hearing about other kids not playing this year and what I was seeing in my son's game that there may be some chance to play varsity.  It's a big school.  One, m-a-y-b-e two kids a year who are not upper class-men make varsity.  I'm confused.  My son's still not talking.  I know what my wife and I here talking to his friends/teammates.  They also are confused.  Coach isn't talking to them.  That I understand.

 

Number one issue would be understanding.  However, I realize that may not come.  Look, I'm going to dispute the reasons given by the coach.  Have to be honest.  Internally, there's a lot of why did so and so make it?  Questioning the coach's competency?  His personality and mindset and philosophies are all completely unknown because he came from another school this year.  Perhaps there is something there that my son violates?  I don't know.  

 

2.  I'm concerned how my son reacts to the adversity.  I could care less about baseball.  He has his whole life mapped out already and college baseball would be nice, but completely icing on the cake.  He has one college choice.  They offer an academic program no one else does.  It's a small NAIA school.  Great school.  Great setting.  Awesome academics.  Big time college sports support from a somewhat isolated rural population.  Prepares him for what he wants to do in life better than any other school in the country.  Would he like to get that education, go to that school, spend 4 or 5 years in the environment it offers --- and play baseball there?  Absolutely. 

 

As I've described, he's a high character kid.  He feels he's a better player than many of the kids that did make the team.  He's still happy for them and wouldn't let his feelings leave private and secure conversations with mom and dad.  He doesn't hate the coach(es).  If he did go somewhere else and play, it wouldn't be his mission to show them up or ever disrespect them.  He just disagrees with them.

 

This could be getting cut from choir for all I'm concerned.  I am going to exert a lot of influence on him to not give up.  I was a walk-on college athlete.  First hand I know the personal rewards of chasing something until there's not one more thing you could have done.  Looking back it shapes you more than TDs or HRs.

 

3.  My son is not the prototypical HS baseball player.  I'm not comparing his game or anything like that to this guy, but he looks sort of like a less ripped version of someone like a Dan Uggla.  As I said he is crazy strong for anyone, no less a 15 year old.  His hitting mechanics are good to go.  We are junkies in terms of video, studying rotational mechanics, every intricacy, every process.  He doesn't reach or roll his wrists prematurely.  He is fantastic at bending and tilting to reach the baseball in order to keep his back elbow in.  All of it is by design.  Good enough is never good enough.  It's a 365 day a year process of improvement and it's largely centered on being more knowledgeable as it is more physical.  He is physical though.  His swing is very violent.  No top hand release.  Has been known to corkscrew himself in the box like a Prince Fielder or Adrian Beltre.  Here again he's different than what other kids look like.

 

He's got a very unique pitching style.  Strides like Jered Weaver, throws sidearm, very violent.  He's good though.  Different, but good.  Again, has watched hours of video of himself and hundreds of pitchers before landing on the mechanics he has.  Nothing is by accident with this kid.  But again looks different.

 

Then there's all the personal quirks.  And there's a few of them.  None are his intention to stand out, certainly not to stand out negatively. but I'm thinking it's a real possibility this happened.

 

Finally, now I'm concerned about me and our family.  Our life revolves around his baseball in many ways.  My daughter didn't sign up for softball because she didn't want to miss his games.  Talk about a big fan.  No one projected a bigger season for her beastly brother than her.  And, she knows baseball.  Girl's first words were "EEE-CHEEE-RO!" over and over again slamming her fist down on her high chair.  I'm sure we can all move on if necessary.  The boy being ok is what's most important, but there will be a void.

 

I would suggest that the parent sit back and revaluate the entire situation.   it may well betthat the boy is not the talented player you believe him to be..

I agree with TR (very unusual) 200%.

 

Go sign him up for a showcase with a legit company (like PG) and have your son evaluated.  I am not too sure that "different" is always good or that evaluations by parents are accurate. I hope that you have not done anything to hurt his chances, you seem to be one of those (my son is so much better than everyone else) and that can backfire.  Don't talk to his friends either.

 

Your son isn't talking because there is either something going on you don't know about or he just doesn't want to hear your whining.

 

Put it away, your son will never make any team with you carrying on like this. 

Your family will just have to carry on.

 

By the way do you know about Dan Uggla?  Might do some research and see what he had to do to get to where he is at today. 

What does you son want to do? 

 

Doesn't sound like he needs to pushed in any direction, however I am reading alot of "I"s in your posts.   Most  parents are interested in seeing their kids suceed at everything all the time.  I am guilty of this along with communicating my expections in a way that was misunderstood by my kids and led to them thinking the opposite of what I thought.  The way I am reading your posts it sounds like you and your family maybe to "invested" in your son's baseball success and need to back off to give your son some breathing room.   Perhaps your son doesn't understand you want the best for him and  may feel  the situation is a failure to live up to your expections? 

 

In my view it clearly time for your family to move on from the JV team/coach situation and to stop talking about it with his/your friends etc..those discussions become very awkward for your son's friends and your son and people will start avoiding you.    As I read your comments I can't help but feel you maybe moving in a direction that will make the "situation" worse in the eyes of your son and others.

 

If your son wishes to continue playing baseball, he needs to ask the coach why he was cut, evaluate the coach's comments and decide whether or not its worth transfering.

 

The unfairness of getting cut doesn't lessen at any level,  every kid/adult eventually gets cut and its up to the kid/adult/parents to move on in productive direction.

 

Good luck.

 

HOW IS GETTING CUT UNFAIR?

It's really not "unfair."  Even if a kid has sufficient talent, proper attitude, good character, good grades, etc. ultimately the coach(es) have the prerogative to go in whatever direction they choose.  

 

I've known situations where coaches have cut upper-classmen to go young and rebuild a program more quickly.  I graduated from a HS that became a HS from a mid-high the year I graduated.  In an effort to become competitive as soon as possible the varsity basketball team was all freshman and sophomores.  

 

Finally cornered my son today and got him to talk.  He doesn't want to transfer schools.  He feels as though talent wise the game hasn't passed him by, yet he isn't going to again attempt to play where he is.  Unfortunately, no other alternatives are available.  Because the JV baseball coach is the football D coordinator he is also adamant about pulling the plug on football as well.  I'm disappointed. but after talking to him and getting his take I get why.

 

At the end of the day I think I blame myself.  We moved him ahead in school.  If he was a freshman with his size, strength, and ability he'd be a rock star at any school.  There are kids in his class that have "red-shirted" and their parents creatively held them back.  Heck, my son won't even be able to get a driver's license until after his junior year is well underway.  There's kids in his soph. class that have been driving since last year.

 

He has decided on a new athletic goal of being a member of the 1,000 pound club.  There's only been 3 kids in the school's history that have reached a combined 1000 pounds in the bench press, squats, and military press.  

 

Thanks again everyone for your input and good luck in your kids' baseball seasons.

I've painstakingly followed this thread through all of the L-O-N-G posts, and THIS IS HOW IT ENDS??? Oscar, my friend, you need to think long and hard about your ability to assess your son. I know it's hard, but jeez.

And just to show you how disappointed I am ... 

You "cornered" you son????

+1...cornering son about HIS getting cut is not good. Way past time to move on.

At the end of the day I think I blame myself.  We moved him ahead in school.  If he was a freshman with his size, strength, and ability he'd be a rock star at any school.

 

At 6-1 235# shouldn't the player be able to be competitive despite of being 15 on a JV team? When did 15 on JV become young?

HAVING READ THIS THREAD OVER AND OVER i think daddy needs'help"

       
       


I think father and son. If your boy is ready to quit two sports because of one setback, I'm not sure how confident I am about how he'll fare in the future.

I'm sure there are a lot of emotions flying around in the family right now, so I would really encourage your son not to make any of these major decisions right now. Time will heal the hurt. Let some time pass and make a decision when heads are cooler. With this situation still so close, it's not time to "corner" your son to get an answer. Be a support and help him through this tough time. Don't push or even ask for a decision about next year.

I agree. Why not use the "haters" as motivation to prove them wrong????

The more I read this thread the more I believe Oscar has serious issues.  TR Hit is right.

 

He says in his first post "I cannot even fathom him wanting to give up baseball."  Oscar, it is obvious that is coming from you and not your son.  Back off, dad, hug your son and let him be a kid (finally).

My guess is Oscar has checked out. So unfortunate for his son.

 weSHOULD NOT FORGET HOW RESILIENT TEENAGERS ARE

darn good point. maybe the boy will succeed in spiteof the obstacles. hope so.

The irony.

Wow.  You know I expected some of this when I started this, but I think you all have seriously misunderstood me.  Apparently there are auto-responses that come with the territory here based on previous like stories?

 

Didn't realize how carefully one must choose their words.  i.e. "cornered" Just saying it was difficult to get him to talk about it,  And, I think I said this 3 or 4 times already, but it's not that it is baseball.  There's no expectation of playing MLB.  He's going to be a double major engineer - electrical/renewable energy.  For all I care he could have gotten cut from the Jazz Choir or Science Club.  The issue was I/he feel he's not been accurately evaluated.  Whether or not that's an accurate assessment of the situation on my part is actually not even the point here.  The possible courses of action going forward are what's important (regardless).

 

I regret trying to support my belief in his talent or make a case for why I think like I do.  Probably would have been better off to say he's the worst sad sap baseball player ever.  The conclusion jumping is obviously way tilted to disagreeing no matter what when the issue of parent's thoughts and kid's actual talent come up.  If it makes any feel better then ok, he can't hit, he throws like a girl, and he doesn't know which hand to put the glove on half the time in the field.  Having said that, we still disagree with the coach and I was (no longer now) looking for some advice.

 

Having learned better, I'm not going to get into his reasons for not wanting to play sports anymore.  It would have been difficult to convince me yesterday that was a good solution.  Our discussion has since made me rethink that.  Yesterday I would have liked to see him go to another school, face his old school, and jam it up their @ss sideways.  And again - it's not baseball in particular.  If he got cut from anything under the circumstances that at least we perceive them to be, then the reaction would be the same.

 

To those sincerely offering advice, once again I appreciate your time.  It's not easy to find people in real life to talk about this with.  I'm not ashamed.  I'm just not sure the kid wants me offering up his sad stories.  In real life if asked I'll probably just stick with "Things didn't work out" and leave it at that.

 

To the other cyber-sleuths able to find fault no matter how hard she tries to conceal herself, I guess I'm glad to have provided the fun.  Oooooh you got me - I have issues.  No sh#t.  I already knew that.  You don't have to be Sherlock F'n Holmes to figure that a parent is going to be emotionally tried in times like this.  My questions to you would be after thousands of posts (I mean that's not weird or anything) how did you not even accidentally get better at accurately reading the points trying to be made? 

You're probably right.  Putting myself in his shoes this is a traumatic experience for him and a knee-jerk reaction is likely.  Difficult to discuss this without getting into "what now?"  I gave him 5 days of not talking about it at all.  That wasn't working out.  He needed to talk.  Got in the truck and took a drive in the country.  I can see he feels relieved to have talked it out.  I do.  I'm not as worried about him.  Whatever happens, he will be ok.

 

We're on the same team - no matter what.  I've done a lot of reminding him of that.  Perhaps he'll rethink things, but it's not what I expect.  As I said all along, I didn't want him to quit on baseball (or anything else) under the circumstances as we perceive them to be.  However, he has convinced me that he's not quitting sports because he's a sore loser.  His reasons are reasonable.  Just going to leave it at that in explanation here.  It took a lot of miles and crossing a lot of bridges and RR tracks for me to get where he's coming from. No way I could accurately paraphrase it here.

No.  Trust me that's not ME - It's me objectively looking at my son.  I assure you he'd be the last kid on Earth to feel Dad (or Mom) has not been on his side, as opposed to being his agent.  

 

I know what you're getting at.  We have seen it.  We don't roll like that.  Even my son recognized it going through youth ball and wanted no part of the politicking and promoting. All he ever wanted to do was have fun and get better.  A lot of kids his age trash their parents.  We haul these kids around and here it.  For being as f'd up as I am, I've at least managed to not be the parent getting trashed.  My wife once made the comment about how refreshing it is to hear him have great things to say about his dad while other kids are complaining.  I told her I felt the same way about how he speaks of her.  Family issues are solid.  Trust me.

Oscar,

 

Last year my son was injured and couldn't play defense during his junior season. He did get to DH. He got so depressed it was hard to watch. There were days when he wasn't sure that he still wanted to play. I thought he might quit.

 

As time went on things got better. Last summer he got to play again, although he was projected to be a back up on his Legion team. However, the very excellent starter in front of him had an illness, and my son got his shot. He did great.

 

Long story short, he fell back in love with baseball. He is now set for college with a roster spot at a D3 he is wild about. He worked harder in the off season than he had before.

 

There will be set backs. The one your son has experienced is a bad one. If he loves the sport he will come back to it. If he loves football he will decide to play in the fall.

 

Some kids play baseball. Some kids are baseball players. The difference is love for the sport, not talent. Time will tell which category your son falls in to. Only he can decide.

 

Good luck to your family..

 

 

Thanks Coach...nice read.

Oscar. It seems you may just need to take a stap back. it appears you are caught up into this baseball thing too much. Its going to be up to your kid to be proactive and ask the coach what he needs to do to improve his game to make the team next year. If he wants to put the work in, get on a summer team or work with instruction, then you can be there to support him with things like the costs etc for these things but ultimately, rueing over whether you shouldve held him back in school just for baseball or looking for another school hoping he can make their baseball team with less importance on the kind of school hes'd be going to might me a bit shortsided and not productive at all if your son's goal is to play hs baseball. My son was too young to drive in his jr year and didnt get his license until his senior year and he started school on time. Had he redshirted and stayed back a year, he would've been competing for a spot with a sophomore who got drafted in the second round in the 2011 draft so you may find that by holding him back, he could actually face tougher competition for roster spots. Therefore, it,s pointless to beat one's self up in all these scenarios you have no control over. Best thing to do is leave it up to the kid and have him figure it out. You pry too much, he will resent you for it. He needs to figure it out on his own because after high school, he's on his own so best to learn now to deal with stuff like this so that he can deal with college or whatever he does after graduation

He's gotta talk to his coach and find out why he was cut. It's always much worse to imagine a bunch of scenarios than it is to find out the truth.

Yes, ask the coach. 

 

I'll be the baseball coach today.  What do I do with a kid who's 6'1" 235 lbs, throws side arm but without much velocity as Oscar admits?  I'm noticing he's walking people like most side-winders and when it's left over the plate he's crushed due to the velocity issue. 

 

OK, what about his bat?  Does hit for average?  I doubt it because Oscar says his swing is violent.. that's a clue.  I can't afford automatic outs even if he does get ahold of one every once in awhile.

 

What about a position?  I'd have to put him at first base or DH. I don't want an overweight outfielder nor do I want a less than mobile infielder.  His speed is just okay but I've got guys faster for pinch-running situations. 

 

Not only that, I've got two or three other power guys penciled in for first base.  One's a senior, the other a promising sophomore rehabbing his banged up knee.

 

Sorry, Oscar.  There are limited options with a kid like this.  I have to make that cut.

Everybody has seen the big kid with the bigger strike zone, no speed, limited defense and the "unconventional" pitching mechanics. Not a happy story.

Oscar: This is a baseball forum. You are getting the input of baseball moms and dads. The assumption -- that you contributed to in your original post -- is that baseball matters to your son and to your family. When you say later "For all I care he could have gotten cut from the Jazz Choir or Science Club.  The issue was I/he feel he's not been accurately evaluated," and criticise us for not understanding, you miss the whole point of HSBW. This is not High School Jazz Choir Web or HS Science Club Web. It's HS BASEBALL Web. If you want feedback on overcoming adversity when something seems totally unfair -- which it sounds like you do -- maybe you should go to a site that focuses on just that. Here, it's about baseball -- so you got the responses you did. I hope that makes sense. I feel your pain, but I'm not sure this is the right forum for what you're seeking.

 

That said, I hope your boy doesn't quit baseball. It's a great sport with so much to offer -- which i suspect you know

Good post jp.
Maybe what the OP doesn't know is that many of our sons have faced adversity to remain in the game.  His son is not the only one who has ever been "cut".
If he loves the game, if its in his heart and soul nothing will stop him. If he knows its time to hang it up that's ok.  Don't keep playing for mom, dad and sister.

I agree with Bum and Kovina.  Ask the coach.  Hard to proceed if you don't know what the problem(s) are.

 

The first year my son tried out for JV (as an 8th grader), the coaches set up a place and time to inform the players individually whether they made the final cut or not - and on average there were 35-40 players trying out for JV.  In that meeting, the coaches pointed out the player's strong points and what weak points need to be worked whether they made the team or not.  Fortunately, my son made the team(s) (JV & varsity) every year he tried out.

 

The varsity coach handled it differently, with a initial cut after 2 days and final cut by the end of the week.  But he still would review with the players that were cut what skills they needed to work on.

 

 

 

       
       


Yep, good point, happened with my son. When he was 11, he played for a travel team in the fall. Coach begged him to come for tryouts for the spring. He went and didn't make it. He was devastated.  I felt horrible for him. Very tough situation. He worked through it and played another spring of rec ball. At the end of the summer, this team needed a player for their end of the year tournament and called to ask if Sean would fill in for them. Of course he agreed because he loved to play. He wound up pitching, playing short, 3rd and 2nd for them. Came through with a couple of clutch hits as well. All the parents drilled us about why he didn't play all spring with them. We told them he was cut. They couldn't believe us. A couple years later, when son was a freshman in HS, he was a starting pitcher on varsity. He started against our cross town rivals. This is the school associated with this travel coach and he was at the game. This team was ranked #6 in the state in the highest classification.  Son pitched a complete game 4 hitter and although we lost 1-0, it was a great game. I couldn't help but chide that coach a little asking how it felt to be the only coach to cut my son. We had a good laugh about it.

Moral of the story, if you love the game, getting cut won't make you give up. Don't hold a grudge, work hard and come back and show everyone you should have made the team the 1st time.

Bum, Jr. was cut at a travel-team tryout at age 11.  The coach said his arm was too weak.  Adversity is food for competitors.