We had 2 seasons in Saudi. I would only have him throw fastball and changeups in the fall (working on his control) and then some breaking balls in the spring. Have taken him to camps and had ex pro pitchers work with him. He has good mechanics according to them. Right now he is not pitching more than once a week back in the states, but concentrating on his hitting and defense.
He has very good control and I have heard other coaches watching him say his is throwing 84 consistently. His coaches now are working on him keeping the ball down and making hitters hit ground balls.
He was on the Saudi Arabia team. He is currently playing for Mountain View. He will be in Wilsonville on July 5th playing in the Baseball Northwest Prospect game for the Class of 2011. I moved my family back there so he could get involved in more competitive sports. I will follow next year.
I am 6' and weight 210. He is 5"10 and weighs 175. I expect he will top out at around 6'2'
I have been very strict on his pitch count over the years and his current coach is as well. He has good movement on his fastball and good control of his other pitches. He does not walk very many batters. Currently is pitching about once a week and working on his hitting and defensive skills at various positions.
Last name is Robinett. No e on the end. I don't think my son knows about this website though. Must be another Robinette around.
I just started posting on this website because of the feedback from other Dads and coaches.
I just started posting on this website because of the feedback from other Dads and coaches.
Thanks for the reply. He just started the summer weight lifting program for football and is doing a lot of running. I am a little concerned about football, but hey he is a kid and if he wants to play other sports, I won't stop him.
That's awesome mlr playing in the LL world series, Its is great event.
Football,14yrs old with his size,
5'10" 175#
I hope he doesn't hurt anybody.
EH
Football,14yrs old with his size,
5'10" 175#
I hope he doesn't hurt anybody.
EH
quote:Okay, fungo, I'll be more specific just for you
Thank you -- a nice touch just for me that I appreciate.
Not to pick the fly stuff out of the pepper but there's a big difference in saying: "its not important what velocity he's throwing now" ----and---- "at14YO velocity is not the most important thing".I too will ignore brevity for sake of expressing my opinion and say that velocity MIGHT be the most important thing for CERTAIN individuals. When my son was 14 his velocity was such that most coaches considered his velocity his most important talent. I took my son to his first showcase 2 months after he turned 15. I went to the file cabinet yesterday and read the showcase evaluation to see his speed so I could be objective in this discussion. I had seen him hit 90mph prior to the showcase so he may have been 14 at the time but they clocked him at 87mph and listed his "current rating" as a "9" and his "projected rating" was a "10". In the comments section of the evaluation they had written two words "ARM!!" & "young".
As far as your comment of: "it is unwise to set future expectations" I have to agree with you 100%. Neither he nor I "set" his future expectations based on his performance but at the same time we have to be realistic and plan for the future. We take the development of our ball playing sons one step at a time and see how things unfold always making adjustment either up or down accepting those things we have no control over and working on those things we can control. I didn't "mold" my son to be a hard thrower --- that was a gift from God. I worked with his mechanics and protected his arm. MLR wanted feedback from those that had sons that were similar to his son and I felt qualified to respond to his inquiry.
You must be referring to Robert Stock
quote:You must be referring to Robert Stock
No, Robert Stock just completed his freshman season at USC. Robert is 16 or 17 now my son is 22. There are (were) some similarities with both having 90mph fastball at a young age, both were P/C going into college, and both being 2 way players when they pitched in college. But that is where the similarities end. Robert is a true phenom. He was the 2005 youth player of the year at 15 yrs old, bypassed his senior year of HS (plus the draft and probably a lot of money) and entered college early. My son has already played 3 years of college, is currently in the minors and was drafted as a catcher, caught his first year in the minors but has since been moved to 3b. Robert will be the focus of attention of many people over the next few years. It's hard to determine what kind of year he had at USC from his stats because of his young age but he seems to be very mature and intelligent and should fare very well in college and the pros. Robert is a very good example of an individual adjusting his goals and direction as his talent and ability dictates.
quote:have heard other coaches watching him say his is throwing 84 consistently.
So, that's how you know his speed? No gun was used!
I'm guessing (from tons of experience) he's around 80.
CADad,
Go back and read I did not disagree, I was making a statement that this player is 14. No one knows or no one can predict what a 14 year old will be throwing at 17,18.
Go back and read I did not disagree, I was making a statement that this player is 14. No one knows or no one can predict what a 14 year old will be throwing at 17,18.
quote:I'm guessing (from tons of experience) he's around 80.
micdsguy, since he missed so bad on the speed ---- what would you guess his son's age age and weight to be?
MLR, don't say I didn't warn you!
quote:Originally posted by Fungo:quote:I'm guessing (from tons of experience) he's around 80.
micdsguy, since he missed so bad on the speed ---- what would you guess his son's age age and weight to be?
Heard a lot of speed "guesses" in my time. Some were high by as much as 10 mph. In HS, most are 5 mph high. Last week I heard a college mom say her son was in "the mid to upper 80s. He topped out at 82 on a Jugs gun I was behind. Below HS, parents and kids are clueless.
My grandmother always used to overstate my height by 2 inches. Some people can be counted on to be biased, such as grandmas and baseball parents.
Never once heard a parent understate their kid's pitching speed...NOT ONCE
Most low-level coaches aren't much more accurate.
I personally gunned him at 84 and two other coaches have also. But I heard other coaches in tournaments say he must be around 84 or so.
quote:Originally posted by MLR:
I personally gunned him at 84 and two other coaches have also. But I heard other coaches in tournaments say he must be around 84 or so.
Okay, if you used a gun, say so.
micdsguy, I can't recall understating velocity.
A dad told me his kid was 90-91 during minor league outing. I smiled and nodded knowingly. The problem was he was 84-87 for the 4 innings I was behind the gun. This players velocity is not relevant to his success anyway. He is doing well in AA. More velocity might move him up faster, but being 5 inches taller might help also.
A dad told me his kid was 90-91 during minor league outing. I smiled and nodded knowingly. The problem was he was 84-87 for the 4 innings I was behind the gun. This players velocity is not relevant to his success anyway. He is doing well in AA. More velocity might move him up faster, but being 5 inches taller might help also.
mcs, I hear you. I only believed velocities regarding my son when either: (a) I personally saw the gun's display; or (b) when a college coach told my son the radar gun readings.
It is very, very difficult to judge speed just from watching. The pitcher's mechanics make this difficult, as the eye picks up cues from watching the pitcher. The "max effort" type throwers often have people guessing higher than they actually throw. The "effortless" pitcher is often underestimated. I have seen this many times where I could both see the radar display and overhear others (who could not see the display) guessing at the speed.
And fungo, perhaps I could phrase it yet another way. It doesn't really matter in the long run if a 14YO is throwing 75 or 85. He can be developing, having fun and enjoying success at either velocity. But that is JMHO.
And no "gun envy" here, as at the last college tryout he attended, Texan Son was clocked at 88. And he hasn't yet turned 17YO.
Finally, I really don't think that those who talk about the importance of movement, command and pitching smarts should be talked down. Nor should it be automatically assumed that those who do talk about these factors have sons who throw slow.
It is very, very difficult to judge speed just from watching. The pitcher's mechanics make this difficult, as the eye picks up cues from watching the pitcher. The "max effort" type throwers often have people guessing higher than they actually throw. The "effortless" pitcher is often underestimated. I have seen this many times where I could both see the radar display and overhear others (who could not see the display) guessing at the speed.
And fungo, perhaps I could phrase it yet another way. It doesn't really matter in the long run if a 14YO is throwing 75 or 85. He can be developing, having fun and enjoying success at either velocity. But that is JMHO.
And no "gun envy" here, as at the last college tryout he attended, Texan Son was clocked at 88. And he hasn't yet turned 17YO.
Finally, I really don't think that those who talk about the importance of movement, command and pitching smarts should be talked down. Nor should it be automatically assumed that those who do talk about these factors have sons who throw slow.
Shouldn't we give the "new" poster the benefit of the doubt? After all CADad said he was throwing 75 when he was 12. I guess the undue (IMO) skepticism on velocity of many posters here tends to opens old wounds of my early days on the HSBBW. I remember one of my first posts when I found the HSBBW. It was about my son and his velocity. I remember the name of my post ---- “Tennessee Stud”. I was called every thing but honest. No one ever retracted or mellowed on their harsh criticism.
But I also understand where you are coming from too. I remember a showcase promoter coming on the HSBBW years ago asking for players that could throw 85-90mph and I responded in an email to him with my son’s information. He emailed me back and requested a scout’s name that could substantiate my “claim”. After his contact with the scout(s) he emailed me back and told me that I was the ONLY parent that was honest about their son’s velocity. Had my son been 84 would I have “fudged”? --- I don’t know but let’s not go there. After all I am a fisherman and they say around here: “You can tell if a fisherman is lying if his lips are moving!”
Fungo
But I also understand where you are coming from too. I remember a showcase promoter coming on the HSBBW years ago asking for players that could throw 85-90mph and I responded in an email to him with my son’s information. He emailed me back and requested a scout’s name that could substantiate my “claim”. After his contact with the scout(s) he emailed me back and told me that I was the ONLY parent that was honest about their son’s velocity. Had my son been 84 would I have “fudged”? --- I don’t know but let’s not go there. After all I am a fisherman and they say around here: “You can tell if a fisherman is lying if his lips are moving!”
Fungo
Ever notice how so few baseball players are 5'11" ?
Look at almost any roster. You'll see some 5-10s and tons of 6 footers.
Look at almost any roster. You'll see some 5-10s and tons of 6 footers.
quote:Finally, I really don't think that those who talk about the importance of movement, command and pitching smarts should be talked down.
A good point because for 99.8% of players at each level, the importance of those qualities, their relevence to success can not be over emphasized. A lack of command or movement above high school makes for some short outings and few innings pitched in college for even low to mid 90's pitchers. Hanging zeros is what matters in the end.
quote:And fungo, perhaps I could phrase it yet another way. It doesn't really matter in the long run if a 14YO is throwing 75 or 85. He can be developing, having fun and enjoying success at either velocity. But that is JMHO.
I personally have gunned 16U players at 90-92 with a Jug.
One guy played for the Detroit Cobras 16U elite team. His teammate was consistently at 90-91. His dad pitched for the Detroit Tigers for 15 years and coached this team.
I have seen many 15yo at ML camps hitting 85+ on Jugs.
I also never overstated my son's velocity. I remember a scout saying he hated when he is told the kid throws 90 and he only hits 85.
I will also state that my son at 16 was hitting 84 at a Jays tryout and was one of 5 pitchers held back to throw against some batters. The next youngest guy was 21yo. They told him he had ML talent but had to gain some velocity.
My son has never really gained much velocity until last saeson in college. On his app I stated he pitched at 78-80 in a game. He is now hitting 85 in a game.
MLR stated his son threw 84 and who are we to question his honesty ? I believe he has to be careful with his son. Some kids can take high stress at a young age and others can't.
One guy played for the Detroit Cobras 16U elite team. His teammate was consistently at 90-91. His dad pitched for the Detroit Tigers for 15 years and coached this team.
I have seen many 15yo at ML camps hitting 85+ on Jugs.
I also never overstated my son's velocity. I remember a scout saying he hated when he is told the kid throws 90 and he only hits 85.
I will also state that my son at 16 was hitting 84 at a Jays tryout and was one of 5 pitchers held back to throw against some batters. The next youngest guy was 21yo. They told him he had ML talent but had to gain some velocity.
My son has never really gained much velocity until last saeson in college. On his app I stated he pitched at 78-80 in a game. He is now hitting 85 in a game.
MLR stated his son threw 84 and who are we to question his honesty ? I believe he has to be careful with his son. Some kids can take high stress at a young age and others can't.
Fungo,
I got the velocity off the LLWS website. I thought I remembered him hitting as high as 77 but the site said 75. So much for my memory. Hard to know how accurate the guns they use are, but the local kid who pitched in the LLWS in 2004 seemed to be gunned correctly.
I think MLR was referring to Stock in response to one of my posts. I don't remember what Stock was throwing at 14yo but I remember he was closing games in a strong HS league at that age, so I'd guess a bit faster as 84 alone doesn't go far in our league.
I got the velocity off the LLWS website. I thought I remembered him hitting as high as 77 but the site said 75. So much for my memory. Hard to know how accurate the guns they use are, but the local kid who pitched in the LLWS in 2004 seemed to be gunned correctly.
I think MLR was referring to Stock in response to one of my posts. I don't remember what Stock was throwing at 14yo but I remember he was closing games in a strong HS league at that age, so I'd guess a bit faster as 84 alone doesn't go far in our league.
quote:I think MLR was referring to Stock in response to one of my posts.
Sorry CADad, I forget that sometimes the answer to a post can take hours or sometimes days.
Baseball America said:
quote:Stock has been the talk of amateur baseball for more than three years. His fastball was clocked as high as 90 mph when he was 14, and he has developed a penchant for performing well on the biggest of stages.
MLR - First of all "Welcome"!
One little tip for you; if you're responding to somebody's comment or question, you can quote them by clicking on the little manila folder with the " beside it. Then type your response.
One little tip for you; if you're responding to somebody's comment or question, you can quote them by clicking on the little manila folder with the " beside it. Then type your response.