Prime,
Dman jr loves to play the field and hit. Picthing is just for fun. If he came up to me and said he just wanted to pitch I would be fine with it.
But he loves to throw them out from the hole and hit it over the score board. It is what he wants.
There are a large number of two way players that never get the chance to use their skills once they get into college....
Why? It may be the coach wants them to be a pitcher only or doesn't want them to pitch at all .... OR maybe being a two way player at the "current" level is more difficult than the previous level.
During my son's college years, parents of the players frequently talked about their son's ability to be a 2 way player (and complained about him not being given the chance). For the most part I attributed it to the difference rating system used by the parents and the coaches. Parents seemed to be somewhat inclined to rate their son's talent higher than the coaches. IMO I saw two players over a 3 year span that had the ability to COMPETE as 2 way players.... however it's doubtful that using them as two way players would have made the team any stronger.
Fungo
Why? It may be the coach wants them to be a pitcher only or doesn't want them to pitch at all .... OR maybe being a two way player at the "current" level is more difficult than the previous level.
During my son's college years, parents of the players frequently talked about their son's ability to be a 2 way player (and complained about him not being given the chance). For the most part I attributed it to the difference rating system used by the parents and the coaches. Parents seemed to be somewhat inclined to rate their son's talent higher than the coaches. IMO I saw two players over a 3 year span that had the ability to COMPETE as 2 way players.... however it's doubtful that using them as two way players would have made the team any stronger.
Fungo
quote:Originally posted by infielddad:
DM, your post reminds me of a young man who pitched against our son.
At that time, the kid was a freshman at one of the very top HS programs in California. The young man was lefty who was 88-90. Even as a HS freshman, he could really pitch.
He could also really hit. I could be wrong but I think he broke some Barry Bonds HS records or was very close to them.
By his senior year, he was a top ranked player, nationally.
I know who you're talking about and had heard that he was an awesome hitter in high school. There have been a few players that were top prospects either way and sometimes it appears that in hind sight maybe someone chose the wrong path for them. But you never know...
quote:But he loves to throw them out from the hole and hit it over the score board. It is what he wants
Can't blame him. Then there's the answer; that's what he should do for as long as he can!! I can't imagine any HS Coach making a kid a PO if he wanted to be a position player and was good enough to do so.
Best of Luck to him!!
quote:Originally posted by Fungo:
IMO I saw two players over a 3 year span that had the ability to COMPETE as 2 way players.... however it's doubtful that using them as two way players would have made the team any stronger.
Fungo
Same here. I have a very funny feeling for most that have discussed playing 2 ways in college with the coach will find that to change once they arrive.
My son was not allowed to play a position for two years on HS team, sophmore and junior year, as a senior he had to BEG to hit. he played PO only on travel teams all thoughout HS.
Looking back, I am very glad that he didn't pitch and hit all throughout HS.
Very nice thread with many good points across all views...My son is a senior in HS. He was the starting SS last year and will be again this year. He also played some 3B when that kid pitched. My son's trips to the hill these days are pretty much limited to discussions with the pitcher...He hasn't pitched in a game since the summer after his sophomore season...Not that he can't or won't, not that he isn't capable of producing, but because his team (HS and summer / fall) haven't needed him to. I think that has helped him develop more as a position player...
While I miss watching him pitch, mostly I just enjoy watching him play and have never really cared where...I have always encouraged him to play as many positions as he could and to play where they needed him.
Simple logic that he has run with - he wants to play and while he may prefer SS or whatever, he'd rather be on the field than on the bench. It has helped him and his team that he comes in with that attitude...over the summer and fall, he played 90% of his innings at SS, but spent some innings at all positions except pitcher and 1B.
He will be playing in college but even then, while they're planning on putting him at SS, they asked if he was willing to play another position and what positions he could / would play. The simple logic above along with what he'd done this summer / fall was his answer. Coach liked the answer...
BTW, Swampboy, my son mentioned your's the other night. He was running down the teams and what to look for and we debated how many times they'd see him this coming season...
While I miss watching him pitch, mostly I just enjoy watching him play and have never really cared where...I have always encouraged him to play as many positions as he could and to play where they needed him.
Simple logic that he has run with - he wants to play and while he may prefer SS or whatever, he'd rather be on the field than on the bench. It has helped him and his team that he comes in with that attitude...over the summer and fall, he played 90% of his innings at SS, but spent some innings at all positions except pitcher and 1B.
He will be playing in college but even then, while they're planning on putting him at SS, they asked if he was willing to play another position and what positions he could / would play. The simple logic above along with what he'd done this summer / fall was his answer. Coach liked the answer...
BTW, Swampboy, my son mentioned your's the other night. He was running down the teams and what to look for and we debated how many times they'd see him this coming season...