PiC
My congratulations to "Lil PiC"
Great start on a college career
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
PiC
My congratulations to "Lil PiC"
Great start on a college career
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Thanks TR I'm sure your son's debut was as exciting for you too.
My son has a habit of playing with his food before he kills it. That's the way he pitches, makes it kind of nerve-wracking.
Yesterday when he came in he was facing their #4 batter and gave the guy a pass to load the bases before taking the next guy 3-2 blowing the guy away.
I asked him if he was nervous and he said "kind-ah" the thought crossed my mind that I was pitching my first college game. It was kind-a intimidating. I asked him if he intended to walk the first guy and he said the coach called it.
He did get himself in trouble, shook off the coach in the eighth then proceeded to plunk the batter on the hand. The coach went bananas, went out to the mound and told him to stop f-king around. At that point he had men on base at 1st and 2nd whereupon the coach called a pickoff and he told me he had the ball in his hand set to throw a 2-seamer so when he threw the ball it tailed away from the 2B and the fielder had the ball bounce off his glove. The runners advanced to 2nd and 3rd.
Next two batters did infield popups and the last batter in the inning wiffed with a slider on the outside corner at the knees.
Not to make things easier in the ninth he got the first two batters-no problem, but the third batter hit one of those infield dribblers between the SS and 3B where both fielders came together both ending up tumbling into each other. So out of the stretch he takes the count to 3-2 and gets the batter to do an infield popup, catcher caught it to end the game.
Meanwhile my guts are churning like crazy, and I thought I was going to have a heart-attack.
He later says to me...nonchalantly, had it covered Dad, just was trying to be careful not to give em anything. That was his college debut.
I don't think I can take to many more of those.
Fact of the matter is simple: our kids have it under control when it comes to nervousness in tight situations--it is the parents who need "help"--
HaHa PiC,
Join the club! I know exactly how you felt. So does nearly every other dad who is in a similiar situation.
I was there when my youngest son pitched in one of his first Major League games. About 50,000 fans (it was the D'Backs first year) packed Bank One Ball Park against the Houston Astros.
Bagwell, Biggio, etc and my gut was churning. Setting next to me was Jay Bell's dad and Bill Olson an old friend of mine. Bill is one of the best pitching coaches in the country and his son has over 200 Major League saves.
I asked him, kind of embarrassed like, being someone who's been around baseball all my life "Did you feel the way I'm feeling when your son pitched in his first Major League game"? He replied yes and I still feel the same way every time he pitches. Jay Bell's dad just laughed and said he was glad his son wasn't a pitcher.
Anyway, he pitched good that day. 3 innings 1 hit and he got the killer Bs one-two-three in one inning. I was proud and relieved, only to find it has been the same every time since.
Best of luck to your son, but to you too.
Join the club! I know exactly how you felt. So does nearly every other dad who is in a similiar situation.
I was there when my youngest son pitched in one of his first Major League games. About 50,000 fans (it was the D'Backs first year) packed Bank One Ball Park against the Houston Astros.
Bagwell, Biggio, etc and my gut was churning. Setting next to me was Jay Bell's dad and Bill Olson an old friend of mine. Bill is one of the best pitching coaches in the country and his son has over 200 Major League saves.
I asked him, kind of embarrassed like, being someone who's been around baseball all my life "Did you feel the way I'm feeling when your son pitched in his first Major League game"? He replied yes and I still feel the same way every time he pitches. Jay Bell's dad just laughed and said he was glad his son wasn't a pitcher.
Anyway, he pitched good that day. 3 innings 1 hit and he got the killer Bs one-two-three in one inning. I was proud and relieved, only to find it has been the same every time since.
Best of luck to your son, but to you too.
PG's right on. It never gets easier. It's even worse trying to listen via the internet with a dial-up connection! 
Congrats on Lil Pic's first collegiate victory!
Congrats on Lil Pic's first collegiate victory!
Frank,
This year it
is time to go DSL!
This year it
is time to go DSL!
TPM,
I only wish. It's not available out where I live. They've all called wanting me to sign up and I told them "sure, is it available?" and they all check and say "Oh sorry about that".
I only wish. It's not available out where I live. They've all called wanting me to sign up and I told them "sure, is it available?" and they all check and say "Oh sorry about that".
Does DirectTV have a satellite Internet service?
Actually, if you have Verizon in your area, you could check to see if they have coverage in your area for their wireless NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess ... just requires an EVDO PCMCIA card in your laptop ... average speeds of 300-500 kbps.
... or get a WiFi card and go down to your local Starbucks or Barnes & Noble ... or if your neighbor has a WiFi Router/Hotspot and forgot to reset any of the factory default security settings, you could just piggy back on his connection
. Just kidding ...
Actually, if you have Verizon in your area, you could check to see if they have coverage in your area for their wireless NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess ... just requires an EVDO PCMCIA card in your laptop ... average speeds of 300-500 kbps.
... or get a WiFi card and go down to your local Starbucks or Barnes & Noble ... or if your neighbor has a WiFi Router/Hotspot and forgot to reset any of the factory default security settings, you could just piggy back on his connection
. Just kidding ...
Oh no, I shouldn't have read this thread since my son is a college freshman RHP. Brings back memories of his first year of HS varsity pitching - he was just fine, but my stomach hurt! Sometimes I wish he had fallen in love with another position. But I am going to be calm and cool ...
PGStaff ...
... as MN-Mom's response indicates, this emotion is hardly just a "dad" thing ...
quote:
Join the club! I know exactly how you felt. So does nearly every other dad who is in a similiar situation.
... as MN-Mom's response indicates, this emotion is hardly just a "dad" thing ...
Auburn/Mississippi State.... 2004. I was watching from the stands and listening to the game on the radio at the same time. It was a close game and I had this funny feeling come over me. I could feel every "pound" of my heart in my fingers and toes. I got a little nervous. I went over to the EMT at the game and asked him to check my blood pressure....185/120...They pulled the radio out of my ears, fed me aspirins, and immediately took me to the ER. I watched the EKG monitor as it slowly beeped out what I thought were my final moments on earth but to everyone's surprise it started to smooth out. Within 30 minutes my BP was down to 120/85....The doctor said I had no problems...other than I can't drink caffeine laden cokes on an empty stomach and bombard my senses with my son's baseball games.
Fungo
Fungo
MN-Mom and FutureBackMom,
I believe everyone reacts to these things differently. Sorry to not include Moms. I have seen both sides of the Mom reaction.
My wife just sets there and smiles almost ignoring the game while she talks (bothers) everyone and anyone who looks like they might listen to her. I’m often the person who gets bothered the most! And she knows I’m definitely not listening to her!
One year in Omaha at a AAA game I went up to get a hotdog and noticed a lady watching the game on the monitor by the concessions. What got my attention was the way she was watching. She had her hands in a white knuckled fist and she was kind of sneaking peaks as she sometimes shook her fist in victory and sometimes drop her head in defeat. There were a couple younger girls standing next to her and a guy who was kind of smiling. I asked the guy “ Is her son pitching”? He replied, “Yep, she can’t stand to watch in the stands. I asked, “What does she do when there’s no television monitor”? He said “She finds an out of the way spot and sneaks peeks and still won’t set in the stands”. He looked at me, smiled and said “I know”!
Fungo,
Some might think your story is humorous, but I know where you’re coming from. Baseball is fun, but that part is not what I would describe as being fun. I can’t tell you how many people have said to me, “Oh, that must be so much fun having a son who plays”. I always reply, “Exciting… Maybe… Fun… NO”!
Fun for me is watching a bunch of kids play baseball or setting and relaxing shooting the bull or swapping tales with my buddies. Watching your son pitch in big situations is more like the “FUN” you experience when the tornado siren goes off.
All I can say,is the higher up the ladder they go, the worse it gets. I hope everyone gets to have that experience though. In the end it’s not as bad as being in the path of a tornado.
There was an old HSBB thread about this. It was very interesting. Some people did say they handled everything like it was just a piece of cake. I, not bragging, have probably seen more baseball than most people would ever care to see. Been involved in scouting, coaching, instruction, etc. Always taken pride in being professional and acting calm, cool and collected. I’m not proud of it, but I am a nervous wreck when my son pitches! Yes, there’s absolutely nothing you can do to help him, maybe that is part of the problem.
I’ve been in parks and heard 50,000 fans cheering as my son did well. I’ve also been in a park and listened to 45,000 fans loudly booing my son as he left the field. Think about how much fun that was! Nobody in their right mind could possibly be prepared for that moment.
I believe everyone reacts to these things differently. Sorry to not include Moms. I have seen both sides of the Mom reaction.
My wife just sets there and smiles almost ignoring the game while she talks (bothers) everyone and anyone who looks like they might listen to her. I’m often the person who gets bothered the most! And she knows I’m definitely not listening to her!
One year in Omaha at a AAA game I went up to get a hotdog and noticed a lady watching the game on the monitor by the concessions. What got my attention was the way she was watching. She had her hands in a white knuckled fist and she was kind of sneaking peaks as she sometimes shook her fist in victory and sometimes drop her head in defeat. There were a couple younger girls standing next to her and a guy who was kind of smiling. I asked the guy “ Is her son pitching”? He replied, “Yep, she can’t stand to watch in the stands. I asked, “What does she do when there’s no television monitor”? He said “She finds an out of the way spot and sneaks peeks and still won’t set in the stands”. He looked at me, smiled and said “I know”!
Fungo,
Some might think your story is humorous, but I know where you’re coming from. Baseball is fun, but that part is not what I would describe as being fun. I can’t tell you how many people have said to me, “Oh, that must be so much fun having a son who plays”. I always reply, “Exciting… Maybe… Fun… NO”!
Fun for me is watching a bunch of kids play baseball or setting and relaxing shooting the bull or swapping tales with my buddies. Watching your son pitch in big situations is more like the “FUN” you experience when the tornado siren goes off.
All I can say,is the higher up the ladder they go, the worse it gets. I hope everyone gets to have that experience though. In the end it’s not as bad as being in the path of a tornado.
There was an old HSBB thread about this. It was very interesting. Some people did say they handled everything like it was just a piece of cake. I, not bragging, have probably seen more baseball than most people would ever care to see. Been involved in scouting, coaching, instruction, etc. Always taken pride in being professional and acting calm, cool and collected. I’m not proud of it, but I am a nervous wreck when my son pitches! Yes, there’s absolutely nothing you can do to help him, maybe that is part of the problem.
I’ve been in parks and heard 50,000 fans cheering as my son did well. I’ve also been in a park and listened to 45,000 fans loudly booing my son as he left the field. Think about how much fun that was! Nobody in their right mind could possibly be prepared for that moment.
These are some great stories!
As reading them, I too thought "I'm glad my son is not a pitcher." (Or, more accurately, glad he's not going to be a pitcher. He pitches regularly like most strong armed kids, and has put me through the paces many times nervous in the dugout or stands.)
But then I remembered: it's pretty tough on catchers too!
Remember the ALCS game Red Sox vs Yankees when Wakefield was throwing dancing knucklers that Varitek could hardly get a glove on? Ninth inning, Varitek let the tying run on with a missed third strike, then passed-balled him all the way to third.
One more miss and its a tie game, the curse probably survives and Varitek lives on in Buckner infamy.
What do you think HIS parents were doing?
When he squeezed that third strike, I remember squeezing it with him, right on my couch.
As a catcher's dad, I felt he appreciated the help.
As reading them, I too thought "I'm glad my son is not a pitcher." (Or, more accurately, glad he's not going to be a pitcher. He pitches regularly like most strong armed kids, and has put me through the paces many times nervous in the dugout or stands.)
But then I remembered: it's pretty tough on catchers too!
Remember the ALCS game Red Sox vs Yankees when Wakefield was throwing dancing knucklers that Varitek could hardly get a glove on? Ninth inning, Varitek let the tying run on with a missed third strike, then passed-balled him all the way to third.
One more miss and its a tie game, the curse probably survives and Varitek lives on in Buckner infamy.
What do you think HIS parents were doing?
When he squeezed that third strike, I remember squeezing it with him, right on my couch.
As a catcher's dad, I felt he appreciated the help.
Fungo,
If that is how it is going to be, thanks for the heads up!
If you are looking for who Dave's folks are at Auburn, we are the ones hiding behind the trees if our son is pitching!
If that is how it is going to be, thanks for the heads up!
If you are looking for who Dave's folks are at Auburn, we are the ones hiding behind the trees if our son is pitching!
Yep, I too could have written a few of these posts. I've come to realize that there is no need to go to the gym for an aerobic workout ..... just watching son pitch gets the pulse rate way up there! 
I don't think he would mind me saying... Scott Kazmir's dad Eddie might be one of the single most nervous people I've ever seen watching his son pitch.
I feel your pain - - my son's freshman year we plan a relaxing weekend visit to catch an important ACC series vs Wake (#22), and a great Friday matchup in Kyle Bakker/Kyle Sleeth
Tech (#5) is trying to hang on to 1rst place in the ACC, and Sleeth is considered by many the best college pitcher in the country
we figured Andy "could" get some time Sunday afternoon - -
after driving all night and arriving in time to tailgate a bit with the fans we find that the #1 catcher is down with a "hammy" - - mom wants to drive back home?, however, after some extended tailgating she's willing to try the game
Fri - son catches a 6 hit shutout vs Sleeth w/a sac bunt on the insurance run,
Sat - 2 for 3, w/double, 2 rbi, 2 runs scored,
Sun - catches a no/no into the 7th with a sac fly rbi and Tech sweeps the series
and unlike Fungo no EMT's were needed, tho MGD's were
if anyone has a tape of the Fri game (Fox South) PM me
Tech (#5) is trying to hang on to 1rst place in the ACC, and Sleeth is considered by many the best college pitcher in the country
we figured Andy "could" get some time Sunday afternoon - -
after driving all night and arriving in time to tailgate a bit with the fans we find that the #1 catcher is down with a "hammy" - - mom wants to drive back home?, however, after some extended tailgating she's willing to try the game
Fri - son catches a 6 hit shutout vs Sleeth w/a sac bunt on the insurance run,
Sat - 2 for 3, w/double, 2 rbi, 2 runs scored,
Sun - catches a no/no into the 7th with a sac fly rbi and Tech sweeps the series
and unlike Fungo no EMT's were needed, tho MGD's were
if anyone has a tape of the Fri game (Fox South) PM me
We are headed to opening day next weekend. Out of the blue today, my wife says "Remind me to take my anti-anxiety pills to Louisiana next week."
"Yes dear."
"Yes dear."
Dad04-Ty had his first outing today in Tampa and I thought my heart was going to
rip the buttons off my shirt and my wife had tears in her eyes as Ty walked out to
the mound. She said she can't remember being so uptight except for the time when she
was 16 and had to walk out on stage in a bathing suit for the "Miss Burpee Seed of
Brooksville" contest.
After the game we asked Ty if he was nervous-expecting him to be macho and say no way-but he said "Heck yea! Weren't you?"
Be prepared for emotions you haven't felt before. Good luck!
rip the buttons off my shirt and my wife had tears in her eyes as Ty walked out to
the mound. She said she can't remember being so uptight except for the time when she
was 16 and had to walk out on stage in a bathing suit for the "Miss Burpee Seed of
Brooksville" contest.
After the game we asked Ty if he was nervous-expecting him to be macho and say no way-but he said "Heck yea! Weren't you?"
Be prepared for emotions you haven't felt before. Good luck!
I can still "feel" one game ... soph year ... away at USD (that's San Diego). Their field sits at the bottom of a hill and the seating is very steep. Not a lot of places to pace without having a coronary just to get to the top. (I could have gone along the 3rd base side but wouldn't have seen the game as well.)
Anyway ... complete game 3-hit shut-out ... about stopped my heart from beating and I thought my lungs were collapsing tho I had no puncture wounds that I knew of. Absolutely the most ... literally ... breathtaking experience of "my" college career.
The emotions are amazing to experience ...
Anyway ... complete game 3-hit shut-out ... about stopped my heart from beating and I thought my lungs were collapsing tho I had no puncture wounds that I knew of. Absolutely the most ... literally ... breathtaking experience of "my" college career.
The emotions are amazing to experience ...
To All
What great stories, I read everyone of them and can identify with every single one. I have had every emotion described here as well as having watched both the Dads and Moms display their nervousness with that wry smile and pleasant demeanor, but a tightness at the corners of the mouth.
I've enjoyed this so much, it brings the players into perspective so you can get some idea of who is doing what, and at what schools.
Thanks for the fun.
What great stories, I read everyone of them and can identify with every single one. I have had every emotion described here as well as having watched both the Dads and Moms display their nervousness with that wry smile and pleasant demeanor, but a tightness at the corners of the mouth.
I've enjoyed this so much, it brings the players into perspective so you can get some idea of who is doing what, and at what schools.
Thanks for the fun.
Moc1
I'm sure it was thrilling. I can't wait and I'm scared to death.
No matter what happens it makes you feel alive.
I'm sure it was thrilling. I can't wait and I'm scared to death.
quote:
I thought my heart was going to
rip the buttons off my shirt and my wife had tears in her eyes as Ty walked out to
the mound.
No matter what happens it makes you feel alive.
Moc1,
Congrats on Ty's FIRST collegiate win!! It doesn't get any better than that.
Congrats on Ty's FIRST collegiate win!! It doesn't get any better than that.
Thanks FrankF-It WAS a great feeling. Hope there
are a few more.
are a few more.
kudos moc1. Tell Ty congrats from us!