Best Cities For Year Round Baseball

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
I find it interesting there was no response to CM's post.
Not understanding if you have an older son and been though this beofre, why all the daddy questions, you can't figure all of this out on your own. You are 45 but have a son who reached AAA?
Something isn't kosher here, to much information.

My questions and experiences are new with my youngest. My oldest there wasnt all this travel ball stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by OCB:

My questions and experiences are new with my youngest. My oldest there wasnt all this travel ball stuff.

So obviously, if your son made it to AAA, one doesn't NEED all this travel ball garbage.

quote:

Originally posted by BOF:
OCB all I can say is WOW. You well on your way to raising the next Todd Marinovich. Good luck to you..BTW So Cal is a terrible place so stay away.

For those who don't remember.

http://deadspin.com/5215145/th...uld-read-immediately

No matter what I think of you or your son I would never stoop so low as to call another mans child something that inhuman.


If this is the type of example you set for your child then I guess my tax dollars will be paying for whatever prison he ends up in. Good luck to you btw as well.

OCB- When you come onto a message board and ask a question, people are entitled to their own opinions in their answers. If you don't like their answers, appreciate them for taking their time to at least think it over and help you with whatever it is. There's no need to rile people up just because you have some sort of self-pride insecurity. From what you have said in your posts here and in the past, you should have a sit down and have a lesson in maturity with your son, because evidently if everything you say is true, he is leaps and bounds ahead of you in this department. My best advice to you is to shut up, keep your outrageous opinions to yourself, and don't accuse people of being unsuccessful and incorrect just because they don't agree with your stupidity.

Here are my two cents, from a dad who never played organized baseball and who has a 13yo son that has never played travel/select ball.

Living in Central Texas we could play baseball year round, but what's the point? To me, the risk of burnout or arm problems are too great, not to mention the expense - would rather spend the money on a math tutor.

As he will be entering HS next year he may play some tournament ball next summer for exposure to more competetive ball. Not alot - just to let him see a higher level of competition.

As mentioned on another thread, my son is smaller and slower than most of the other kids he plays with - a late developer (I hope!!) An adequate position player, his ability to read the ball and a good arm compensate some for his lack of speed. But his greatest asset is that he has no sense of anxiety either pitching or hitting. One run lead, bases loaded, no outs - he says he looks forward to pitching in that situation, and is often called on to do just that.

IOW, his mental attributes are stronger than his physical ones. Not sure how playing 90 games a year would improve that much.

OCB

No I didn't play USSSA ball nor did any of my boys and they all played college ball

I have been around youth sports for longer than you have been alive and I have to tell you that you are the scariest parent I have met yet and I have met thousands of them

Being rich, retired and pompous at 45 does not make you know what you are doing--


And I am with TPM, and this does not happen often--a son retiring from AAA ball and a 10 year old---the math doesn't work for me

Maybe his older son is retiring from AAA in Little League.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
OCB

No I didn't play USSSA ball nor did any of my boys and they all played college ball

I have been around youth sports for longer than you have been alive and I have to tell you that you are the scariest parent I have met yet and I have met thousands of them

Being rich, retired and pompous at 45 does not make you know what you are doing--


And I am with TPM, and this does not happen often--a son retiring from AAA ball and a 10 year old---the math doesn't work for me

Sorry the math doesnt work for you but as I mentioned in another post assumption can make us a what? You can imagine I dont feel like sharing much info at this point. So I will leave this one to your already incorrect formed opinions.

It seems that there is a certain mold that most of the dads fit here. However just because someone else doesnt fit the typical mold on this board makes them scary or wrong.

I will leave all of you with this to maybe prove the point. I will use RPMs reasoning which is scary to me. You all say that playing year round baseball is bad. First who do you think will be the #1 pick in the MLB draft this year? Once you figure that out look at his youth career. Second as RPM says show me current evidence that playing yr round baseball with 6 to 8 weeks off per yr hurts a child that doesnt pitch.

OCB,

One of the best places to play year round baseball is south Florida. We actually come down there to do events in December and January.

It seems that you already live there. I'm confused, but I suppose you could maybe look at the Phoenix area.

1) The mold the posters in this thread come from is one of perspective. It's a healthy mold. Your lack of perspective is scary.

2) Whomever will be the first pick in the draft will be an athletic superfreak compared to most kids. He will be able to do things most kids can only dream. It will about genetics, not playing year round regardless of how much he played as a little kid.

3) Thinking it's not a concern for a ten year old playing one sport year round is scary. If you ignore every other piece of advice, talk to your pediatrician and a sports ortho specialist regarding a prepubescent kid playing the same sport year round and the the potential effect on growth plates and Repetitive Stress Syndrome. When my son was ten he played over one hundred games in four different sports. Even though it was four different sports our family sports ortho specialist warned to be careful. There's a big difference between kids playing a lot of pickup ball and always playing and practicing in an organized fashion. My son has friends in various sports he played who played one sport year round starting at an early age and missed a season due to growth plate, other skeletal issues or tendon and muscular problems at some point between middle or high school.

I also don't buy the kid who played AAA ball and a ten year old. Given your age that sounds like one kid from a high school marriage, then a second marriage years later. You seem too perfect and holy to have been divorced.

The OP is not looking for sermonizing or anyone's opinion about the good or bad of playing year round. He's not looking for advice on how to spend his money or raise his kid. He asked a simple question.

quote:

Originally posted by cball:
The OP is not looking for sermonizing or anyone's opinion about the good or bad of playing year round. He's not looking for advice on how to spend his money or raise his kid. He asked a simple question.

This thread is a spillover from another thread. The question in the original post is about packing up and moving because the poster isn't getting his way where he lives.

He actually had very civil posts until the TYPICAL MOLD (normal) posters found out what a nut bar he is.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:

quote:

Originally posted by cball:
The OP is not looking for sermonizing or anyone's opinion about the good or bad of playing year round. He's not looking for advice on how to spend his money or raise his kid. He asked a simple question.

This thread is a spillover from another thread. The question in the original post is about packing up and moving because the poster isn't getting his way where he lives.

I know RJM. I read those posts too. Alot of things the OP has posted strike me as odd or not a path that I would take but ( for now) it's a free country. It's his son, his money, his time, his choice.

We have failed this poster. We are the ones to blame for all of this banter here. All we had to do was agree with him and give him the answers he was looking for. Shame on us!

Coach
I don't think I blamed anyone for anything. The guy just asked what time it was and the gang proceeded to tell him how to make a watch.

quote:

Originally posted by cball:
The OP is not looking for sermonizing or anyone's opinion about the good or bad of playing year round. He's not looking for advice on how to spend his money or raise his kid. He asked a simple question.

Its actually nice to see that someone here understands. This was a very simple question and yet this thread has headed way off course. Even though some of the advice received was appreciated it wasnt asked for.

RJM: again thats an a$$-umption for you to think I am too perfect and holy to have been divorced.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
We have failed this poster. We are the ones to blame for all of this banter here. All we had to do was agree with him and give him the answers he was looking for. Shame on us!

You are correct CM - but all he had to do was to look out his front door to see where you can play ball year round.

When OCB gets into the "i am retired at 45--I ahve enough money--" he is looking boost his own value, in his mind, whatever that may be---don't protect the guy---try and protect his kid

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
When OCB gets into the "i am retired at 45--I ahve enough money--" he is looking boost his own value, in his mind, whatever that may be---don't protect the guy---try and protect his kid

Protect him from what? Playing baseball?
Anyhoo I can't.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
When OCB gets into the "i am retired at 45--I ahve enough money--" he is looking boost his own value, in his mind, whatever that may be---don't protect the guy---try and protect his kid

Yes I did TRhit but if you look back at the post I made that comment on it was because I was getting others saying it was crazy to spend that kind of money on moving for baseball, plus I should be considering job opportunities and other factors if I was going to move.

Instead of coming out and saying well I am rich so it doesnt matter I tried to be a little more polite by saying I was retired at 45.

It's not normal to make life altering changes to your family over a preteen's athletic endevors. Tennis and gymnastics might be the exception. If I was considering my young (at the time) kids athletic futures into consideration I never would have taken a corporate promotion from southern California to the east cost I did not need to take for the money. I took the promotion for the challenge. My kids have done just fine athletically. If a kid wants it (the next level) they can get it from anywhere because they have the passion and desire. At ten, you don't even know if he has the talent.

RJM: did you think it might be because I want to give my son anything and everything at his age that will make him happy. Now I am sure some of you fathers can understand this. As dads dont we want to give our kids more than our fathers gave us.

My dad had money but yet I had to listen to a 5 hour lecture just to get $5 from him. What good does it do to have the ability to do things for your kids and not take advantage of them. Now I am sure some of you might feel this is not sound parenting to give a child anything and everything they may want. But that is your parenting sytle. Does it make it the only correct one?

Whats was that show sweet 16 or something like that. Where they show kids that are turning 16 yrs old and their parents throw them these million dollar type birthday parties and give them 200k cars at 16.

Now for most that seems excessive but to those that have that kind of money its no different than you giving your child at 16 $1000 towards their first car. My point is we all have different perspectives on varying subjects. You might have 100 people on this board that say XYZ are wrong but there are 100 other people out there that will say XYZ are right.

Dont judge someone because you have walked a certain path and they havent. Even though your path may seem like the correct path, that path is not always the correct one for everybody.

I think the point that seems to be overlooked is OC is IN FLORIDA - there is no reason for him to move. Which is why OC has got the advice he has.

It would be like someone from Aspen Colorado asking "where can I move to ski?"

Silly, just plain silly, and OC you are ridicules asking for such advice - so you reap what you sow.

quote:

Originally posted by OCB:
RJM: did you think it might be because I want to give my son anything and everything at his age that will make him happy.

Daddy, I want a golden goose NOW! Waah. - Veruca Salt, Willy Wonka 1971 (the good one with Gene Wilder)

quote:

RJM: did you think it might be because I want to give my son anything and everything at his age that will make him happy. Now I am sure some of you fathers can understand this. As dads dont we want to give our kids more than our fathers gave us.

I can afford to give my kids anything they want. The best thing I've given them is perspective. In our town you hear about kids who are spoiled brats. The only thing you hear about my kids are how respectful they are. I believe not giving them everything has a lot to do with it. I tell them they can have everything they need and some of what they want. If they really want something they can work for it. I believe letting them fall down, telling them to get up and suck it up made them mentally tough. I will never give them anything that will affect their perspective and motivation to work hard. When they graduate from college I'll hand them one months rent money and tell them the gravy train is over. It's not about what I can give them. It's about the right way to parent them to turn them into responsible adults. They will have a tremendous advantage competing in life over others who had it all handed them as kids and break down when the parents aren't there anymore to fix it.

quote:

Whats was that show sweet 16 or something like that. Where they show kids that are turning 16 yrs old and their parents throw them these million dollar type birthday parties and give them 200k cars at 16.

Don't take your parenting cues from television. There's very little that's real about reality tv. One of my friend's kids was on Sweet 16. MTV paid for everything. The show told him everything obnoxious to say. He's way too polite to say the things he said on the show. My friend said the dad (her ex) came by the obnoxiousness naturally. When we watched it we were shocked. The kid was so embarassed he quit school. He couldn't face his classmates.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:

quote:

RJM: did you think it might be because I want to give my son anything and everything at his age that will make him happy. Now I am sure some of you fathers can understand this. As dads dont we want to give our kids more than our fathers gave us.

I can afford to give my kids anything they want. The best thing I've given them is perspective. In our town you hear about kids who are spoiled brats. The only thing you hear about my kids are how respectful they are. I believe not giving them everything has a lot to do with it. I tell them they can have everything they need and some of what they want. If they really want something they can work for it. I believe letting them fall down, telling them to get up and suck it up made them mentally tough. I will never give them anything that will affect their perspective and motivation to work hard. When they graduate from college I'll hand them one months rent money and tell them the gravy train is over. It's not about what I can give them. It's about the right way to parent them to turn them into responsible adults. They will have a tremendous advantage competing in life over others who had it all handed them as kids and break down when the parents aren't there anymore to fix it.

You hit the nail right on the head. The key is can you give a child all that they want and still have them be respectful and understand the value of hard work. Based on my sons behavior I say yes. The one thing my wife and I also hear about my youngest is how good of a kid he is.

He is polite, respectful and always yes sir and no sir. We do spoil him but thats of our choosing. There have been many a times where we went to buy him something and he said he would pay for it out of his own money or has brought us the money once we get home for an item we bought him.

I believe you can do both. Spoil a child and yet still teach them values. You also mention mental toughness. I am sure most experts will agree with this statement. One does not have to go through adversity to acquire mental toughness. Mental toughness is a by product of cognitive processes not adversity.

Just like baseball, at ten years old you're only part way through the journey. Spoil him for another six years. Then come back and tell us he's respectful at sixteen. Sixteen by itself can be an adventure without spoiling kids.

No, you don't have to experience adversity to be mentally tough. But I don't know any kids, including athletes who were spoiled growing up who are. They got to college sports and folded due to the required discipline and competition. That's if they didn't fold by high school sports when daddy could no longer protect them and make their way for them. Spoiled kids don't know how to dig down and fight when the time comes. Someone always took care of their problems for them.

quote:

There have been many a times where we went to buy him something and he said he would pay for it out of his own money or has brought us the money once we get home for an item we bought him.

A couple of weeks ago my son asked me for $20. I'm easy and gave him the money....A little while later, I notice some flowers and ask the wife about them...'I bought them for your son to give to his girlfriend. It's ok, he gave me $20...'

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
Just like baseball, at ten years old you're only part way through the journey. Spoil him for another six years. Then come back and tell us he's respectful at sixteen. Sixteen by itself can be an adventure without spoiling kids.

No, you don't have to experience adversity to be mentally tough. But I don't know any kids, including athletes who were spoiled growing up who are. They got to college sports and folded due to the required discipline and competition. That's if they didn't fold by high school sports when daddy could no longer protect them and make their way for them. Spoiled kids don't know how to dig down and fight when the time comes. Someone always took care of their problems for them.

Again RJM I think that is an assumption based on maybe what you have heard or your limited experiences with a few kids. There are many kids in collage and the professional ranks of several different sports that had everything handed to them at an early age yet they still succeeded in their sport and life.

Everything in life requires discipline and has a form of competition. Whether it be related to sports or reaching goals within ones life will require that you not only have the tools to reach those highs but also the passion and drive to obtain them.

You said , you dont know any kids, including athletes who were spoiled growing up who are. Well again who you know. I personally know a few professional players who sons were given everything under the sun and followed in their fathers footsteps. Everything in life is not always black and white and sometimes what we may consider the norm is only the norm based on our personal surroundings.

As OCB speaks and posts so goes this country with their kids---no wonder we have problems on all fronts

I would have given our kids anything. Just didn't have it to give. Wonder why they didn't turn out to be perfect?

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
I would have given our kids anything. Just didn't have it to give. Wonder why they didn't turn out to be perfect?

Thats my point any father I am assuming would give their kid anything they could or was able to. So if you are able why not.

Its really no different than several of the parents here in this area. They are struggling financially but yet they still cut corners work extra shifts to ensure that their child is able to play baseball even though its an extra strain on their families financial well being. Why because they love their child. Its not for fame, glory or what that child may become, its just simple love.

I'll say this. OCB, while I think it may not be the best idea to move to a different part of the country for a 10 yr. old to play baseball (especially when you currently live in a hotbed of activity), you have handled yourself well in this thread.

Some of the posters here have gotten downright rude for no other reason than having a differing opinion. I have not seen you stoop to their level and I commend you for that.

I too would give my son what I could to further his love for the game. I do not have the resources you have, but we have sacrificed in many ways to allow him to play the game he loves. Maybe sacrificed more in terms of spending a % of our income or resources for him to play ball at a competitive level.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
I would have given our kids anything. Just didn't have it to give. Wonder why they didn't turn out to be perfect?

You probably gave your kids more than you think. It just wasn't material.

Giving your kids everything is a sure fired way to disaster.
Look at the rock stars and kids of actors. Most are drug addicts looking for happiness. Once the thrill of buying things wears off they are looking for a way to get happiness. My wife and I swore we wouldn't spoil our kids. We have friends with millions and they spoiled there kids. 2 of the one couple's kids are on meds for depression. They spend their lives now trying to save them from suicide. My one very successful brother has 2 adult kids. One straightened herself out the son is a drug addict, a single dad and in and out of jail. They were given everything.
Understand that at 10 they all were normal happy kids because at 10 they haven't had to face life. In fact I an shocked at how many kids are screwed up and on meds.
A beautiful girl that works with my wife in the beauty industry was raised in a wealthy family. She is 25 and is on anti depressants and has had implants etc. If you saw this girl you would not even believe she has a problem in the world.
The problem is that the issues usually don't become apparent until the teens or later.
You are setting your son up for a possible disaster.

BHD, I am sure everything you are saying is true, but there are probably millions of stories out there about kids whose parents did not give them anything or very little who are in the same boat. These stories only go to show that money does not cure everything. What things look like on the outside are not always what they are actually like.

Believe me, I am not in the same boat as OCB. I'm not even in the same body of water, but I think you can give your kids a lot and still teach them values and lessons. I'm sure OCB doesn't give them every single thing they want, but want's to give them what he can to make them happy. I think no matter how much money I had, I wouldn't give my kids EVERYthing they wanted, but I would probably give them more than I do now simply because I can't afford it. I know I have made sacrifices to have my kid play baseball. We struggle to pay our summer team fees, all vacations are baseball tournaments, etc. He loves it, we love it and we'll ride it out till he is done.

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
Giving your kids everything is a sure fired way to disaster.
Look at the rock stars and kids of actors. Most are drug addicts looking for happiness. Once the thrill of buying things wears off they are looking for a way to get happiness. My wife and I swore we wouldn't spoil our kids. We have friends with millions and they spoiled there kids. 2 of the one couple's kids are on meds for depression. They spend their lives now trying to save them from suicide. My one very successful brother has 2 adult kids. One straightened herself out the son is a drug addict, a single dad and in and out of jail. They were given everything.
Understand that at 10 they all were normal happy kids because at 10 they haven't had to face life. In fact I an shocked at how many kids are screwed up and on meds.
A beautiful girl that works with my wife in the beauty industry was raised in a wealthy family. She is 25 and is on anti depressants and has had implants etc. If you saw this girl you would not even believe she has a problem in the world.
The problem is that the issues usually don't become apparent until the teens or later.
You are setting your son up for a possible disaster.

BHD
What's wrong with a beautiful 25Yo having implants?

Called no self esteem.