Call up from JV to Varsity

I can't see any reasons. I think a lot of times coaches want to get the guys the experience of being in the dugout with the varsity. As a freshman, my son played position on JV and was a pitcher on the varsity. Believe me, there is a huge difference in the atmosphere and intensity in the varsity games.

I can't help but think that the coach would look down on a kid who declines the opportunity to dress for varsity. I would wonder what his committment to the team would be. Got me stumpted on that one.

I guess somebody will come up a with a reason that this makes sense. I can only speak about my son's expereince.

Same thing, last year Freshman pitcher on JV, had a great season going. Then got a varisty start in a non league game, then started to practice more with the varsity and at the end of the season got called up for the plyoffs.

All the time spent with the varisty program, starting a game, practicing or just sitting on the bench watching the playoffs (did get to warm up in the bullpen to be ready to come in but never got the call).....all the experiences were great.

Helped him this year his sophmore year be a big contributor at the varisty level.

I can't imagine any situation where JV high school baseball was better than varisty. But this baord has been very educational and I guess i would not be surprised by someone who has had a different experience.

What I do not understand is why the player when asked "would you like to come up?" thought he had a choice.

I "ask" my kids to do the dishes all the time and I am not really asking.

I cant say this loud enough... PLAY WHERE YOU ARE ASKED WHEN YOU ARE ASKED.....And, do your best with a good attitude and good body language while you are at it.

Baseball is a contribution sport.

Parents need to stay out of the way and let HS coaches run their team(s). Same old song…. another ignorant dad getting in the way of a coach developing his players. Standard operating procedure for HS coaches in bringing up younger kids so they get a feel for the higher velocity of the game at the Varsity level. The dad is a moron.

I don't think I've ever heard of someone declining an invitation to join the varsity team. This kid and father seem like the type you would not want on your team. Not what I would consider a team player. I'd red flag this kid, or at least the father!

If the kid was so good and the varsity so bad why wasn't he on the varsity team to begin with.

What about the player? He had no choice in this?

It gets tiring to continually read posts about the players where the DAD/MOm are making the decisions in HS---Too much "I" with regard to parents


This is beginning to get scary

An opposite experience---

I have known players to get "called up" to varsity----to sit on the bench. Never get in a game, never get meaningful practice-----but get called up, non-the-less. I sure don't understand that. Rather than the opportunity to actually practice and play at a lower level, they have the experience of sitting and watching. I understand that varsity games can be more intense than jv, sophomore, or freshman.

I don't understand why a coach would do that. Bring a kid up to not play.

I do believe that here they are speaking of end of season playoff team-- they are prepping the kid for his varsity career which will truly commence next year---many teams do this at playoff time to give the JV players a "taste"

I have to agree with play baseball. It all depends on whether or not the kid would get playing time. No sense on asking a kid to come up to sit the bench and watch, you don't learn a thing that way. The only way to get a feel for the varisty level is to get out there in the middle of it.

quote:

His dad told me that he had been offered the opportunity to join the varsity team for the playoffs...

dPayton - This is for playoffs. Its an honor and only for a few games...and there probably aren't any JV games anyways during the playoffs.

I cannot think of any reason to decline.

My bet is the player was not invited to join. If he was "invited" and said no, he probably won't have to worry about making that tough choice next season.

Maybe he was just bragging and was never really asked Does not make sense otherwise.

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..........

Gentlemen you both are wrong. This is end of season baseball and getting the younger kids a little understanding about what goes on at the next level. Players learn a lot about the game sitting. They get to practice with the Varsity team, learn all of the plays, get to know the other players for next year, get a feel for the speed of the game, how pitchers pitch, hitter hit, how to run the bases, etc, etc. There is so much to be learned just sitting. IT IS AN HONOR to be called up and it happens in all programs.

I thought the varsity HC decides what players get called up and not asked whether they want to go or not.

Varsity callups at the end of the regular season usually indicate they're on the radar for next season and may actually contribute during the callup.

I would agree it makes little sense to call up a JV to sit the bench with no shot of contributing if the JV season still is going on and is a starter down there. But even still, if the varsity coach wants that player called up, he must have reason so he should be going up without questioning it.

However, since JV seasons typically end before the varsity and the coach is calling up couple of top JVs, then it makes no sense for them not to go. While they won't get playing time, you never know if that coach might call on him to pinch run or hit or play some defense. The by inserting him in the game, the coach may be simply looking at the kid's makeup and see if he's mentally into it and ready for the varsity game, how he handles the AB, pinch running duties or fielding. He may not succeeed in his opportunity but I'd bet the HC is looking past the result and looking at how the player handles himself.

As for the player calling the varsity "advanced rec ball", then what's the JV?.

You would think the HC would remember a player declining a callup and might remember it next season if he's competing for a varsity spot. Also, knocking the varsity team should send up a red flag about this player. A real player would look at a team like that and think his presence would make the varsity better. But then again, you're dealing with teenage kids here.

From a strict coaching perspective... Every player in that dugout is very important and part of the team! Sometimes we learn important things in that dugout we might have missed out on the field. Things that can be used later on when we are on the field.

quote:

I don't understand why a coach would do that. Bring a kid up to not play.

You bring up a kid for composure, grooming, blending, it really is not about the kid at all. It is about the team. And, it is the coach's team.... He gets to do whatever he wants and if you want to play in his program you do it.... when you are asked.

I agree with the former poster. RED FLAG.

2BMom,

I am just in awe of you... three buckets of balls to your son, whom I bet hits the ball incredibly hard! I'd say you're an inspiration, but that would imply that I'd be inspired to do the same, and the truth of the matter is I won't even shag fly balls when my husband throws BP to the kid. In fact, when he was 8 and learning to pitch, I wouldn't even stand at the plate. You are a brave brave woman and 2B is lucky to have you.

As for the kid who's the subject of the post, I don't think he's going to have to worry about getting called up again any time soon. But we do have a similar situation in our league, with a school whose JV team is undefeated but their varsity is about .500. They will be the team to beat in the next year or two.

LHPMom

quote:

but had declined because the varsity team is "advanced rec ball."

Are there legitimate reasons to decline the call-up?

It sounds to me like they had a 'better offer' to play on a different team since the 'advanced rec ball' of the varsity team would still have to be a step up from the JV at the same school..

Without a 'better offer' I can't think of any reason to decline the call up.

Or maybe he was worried that 'advance rec ball' was too much and wanted to stay with 'regular rec ball'...

Thank you LHPMOM! It is one of my favorite things to do. There are several moms on the HSBBW that pitch BP. Of course, I can't walk for a couple of days after, but I love that I can do it. The dad and son only stayed for two more buckets and left. Sissies.

quote:

Maybe he was just bragging and was never really asked clever-man2.gif Does not make sense otherwise.

You may have a point Baseball Dad. The first thing the dad did when they asked to share the field was to give me his son's credentials. And all I asked for was his name. Which I promptly forgot. I don't know if the son had a choice in the matter. He seemed like a nice, quiet kid. Tall.

I think you're all right about the kid is blowing an important opportunity. I know it is frustrating to get called up and not play, but it is an honor.