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Coach "saving" pitcher instead of pitching when scouts are there

bagsbaseballbagsbaseball100+ posts
This is my son's 4th year with the same summer travel team. He is going into his senior year of HS, so we all know how important this summer is for him. He has been told that he is the team's #1 starter.

My problem is that they keep "saving" him for teams that the coach has a "problem" with. We have been told that because he is on this team, many of the college coaches will be following them this summer. At every tournament game so far this season there has been at least three DI coaches scouting the team.

This weekend there are three DI coaches at the tournament that we are in, all have sent multiple letters and e-mails that they are very interested in him. He has not pitched yet! They are "saving" him for a game in town this week.

I thought that we would have a problem with year, since the head coaches nephew is on the team. He is getting to play every inning of every game and is pitching at all of the tournaments.

The coaches know these scouts are there. They talk to them at every tournament. They even play a player in the field that usually is our DH so a coach can see him. He is a "perferred walk-on" at that school. This is also a school my son is very interested in and they say they are interested in him.

What should my son do? He loves this team and would never go to another one. He loves the coaches, but he is getting very frustrated. When kids talk to the coaches about playing time, it works in the opposite with this team, you see less.

We are getting e-mails from coaches asking my son to let them know when he is pitching. He never knows. We have given the coach all of the phone numbers and e-mails of these college coaches and have asked him to call but we have no idea if he has.

Before this season, this was only a game. Now that you have college scholarships on the line, it becomes much more. This is my son's chance to be seen and make a name for himself. The coaches don't want him to go to showcases because he will "throw too many pitches and have to miss a start". But if they are not pitching him in games where he will be seen, what can we do?

Please, some advise from those that have been here before or coaches that understand what is happening.
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FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
bagsbaseball,
Very good post and I think a very common "problem". The one thing that stands out in your post and puts everything in perspective is your son's comments:

quote:
He loves this team and would never go to another one. He loves the coaches, but he is getting very frustrated


So, a transfer is not going to happen and your son has told you he likes his team and his coaches in spite of your assessment of the situation.


quote:
They are "saving" him for a game in town this week.


If coaches are asking when your son will pitch as you indicate they have, I would email them or call them and tell them the information you have told us: (rephrase it just a little)


quote:
I thought that we would have a problem with year, since the head coaches nephew is on the team. He is getting to play every inning of every game and is pitching at all of the tournaments


I guess we would call this "Uncle Ball" but since you already "thought" this would happen there should be no surprises here.


quote:
The coaches know these scouts are there. They talk to them at every tournament. They even play a player in the field that usually is our DH so a coach can see him. He is a "perferred walk-on" at that school. This is also a school my son is very interested in and they say they are interested in him.
We can only guess what the conversations are about so we shouldn't assume anything from this. If we WERE to assume anything, I would assume these coaches would ask to see "their" preferred walk-on.

quote:
The coaches don't want him to go to showcases because he will "throw too many pitches and have to miss a start". But if they are not pitching him in games where he will be seen, what can we do?

Let me be blunt. You have to be proactive and do things you have control over that will have a POSITIVE impact on your son's future LIKE TAKING YOUR SON TO SHOWCASES. Being concerned, frustrated, and venting your frustration or kicking the dog will have no bearing on your son's future. You cannot dictate to a coach when your son will pitch just so he can be seen by a college coach. We parents have to understand that a coach’s primary goal is to win ball games, not showcase your or my son. To give you an example. My son was a P/C in high school. Most scouts wanted to see him as a catcher and his coach would not accommodate the scouts and would pitch him or DH him when he knew there were going to be in town. The MLB Scouting bureau even came in to film my son for MLB. His coach knew this and he ignored their request to film him catching and pitched him during the game. Consequently the film of my son, who was drafted out of high school as a catcher, was filmed and written up by the Major League Scouting Bureau to be a pitcher. Like it or not, coaches are in charge and sometimes they like to let everyone know that! Roll Eyes
Fungo
Last edited by Fungo
PrepsterPrepster10,000+ posts
If there is any way to resolve this predicament, it's through honest, open communication between your son (and only your son) and his head coach. As part of that, I'd recommend that he find a time to talk with him when the coach is both alone and free from the distractions and pressures of coaching.

During his time with him, he can explain to him that, wanting to make the best possible contribution to the team, it'd be good to know specifically which future opponents he's likely to face. That way, he's able to take the mound (I take it that he's a pitcher since you referred to him as a "starter.") as prepared as possible. Additionally, it puts him in position to tell recruiters who have contacted him which games they ought to make a point to attend (a development which benefits every player on the team).

The fact that others who may have complained about playing time may have suffered shouldn't keep him from having this conversation. First, one doesn't know how they approached it. If they came at it from the "I'm better than so-and-so" perspective, it's quite possible that they should have suffered. However, even if they didn't, what other recourse does your son have? In the absence of a conference with his coach, your description suggests that he'll continue to sit the rest of the summer; and then where is he?

As far as showcases are concerned, I'd suggest that he look ahead at his travel team's schedule and try to choose a showcase date that either doesn't conflict with a travel team tournament or, if it conflicts, overlaps a weekend when he's least likely to pitch. However, he shouldn't forgo showcases altogether. The need for individual players to take a weekend away from their travel teams in order to do so is now well established.

Best of luck to your son!
HitsvilleHitsville10+ posts
quote:
Let me be blunt. You have to be proactive and do things you have control over that will have a POSITIVE impact on your son's future LIKE TAKING YOUR SON TO SHOWCASES.


Fungo couldn't have stated it more clearly. Your son will get more exposure during one weekend at a top showcase than he has ever had before, and the summer between the junior and senior year is prime time.

quote:
He loves this team and would never go to another one.


I suggest that this is probably the wrong way to look at it. Yes he loves this team, but its not going to be around much longer because the next step is college, and he needs to be playing RIGHT NOW to be assured of playing at the next level.

I encourage taking the "long view" that looks beyond any single team or any single season - this is your son's baseball CAREER that is hanging in the balance. Don't leave it to any given coach to define his career.

I say this from experience. My son was not allowed to catch in high school although he came up through the youth leagues catching. Due to his speed he played center field for 4 years. He signed with Auburn as a right fielder and was red-shirted as a freshman. He left Auburn after his red-shirt freshman year to play for a JUCO as a catcher, caught his first season since he was 14, and got drafted as a catcher by the NYY. The point is, we had a discussion about him taking charge of his career, and I told him that not only was it perfectly alright for him to make the major decisions regarding his baseball career; he HAD to be the one calling his shots.

I suggest your son start planning for showcase participation, let his coach know when he will be available to start and when he will be away at showcases, and take it from there.
Last edited by Hitsville
W Will1,000+ posts
Years ago I had a boy who was a pitcher and eventually was drafted in the 4 th round. He also had a scholarship to a prominent D1 school. Everytie he pitched there was Major league scouts. I was getting calls at all hours of the day and night asking me when he was going to pitch. also in that mix was the college coach calling me what he was going to do if drafted. His father told me to do what was best for the team. I had 2 other pitchers and the way I worked it was when it was his turn to pitch he pitched. If team x was on the schedule and he was up he pitched. Worked out well for us.
O ozzir10+ posts
I agree 100% with TAKING CONTROL.

And, If what you're saying is accurate, I wouldn't even worry about the teams schedule. By that I mean, I'd throw on my throwing program, I'd attend showcases, and, if the coach called your number on a day after you'd thrown, I'd say, "I can't go coach, arm is tired."

IMHO, one of the most important things a coach can tell his team after any game, is the lineup for the next game. I realize there are exceptions to this. But, on a regular basis, if the kids who are playing can come to the park knowing they'll play, they'll be better prepared. And, the kids who know they aren't playing can train without fear of fatique.
Last edited by ozzir
L lafmom5,000+ posts
Bags, I agree with the others - if your son isn't getting the exposure he needs from this team, then take him to showcases. The team coach will have to work around your son's arm being used. Also, if the school he wants to go to is interested in him, they will work with you - make sure you let them know where and when he will showcase.

I'll share our experience with you. Son is primarily an OF in HS (almost exclusively). Likes to pitch too. Did two local and inexpensive showcases over last winter where he pitched. Probably 1/2 of the schools that called him, called him as a pitcher primarily from these showcases. Also, he's on a summer team pitching as a result of one of the showcases.

Your son can get seen at lots of venues IMO. A huge key is to communicate with the colleges that he's interested in, so they know where they'll have a true chance to evaluate him.
Last edited by lafmom
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
It appears to me that the main reason this team is in existence is to WIN not showcase players and from your post I think you knew that going in.

That being said you cannot ask the coach to pitch your son at certain times as he apparently thinks you son is not one of his main pitchers. If he thought highly of him he would be pitching him in tournaments and showcasing him.

You also indicate that you sort of knew the lay of the land when he signed on. Thus you cannot complain.

By expressing your desires as you do I think you want you son on a travel team that is more of a "showcase" team that a "tournament" team.

Just my thoughts for what they may be worth
D Dibble1,000+ posts
real simple have him pitch at some well scouted hs showcases and let the colleges know you will there and when he will pitch, you gonna see way more colleges at a hs showcase anyways.

Good example was at PG Nationals this weekend, maybe 170 colleges and scouts there. Several players listed on the rosters did not attend because of conflits with their summer travel teams. Not real bright.

How many tournaments run the 60 yd, do BP on the field or you know exactly who gonna pitch and when?
Last edited by Dibble
B bbscout1,000+ posts
Many of the better coaches that I have delt with will leave their pitching rotation on their telephone recorder each week. This makes it easy for all parties involved, and if a college coach or scout wants to see a young man pitch, he just has to make a phone call. I would never expect a coach to call me and let me know when a young man was pitching.......it is my job to find out where and when, and if I have interest in the pitcher, I will most definitely find out when he is pitching.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
A few summers ago a dad pulled his son off our summer team because he did not start a game and the D1 coach was there. I found out later on, the coach was not there to see that player.
Unless your son's coach has told you or the team otherwise his intentions for "showcasing" players during the summer, do not assume that is what he is going to do.
If you were under the assumption that this was a large part of the program and it is not happening, have your son speak to the coach.
I agree this is an important time for your son, if nothing is happening, then do what you have to do.
It's a long summer, if coaches want to see a particular player, they will let the coach know.
Most college coaches want to see as many players as they can, and sometimes if a player is lucky, they come to see someone play and find a better player that fits their needs.
I think BBscout is accurate in letting you know that it his his job to see the player, not the coaches job to let the college coach or scout
know when a player will be in the game.
Your son should be on a regular rotation if you are into the season, not too hard to figure out who comes up next. If your son is not pitching that often, maybe it is time to reevaluate why.
JMO
Last edited by TPM
B Bee>1,000+ posts
bags, a few observations & q's

how does a summer team get thru a weekend tourny playing about 5 games in 3 days without throwing their #1 P?

if a summer coach tells you his team is all the exposure you'll need, you'd have to wonder what the heck else he is IGNORANT about -
tho there are plenty of good suumer teams in NE Ohio, and even tho NONE can come close to that claim, I often hear it

anyway the solution seem simple, showcase on some weekends, as they're not using you anyway

good luck
Last edited by Bee>
L lafmom5,000+ posts
TPM, You've reminded me of a family that I know as well. The parents can't stand their son's former HS coach as the kid didn't play when a particular DI coach was at the HS game. Try to help them understand that the college coach was not there to see their kid and if the college wanted the kid, that wouldn't have prevented communication from the college and arrangements to follow him. It's really tough for us parents to separate reality from the vision we often have of our kids in our mind. They are often two different worlds and we parents must always remember that. Not comparing this to Bags situation, but just a reminder for all parents, myself included.
Last edited by lafmom
msdocmsdoc10+ posts
I agree with bags and others about showcases
but if you son is truly interested in a couple of D1 schools then he needs to attend their summer camps-almost all have 1-5 summer camps/pro-workout and showcase type events and this is a perfect opportunity for your son to interact with the college coaches-you definitley have to be pro-active with your summer coach-if he is needed as a "starter" then a few days off from the team should not matter.
bagsbaseballbagsbaseball100+ posts
Thanks for all of the responses. I think I need to make a few things clearer.

1) The coach is "saving" him for big league games. I guess we should be happy about that but there will be no scouts there.
2) The team has 10 kids that pitch, 5 that pitch well above average. There are 4 kids on the team that are just pitchers, including my son. We are not a pitching poor team. We played for a championship this weekend and still had our 3 best pitchers for the last day. ( my son was one but is being saved for today's BIG game)
3) This is our first son going through this "process" I think if we were more prepared and understood what we needed to do, we might have thought differently. We have known these coaches for 4 years and really thought they would have our son's best interest in mind.

He is set to go to one showcase sponsered by a high school coach that gets most of his players money to play at the next level. Can I call him to see what schools will be there or should my son let the coaches that have expressed interest know that he will be there? If he should let them know, is mail, phone or e-mail the best way?

As always, thanks for all of the advise.
B Bee>1,000+ posts
bags, it really sounds like a small prob

while you're hoping the coach is acting in your son's "best interest", remember AT BEST he could be in fact juggling about 18 players plus his own "best interests" and just doing it the best he can

anyway, the recurring theme on this site regarding development & recruiting exposure is
"if you rely soley on others to handle it - you have done the absolute MINIMUM for yourself"


TeamOne has a showcase coming up thurs-sat the weekend after the 4th at UC in Cinci, you might still be able to garner an invite (and you might even be able to rejoin your team Sat evening)- Fisher's Buckeye Scout Top 100 in August at OSU is another good one, and there are others you could search out as well. Give TRHit a call also

the description of your "pitching rich" team sounds like you could easily get away for a few days without putting your team in a bind.

as it sounds like your son basicly pitches on 7 days rest - you might even have a case that he needs to throw some weekend showcases to keep his stuff sharp for the TEAM & if ya have some "sales aptitude" maybe get the coach or sponsor to help cover some of the associated expenses
or am I getting carried away Smile
Last edited by Bee>
L lafmom5,000+ posts
Bags, I would have your son call the college coaches that are interested in him. He can use this phone call to initiate or grow a relationship and he can also tell them his schedule. Have him tell them he will mail/e-mail his info. (Remember, they can't call him back until July 1 so he may need to be persistent) Then have him write a note along with the schedule thanking them for their time and conversation. If there's a school that he's interested but hasn't heard from them, he can still pick up the phone and call (I know you've said in the past he's uncomforable doing this) the coach and introduce himself and tell the coach he's mailing information.
dadchs20dadchs20100+ posts
All the colleges that were interested in our son and asked via e-mail for his "summer schedule", we sent the summer schedule along with our coaches phone numbers, we left it up to the colleges to call the coach to find out when our son was scheduled to pitch. Seems to have worked out very well, because several colleges have called the coach, and he has provided the information, and the coaches came out to watch our son pitch. Just worked out for us. We didn't leave it up to the coach to call, we felt if the schools were truly interested they would contact our coach, and they have. Good luck with your situation and we hope it works out for you.

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