College Fall Ball 2014

It's a proud moment JukeDawgDaddy, for sure!!

 

And, oh the life of a pitcher's dad.  Unless your son is one of the few in a set starting rotation, you just never know when they will get in.  It stinks when you plan on going one day and they pitch the day before.  Ugh.  

The life of a P'Only's Dad. LOL... Fortunately, his HS team was loaded with pitching so I've had 3 years preparation of not knowing if he's going to get in or not. I'm hoping that will change and he'll get into a regular rotation in college. We'll see. Did I mention his HS pitching staff was LOADED!!! LOL

Just kidding bball.  I understand completely.  

Bishop Lefties Dad

Wife & I will be there Sat. B. Henderson left the team.

My wife & I usually attend the weekend intrasquad games. Usually several parents are in attendance. The team seems to enjoy playing for at least a few spectators.  

We will see you there then. Sorry to hear about B. Hendersen.

My experience so far is that the intrasquad scrimmages and practices are closed until the intrasquad Fall World Series in October and it is open to everyone. It is probably up to the teams coaches on how they run their practices and scrimmages.

At my son's and Old Taft Tigers school. I do not think many, or any go to the weekday practices or try outs. But on the weekend their is usually some Intra-squad scrimmages. No score is kept and pitchers face a certain number of hitters and then they rotate. Really it is a chance to see position players hit live pitching and Pitchers to face live batters. 

The Freshman and players battling for position get a lot of looks. My son is a senior and pitched all summer, so I do not expect to see him pitch much during the Intra-squads unless he is working on a pitch, or when they want to see the hitters against a know quantity. When he was a pitcher he pitched a lot in the Fall against the previous years starters. As a sophomore and Junior he mostly pitched to the Freshmen and some sophomores and Juniors battling for a spot. 

Son's program actually sends out the weekend schedule so all are welcome. We have no idea what is going on during the week, so I never went up then.

I wish that I could go watch son play this fall but he's three states away and the one weekend we are going he has off which is fine.

 

On a side note he had his 1st college practice yesterday and said that it was the best baseball practice that he's ever had.  Not because of his performance but because everyone there wants to be there and is talented.  He had a terrible HS experience and I'm grateful that so far college is the opposite.

 

He really doesn't enjoy working out but he says the workouts are good.  Maybe he's changing, who knows but its a positive thing.

Son's JUCO has a double header Saturday as part of some sort of JUCO showcase for some schools in the midwest.  He texted me and asked if I was going because he is starting the first game and will get the first two innings of that game.  You know, all the pitchers have to get innings this weekend to be seen.  So how am I spending Saturday?  Driving about 5 hours to watch him pitch his two innings, watch the rest of his teams games and drive 5 hours back home.  All to watch him throw about 25 pitches.

 

The life of a PO's parent.

Son's team had first scrimmage of the fall. Son did not pitch, but he pitched the day before at the small college pro day. It was nice to see the new guys, and all the returners. Looks like there are a couple of potential young men who can compete for a rotation spot. 

The returners hit very well. Hope springs eternal in the fall.

Up until last night, we have been getting nothing but "things are going great" phone calls.  However, now that the academic semester is in full gear, we received the "holy sh*t, I made a throwing error and went 0 for 2 and missed a hanging change-up for strike 3 that I should have knocked off the wall, and have to get a physics lab write-up completed tonight, lift tomorrow from 6-8, go to class all day (literally on Mondays - I saw his schedule), attend a position players meeting in the afternoon, go to Physics Lab from 7-9:30, then do about 6 hours of homework" phone call.

 

Ahh, the life of a freshman - and his parents.

Hvbaseballdad - as I recall you have a nescac kid as well. I laughed at your post - we got the same message this weekend from our nescac player.  Says he doesn't have a free moment and classes as getting hard ...

Wait until the season begins and the traveling starts. Leave Thursday for a weekend series and he doesn't get back until Sunday night. Then a mid week game or two. He'll think back and say that first semister was easy. 

My son always took a heavier and Harder load in the Fall. He is a chemistry Major and on semester he had Organic Chemistry, Physical chemistry, multi-variable calculus and an honors Spanish. 

That way he could focus on Ball in the spring.

HVBaseball Dad,

 

I love your post!  At the end of the first week of school we talked to our son and he said, "college is so easy three hours of class and home for the day!"  Last week we talked to our son and he said, '"I am so swamped!  Baseball lifting at 5:45 am, three hours of class, two hours of baseball practice, six hours of homework including one six page paper due in Biology, one Chemistry test to study for and an hour and a half of Calculus homework!!"  Thankfully we encouraged him to drop his English class and take a PE class based on the advice of a long time poster/college parent from this site!

 

Baseball wise yesterday he got his first hit (single).  He has not been hitting during the inter-squad scrimmages and is really worried about it.  Normally when he feels that his batting is off, he has hitting instructors right here in town that can tweek things and he is back to hitting well.  He would have to drive an hour and a half here and back to get his batting tweeked, so I'm not sure when that will happen!

 

 

A college sophomore at the time, my son turned to me at lunch one day and said, "Dad, what do regular students do with all of their free time?"

 

The combined time commitment of baseball and the classroom is one of those things that has to be experienced to be believed. 

Not to worry HVbaseballDAD, he'll have another "oh sh*t moment"  when he plays in his first college game!  Hopefully, you'll be there   

Ha Ha Fenway!  I think that my son is already experiencing that oh sh*t baseball moment when he faces off against college pitchers during the inter-squad scrimmages! 

2014Prospect, If you are close by and able to watch, do it by all means and support your son and the team.Enjoy every minute of it.

 

The only time we can see our son play in the fall is during Family weekend due to the distance. Great time to meet the new freshman parents and see familiar faces.We are getting ready to go for our 3rd go around very soon.

 

Good luck to all your sons this Fall! 

It's a bigger, badder, better "oh sh*t moment" when its not his teammate on the mound!   

 

Inter-squads are important but they are not the same as playing a conference rival.  In 4 years, I did not see one college player not nervous with their first official college appearance on the mound or at the plate.  Truthfully, I think college coaches want to see how the player handles himself initially and when his turn comes up again.  Coaches recruit talent but sometimes they don't know the mental toughness of a player, and I think this becomes their first true indication.

 

If you can get to an inter-squad conveniently, then I'd go to some of them.  Enjoy every minute you can as Ryanrod suggested.  Take your son to a nice dinner afterward....he'll appreciate it.

 

 

 

 

 

^^^ I was talking to a coach recently. He mentioned a new recruit. He was having his first pitches on the mound in an intrasquad game.

He went up to talk to the recruit on the mound becuse he ws struggling a little. He said when he got up to the mound that the young man was so nervous that he couldn't breath.

He told the young man, "I recruited youy because I knew you could do this. It is Ok to relax I understand this is your first time." The young man was quite a bit better after that. Even though it is not an OH Sh*t moment, the first time on the mound or batters box in the Fall can still be quite newrve wracking for some.

My son won't be going off to college until 2015. We are 8 hours away and will be able to attend very few games due to my profession (CPA). My son doesn't want to hold conversations now with my wife and me. It will probably get much worse. His independence is a blessing and a curse. I won't be contacting the coaches. My only hope is that we will meet some local parent that will befriend me so I can get current updates!!!

I found that when they actually call and not text they are missing you.

My boy is battling for a spot in the dirt and it will be a freshman that will get a early start. With 6 intrasquads under his belt it is still early to tell but he is in the mix.
My son committed his Sophomore year and got hurt at the start of his senior year and never played an inning his senior season. He is a worker and got his body back into shape. The first live pitch he saw with a year off was 2 weeks ago in a scrimmage and the gun read 94, oh sh** moment! Then the next at bat, sees 95, oh sh** moment number lol..

I helped my son move his belongings back in his September to June house (3 years at this residence).  The photo was taken from his balcony, which is one block from the sand in Newport Beach, CA. Yes, he and his teammates are spoiled!!  To be 21 years old, a student-athlete, and living on the beach...Yes, I'm jealous. The UC schools don't start until Oct 2nd, so it's been a long summer. He is academically a Senior, and athletically a Red-Shirt Junior and on schedule to graduate on time.  Like most other young men playing college ball, his aspirations are to get drafted.  If he doesn't, I'm sure that he'll take advantage of his 5th year of eligibility.

It will be tough to top last season's run by the Eaters in the College World Series, but I'm looking forward to see what the 2015 team brings to the table.  I'm personally crossing my fingers and saying a silent prayer that my kid stays healthy and can contribute the entire season.  The Fall season doesn't start for another few weeks, I'll leave an update then...best of luck to all your boys this Fall & into the 2015 collegiate season.

Good luck to Kyle and the Eaters! Prayers for all the players this upcoming season! 

I would tell you how my son is doing but I don't know . He told me one night he had figured out his change up. that is the extent of what I have gotten

Had the opportunity to drive over and maybe catch a couple innings work yesterday. When I arrived, found out he's in the rotation today. LOL... Oh the life of a P'only parent. But, I had nearly as much fun sitting in the stands listening to the coeds in attendance talk about the players. Amazing the amount of information I gained just by being a fly on the wall. I had no idea my son was "Smokin' Hot." 

I'm going thru withdrawals bad!!  Not sure if I mentioned it earlier, but my son did not play over the summer.  Opted to condition, work a job and took lessons to tighten up mechanics.  Last time I saw him pitch was in May during the D2 regionals.  He's told me he's done some bullpens and a couple of live BPs, but I'm looking forward to going down to watch a couple of inter squads.  

 

My son is very critical of himself.  Most of the time when I ask him how something went, his response is "it went ok".  When I ask him why it wasn't good, he will say something along the lines of "I was spotting my fastball, but was leaving my off speed up a little".  Or  "My off speed was good, but I couldn't hit my spot with the fastball".  This is usually done thru texts, unless I call him to clarify what he meant.  After his last live BP pitching, he actually called me to say that he threw and threw well.  If he says that, it must have been really good, because he never says that!!  He also said he threw around 50 pitches and felt great.  Didn't get tired or sore.  He sounded pretty excited.

 

Really can't wait to take the drive to watch him throw a little, then take him out to dinner.  

I hear ya.  I received a "lengthy" text last night...  "had first intersquad game today".  That was it but that text doesn't come if he didn't have a good game

 PO jr texted me last night that he thinks he will get the start Sunday. Intersquads start Friday. Of course I texted back call me when get a chance. Calls 3 hours later. I ask him how it's going and he says "I'm shoving it". He doesn't lack in the confidence department. Says he's ranked second in strike percentage at 87% out 17 pitchers. PC even used him as an example to the younger guys. What a difference a year makes!

 

Everyone does understand that the phone and texts work both ways right?

 

Sometimes you just have to ask the right question and put in the right context... Since I haven't heard how things are going, I assume you don't need your phone right?  I'm thinking of cancelling or limiting that plan I'm paying for...  Oh you wanted me to send you money?  Hmm...  Would be nice to hear from you a bit more often... Awfully tough to see you every day for 18+ years, know "most" of what's going on, then have to go cold turkey...  Little bit of "tough love" - you know?

 

 

 

 

My boss told me to do this....(I haven't tried it yet....but may soon):

 

Send a care package of some sort and then text, "hope you got the care package I put in the mail along with the check"....but then don't include the check.

 

You should hear from your son real quick.

 

Quick trip back to watching practices or inter squad scrimmages.  Just read this as part of an article on the University of Georgia website:

 

"

ATHENS, GA.-----The University of Georgia baseball team opens fall practice Sunday at Foley Field.

While the team has use of the field and dugouts, fans please note the seating area of Foley Field is closed due to the ongoing renovation project. The only practice viewing area available will be behind the outfield fence, which must be accessed by entering through the Dan Magill Tennis complex."

 

Sounds like they expect people to come out and watch their practices and such.

 

I wonder if the renovation project at UGa is the baseball team and "fans" are being asked to be in the outfield area because the coach doesn't want distractions "near" while he's working on his project...  Hey you can watch, but I want you to be 350+ feet away behind a fence - the banner from their website shows you what to expect for a view:

 

http://www.georgiadogs.com/fac...ies/foley-field.html

 

 

Here's an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution from February this year stating that there was going to be a multi-million dollar renovation to the baseball field starting after the season ended.  I would imagine it's still going on.

 

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports...lion-dollar-e/ndGHm/

 

I seriously doubt anyone would lie to their fans about a renovation going on just to keep people in the outfield.  Obviously, the previous announcement was an honest heads up to their fans and families.

 

My son is about to go nuts.  Last weekend was their first intersquad and he was sicker than a dog and couldn't get out of bed.  Now this weekend he is scheduled to play Saturday and its supposed to rain.  The ironic thing is that he chose to play in the Southwest to avoid the rain we have in the Northwest.

Hopefully Lefty got his paper turned in before midnight last night.  Got an extension from the professor.  He's trying to manage what little time he has.  Hahaha!!

Went down and watched bballson pitch in an inter squad yesterday. Pitched 2 innings without giving up a run. He didn't have his best stuff, but got the job done. Gave up 3 singles in 2 innings, but still faced the minimum thanks to a 1-6-2 DP with runners on 1st & 3rd and 2 pickoffs. Looking forward to more baseball.

Got a phone call from son Thurs. He said he had good news for me & I assumed he was going to say he was feeling better after battling an upper respiratory infection all week. NO no no his good news was that he had locked his truck keys in the truck & it was parked at a metered space downtown. He had contacted both campus & local police depts. but they said they didn't unlock vehicles. Sooo the wife & I grabbed a spare set of keys we had and drove 2hrs. to unlock his truck. By the way fall ball is going very well with the team showing a lot of talent & giving all of us parents high hopes for a successful season. GOOD LUCK to ALL.