This thread is chock full of great infomation, lessons learned, and potential for our sons. It's the first thread I come to when I sign on.
It's funny how talking to him about other things besides baseball seems to allow him to open up to me about baseball when he is ready to talk. I think it also has taken this thought process that his life has always been involved around baseball off his phyche and mind.
They had just finished up their World Series and I called the next day to see how things went. All he wanted to talk about was a Pitcher on his team that had been hurt since summer (wearing a back brace) with the potential of missing next season, how the team had been praying for him and his back is now miraculously healed and he is now in the gym with them working out. Nothing about the World Series.
YGD
For all the freshman parents heading into your first spring -- enjoy!!! - it does go by fast.
These thoughts may have been mentioned before, so sorry if it's a duplicate:
Remember that if your son does not make the travel squad, he still gets to dress for home games - very exciting - try not to miss the first one.
He may not say it to you, but I think you will find that it is just as important, if not more important, to attend games when your son is not playing. Showing that you support and applaud his effort, his sacrifice, his willingness to put himself "out there" and see where the chips fall,and the team in general, is just as important as applauding his performance on the field.
If there are players, freshman or otherwise, whose parents live far away and can rarely come, scoop them up and invite them to dinner. It's great fun!!
These thoughts may have been mentioned before, so sorry if it's a duplicate:
Remember that if your son does not make the travel squad, he still gets to dress for home games - very exciting - try not to miss the first one.
He may not say it to you, but I think you will find that it is just as important, if not more important, to attend games when your son is not playing. Showing that you support and applaud his effort, his sacrifice, his willingness to put himself "out there" and see where the chips fall,and the team in general, is just as important as applauding his performance on the field.
If there are players, freshman or otherwise, whose parents live far away and can rarely come, scoop them up and invite them to dinner. It's great fun!!
My son's fall season is over and he will be coming home for Thanksgiving break next week for a few days. I got to go down and see three games last weekend and it was a lot of fun. He had a very good scout day according to his coach. If I want any information I have to wait for someone else to tell me. My son has never had much to say about himself regardless if its going good or bad. He does talk a lot about his team mates. I really enjoy hearing about those guys.
I got to see Manshine's son face my son. He struck my son out with a 3-2 slider. Very good pitch. Florida Fan's post about the 6.6 60 made me laugh. Not because he ran a 6.6 because his boy is a stud. But because my son ran his best ever 60 on scout day at 7.1. Now "that" is flying for my son. He did throw very well 1.85 and 87 mph to 2b. And he hit it very well too. He got several packets to fill out from scouts after the work out.
When I asked him about that he just said "It doesn't mean anything they are just putting information together for the spring. Its all about how I play this season. But really I just want to get to Cary and play in the World Series." That made me very proud of him.
This years team looks very good. Much better than last seasons which was pretty solid. I got to meet several of the players and boy are they great kids. Being around these young men really uplifts your spirits in todays world. Some of the best young men you would ever want to be around without a doubt. Good luck to all of your sons this coming spring. I hope they have great seasons and have the time of their life.
I got to see Manshine's son face my son. He struck my son out with a 3-2 slider. Very good pitch. Florida Fan's post about the 6.6 60 made me laugh. Not because he ran a 6.6 because his boy is a stud. But because my son ran his best ever 60 on scout day at 7.1. Now "that" is flying for my son. He did throw very well 1.85 and 87 mph to 2b. And he hit it very well too. He got several packets to fill out from scouts after the work out.
When I asked him about that he just said "It doesn't mean anything they are just putting information together for the spring. Its all about how I play this season. But really I just want to get to Cary and play in the World Series." That made me very proud of him.
This years team looks very good. Much better than last seasons which was pretty solid. I got to meet several of the players and boy are they great kids. Being around these young men really uplifts your spirits in todays world. Some of the best young men you would ever want to be around without a doubt. Good luck to all of your sons this coming spring. I hope they have great seasons and have the time of their life.
1.85 Pop Time is Awesome! I know you are looking forward to seeing your guy, I am hoping to get a day of fishing in with my son next week. It is what we do when there is no baseball.
Thats the plan FF for us as well. Time to wet some hooks and enjoy some time together.
Coach May - Good luck to your son this season. My son and I are going to do some Striper fishing the day after Thanksgiving.
Thanks good luck to yours as well.
Freshman did very well this fall. In the post-fall mtg he was told "you'll see a lot of innings and get some starts as well." Can't ask for more than that. For some reason they have him listed 6'3" 220lbs; while the height is accurate, the weight is 35 pounds over (I think they switched his weight with another player by accident????) We'll know for sure when he steps off the plane in Seoul on Dec 10th!
Senior has been tabbed as the #1 starter for spring. He has worked very hard and has earned this. Whenever someone told him 'nope', he said 'I'll show you'. He was invited to throw for an associate scout two weeks ago and did so well that the Area/Regional guy is now going to take a look at him next week. It's a pretty amazing trajectory from where he found himself four years ago, but he never gave up, just kept working and working. I am proud of both of them.
Looking forward to Jan 28th, and to follow all these HSBBW boys this coming season. Christmastime is good, but baseball season truly is "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year".
Senior has been tabbed as the #1 starter for spring. He has worked very hard and has earned this. Whenever someone told him 'nope', he said 'I'll show you'. He was invited to throw for an associate scout two weeks ago and did so well that the Area/Regional guy is now going to take a look at him next week. It's a pretty amazing trajectory from where he found himself four years ago, but he never gave up, just kept working and working. I am proud of both of them.
Looking forward to Jan 28th, and to follow all these HSBBW boys this coming season. Christmastime is good, but baseball season truly is "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year".
Krakatoa,
Congratulations on your two guys' success so far! I certainly agree they have given you a lot to be proud of. Good luck on continued success this coming spring!
Congratulations on your two guys' success so far! I certainly agree they have given you a lot to be proud of. Good luck on continued success this coming spring!
quote:Originally posted by Krakatoa:
Freshman did very well this fall. In the post-fall mtg he was told "you'll see a lot of innings and get some starts as well." Can't ask for more than that. For some reason they have him listed 6'3" 220lbs; while the height is accurate, the weight is 35 pounds over (I think they switched his weight with another player by accident????) We'll know for sure when he steps off the plane in Seoul on Dec 10th!
Senior has been tabbed as the #1 starter for spring. He has worked very hard and has earned this. Whenever someone told him 'nope', he said 'I'll show you'. He was invited to throw for an associate scout two weeks ago and did so well that the Area/Regional guy is now going to take a look at him next week. It's a pretty amazing trajectory from where he found himself four years ago, but he never gave up, just kept working and working. I am proud of both of them.
Looking forward to Jan 28th, and to follow all these HSBBW boys this coming season. Christmastime is good, but baseball season truly is "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year".
Krak, this news has really made my day. I'm so happy for your sons and for you, personally. Best of luck to them this coming season! Just awesome!
Thanks, guys. I'm far more proud of them for having had to grow up in Korea and then somehow make an adjustment to going to live on their own in a country they held a passport for, but essentially knew almost nothing about. "Third Culture Kids", they call them. They have battled through to make their niches. Baseball is a nice sidelight to seeing both of them making that big leap to life in the U.S.of A.
They fly back together on the 10th and I am planning a big outdoor Christmas lights display to welcome them back 'home'. Can't wait!
Bum, you know I'll be looking and listening for Rusty's name in June. He's a lock and it's going to be an awfully exciting time for your family. Enjoy it!
They fly back together on the 10th and I am planning a big outdoor Christmas lights display to welcome them back 'home'. Can't wait!
Bum, you know I'll be looking and listening for Rusty's name in June. He's a lock and it's going to be an awfully exciting time for your family. Enjoy it!
Very happy for you Krak, and for your sons!!!
Have a great visit with them when they come.
Have a great visit with them when they come.
quote:Originally posted by fanofgame:
Try to enjoy the process and not just the results.
Harder to do than most think.
Some food for thought, I bet most of us know our sons fall stats!!
This probably means they are discusssing their scrimmages with you to some degree.Try hard to notpass on any of your own anxieties.
Try to talk about other things.The baseball dance has been going on since they were five and many of us have spent weekends, summers.holidays wrapped around this game.
My sons fall series just began today.We are here.His team won, he was happy as he drafted it with another teammate.
This is his last college fall, maybe his last year of baseball.
We are talking,about other things and its hard when all they have done is school and baseball for so long.Tonight we spent time with him and some teammates.Talking about internships, masters degrees, traveling, life after baseball.It was a fun night.
Try to enjoy the process.Its hard I know.But try.Your sons feel your anxiousness,tehy really do.
FOG, so true! Especially for us FY parents who’s sons are away for the first time.
Jr finished up their fall series and I will get all of the details when he gets home later in the week, he just said “he did well” and I left it at that.
I actually have been asking more questions about how he is doing academically, balancing the demands of school, sports, social life, and the cute girl that keeps showing up on his facebook page!
Congrats Krak, I think about you and your sons when I wish he was a bit closer. Enjoy your time together I am sure it will be special.
BOF,
I spent quite some time with some frosh parents of a walk on this weekend.Thier anxiety is so high.I totally understand what frosh parents are going through.It is tough to be away from home and meet the demands of college academics and baseball.
Any frosh that make it,I think are pretty solid young men.
Highlight for my weekend was being told that my son has emerged as a leader, and that his work ethic has been greately noticed this year and appreciated.
I spent quite some time with some frosh parents of a walk on this weekend.Thier anxiety is so high.I totally understand what frosh parents are going through.It is tough to be away from home and meet the demands of college academics and baseball.
Any frosh that make it,I think are pretty solid young men.
Highlight for my weekend was being told that my son has emerged as a leader, and that his work ethic has been greately noticed this year and appreciated.
Marley, I will be watching USC and your son as they battle for the PAC-10 title. It's fun this year because the friends' kids I started following as freshmen along with my kid are now all seniors and it will be great to see them assume leadership and take it to their opponents!
BOF - this was the short haul (3.5 months) separation. It's the one that starts January 10th and goes until May 10th that is the hardest separation haul. I do hope to get back at some point and see some games if I can afford to do so. It's so great to get them home for any length of time and I can't wait! I'm sure your son is excited as all get-out to get the season underway, and I will be following his experiences and rooting for him for sure!
BOF - this was the short haul (3.5 months) separation. It's the one that starts January 10th and goes until May 10th that is the hardest separation haul. I do hope to get back at some point and see some games if I can afford to do so. It's so great to get them home for any length of time and I can't wait! I'm sure your son is excited as all get-out to get the season underway, and I will be following his experiences and rooting for him for sure!
Krak, I can't tell you how excited I was to hear the report about both your boys. Wow. I know you are just floating over in Korea as you should be.
Have a happy thanksgiving my friend.
YGD
Have a happy thanksgiving my friend.
YGD
YGD, I have learned over the past few years never to get too high or too low (advice others give all the time but doesn't really click until you've experienced it directly). Nothing's certain until the innings are done and the stats are entered on any given outing. I do hope, though, with two boys pitching this year, to have lots of stattage to review when I wake up each morning!
I'm excited to follow your guy this season, too, because I know the road he's been down and those are the guys that you root the hardest for!
Now go do some boggin' for me down at the boggin' hole. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
I'm excited to follow your guy this season, too, because I know the road he's been down and those are the guys that you root the hardest for!
Now go do some boggin' for me down at the boggin' hole. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
Krak,
Congratulations, I'm very happy for your sons. I enjoy hearing positive news about our HSBBWeb families, especially from those living abroad...good stuff indeed.
FOG,
You know I'll be cheering for Matt and a couple other players on the Cardinal & Gold this season. But I think you'll understand if I don't necessarily cheer on the team, due to my own selfish reasons.
I'm not going to lie. I will be following a number of my son's friends on the internet this season, in addition to a number of friends (their son's) that I've made here on the HSBBWeb. I have around forty college baseball websites saved on my favorites today, and I'm sure that number will grow when February rolls around....and I assume that other's on this site do the same thing, right? So, if I know where your son plays baseball, I'll most likely be stalking his team page throughout the season and following his progress...from all my Frosh Parents starting on this journey with me, to all the parents with Seniors hoping that their journeys don't end when the 2012 season comes to a close!
Happy Thanksgiving...hopefully the majority of you will get an opportunity to spend some good quality time with your family!
Congratulations, I'm very happy for your sons. I enjoy hearing positive news about our HSBBWeb families, especially from those living abroad...good stuff indeed.
FOG,
You know I'll be cheering for Matt and a couple other players on the Cardinal & Gold this season. But I think you'll understand if I don't necessarily cheer on the team, due to my own selfish reasons.
I'm not going to lie. I will be following a number of my son's friends on the internet this season, in addition to a number of friends (their son's) that I've made here on the HSBBWeb. I have around forty college baseball websites saved on my favorites today, and I'm sure that number will grow when February rolls around....and I assume that other's on this site do the same thing, right? So, if I know where your son plays baseball, I'll most likely be stalking his team page throughout the season and following his progress...from all my Frosh Parents starting on this journey with me, to all the parents with Seniors hoping that their journeys don't end when the 2012 season comes to a close!
Happy Thanksgiving...hopefully the majority of you will get an opportunity to spend some good quality time with your family!
quote:You know I'll be cheering for Matt and a couple other players on the Cardinal & Gold this season. But I think you'll understand if I don't necessarily cheer on the team, due to my own selfish reasons.
Lol,yes I understand.You do know the coaches are best friends and coached together at USC years ago?
Best of luck to your son, just keep working hard,playing hard and he will get his opportunities.
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.Matt almost half way home.Heading to the grocery store to stock up on food.
Great to hear how well all the hsbbweb kids are doing. This is such a fun time in their lives (and ours). I think you especially appreciate their success when you understand how difficult it is to be a student-athlete, get good grades, and crack the starting line-up.
Picked son up at the airport and had him for 1 1/2 hours as a captive audience. Its funny how hard it is to get one on one time with them. We had a really good talk about how things are going at school and on the team. He was notified he's been granted an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA due to an injury/surgery last season. He's feeling great, almost finished with rehab and is throwing and hitting again. He's confident he'll be ready for the season.
He will graduate this spring and most likely start a MBA program with his extra year of eligibility. The maturity is amazing from freshman year to now. For you Freshman parents enjoy it all, get to as many games as possible. Even if your son is not playing go and support the team. We have had a great time getting to know other team parents.
Happy Thanksgiving to all here that make up this great baseball community.enjoy this time with your family.
Picked son up at the airport and had him for 1 1/2 hours as a captive audience. Its funny how hard it is to get one on one time with them. We had a really good talk about how things are going at school and on the team. He was notified he's been granted an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA due to an injury/surgery last season. He's feeling great, almost finished with rehab and is throwing and hitting again. He's confident he'll be ready for the season.
He will graduate this spring and most likely start a MBA program with his extra year of eligibility. The maturity is amazing from freshman year to now. For you Freshman parents enjoy it all, get to as many games as possible. Even if your son is not playing go and support the team. We have had a great time getting to know other team parents.
Happy Thanksgiving to all here that make up this great baseball community.enjoy this time with your family.
quote:Picked son up at the airport and had him for 1 1/2 hours as a captive audience. Its funny how hard it is to get one on one time with them.
So true! But boy did we enjoy our short time with our freshman son over this past weekend. Took him shopping (for among other things, a raincoat
) and he sure "cashed in" on Mom and Dad's goodwill with some other items. Even got him over to the doctor to find out he had strep throat and get that taken care of. Then off to a tailgate and football game Saturday night with a bunch of his and our friends.But what a nice visit it was!
It went by way too fast.Only thing good about that is he will be home for a month in a couple weeks.Being a senior this will be probably the last time I have him home for a month before he goes out on his own and starts working,etc and starting his life.The four years have gone by so fast.We also had a great visit.
We also enjoyed Jr’s short time with us, and like many others he will be back in 3 weeks. He normally stays up to 2AM studying so the two-hour time difference (and Turkey) typically got him to bed by a respectable 12, except for one night out at a beach bonfire with his other returning college friends sharing stories. He packed up some warm clothes for the winter and we also got good quality time with him to and from the airport as well as between visits with friends and family. Baseball wise he will be back to individual workouts, and he has some specific things they want him to work on up until the season. He was very unconcerned about how and where they will use him this year as the coaching staff has told him that he will contribute on both sides of the ball this year so he knows he will be on the travel squad. It was refreshing to see how unconcerned he was with the various baseball scenarios and whether he came off the bench, out of the bullpen or started. He just said he will continue to work hard and let the chips fall where they will after they start official practice in January.
Freshman son went with a friend to a little town south of Lodi, CA (cue the CCR). Older son had some baseball business to attend to out in Sacramento and also visited a 'prospective' girlfriend!
Man, when your kids are on the road - one being driven 3 hours in holiday traffic by an 18 year old guy you've never met and know nothing about.....and the other who has only driven on sidestreets and has never driven on a California expressway before..... nothing beats seeing their little green 'available' lights appear on Messenger when you know they have made their trips safely and are back on campus.
Praying for safe trips for my own family and everyone else's families during this holiday season and beyond.
Man, when your kids are on the road - one being driven 3 hours in holiday traffic by an 18 year old guy you've never met and know nothing about.....and the other who has only driven on sidestreets and has never driven on a California expressway before..... nothing beats seeing their little green 'available' lights appear on Messenger when you know they have made their trips safely and are back on campus.
Praying for safe trips for my own family and everyone else's families during this holiday season and beyond.
It was great to have him home for Thanksgiving. I didn't realize how much I missed him until he actually arrived. Had a great visit over about four days. Even got to throw him some BP!
Fall baseball went well, his grades are great and he's put on 25 pounds already!
Fall baseball went well, his grades are great and he's put on 25 pounds already!
quote:biggerpapi said....he's put on 25 pounds already!
Holy c-r-a-p! Since the summer? Wow!
I think I put on 25# in college but it was a little different then.
In an strange looking 2012 preseason poll, Ok City University is ranked #1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference despite LCU getting the most 1st-place votes. How's that happen? The new math...
But, we follow that up with the TOP 25 NAIA preseason poll with OK City University ranked #1, followed by 2011 National Champions - Concordia (Cali) at #2 and 2011 National Champions runner-up LCU at #4. Again, Concordia received the most 1st-place votes but still ended up at #2. I think we need a redo!
GUN is very excited to be part of a team ranked #2 in the conference and #4 in the nation. Christmas came early to our house!
GED10DaD
But, we follow that up with the TOP 25 NAIA preseason poll with OK City University ranked #1, followed by 2011 National Champions - Concordia (Cali) at #2 and 2011 National Champions runner-up LCU at #4. Again, Concordia received the most 1st-place votes but still ended up at #2. I think we need a redo!
GUN is very excited to be part of a team ranked #2 in the conference and #4 in the nation. Christmas came early to our house!
GED10DaD
This is really exciting news, G10. I think it will be an exciting year for baseball in Lubbock, Texas!
quote:Originally posted by Bum:
.... I think it will be an exciting year for baseball in Lubbock, Texas!
Awesome GED! Best of luck to Jr.
NYY Kevin Long on campus for a few days of hitting instruction. Pretty cool.
quote:Originally posted by CaBB: .....He was notified he's been granted an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA due to an injury/surgery last season. He's feeling great, almost finished with rehab and is throwing and hitting again. He's confident he'll be ready for the season.
He will graduate this spring and most likely start a MBA program with his extra year of eligibility. The maturity is amazing from freshman year to now. For you Freshman parents enjoy it all, get to as many games as possible. Even if your son is not playing go and support the team. We have had a great time getting to know other team parents.
.
quote:Originally posted by igball:
NYY Kevin Long on campus for a few days of hitting instruction. Pretty cool.
That should be interesting as he does some neat drills! How was it received by the players?
3rd came home for the holidays , looked good , bulked up a bit . Had him for a bit then the buddies started calling and he was gone . Lol . Says he wants to hit a bit , maybe even play catch and hit but we'll see . Personally , I can't wait till February when the season starts .
It is nice, Tom, to have them home, isn't it? Although they seem to "blow with the wind." Prime Jr. home Wednesday, left Thursday with his mom for Fort Myers to visit family. Going to Mucky Duck, on Sanibel, tonight for fresh seafood dinner and a Gulf sunset. Oh yea, I'm not too jealous!
He too keeps getting bigger! Such a difference from just 18 mos. ago outta H.S. He had a positive, informative meeting with H. Coach following Fall season. He's fourth OF on depth chart following last years three starters. They told him "we see glimpes of you being what we thought we were recruiting. Need you to continue hitting for power but with more consistency. You will spot start against tough lefties and if you hit, we will find someplace, DH, 1b or OF to play you."
Now it's up to him!
Merry Christmas to all; and good fortune in the Spring!
He too keeps getting bigger! Such a difference from just 18 mos. ago outta H.S. He had a positive, informative meeting with H. Coach following Fall season. He's fourth OF on depth chart following last years three starters. They told him "we see glimpes of you being what we thought we were recruiting. Need you to continue hitting for power but with more consistency. You will spot start against tough lefties and if you hit, we will find someplace, DH, 1b or OF to play you."
Now it's up to him!
Merry Christmas to all; and good fortune in the Spring!
Jr left as a boy and came home a man. (at least physically…) He has put on ~ 25lbs of muscle and in addition lost fat so the physical changes are pretty dramatic. It is amazing what happens when you get in a daily lifting and running routine. I am sure others who have had their freshmen son’s come back after a semester and have seen it, but I am amazed how much someone can change in 3-4 months.
I went and threw a little BP to him on Sat and I could really see how he is able to do things consistently now just because of his physical changes. The thing that was immediately noticeable to me (other than tearing the cover off the ball) was that 80% of the balls were hitting the back of the net. I was thinking thank goodness I don’t have to catch him, since he is not throwing right now. He really left as a high school player and came back as a college player. Dramatic as the changes were I still realize he is still a freshmen and it will be interesting to see how he stacks up once the season starts. For now we will just enjoy our time with him and seeing some of his old HS friends.
To all of the families with returning players – enjoy your time with your sons and have a Merry Christmas!
I went and threw a little BP to him on Sat and I could really see how he is able to do things consistently now just because of his physical changes. The thing that was immediately noticeable to me (other than tearing the cover off the ball) was that 80% of the balls were hitting the back of the net. I was thinking thank goodness I don’t have to catch him, since he is not throwing right now. He really left as a high school player and came back as a college player. Dramatic as the changes were I still realize he is still a freshmen and it will be interesting to see how he stacks up once the season starts. For now we will just enjoy our time with him and seeing some of his old HS friends.
To all of the families with returning players – enjoy your time with your sons and have a Merry Christmas!
Christmas Card in the mail yesterday from Jr's Head Coach; "Be back January 7th for 1st Spring practice!"
Counting the days!
Counting the days!
quote:Jr left as a boy and came home a man. (at least physically…) He has put on ~ 25lbs of muscle and in addition lost fat so the physical changes are pretty dramatic. It is amazing what happens when you get in a daily lifting and running routine.
BOF - Yes. I see in my son too. It is amazing. Maybe we'll see each other in May if we're fortunate enough to get a rematch...
quote:Originally posted by Prime9:
Christmas Card in the mail yesterday from Jr's Head Coach; "Be back January 7th for 1st Spring practice!"
Counting the days!
Ok Prime, cough up the new fandangled calendar. Here on MY calendar Jan 7th is still doggone winter and cold. And I KNOW I ain't that far from you! Ha.
Will they be playing any games up near my way any? I'd love to come watch some games.
YGD