crack me up

I think you're pretty much right and I am the parent of a college pitcher who sure wishes he could hit. BTW, we DO show up for ALL the games we can (only missed 4 this college season).

I will have to say though that our son has gotten 3 ABs on his summer team so far and played a little SS and boy did it make his week. For me, it was just funny to watch. I have no complaints if he never hits again in a competitive game.

JBB- Pitcher's mom here, who missed ONE game all year! We have a few who don't show up except for when their son is pitching, but they have missed out on getting to really know some quality kids and families!
Mine is playing summer ball at first and third, hitting and DH'ing, and having a blast! Just like high school - and I admit it is fun to watch!

I too have a pitcher and sure wish he could hit all the time also...ditto It just doesn't work that way, ususally. Maybe all these kids play when not pitching?!?!?
In the last year I have spent a lot of money coming and going up to son's school or on the road never knowing if he would be in the game. We also listened or watched when we could, regardless of who pitched.
Those parents are just part of the "me" group.

Well, my son won his HS 'batting championship' and had his name engraved on a plaque that goes in the coach's classroom. He played on a team that advanced to the state HS quarterfinals, too, so it was a pretty successful team.

He is not really much of a hitter though (I think he was mostly lucky in HS), and I am glad that he is now just pitching. It is much more fun watching him pitch than it would be (comical) to watch him hit now!!!

Another 04 pitcher's parent here, whose son won his highest honor in high school for batting (.636 BA in Sr year), but who mostly pitched in his freshman year of college. He is expecting to be a pitcher-only in the remainder of his college career, and is just fine with that. Contributing to the team effort is more important than the individual fun of playing every day. He contributes when he is not on the mound by being one of the first to congratulate a teammate's play, etc.

Please allow me to add this thought:

I think pitchers have a different outlook than position players

Last fall we took a rising junior pitcher to Florida with us--he knew what his role would be and he just wanted to be there--he had good foot speed so he was our designated runner, always with the helmet on and ready to go--umpires even commented on the fact that the kid was always ready

He will be back with us again this year in a bigger role and after it was over last fall he thanked us for the opportunity to be PART OF THE TEAM

Yes pitchers know they are pitchers and they know thet every so many days they are there to do their JOB--PITCH--in between they are ready and willing to go to the mound but at the same time they are great cheerleaders.

Different mentality, yes indeed-- I call it "TEAM MENTALITY"

WE also had a closer, he was drafted last week who only asked that we get to the last inning with the lead and he would "CLOSE IT OUT" . And he played RF for his HS team as well as pitch and he had a rifle from RF-- but his juices really got heavy when he knew he was closing it out

Like I said "TEAM MENTALITY" for pitchers

Is a 3B who offers to close games a team player?

Or is he selfishly taking from one of the "pitcher onlys".

In college, unless you are a standout, it is very hard to really concentrate on both. I think that some have the personality for pitchers and others personality for position players. I was quite surprised to find out that two of the outstanding fielders were pitchers in HS, good ones, but had awesome bats and therefore were prepared for college as position players only.
Something does suffer along the way for two way players.
Pitchers know their role and accept it.
Pitchers at CU were told if they won regionals they got to do batting practice for one day, that's all the talked the night before, how they were going to "smoke" the ball, and the coaches would be so surprised! Yeah right!

Same here TPM- our pitchers were rewarded with a batting practice (post season), but I'm pretty sure it was the coaches who were pitching to them!

My son , for one, doesn't miss hitting. He says he needs to focus between innings and not worry about whether he will get a hit or not.

As a Mom though, it was fun to see him out there slugging in HS. Sweet memories!

I also attended most every game- even if I knew he wouldn't be pitching. My middle school daughter had to go to give good luck hi-fives to some of her favorites before they batted.

MMy son only wanted to pitch after High school. However, the JC coach needed him at another position so he was the 3B and projected as the closer. After two starters became inelgible, he bacame the 3rd starter and still kept his spot in the batting order and 3B. It is not easy and I beleive both positions suffered by his not concetrating on one. The coach saw it too and for the last 3 weeks of the season he DH'd when not pitching. Don't know what next year will bring, but he is bullpenning and taking infield.