30 days until 1st games in Florida!
Worked out every day over Winter break.
Damn. missed deans list by .02
Practices started yesterday
Live pitching to batters.
Sat 93 thru 30 pitches
Gave up 1 soft hit to 2b for an out.
Senior catcher said "that CB is a hammer!"
Is it good he struck them out or bad that the team did not hit?
Too early to tell.
Huge fun next 30 days to prove u belong.
Watched MN basketball and they had only 8 players. Pls do not hit baseball team.
I'm solidly in the "good that he struck them out" camp.
Half of our team had covid when they returned. Glad to have it run through now rather than later.
Damn it is cold in Minnesota!
Thankful for indoor stadium!
Classes going well.
Looks like Intra squads start this week with 2 weeks til Florida trip.
Trying to sort out starters and relievers in game action.
2 new guys joined roster and 1 left at Winter break.
Moving to work out with pitchers vs MIF
Roommate is teaching him guitar in "spare" time.
Schedule is set and looks like a hoot!
Looks like HC puts older guys with young guys on road trips.
Funny what a small world baseball is. He keeps in contact with travel team/ roommate that was drafted/other IOWA guys playing for other teams/ old teammates/and friends that were drafted.
Will be fun as hell in a few weeks when they play Twins at Spring training and he connects with old friends.
IOWAMOM23. Hear Brody hit 101 this week! If he is not throwing strikes, those could hurt.
Covid is making its way thru all the colleges and hope will soon be over.
Trip to Florida off to a rough start. Delayed flights got them to hotel at 4am.
First game a winner at Florida Atlantic 9-1.
He threw first D1 innings!
Threw 3 innings: 3 hits/2 BB/3 SO/and ZERO era!
Not used to getting hit but coach told him "At this level they will hit it so just throw strikes".
Looked like he had a hell of a lot of fun out there. Nice start to freshman year.
FAU games Sat/Sun/Mon.
Then Wed to Ft Meyers for a game against Northeastern(Twins game cancelled) and Florida Gulf Coast and 2 with Indiana State.
Will soon know what they are made of.
Way to start off strong!
He looked nervous to me but said it was super fun!
Love the attitude.
Are they going to let him hit?
Interesting question and I do not know. They tried him at SS for a month and then told him he would be pitching too much to be a SS. adbono tried to tell me but I have to learn for myself sometimes.
Hoping TPM is there for the rest of the weekend.
he sat 92-3 and hit 96 so seems to be settling in.
Good luck. Son still swings in practice every now and then after three years but still has not hit in a game. Hit a HR from both side a while back. Pitchers are way too valuable.
Had a fun trip to Florida. Played 8 games in 10 days and found out no one has enough pitching for that.
Good first trip but also learned that Southern teams are a ways ahead when you have not even been outside yet.
Team experimenting with lots of moving guys around to see who can play/hit.
He was told that he would be PO because he would be throwing too much to play SS.
Has played the most of any Freshman and has pitched more than all but 3 starters.
Asked if he had nerves and he said "no this is super fun!"
Has thrown 9+ innings in 5 games so far with a 1.63 whip, .280 BAA, and 4.00 era. with 10 k's.
Nice Freshman start.
Lost to SDSU and his longtime friend from LL to HS. Fun to find a pic of them at 10!
Classes going great and he loves the team/coaches.
Lost close game to 24 West Virginia. Beat Northeastern, and Kansas.
Plays top 10 Notre Dame team today. Nice to have a dome in Minnesota!
@Good Knight wrote, “He was told that he would be PO because he would be throwing too much to play SS”
This is always the way it goes for a player that contributes as a pitcher. Games are won or lost on the mound much more than any other position. It’s often not a case of an elite player not having the ability to be a 2 way player - it’s a case of how to best utilize that player’s skills. And the answer to that question is always competent pitching. Consider this a PSA for those who think their son will be a 2 way player at a top 50 D1 program - it’s almost never gonna happen, no matter what you are told during the recruiting process.
And I think you have to be okay with that or don't go to a top 50 D1 program. Unless you have multiple examples of pitchers being two way guys then it is not real. Plus the situation for Good Knight's son and mine is that both are being used out of the bullpen so that even further presents a problem. The ones that are truly two way players are usually fielders who can pitch a little or starters who play a position the days that they are not pitching. If you are a bullpen guy, then they will almost always choose to have you as an option out of the bullpen even if for one batter than put you in the field and not have you for the mound.
@PitchingFan posted:And I think you have to be okay with that or don't go to a top 50 D1 program. Unless you have multiple examples of pitchers being two way guys then it is not real. Plus the situation for Good Knight's son and mine is that both are being used out of the bullpen so that even further presents a problem. The ones that are truly two way players are usually fielders who can pitch a little or starters who play a position the days that they are not pitching. If you are a bullpen guy, then they will almost always choose to have you as an option out of the bullpen even if for one batter than put you in the field and not have you for the mound.
First sentence is spot on.
Since Northeastern came up in this thread, they swept NC State this weekend. I realize this is a rebuild year for NC State. But they were 8-1 coming into the weekend. And it’s ACC versus CAA.
Mike Glavine, Tom’s brother has turned the program around. The previous coach had grown old, outlived his usefulness and didn’t know to leave. He was such a clown he was costing Northeastern prospects.
Boston College used to play Northeastern three times a year for three non conference wins. I noticed on the schedule this year they only meet once.
Lessons learned Freshman year:
Think of any I missed?
On in a week to Summer ball with the Clinton Lumberkings!
Thanks for sharing this. I wish every recruit and their parents would read this to manage their expectations.
@Good Knight posted:Lessons learned Freshman year:
- It is very hard work but you make lifelong friends.
- D1P5 coaches do not have the time to “develop” you.
- The strike zone is damn small.
- D1 hitters and good! And old!
- You must learn to pitch vs throw.
- It is important to scout opposing hitters.
- Compete every day.
- Up and down, in and out, fast is slow is the game.
- Every play is important!
- Defense can kill a pitcher.
- Dominant in HS is not dominant in D1!
- Very few plays separate a good team from a bad team.
- Transfer portal has really screwed Freshmen.
- Strikes and movement are more important than VELO!
- Come into the Fall hot and in shape.
- If u hit u play!
- Best pitchers may not play..it is situational!
- Hard to get on the field as Freshman.
- Long season. Look out for that wall.
- Lost over a dozen games by a total of 20 runs! It is that close.
- Pitchers are too valuable. U will not play 2 way.
- Use Freshman Summer to make a jump.
- Some guys will be gone next year.
Think of any I missed?
On in a week to Summer ball with the Clinton Lumberjacks!
Awesome post ! 100% spot on. Should be required reading for every HS player (and parent) that aspires to play college ball. Some of the best (and most accurate) info ever posted on HSBBW!!
"good knight"
the Summer Team will be very interesting to his mental and physical development. Keep a diary on all opposing hitters. He will see them next Spring.
Bob
Your lessons learned are spot on!!!!
14 Cannot be stressed enough. Good hitters can time a fastball. Fastball command in the strike zone is also important. Miss a location and good hitters will hit the ball well.
Good luck in the Summer it truly is a springboard for the next season.
@GoodKnight
Being from MN, it's been a rough couple of years for the Gophers. Hope they can turn their program around soon. Thinking it's time for John Anderson to go and bring in some new coaching staff. Son was being recruited there and wasn't impressed with Anderson.
"6. It is important to scout opposing hitters."
Just curious about this one...Seems like every college game I watch every pitch is being called from the dugout.
Appears most pitchers just have to try and execute whatever has been ordered.
Daddyballer
I may not be the best one to answer this but:
Yes u are correct the PC usually calls all the pitches, but it is still critical to know what pitches the hitter likes and know where u can miss or not.
@Good Knight posted:Daddyballer
I may not be the best one to answer this but:
Yes u are correct the PC usually calls all the pitches, but it is still critical to know what pitches the hitter likes and know where u can miss or not.
You are correct Sir Good Night. The issue of pitch management is on the pitcher - and knowing where not to miss is a critical part of that. For example, if you have a hitter in a 0-2 count and the PC calls a high FB you have to know that if you miss you have to miss high. It can split the middle of the plate as long as it’s high enough and you either get a chase swing or the pitch is called a ball. Either result is acceptable. But if you miss low and leave a FB right down broadway on a 0-2 count that’s not acceptable and will result in fewer opportunities. Every pitch requires focus and when the focus slips is usually when a pitcher misses in the wrong direction. A couple of keys to success in pitching at the higher levels are being able to throw the hitter what he doesn’t want and making sure the misses are in the proper direction. Guys that can do that win a lot of games. And oh by the way, all the things I mentioned are more effective than straight velo.
Questions: did the Coach watch the hitter "on deck", watch the hitter feet in the batter's box, know the impact of the pitch into the catcher's mitt? What info has he received to call the right pitch? The pitcher can "shake off" the called pitch.
He watched the "opposing" hitters during BP.
Is this why the baseball scores are "higher" than normal?
Bob
My son would tell you that the PC calls it but his name is not on the stat line. Knowing that an inside fastball needs to be on the corner for one batter and on the chalk for another is the difference. How low is low and inside or outside to each batter. Can you just throw your changeup or does it need to be a certain spot for that guy? You have to know the batters and study them. Son and friend, who also pitches, talk about batters during the game early on when they are in dugout so when they get on the mound they are ready.
We talk about velo but certain velo is very hittable in upper D1 baseball. Son hit 94 this fall in front of scouts but pitches 86-89. PC called him over after a few minutes and said you did what you needed to do for those guys but just know. When your pitch gets over 90 it gets flat and straight really fast. You know what they do with a flat and straight 92-94 mph fast ball in the SEC? Son said yes sir I do. PC said I need 85-89 with movement on everything and nothing over the meat of the plate. Has worked out pretty good for him this year. BTW, that is why I love our PC is for conversations like that with my son. Interesting fact is son did not tell me the story, the PC did the next day when I saw him recruiting another kid.
@PitchingFan posted:My son would tell you that the PC calls it but his name is not on the stat line. Knowing that an inside fastball needs to be on the corner for one batter and on the chalk for another is the difference. How low is low and inside or outside to each batter. Can you just throw your changeup or does it need to be a certain spot for that guy? You have to know the batters and study them. Son and friend, who also pitches, talk about batters during the game early on when they are in dugout so when they get on the mound they are ready.
We talk about velo but certain velo is very hittable in upper D1 baseball. Son hit 94 this fall in front of scouts but pitches 86-89. PC called him over after a few minutes and said you did what you needed to do for those guys but just know. When your pitch gets over 90 it gets flat and straight really fast. You know what they do with a flat and straight 92-94 mph fast ball in the SEC? Son said yes sir I do. PC said I need 85-89 with movement on everything and nothing over the meat of the plate. Has worked out pretty good for him this year. BTW, that is why I love our PC is for conversations like that with my son. Interesting fact is son did not tell me the story, the PC did the next day when I saw him recruiting another kid.
Your son has one of the best Pitching Coaches in college baseball.
He has now started 4-5 games this Summer in the prospects League. As Bob said it is a learning experience. College coaches only told him to work on placement/control of FB and to "experiment" this Summer. He is. getting lots of reps but not sure if he is really "learning" to pitch yet. He is still like a young golfer telling u how far he hits it. And you reply that there is no place on the scorecard for distance!
He throws 90-94, has a great CU and a killer CB. But having great stuff and "learning" to pitch are 2 different things and u have to learn it yourself. College coaches just want him to throw strikes and let the defense work.
I am far from a scout but it sure seems to me that where he needs to adjust is when he gets 0-2 with 2 pretty CB's and does not put them away.
60 games in 67 days will surely improve your game!
Good Knight;
it depends on the baseball knowledge of the coach or catcher calling the pitches.
He has to "look" into the mind of the hitter and study the bat, the hands, the fingers, the eyes and the feet.
Bob
