Experiencing Spring Training as a parent

There are some drives in Florida no doubt.  Fort Meyers has two beautiful ballparks for the Twins and Reds Sox.  Even the backfields of the new Red Sox complex are impressive.

 

Casualness and friendliness seem to be common in spring training.  Skeeter Barnes, a roving infield instructor for Tampa, always said hello to us when we arrived at the field.  Usually less than 25 people at any given minor league game.  One year when we arrived, my son's High A manager greeted us warmly and I am assuming he must have sensed we were parents.  I mean, frankly, why else would you be on the back lot watching a game 

Joe Mauer's brother said hello to us one time and we thought it was Joe himself.  Only later did we find out his brother was a coach with the Twins.  Lots of scouts at spring training and some of them liked to chat during the games.  Lots of famous old-timers at spring training who are mostly friendly and warm.  

 

There are tons of catchers in spring training and they work harder than any other player.  Out there in that heat and equipment must take its toll.  Parents of players seem to get along well and spend lots of time chatting about what their activities will be after the game, where to find a good restaurant, casino, and what not.

 

We didn't make it to Arizona this year although I've been there many times on business and in the spring, it is beautiful there.  My son has gotten to know it well as he spent the last two falls there and now this year in spring training.  He stayed with a college teammate of his in a condo.  Said he couldn't handle the extended cheap motel stay anymore.  His college teammate btw has made the Chicago Cubs 25 man roster so in addition to the heartbreak news that comes this time a year, a chosen few receive very, very good news.  

 

To put things in some perspective about the difficulties of being chosen, there is about 500 hundred thousand amateur ballplayers eligible for the draft each year.  Of those, about 1500 are lucky enough to get drafted.  Those 1500 combine with about 5500 existing minor league players each year to try and compete for 1 out of 750 jobs.  It takes perseverance, toughness, and a dream.  

Sons firsts spring training.Said mom there are a lot of very talented guys here.

 

Loves the opportunity,has no idea if he has made team yet,cuts last week,he survived them,I am sure more to come.Said it was awful to know guys were cut.Said everyone fighting for a spot unless top prospect.

 

Very impressed with the organization and they coaching.Honeslty loves it more than his college experience regardless of outcome.

 

Played in rookie ball last year,has been in High A all spring.Have no idea how teams are made.

 

We cant afford to go to Spring training and go out for season,so taking a trip this summer somewhere.Daughter moved to DC so starting there and will travel to see him,if he makes a team.

 

Very humble and greatful and I couldnt be more proud regardless of what happens.

Really great, honest insights and sentiments...fanofgame.

 

I have no "insider" information to offer you.  But quite often a player is playing on the backfield with a team that is one level above where they will land.  Kind of like this...Double-A guys start with Triple-A team, High-A with Double-A team...and so on down the line.  As the MLB team begins to make cuts off the big park MLB games, some guys are flat out released, but most of those guys go to Triple-A (or Double-A) and push players on those teams down a level until it all settles out...most likely in the next few days.

 

Best of luck and it sounds like you have a great attitude about it all.  Sometimes I'm not so sure that I am so well adjusted. 

 

 

Justbaseball.

 

It is a day to day thing.

 

Its hard as they work so hard as you know.But I feel that God is in control of my sons life.I trust that with my entire heart.

 

That is what brings me peace.I know that we all have great kids,and some will make it and some wont,but what a great opportunity.

 

Trust me there have been restless nights

 

 

 

 

Also thanks for explaining how it works.We will see how that plays out.

 

 

We all understand restless nights, trust me!

Yup!  Many times.

FF,

I hope Eric has a great year.He works hard.I think playing multiple positions is key to survival in the minor leagues.

 

 

The disappointment game never goes away.  I remember being disappointed on draft day but then later being thankful my son was even drafted.  I followed dozens of players who were drafted higher and most of them have since been released so where you are drafted does not control things although it helps.

 

I remember being disappointed when my son had one of the best years of any player in his entire league yet he was not promoted and players all around him were.  Of course, there were a couple of times he was promoted when he wasn't expecting it so that has kind of evened out - I guess. 

 

I know decision-makers have little patience with players who they've invested little financially in.  Production seems the only thing to tide their impatience.  The production game is hard to maintain because yes, they pay the guys on the other teams to produce as well and things give sometimes.

 

The lot these kids have chosen is to become the star among stars at the minor league level and hope someday they can climb an even more difficult mountain at the big league level.  They don't even seem to notice that there are dozens of other kids clamoring for their jobs.  Some at levels above them and some at levels below.  They've become hardened competitors.  Sometimes, they get upset when they don't get treated like they ought to.  Those emotions, if used correctly, can be used to fuel positive results.    

 

I don't know what the future holds for fanofgame's son or any of our sons for that matter.  I know what I hope it holds.  bbscout's precious posts are still saved for all-time on our website.  He ended his career as a scout for the Washington Nationals.  He said something that I've always taken to heart.  He said "If you want to play in the big leagues, then go out and hit .300 every year you are in minor league ball and eventually you will wind up in the big leagues."  Easier said than done obviously but from my experience, based on five years now, I think he was right.  Moreover, I can't recall seeing a .300 hitter released.  I know fanofgame's son hit well above that number last year and my brain and my heart tells me that his future is secure - for at least one more year and hopefully many years beyond.  That is all you can do is hope to get a chance each year and hopefully produce your way into one more year.

Thanks CD for the kind words.

The funnel gets thinner at each level.

 

I know this all of our boys work hard,and not a one will have any regrets that they didnt leave it all on the field.

 

My son was telling me how he made some diving plays on the line.Im like dnt get hurt in spring training.Long season(hopefully).His reply,"I dont have the leeway to take it easy Im figting for a spot,I have to leave it all on the field"

 

always has been that way,sounds like for many of our kids.

 

But think about what kind of employees they will be some day.When asked what can you bring to the company?

 

Ability to compete with the best,ability to fail many times and keep getting up and facing another day on the field,dealing with adversity,failure,the best competition,guts,sweat,tears and joy.what cant they bring to the table.They are warriors.Such great skills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bum, Jr. is thankful for his chance.  He's living on $15 per day per diem in ST.  He has a hotel room with breakfast and lunch paid for and no bills.  So $15 daily is not bad, in that context.

 

He knows his odds are long.  There are guys that throw harder, although he's not a soft thrower, and he knows there are guys that are bigger, although his body is solid and not small.  He knows there are tons of higher draft picks he plays with, although he has held his own and more in performing.

 

In the end he earned his ticket to compete, and that is the blessing of Spring Training.  One thing I know about Bum, Jr. is he will play until his arm falls off.  He will not quit the game and will not quit competing.  There will be guys that miss their girlfriends and quit.  Guys that get caught using PED's.  Guys that get injured.  Guys that just can't get anyone out.  Sometimes it's a matter of the last man standing.

 

There are tons of reasons to get discouraged when in Spring Training and in the minor leagues.  There are even more reasons to get on your knees and thank God for the opportunity.

 

 

It's funny how teams do things differently. Dave took the live in dorm plan with 3 meals a day in the cafeteria, no extra $ per diem.

 

As a free agent, he has found the experience to be quite different than as a drafted player with the organization.

 

Spring training is a try out to make a team roster, no matter what level you are at. That's essentially it in one sentence. 

 

It doesn't matter how one did the season before, this is a whole new one, with a new case of characters and the player being one season older.  To get a spot you have to get outs as a pitcher and hit as a position guy.  Multiple positions are good but you often have to also be able to come off the bench late in innings and hit in order to make the ML team.  That's a skill not everyone has.

 

The Tigers let 20 minor leaguers go this week, with more to come in the next day or so.

 

Best of luck to everyone.

 

 

 

 There are even more reasons to get on your knees and thank God for the opportunity.

Lots of good stuff here.  Honest stuff.  Real world stuff.

 

Hoping this can be a good thread to reference later this year as newer parents embark on their son's pro career.

Dan (CD) leaving you a PM

Very interesting thread. Keep it going!

These posts ring very true.

 

I think my most memorable and instructive moments around spring training came on those occasions when I'd visit the practice fields in the early morning. Invariably, I was struck by the wealth of talent on display everywhere around me. It seemed to bring into vivid relief the challenge that my son and every other minor leaguer faced as they toiled to find their way up the "hill."

I went into the bathroom at the Mariner/Padre complex and proceeded to do my duty (#1).  I stared straight ahead at the wall.  While doing so, I heard the distinct "click click" of sharp cleats on the concrete and dared not look to my right at my new-found urinal-mate.  (It's a guy thing.)  The front door of the boys room was propped open and the sun was shining in, and it cast a monstrous shadow upon me.  I glanced to my right despite my reservations:

 

An imposing figure, he was 6'6", 230 pounds of muscle.  One double-H hockey sticks of a huge baseball player.  Not mine, of course.  He's the one who got the short-guy discount in the draft.

 

It was only when I scrubbed my hands and toweled off and was greeted by a respectful "Hello, Sir' from this fine gent that I realized these are boys living a man's dream. 

 

 

 

 

I met a latin player who just arrived the other day, held up by visa restrictions.  For those who think foreigners don't belong here rejoice in the fact  that some players are required to do DNA testing to prove who they really are.
He arrives with one small suitcase.  The boys tease him.  You can't come here with just a few things....oh yes I can he says......one only needs their cleats and a glove to play beisbol.
We think that our sons have a passion for the game?  Not even close.

They ALL make sacrifices.  Thats for sure.

 

My son spent about 7 weeks this past winter in the Dominican Winter League.  It changed him.  Life-changing experience and I've seen him speak about it at camps and I've seen it in his approach to others.  He wants to go back.

 

Our kids...nearly every one of them...have 'advantages' in life compared to those kids.  For many, if they don't make it, there is really nothing.  That is motivation when there's nothing to fall back on.

 

It may not enhance the passion (don't really know...perhaps it does?), but those kids are hungrier, more desperate...and that is worth something.  No doubt about it.

My comment included my own player.   In fact he is the one I got it from.  I have no issue with what he said.  You get some insight into much of this after being with these guys after six seasons. 
You can take it  personally if you wish.  I never said our kids didn't have passion.

Hmmmm.  One user deleted all of his posts in this thread making some others (including my last one) not totally 'in context.'

 

Oh well. 

One of son's most memorable days was Saturday, pre-exhibition game, when the team toured West Point. He was very impressed with USMA. http://www.goarmysports.com/view.gal?id=139120

 

He arrived in Scranton this afternoon. Now, to finding a place to live! This season will start out so much better!! Last year, Scranton Wilkes-Barre team had NO HOME field, so from his assignment last July to Sept, son lived out of his truck & hotel rooms.  

Best of luck to all our young men, may they continue living their dream. 

Awesome pics as well as an awesome experience for Preston!

Best of luck to him this season.

With all the injuries, hope that he gets an opportunity!

 

Most people don't realize that after the first season the player (no longer with rookie status) is on his own to fend for himself.  They give you 3 paid days in the hotel, then it's pay up yourself or find better accomendations. The amazing part is this all happens while the player is also settling into the clubhouse, most likely has practice, bull pens, pictures, meet the fans and a game. 

 

The good thing is after a year or two it becomes routine.

What's there to say about Spring training?  My son is there to earn a job and after 2 years,( in AZ) I learned its his place to earn it, and dad's only benefit in being there is his (dad's) own experience.  My son was traded to a Florida spring based team, and I left the experience to him.   

I agree with just baseball...   (we both learned from the Padres)

But quite often a player is playing on the backfield with a team that is one level above where they will land. 

 

Also about the Latin players, I agree they may be hungrier but they also have no concept of team play.    Actually I'm finding the minors are the WORST environment for teaching team play.   Wins/losses are not as important as developing the 2-3 guys on a field at any given time that might make it to the show.