4thGen is home from his first semester and dad has been returned to duty as a batting practice pitcher and fungo hitter. Thank god I don't have to catch pens for him anymore. A couple of his HS teammates now playing college ball have been working out with him as well. Since he is playing at a cold weather school he's trying to take advantage of his month in AZ and away from the books to get as prepared as possible.
Same here. I've been recruited for long tossing. My 51 year arm is good to about 200 feet, after that it's just shagging balls while he throws from the bucket.
quote:Originally posted by 3rdgenerationnation:
4thGen is home from his first semester and dad has been returned to duty as a batting practice pitcher and fungo hitter. Thank god I don't have to catch pens for him anymore. A couple of his HS teammates now playing college ball have been working out with him as well. Since he is playing at a cold weather school he's trying to take advantage of his month in AZ and away from the books to get as prepared as possible.
Same here. Dont take this the wrong way I have enjoyed having my son home. But my arm will be very glad when he goes back to school. As far as the long toss I solved that problem. You take this bucket of balls and I will stand down here and pick them up and put them in my bucket. When you run out come down here and we will change ends.
Coach May - I have to laugh real hard about the long toss. I think you and I were asking ourselves the same question at the same time......."what the heck am I doing out here throwing with my son?". I came to the same conclusion - get two buckets, and save myself a trip to the Dr's office. 
)
Coach May: Last winter I came to the same conclusion. Thank God I still catch well!
At 50 plus, the best I can do is warm weather stuff with the youngest right now. The youngest received a new A2000 Glove for Xmas. You should have seen it Xmas day 3 boys outside at zero C playing catch. It was one of those moments.
Very very fortunate with son who has had straight A's, if nothing else he'll may make the academic team.
Come on Feb 19th!
Very very fortunate with son who has had straight A's, if nothing else he'll may make the academic team.
Come on Feb 19th!
Just a few things that I have noticed over the years.
1. There is a high percentage of players that could help the team as freshmen if the coach would just give them the opportunity.
2. Most freshmen are not mature enough to live on their own and manage their time.
3. Very few freshmen have the necessary academic skill set to excell in the classroom. The coaching staff and players just want to stay eligible. Why are they in school? It's called higher education for a reason!
4. Most coaching staffs have a good cop/bad cop routine
5. Very few head coaches (85+%)know how to run a baseball program. Most know the game very well but when it comes to academics, training to peak, fundraising, dealing with alumni, dealing with boosters, dealing with the adminstration, etc... they just don't have the necessary skill set and would receive a grade of D- and many would receive an F. These guy's hate everything about being a head coach but practice & games.
6. Parents today will drive a coaching staff nuts by calling, texting, emailing, etc... them all of the time to ask about their son.
7. Most coaching staffs have a coaching side and a recruiting side. IMO, they would be much better off if they were a mean old cuss all of the time. Why be fake it only causes problems for everyone and gives people false expectations. The best head coach I ever saw told one of the top 50 prospects in the USA on a recruiting trip that he wasn't sure the kid was good enough to play in his program. He told the kid & his parents he was too fat, soft, lazy, and slow to help the team anytime soon. When I ask why he said that during the recruiting visit he said that if the kid couldn't take that he would never be able to take what he told him during the season.
8. The best baseball programs know how to balance baseball, academics and social life. If it's baseball & academics 24/7 the kids will be mentaly fried and a high percentage will washout after a couple of years. You must allow the kids to have a little fun and be kids but understand that they will have to pay the price if they get in trouble. While most mothers and some fathers probably don't want to hear this, one thing that I have learned over the years is that 99% (est) of all male college students (this includes athletes) like drinking a little beer, eating a few wings and talking with Miss Maggieshagwell at the local campus watering hole whenever they are given the opportunity.
1. There is a high percentage of players that could help the team as freshmen if the coach would just give them the opportunity.
2. Most freshmen are not mature enough to live on their own and manage their time.
3. Very few freshmen have the necessary academic skill set to excell in the classroom. The coaching staff and players just want to stay eligible. Why are they in school? It's called higher education for a reason!
4. Most coaching staffs have a good cop/bad cop routine
5. Very few head coaches (85+%)know how to run a baseball program. Most know the game very well but when it comes to academics, training to peak, fundraising, dealing with alumni, dealing with boosters, dealing with the adminstration, etc... they just don't have the necessary skill set and would receive a grade of D- and many would receive an F. These guy's hate everything about being a head coach but practice & games.
6. Parents today will drive a coaching staff nuts by calling, texting, emailing, etc... them all of the time to ask about their son.
7. Most coaching staffs have a coaching side and a recruiting side. IMO, they would be much better off if they were a mean old cuss all of the time. Why be fake it only causes problems for everyone and gives people false expectations. The best head coach I ever saw told one of the top 50 prospects in the USA on a recruiting trip that he wasn't sure the kid was good enough to play in his program. He told the kid & his parents he was too fat, soft, lazy, and slow to help the team anytime soon. When I ask why he said that during the recruiting visit he said that if the kid couldn't take that he would never be able to take what he told him during the season.
8. The best baseball programs know how to balance baseball, academics and social life. If it's baseball & academics 24/7 the kids will be mentaly fried and a high percentage will washout after a couple of years. You must allow the kids to have a little fun and be kids but understand that they will have to pay the price if they get in trouble. While most mothers and some fathers probably don't want to hear this, one thing that I have learned over the years is that 99% (est) of all male college students (this includes athletes) like drinking a little beer, eating a few wings and talking with Miss Maggieshagwell at the local campus watering hole whenever they are given the opportunity.
MTH and 3rdgen,
I've had to long toss and catch a couple pens when he couldn't find a friend to do it. They gave the pitchers a 6 day a week program including long toss, flatgrounds and pens to do over the break. I can't even reach 200' any more so I have a long run between throws. I can handle up to mid 80s or so as long as it is fairly close to the target. I don't let him go for max velocity when I have to catch the pen. He's got 1 more pen scheduled for tomorrow before he goes back so hopefully he can find a real catcher.
cbg,
1. It is figuring out which ones that is the problem.
2. Agree.
3. Agree.
8. Not my son!
(Maggieshagwell is still there?)
For those of you who have the sense to use buckets. I enjoy the throwing too much - although I don't enjoy the pain afterwards.
I've had to long toss and catch a couple pens when he couldn't find a friend to do it. They gave the pitchers a 6 day a week program including long toss, flatgrounds and pens to do over the break. I can't even reach 200' any more so I have a long run between throws. I can handle up to mid 80s or so as long as it is fairly close to the target. I don't let him go for max velocity when I have to catch the pen. He's got 1 more pen scheduled for tomorrow before he goes back so hopefully he can find a real catcher.
cbg,
1. It is figuring out which ones that is the problem.
2. Agree.
3. Agree.
8. Not my son!
(Maggieshagwell is still there?)For those of you who have the sense to use buckets. I enjoy the throwing too much - although I don't enjoy the pain afterwards.
Comments regarding long toss and bullpen made me laugh.
The problem I had was with long toss was it had been four months since I picked up a baseball (or a fungo - tried using the fungo to return balls to my son, but that didn't work much better). Maybe I should rent a kid for the Spring semester so I won't be so rusty next time.
I did okay with the bullpens; although I must say I am getting more and more uncomfortable back there. Soon, very soon, it will be time to "retire" as a bullpen catcher.
Don't even ask me about accompanying him to the gym.
The problem I had was with long toss was it had been four months since I picked up a baseball (or a fungo - tried using the fungo to return balls to my son, but that didn't work much better). Maybe I should rent a kid for the Spring semester so I won't be so rusty next time.
I did okay with the bullpens; although I must say I am getting more and more uncomfortable back there. Soon, very soon, it will be time to "retire" as a bullpen catcher.
Don't even ask me about accompanying him to the gym.
If you can handle mid 80's you're doing a lot better than I am. I have as much trouble seeing the ball as I do throwing it. Fortunately we were able to con one of his old HS catchers into catching a couple of pens over the holidays. I really dodged the bullet, in more ways than one.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by CADad:
MTH and 3rdgen,
I've had to long toss and catch a couple pens when he couldn't find a friend to do it. They gave the pitchers a 6 day a week program including long toss, flatgrounds and pens to do over the break. I can't even reach 200' any more so I have a long run between throws. I can handle up to mid 80s or so as long as it is fairly close to the target. I don't let him go for max velocity when I have to catch the pen. He's got 1 more pen scheduled for tomorrow before he goes back so hopefully he can find a real catcher.
QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Originally posted by CADad:
MTH and 3rdgen,
I've had to long toss and catch a couple pens when he couldn't find a friend to do it. They gave the pitchers a 6 day a week program including long toss, flatgrounds and pens to do over the break. I can't even reach 200' any more so I have a long run between throws. I can handle up to mid 80s or so as long as it is fairly close to the target. I don't let him go for max velocity when I have to catch the pen. He's got 1 more pen scheduled for tomorrow before he goes back so hopefully he can find a real catcher.
QUOTE]
I'm fine outdoors. Indoors the light isn't good enough and I'm a bit scared the whole time.
Try catching in the poor light with no gear and an Astigmatism! Holy cow!
Have any of you ever tried catching with a goiter the size of a watermelon hanging off the side of your neck??
Me neither, I was just curious.
Me neither, I was just curious.
LMAO now thats funny Krak!
Krak, your boy hasnt been gone even 48hrs yet and you've already gone over the deep end! LOL
I was sitting here trying to figure out what a goiter had to to with catching!
I was sitting here trying to figure out what a goiter had to to with catching!
Dropped my son off at the airport yesterday.Was very hard to say good bye. Great month, great visit.Getting excited for the season.Good luck to all the boys this Spring.
Laughing at these posts! My husband can no longer catch for leftysideson. Not only does he have the velocity issue, but a ball coming from him sidearm is very hard to see. On top of that, the ball has a considerable, unpredictable drop at the very last moment. Lots of bruised shins! We got lucky and found a college kid home for the holidays that needed to catch for someone. There's no way husband could keep up the the long tossing (already one shoulder surgery down).
Guys, the last few years I'd taken to catching 4thGens pens in full umpiring gear and with a softball catchers mitt that made it easir to pick low pitches. My son found great humor in me wiffing on his breaking ball and taking one off one peice of gear or another.
I have another week of fungoing ground balls to get through. My back and hands may not make it but I love doing it.
I have another week of fungoing ground balls to get through. My back and hands may not make it but I love doing it.
Well, the first travel roster is set to be announced soon. My son (a freshman) doesn't think his name will be on it. I'm bracing myself for some long phone calls. I've told him he's not the big fish in the pond anymore and he will have to work his way up the depth chart. Any advice on keeping his spirits up and his mind focused?? Tough on these freshman to start at the bottom again isn't it?
.
Cards...
Yep, difficult adjustment for sure...Hope he makes that list, but if not...
1. Having not been through a college season he likley will not understand that all kinds of things happen during the season...injuries, discipline issues, grades, and some players that were expected to produce simply flat out do not...opportunities will most certainly open. Things happen. He has to be right there head up, with a great outlook waiting for the door to open a crack and jumping on those opportunities. Being "down" does absolutely nothing to solve the issue, he needs to stay solution oriented and wait for the break that will most certainly come. This trip, or next.
2. Use the time wisely. Great time to catch up or push the academic envelope..and the fitness one as well. One of the hardest adjustments for freshmen players is balancing the time requirements and this gives them some space to breath and get their feet solidly under them again. The kids that go will likley come back beat up to some extent with the travel. Yours will be fresh, rested and doubly motivated.
3. Ask the coaching staff what specifically can be done to improve his game in the short term (while he is home) and the long term. Set yourself apart by not letting the excusion dampen his desire and his fight, coaches love to see kids that still keep grinding looking for ways to improve regardless of setbacks. He needs to be that grinder.
4. Remember it is a long, long season and it is not how a player does at the beginning. His performance can only be judged at seaons end. again all kinds of things can happen this is simply a bump in the road.
44
.
Cards...
Yep, difficult adjustment for sure...Hope he makes that list, but if not...
1. Having not been through a college season he likley will not understand that all kinds of things happen during the season...injuries, discipline issues, grades, and some players that were expected to produce simply flat out do not...opportunities will most certainly open. Things happen. He has to be right there head up, with a great outlook waiting for the door to open a crack and jumping on those opportunities. Being "down" does absolutely nothing to solve the issue, he needs to stay solution oriented and wait for the break that will most certainly come. This trip, or next.
2. Use the time wisely. Great time to catch up or push the academic envelope..and the fitness one as well. One of the hardest adjustments for freshmen players is balancing the time requirements and this gives them some space to breath and get their feet solidly under them again. The kids that go will likley come back beat up to some extent with the travel. Yours will be fresh, rested and doubly motivated.
3. Ask the coaching staff what specifically can be done to improve his game in the short term (while he is home) and the long term. Set yourself apart by not letting the excusion dampen his desire and his fight, coaches love to see kids that still keep grinding looking for ways to improve regardless of setbacks. He needs to be that grinder.
4. Remember it is a long, long season and it is not how a player does at the beginning. His performance can only be judged at seaons end. again all kinds of things can happen this is simply a bump in the road.
44.