from starter to reliever

Let him deal with it the situation with the coach

My advice is really simple.

Things will continue to change even throughout the HS season. He just needs to keep working hard and be ready when opportunity knocks. Don't put too much emphasis on any one outing...its a marathon, not a sprint.

your right justbaseball, things change all the time in baseball. so, you never know.
also, i never have approached a hs coach reguarding my son, nor do i plan to.

The coaches don't really determine who starts, the players do. The goal is to play so well that the coach has no choice but to put the player in. All things being equal, I would also tend to slightly favor the senior players who have put the time in with the program.

honestly, i have to say all four boys are good. it looks like the seniors have the advantage this year and obviously the coaches are knowledgable because we are a winning team. #1 in our area.
i'm concerned because he had a great sophomore spring sophomore season but had a couple of struggling innings in the varsity summer season. but these coaches are very involved and are in close contact with my son and his travel team, he did really well the travel team.
so, i just hope they don't give up on him.

Not only do things change, but sometimes we misinterpret or don't fully understand what a coach is thinking.

My son was a starter through middle school and JV ball. He now plays for a summer team we love, but has become more of a reliever/set-up guy. He was actually scheduled to start a key tournament game last week, but weather got in the way and the game was cancelled.

When he learned the start for the next (first playoff) game was given to someone else, we were a bit concerned; it appeared to us a vote of no confidence i.e. back to relief. Thankfully, the coach said something to my son about it later. His rationale is that my son can come out of the bullpen throwing strikes, meaning he can start or relieve. That particular starter doesn't have the same flexibility. What we originally perceived as a negative turned out to be something the coach viewed as a plus. Over the course of the season, my son has actually gotten more innings than virtually all of the starters.

The difficulty is that high school coaches don't often seem to communicate this way to their players, and so everyone gets hurt and/or paranoid. I keep trying to tell me son to try to see things from different possible viewpoints, but it is hard. Good luck to both you and your son. Sometimes I think it's harder on us parents than it is on them!

quote:

Originally posted by justbaseball:
My advice is really simple.

Things will continue to change even throughout the HS season. He just needs to keep working hard and be ready when opportunity knocks. Don't put too much emphasis on any one outing...its a marathon, not a sprint.

Truer words never said, they also change continuosly in college and afterwards.

FWIW, son was a starter in JV, then noved to Varsity and was a releiver, (the upper classman got the start) spot starter and not a bona fide starter until his senior year. It didn't hurt one bit.

Time to sit back and relax and enjoy your son's and the teams accomplishments and not worry about playing time.

quote:

Originally posted by MHC77:
Not only do things change, but sometimes we misinterpret or don't fully understand what a coach is thinking.

My son was a starter through middle school and JV ball. He now plays for a summer team we love, but has become more of a reliever/set-up guy. He was actually scheduled to start a key tournament game last week, but weather got in the way and the game was cancelled.

When he learned the start for the next (first playoff) game was given to someone else, we were a bit concerned; it appeared to us a vote of no confidence i.e. back to relief. Thankfully, the coach said something to my son about it later. His rationale is that my son can come out of the bullpen throwing strikes, meaning he can start or relieve. That particular starter doesn't have the same flexibility. What we originally perceived as a negative turned out to be something the coach viewed as a plus. Over the course of the season, my son has actually gotten more innings than virtually all of the starters.

The difficulty is that high school coaches don't often seem to communicate this way to their players, and so everyone gets hurt and/or paranoid. I keep trying to tell me son to try to see things from different possible viewpoints, but it is hard. Good luck to both you and your son. Sometimes I think it's harder on us parents than it is on them!

Loved your post and perspective MHC!

minivanmom - your posts and feelings in this thread are refreshing. You have acknowledged that the other boys are also good. Many who are in this same position personalize things and feel their kids are the victims. Here, there are no victims - just lots of good players! Remember, a rising tide raises all boats. There is nothing holding any of these kids back from being starters or relievers in college. It's all about belief and attitude and your attitude is a good one.

this is how it was for my 14u travel team. we had all righties. i went from a 2nd or 3rd starter to more of a reliever. my advice, even though he's older, make the best of it. when you go in, pitch your heart out. if you mess up thats ok just give it your all. plus theres the chance of injuries or a pitcher with a cpl bad outings. just pitch when they give you the chance. maybe youll do better than you think. but keep throwing in the off season and doing your drills and everything. itll all work out for the best. maybe he, like me, will find a position he enjoys better. also, STAY POSITIVE

It's still a very long time till the season. A lot can happen that can shake up who is going to start.

Even though things look like they are set, those guys still have to earn their spots. Your son will have opportunities to shine.

Stu

We have a young man, jr in HS, on our travel team.
Has not had a lot of pitching experience but has settled into the middle/closer spot with us

Though totally raw and umpolished we have had colleges talk to us and tell us he can be "something"---they like his body and his arm

He also swings a solid bat and plays 1B

Funny thing is that we put him on the mound after a play in the field---there was an overthrow at first and the runner from second tried to score--the kid threw a dart to the plate and nailed him--myself and my coaches said right there and then we have to try him on the mound---now he asks to close

thanks for all the advice. i hope it all works out for him. gosh, i never thought i would care so much about baseball....lol.

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Neither did I!

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The vast majority of kids pitching in college in the relief role were starters coming into college programs. Look at this situation as a bonus for your son. Its an opportunity for him to learn how to pitch in relief. Its an opportunity for him to learn from those talented upperclassman on his team.

Now if he does move on to play college baseball and he is put in a relief role as many young pitchers are. He will have the experience of having done it in the past on his side. Many LHP's are situational guys early in their college careers. I see this as a great opportunity for your son.

It will play itself out. These things always do. The chances that all the starters will do very well "I hope they do" is remote over the course of an entire year. Be ready to start when your chance comes. And more importantly be ready to do your part in the role that is your role to help your team win.

Every situation can be looked upon in two different ways. I tend to look at these situations as opportunities to prove yourself instead of pot holes in the road. If your son produces his role will only expand. And the best way to produce is to embrace the role you are given and look upon it as an opportunity to do just that. Good luck

FWIW, most HS starters, in fact most HS pitchers begin in relief in college. Some also have to close out a game or two. And roles can change frequently all throughout HS, college and even on the pro level.

Coach May is correct in stating that LHP begin as situational guys. Also, lot depends on how many pitches in his arsenal and velocity. Let the coach do his job and let your son work on his.

I don't think Coach May shouldn be allowed to post on these boards anymore.

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In the past, the most common phrase I see on HSBBWeb is "PG- You have a PM." But now I think "Coach May, you are correct" (or some variation) is starting to catch up.

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All the attention given to him has certainly gone to his head and therefore he feels like he is able to give the best advice out of anyone here. And that's not right! Everyone deserves a chance to give the best advice.

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I was a starter in high school every spring, summer and fall from freshman year to senior year. In my first two seasons in college, I've been exclusively out of the bullpen, as I have been this summer as well. I love the high-pressure situations. There's nothing like coming in and saving the starter, preserving a win for your team. It might not show up in the stats, but it sure as hell shows up in the locker room. And the team's perception of a player's worth is much more important than any number written anywhere about him. Being a reliever takes a lot of mental preparation as well- being ready to go daily and having to zone in quickly. It is also an "all or nothing experience" unlike starting...one bad pitch can blow the game, and make you miserable for days. One good pitch can save the game and make you a hero until the next first pitch is thrown. It is, in my opinion, truly one of the wonderous and most pure mental roller coasters of baseball, and to be able to do it successfully is an art.

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On another note, I saw in a post a while back that Coach May would be considered as a coach for the Aflac All-American Game. PGStaff, for what it's worth, I certainly don't know anyone else that's more deserving of the consideration, and I would love to see that happen. And Coach May- Let me know if you happen to be starting a college level summer program in the next year or so...you can mark down a versatile LHP from New York on the roster.

JH thank you for those kind words. I have taken way more from this site than I could ever give back. Several years ago I was very fortunate to coach in a summer college league and it was so much fun. I still keep in touch with many of the guys that played for me. And in fact one of those players married my niece.

I think in many ways summer baseball for college players is the most fun they will ever have in the game. There is a bond that develops between those guys all having the same dreams and aspirations. There is so much respect for each other and so much support as well. You can bet if I did coach a summer college team you would be the first person I called.

quote:

Originally posted by J H:
In the past, the most common phrase I see on HSBBWeb is "PG- You have a PM." But now I think "Coach May, you are correct" (or some variation) is starting to catch up.

Coach May has gained much respect because that is how he treats others. His sage advice (and his great posts) compassion he displays here says it all, he doesn't have to tell us all of the wonderful things he has done for his players, which of his players went to which programs, how many coaches he knows and who, for us to know that he is a very wise man.

He's also very funny and has a great sense of humor.

CM, hope you don't mind your quote at the bottom of my posts. It's probably the best advice that I have ever heard here or anywhere else.

Not at all. And thanks for the kind words.