Game Performance Response

How he responds depends on what they are looking for. Do they want to know his velocity? How he felt physically? His strike/ball ratio (don’t forget hits are strikes)? Or just his stat line?

If they aren’t specific give both with a positive spin. It could end with disappointed we didn’t win. But physically felt good for first outing of the season. 

Don't finger the umpires or teammates. If the line score would indicate he didn’t get help defensively you could include it without making a comment.

RJM posted:

How he responds depends on what they are looking for. Do they want to know his velocity? How he felt physically? His strike/ball ratio (don’t forget hits are strikes)? Or just his stat line?

If they aren’t specific give both with a positive spin. It could end with disappointed we didn’t win. But physically felt good first first outing of the season. 

Dont finger the umpires or teammates. If the line score would indicate he didn’t get help defensively you could include it without making a comment.

Thanks!  Their question was a general how did it go?  They saw him last fall at their camps, so they generally know his velocity.  He threw 83-85 for them in August.  He looks to be the same, hopefully as the season goes on he'll get stronger.

I didn't think of the strike/ball ratio, but I have that information (68%).  Not sure if I send it if they didn't ask.

I would just say  something along the lines of "my arm felt good for the first outing of the year....I feel like my velocity was there...and my curveball was working.  I gave up 3 runs on 5 hits in 4 IP.  Struck out 3....walked ??.  I'm really looking forward to getting some more innings in after all the cold weather this Spring.  I'll keep you updated on when I'm due to throw again".    Truthful...and not horrible for a coach's perspective.....especially considering they'll know who he threw against.   I don't see anything about this outing, especially being early, that would turn them off with regard to your son.  Good luck

Remember what you say after a bad outing tells coaches how your son handles adversity and gives them insight into the mental part of his game.

One coach told my 2018 after watching a losing outing "I know you can pitch. What I liked seeing was how you handled yourself when things weren't going your way."

Son never went on a campus visit where the coaches felt obliged to show him the dumpsters or hand him the most updated campus crime stats; nor should you.   

I'm in no way an expert as my son is still pretty young and so we don't know if we are doing it right or not.  We just dealt with that and I told my son to hit it head on. There were several coaches at the game.  I've heard that coaches talk and I would hate to spin something good if it wasn't.  My son's outing wasn't terrible, but it wasn't what he would want to showcase.   I advised him to state his velo (because it was a new high), but say it wasn't my best outing.  I am going to work on this and this.  They led him from there asking what he thought the problems might be, etc.   Not every game is going to go perfectly.  I'm hoping that coaches get that.

#1 Assistant Coach posted:

Son never went on a campus visit where the coaches felt obliged to show him the dumpsters or hand him the most updated campus crime stats; nor should you.   

You have a point...

I'd have him highlight the positives, mention anything he might be working to improve, and sort of let it go from there. If they have more specific questions, they'll ask.

Less is more, don't lie or stretch the truth but keep it positive. More than likely, since they are asking, it's highly likely they had eyes present. State it was a decent  first outing and are preparing for the next opportunity on X date vs ? They aren't expecting every detail........it's coming from a kid/teenager.

Don't ever discount who's present at any game. Baseball is a very small world.

"He was also getting squeezed pretty bad (not just dad's perspective) and we could have made a play or two, which would have changed the game." - Remember, the catcher is responsible for the presentation. Receiving skills are a huge plus, especially when you have a pitcher that pounds the bottom of the zone. Most catchers will themselves, "steal" strikes by letting the ball carry the glove out of the zone.

Getting squeezed is part of the game.  Sometimes you have to make them miss "well" inside the strike zone and learn to trust your defense though that can be a challenge sometimes at the high school level.  It's springtime in what has been a terrible spring in the northeast so the outing seems pretty good to me.  Tell them he would have liked to have had better control but his velocity was good for his first time out.  83-85 is excellent for a high school junior in my opinion.  Lots of kids list high 80's or even 90 but they cannot cruise at that level for the game.  Many D1 pitchers I have seen are about 88 mph cruising speed.  I believe he is right where he needs to be.  Encourage him to adjust to the umpires.  He can't control them.  He can control his location however.  When the umpires are like that, encourage him to make them hit it and see what happens.  There is no defense for a walk.

ClevelandDad posted:

...learn to trust your defense though that can be a challenge sometimes at the high school level.  

That's the understatement of the season. In game 1, Son's team had 8 official errors on the books, but it was more like 10, and the other team stole 12 bases (including 3B three times).  He didn't pitch but he gets the ball in game 2. Heaven help him. If we have a similar defensive outing, I'll be asking the same question as the OP.     

BaseballinCT posted:

ClevelandDad posted:

...learn to trust your defense though that can be a challenge sometimes at the high school level.  

That's the understatement of the season. In game 1, Son's team had 8 official errors on the books, but it was more like 10, and the other team stole 12 bases (including 3B three times).  He didn't pitch but he gets the ball in game 2. Heaven help him. If we have a similar defensive outing, I'll be asking the same question as the OP.     

Ha, I think I know what team your son plays for and we'll be playing each other this year!  You don't see too many 8 error games, but I may be wrong!! 

I recall that we had @ 56 E's in 19 games last year, but hey, who's counting?   - Feel free to drop me a PM.  

The best high school defense is 10+ K’s.

I don't think 3 runs and 5 hits is terrible first outing vs what you said is a top team...it was opening day.

Give them a line score as mentioned and tell them how body felt and responded. I wouldn't give any more or less. if you didn't have a gun don't speculate.

Coaches really like it when players take responsibility and own up to their performance no matter what the circumstances. And CD is correct, getting squeezed is a big part of the game, so get used to it.

Why not be honest. Tell whoever asks him, that for his first outing he wasn't happy with his performance but he knows he can build on the experience.

That's all he has to say unless they ask specifics.