High School Coach cuts player with no legs

I live in Florida and have seen the kid pitch and actually know the coach who cut him.

The coach just recently got the job this year at Dr Phillips HS in Orlando. He was the assistant coach before he got the head job.

Bottom line is he F'ed up big time.

By having the kid on the team it boosts morale and his stuff ain't bad!!

quote:

Originally posted by UticaBrewersGM:
I... actually know the coach who cut him.

Next time you see him, tell him I said he's a $%^&* $@#@!^& %%$#@, please.

Unless there was a roster limit and keeping this young man would mean another player would be cut instead, I think it was a poor decision.

On a level having nothing to do with the merits of keeping or cutting him as a player, I greatly admire what this young man has accomplished. I also think his response to the situation shows how much character he has.
Lets face it, many an able bodied person makes excuses for why life has thrown them a curve, and use it as an excuse for failure. Yet this young man shows that he has the intestinal fortitude to overcome something that would mentally and emotionally cripple many others.
Based on this story alone I suspect he has a bright future ahead of him, and only hope others with physical disabilities use him as a role model. He is certainly a person anyone can look up to.

quote:

Originally posted by AntzDad:

quote:

Originally posted by UticaBrewersGM:
I... actually know the coach who cut him.

Next time you see him, tell him I said he's a $%^&* $@#@!^& %%$#@, please.

When I was involved with the collegiate side of the game he used to send us emails about his players. Can't tell you how hard it is not to send a nasty text or email! You think it's enough that the kid lost his legs, then you cut him!! He was on the JV squad up until this year. Mike Bradley should be ashamed bottom line.

I don't know enough about this to indict the coach.

I can imagine the situation he was in -- does he build a team this spring, or does he merely provide a vehicle for the media circus to follow them around all season?

If the boy can play, great. But if the idea is that the whole team's season has to become secondary to the story of one player, I don't know ... the coach is not really in a fair position there.

I hear what you're saying, the boy has worked hard on his dream. But there are probably 15 or more other kids on that team who have dreams of their own. This isn't just about the one player he might bump off the roster. This is about one player becoming the center of attention for the entire season. Any coach will tell you, that's a cancerous situation for any team.

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
But if the idea is that the whole team's season has to become secondary to the story of one player

Well, it is now.

I always find it hard to comment on these kids of article. The media is always going to provide a one sided story that makes the coach out to be a bad guy. We only have the information provided by the newspaper.

First, there is a roster limit...

When I was coaching Junior High, the head coach of the level underneath me asked me to come to his tryouts. They had a kid trying out missing one arm just above the elbow. He didn't know whether he should keep the kid or not.

I watched all of practice, and at the end, I told him absolutely, he had to keep the kid. He had to keep the kid because he was one of the 12 best players, no other reason.

Life doesn't offer free passes. If you're good enough, you make it, if you're not, you don't. No morale victories, no we try harder, no feel good stories. You either make the grade, or you don't. It's supposed to be completely mercenary. What do you tell the kid who is the first one that is cut? We cut you to keep a kid that's not as good because it makes me feel good about myself and I hope that feeling carries over to the rest of the team? As adults we are supposed to understand the differences between compassion, understanding, and pity. When we blur those lines, we err and cause more harm than good.

It's a sticky situation and I understand both sides. Dr Phillips has a tremendous athletic program. They are a huge school. Several of the kids are summer travel teammates of my son and they are very, very good. I am sure that other kids were cut with higher skill sets. Is that fair? I really don't know. I do know there are paralympic games for athletes with physical handicaps, very competitive, and perhaps more appropriate. It seems like it would have been nice if he could be on the team, but realistically, given the competition they face, I find it unrealistic he could play. Would a position such as team manager be an option? I don't really think that's what he wants. It really does seem to be a hard spot to be in, and I am personally unwilling to blame the coach when I do not know everything he is faced with.

I'm impressed by the attitude of the player.

In the article he is quoted as saying he didn't want a roster spot unless he earned it as a player--and it sounds like he plans to try out again next year.

In my book, this kid is a winner whether he's on the team or not.

To be perfectly honest I hope I'm never in this position because it's truly a no win situation. You have two completely outlooks going on here and they can never co-exist. Do you "do the right thing" and keep / cut a kid like this based on talent or do you show compassion and keep him? I would hope it's a simple solution in that the kid can flat out play but the odds of this being reality are very slim.

CPLZ makes a great point - what do you truly say to the kid who gets cut just so this kid can be on the team. This will make the handicap kid possible feel good. You will be seen as a good guy. It's a true feel good story......except for that kid who would have been on the team except for the feel good story. Is this where we tell this kid who gets cut life is hard and not always fair but if your handicapped people will throw out a red carpet for you?

But then we should teach kids about compassion. A handicap kid will probably never be able to do the things he sees his buddy be able to do. Putting him on this team will be the last time he will have the opportunity to be part of a team with those without disabilities.

From reading the article I do know this - I'm going to make sure tryouts are going to have every facet of the game to judge the talent. Every kid will go through each of these facets to show where everyone stands. In the article the coach says they don't believe he would be able to field his position on bunts. But they didn't do any type of bunting drills. I'm going to put this kid through every single possible play he would have to make to prove he can't do it or prove that he can. Then have other kids do it to see who are better than him and those he is better than. If you're going to hang your hat on "he can't field his position" then you better prove he can't field his position. That surprise me to read that.

As long as high school teams face strict budgets, uniform limits, state mandated roster limits and things like this you have to cut players. It's not possible to run a team where everyone makes it and everyone gets equal playing time. Some people have to be cut.

I've said on here numerous times that I will keep a senior who has a good attitude but didn't pan out. Is this situation the same, similar or have nothing to do with each other? Personally - I would root for this kid to do well in tryouts so he takes the decision out of my hands. Then I would look for a way to keep this kid but not at the expense of a kid who is good enough to be on the team. Or I would make a very tough decision and stick with it.

I really hope I never have to be in this situation.

@ midlodad: I don't agree with your assesment at all. It's not about the circus, it's about determination and heart. Ask Jim Abbott, He will tell You!

Tough situation. I'm sure the coach probably didn't come to his decision easily.

Yes, the kid is one of those feel good stories that might get you 2 minutes on Good Morning America. But that doesn't make you a better baseball team and leaving the kid on the team specifically because he is a feel good story would ultimately send the wrong message to both the kid and the rest of the team.

One of the things that all ballplayers have to do is field their position. I'm not taking away anything from his ability to pitch but if he has a serious issue with fielding bunts or other balls that a normal pitcher should field then he could turn into a liability on the mound. If I was the coach of another team and knew that he couldn't field a bunt what do you think I would do every single time? Coaches take advantage of the opponent's weaknesses and if this is a significant weakness then it will be tested.

I'm not taking anything away from the kid but all of us know that there is a limiting point in an athlete's ability. There is always a plateau, a limit on how high we can go. Some kids realize it at 14, when they try playing the game at the high school level. Some realize it when they can't play at the varsity level. Others make it farther but everyone, eventually reaches that endpoint.

Whether this kid has reached it or not isn't set in stone but if he has he can still look back on what he has accomplished with pride. I am sure he was that one seven or eight year old out there that no one would have thought would be playing past the age of 10, much less make it all the way to the high school level. Most kids in his situation wouldn't have even attempted what he did. To acheive what he has is a testament to the work he did and his work ethic and desire.

It hurts reaching that endpoint and he may have reached his. To have him stay on the team for any reason other than his ability to contribute to success is unfair to him and unfair to the kid who got cut in his place.

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Anthony Burruto

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We just had a somewhat similar situation this week at our HS. An eager counselor (I think) with great intentions encouraged a very shy young man with what I believe is mild cerebral palsy to try out for the baseball team. Mom came by before his first day and offered some assurance that he had played plenty before and was more than capable of at least adequately protecting himself. About 30 seconds into practice, it was painfully clear that this was not the case. Even so, the boys rallied around this young man and helped him through a few practices, throwing him soft short toss when others were stretching it out, reducing cage drills to just making contact with soft toss, etc. We coaches were very proud of the group. However, we were faced with a serious dilema. The young man seemed sincerely interested in continuing, but injury was a very likely scenario that we could not risk. We decided we wanted to make every effort to offer for him to be part of the team (team mgr?), but couldn't risk injury or give him a roster spot (for many of the reasons stated in earlier posts on this thread). The HC explained the situation as PC as he could to the mom but I don't think she took it too well, so I don't know if we'll be able to involve him in some other capacity. We feel terrible for the young man. A lot of people acted with the best of intentions, but I fear there won't be a happy ending.
Cuts are always tough enough. This one is particularly painful.

Ugh, that's rough.

The only thing I could possibly see you doing is invite the mom to watch a practice so she gets the idea of how fast the game is really going. Her son probably played lower level league ball and probably did ok but never played a higher level so I suspect she has no idea how far behind her son really is.

I suspect that one practice would show her that her son just can't play at that level safely. If she can't see that then she probably would never take the blinders off.

We are all disabled. Some disabilities are more visible than others. The opportunity to create something more powerful than a winning season for an entire group of young men is what slipped through this coach’s hands. Perhaps he couldn’t figure out how he was going to pull it off. It probably took more courage for him to cut Anthony than it would have taken to keep him.

Often the “disabled” person’s parents are most offended because they are used to fighting for a chance. Notice Anthony isn’t offended so much as challenged. He wants to earn it. Anthony gets it. He knows position in life is many times unmerited. People get jobs, wealth and they get opportunity even if they are not the best option. Anthony wants no special treatment. No special treatment…..it is like water to him, a necessary element.

Ironically, the coach has most likely done him a favor. By erecting another barrier, serving him a disappointment, highlighting his disability this coach has fueled the fire of a determined spirit. Don’t feel sorry for Anthony. Feel sorry for the coach. He was put in a really tight spot. He was unable to overcome his disability.

Amy Palmiero Winters

quote:

Originally posted by Vector:
Unless there was a roster limit and keeping this young man would mean another player would be cut instead, I think it was a poor decision.

On a level having nothing to do with the merits of keeping or cutting him as a player, I greatly admire what this young man has accomplished. I also think his response to the situation shows how much character he has.
Lets face it, many an able bodied person makes excuses for why life has thrown them a curve, and use it as an excuse for failure. Yet this young man shows that he has the intestinal fortitude to overcome something that would mentally and emotionally cripple many others.
Based on this story alone I suspect he has a bright future ahead of him, and only hope others with physical disabilities use him as a role model. He is certainly a person anyone can look up to.

There is a roster limit for the playoffs. I have never seen a school keep over that limit for the regular season. As you know, there are ample opportunities for good pitchers in the summer and fall in the Orlando area, indeed all over the state. Hopefully the kid will continue to play and shock the world. He certainly understands reaching and striving for your potential, which more folks should embrace, imo.

The thing fair to all and the correct decision is to keep the best 15 players. The school has a rich baseball tradition with alums Johnny Damon and A.J Pierzynski. Should Anthony be on the team? I have no idea.

quote:

Originally posted by PA Dino:
We are all disabled. Some disabilities are more visible than others. The opportunity to create something more powerful than a winning season for an entire group of young men is what slipped through this coach’s hands. Perhaps he couldn’t figure out how he was going to pull it off. It probably took more courage for him to cut Anthony than it would have taken to keep him.

Often the “disabled” person’s parents are most offended because they are used to fighting for a chance. Notice Anthony isn’t offended so much as challenged. He wants to earn it. Anthony gets it. He knows position in life is many times unmerited. People get jobs, wealth and they get opportunity even if they are not the best option. Anthony wants no special treatment. No special treatment…..it is like water to him, a necessary element.

Ironically, the coach has most likely done him a favor. By erecting another barrier, serving him a disappointment, highlighting his disability this coach has fueled the fire of a determined spirit. Don’t feel sorry for Anthony. Feel sorry for the coach. He was put in a really tight spot. He was unable to overcome his disability.

Amy Palmiero Winters

No offense but I don't read this as any 'disability' by the coach. The kid was given an opportunity to try out for the team, he failed because he pretty much couldn't field his position, and he will be given another opportunity next year.

You say he highlighted his disability by not selecting him for the team but what would artificially selecting him because of his 'inspirational ability' be? To me doing just that highlights his disability more than anything else. The kid doesn't seem to use his disability as an excuse, he himself said that he didn't want to make the team if he didn't earn the right. The only people that seem to be making a big deal out of this is the media and, to a lesser extent, his mother. I understand his mom being upset but the media is just using this to get readership or viewers.

The fact of the matter is this. The coach had a decision to make. To me he made the right one. What would you think if a blind kid tried out for the team? Or one that has a severe learning disability? What about one in a wheelchair? You say we all have disabilities but does that mean that we all deserve to be on the team?

All the coach can do is make the tryout process fair for everyone and then make the selection based upon what HE thinks is best for the team. There is a point that could be made that hard work, like this kid has done, could bring you success but it can also give the boys the impression that hard work and talent can be suborned to personal favoratism and outside pressure.

It would have been nice if he made the team but if he didn't deserve to be on the team then the coach would have done him no favors at all. Ultimately that would have caused him more harm than good.

That Coach needs to learn about perseverance & courage:

Dave Dravecky

http://www.davedravecky.com/in...ageid/662/index.html

To bring up Dravecky or Jim Abbott is to ignore the fact that they earned their jobs solely on merit, and nothing else.

To keep a kid who did not through merit win his job is not compassion, it is pity. It is a slam to the character of any person, to offer anything out of pity. If ever offered something out of pity, I would be angered beyond belief.

Hard work and heart does not earn anyone anything except a mothers admiration. You still have to be able to perform at an expected level. It's one of the most basic lessons in life. Are we now expected to not teach that lesson to those we pity? Is the lesson, if you're handicapped, we'll just hand things to you? I followed Jim Abbotts career pretty closely, he pitched for my fav team. If you ever tried to hand him something that he obviously didn't earn, you'd likely see a surly side of Abbott that most people didn't see.

Compete yes. But compete and win it, not, put in a good effort and everybody gets a trophy.

CPLZ -- Hard words for folks to hear in this politically correct world we live in, but very well said, and ... well ... correct.

I probably wouldn't have been so hard but CPLZ is right. I think more than his mother can admire him for his effort. He can be an inspiration for the handicapped even if he never makes varsity. He certainly can take heart in the fact that he did his absolute best. Getting as close as he did, even if he failed, should let him know that while he has a handicap, he isn't a cripple and he can achieve great things.

The fact is that a kid with what most folks would consider no chance of playing varsity baseball came extremely close to making the team his junior year. A lot of folks seem to forget that this isn't his last year, he still can make the team. Just not this year.

HS sports is more than just winning games. Its also about teaching, sportsmanship, leadership, respect, pride, teamwork etc.
The best players on the team are not always the most talented.

These types of decisions are made on a case by case basis. Anthony is not blind, he is not in a wheelchair, his brain is not alphabet soup. The reason has been outlined. He can't field a bunt. Of all the skills he could have mentioned, fastball speed, ball to strike ratio, holding runners, off speed pitch arsenal, that's it? If there are more reasons, then the coach should have outlined them. Accepting a challenge and looking for a creative way to use Anthony would have been a harder task but a better way. This is not disability welfare. The kid really does seem to have something to offer the team. Now what if someone equipped him with legs that gave him an advantage? A lower body that added 10 mph to his fastball. Would you keep him off the team then?

Four comments:

1. Once a coach puts a player on his roster for any reason other than his judgment that the player might help his team win now or in the future, his credibility is damaged both with the players he cut and the players he keeps. The ones who were cut can justly object that he got special treatment, and the ones who were kept will think he put one player's feelings ahead of the team goals they've been working for years to achieve.

2. People who didn't see the tryouts are not qualified to second guess the coach's judgment on whether this player should have made the team based on what they read in a highly sympathetic feature article. Our high school coach has said that any parent who questions his personnel decisions is welcome to come to practice and see what he sees any day.

3. Much has been said about how the coach crushed this young man's dreams (though not by the player himself). It's worth remembering that tens of thousands of other baseball dreams will be crushed in the next few weeks as high schools all over the country conduct tryouts and make cuts. Many of them will get cut for reasons less clear cut than inability to field their primary position.

4. Among the lessons sports teaches are that competition is tough and you should work harder if you want to change the outcome of future competitions.

It appears from the interviews that the player in this situation understands the aforementioned. I think he's on the right path to becoming a fine adult. His comment about not wanting a spot he didn't earn appears to put him in the same camp as CPLZ.

And maybe he did explain more as to why he wasn't selected, to the kid. I don't know, you don't know. All you hear is a quick bit in a writeup. I know if it was my kid I wouldn't want the coach telling everyone and his brother why my son wasn't selected. Maybe the coach feels that that information is private and shouldn't be given out. Maybe he threw that out to get a reporter to leave him alone.

I do know this. A pitcher that can't field his position is a liability. I have no idea if 80mph is the top end for this kid or if it is an average. I know that 80mph isn't overpowering at the top tier high school varsity level. Yes, if he could throw 90, with or without legs I bet he would probably be considered a lot more. But he can't, at least right now. All the coach can go on is what the kid can do, right now.

Look at it this way. A team generally has only so many pitching spots available. This kid it appears can only pitch, I am guessing that other positions are not an option for the team. If you simply have four or five other kids that are flat out better at pitching than him you maybe don't have a choice in the matter.

He is inspiring, motivating and will continue to be. Again, just because he didn't make it this year doesn't mean he won't next year. Juniors get rejected all the time for Varsity positions simply because they aren't ready or their are other people simply better than them at that position. He is kinda pigeonholed as to what he can play.

This coach was put into a hard spot. If he kept the kid, some would say it was only due to his disability. If he cut the kid, he'd get criticized as he is now nationwide. I'm not saying he made the right decision or the wrong decision. I don't know the whole story and either do any of us.

We have had a few special ed students who have been "managers" while I was in high school. Our coach would accommodate them and sometimes he went too far, but he was just trying to help. We had one who was good. He was pretty-well considered an assistant coach with the junior high basketball team while he was in high school. He was fun, interacted with the kids and coaches, etc. The kid we had my junior year of high school with the baseball team was too much work and unfortunately most of that landed in my lap. I was instructed to teach him how to keep the scorebook and then to help him with it. It ended up that I kept the book and basically babysat the kid. On at least one of our away games, the kid curled up and slept on the bench during the game. Imagine trying to be a junior in high school babysitting this kid and trying to be ready to play at any time while also juggling numerous other tasks.

quote:

HS sports is more than just winning games. Its also about teaching, sportsmanship, leadership, respect, pride, teamwork etc.
The best players on the team are not always the most talented.

It's interesting that it comes down to "it's not about winning" but how often do we hear of coaches getting fired for not winning? My high school basketball coach just resigned for that very reason. The team wasn't winning and he was likely to get fired in short time for that reason. But they are quick to point out it's "not about winning."

Coaching is all about winning. They wouldn't do it if they didn't want to win. If it wasn't about winning and losing, we wouldn't keep score.

I agree that coaching is about winning..... But high school coaching is not all about winning. Winning is not the pinnacle of achievement for coaching. I know a few winning coaches that are horses behinds and added nothing to their player's character. That said, this coach had every authority to cut Anthony. A missed opportunity not a tragedy........

Coaches should have a fair unprejudiced relationship to their players. One that rewards effort, dedication, determination and uncommon achievement.

There is no information that suggests anything less than that is the case. If you are looking for a trophy to hoist, no doubt this is your guy. If you want something more .........not sure. The worst thing that could happen now is that coach caves in and puts him on the roster anyway. Once again, Anthony's going to be fine and I hope he shows up to see all the games.

The sportswriter who wrote the article is the player's uncle.

This story would have been given press regardless of any relationship the family might have to the local media. Anthony has already been on the cover of ESPN Magazine. My personal distrust of the press is rooted in their willingness to profit by sensationalizing a common story and trampling on the privacy of those who are not a willing participant in their business. Neither is the case here.

Hope is a choice. It is true that thousands of kids were cut from their high school teams this month but as far as I can tell only one had no legs. The story is yet to be written. The rapid development of prosthetic legs should give Anthony hope. Hope that someday, he can field a bunt at least as good as the worst pitcher on the team, he will be able to cover first when necessary and take up a position as a backup on a throw to third or home. (Thanks to the designated hitter rule Anthony need not worry about hitting or running the bases.) The effectiveness of these "replacement" legs may even be so astonishing that Anthony may be able to realize a performance level beyond his own natural abilities. If that happens he should not feel any twinge of guilt when another kid gets cut because of him but he probably will. The goal has been clearly outlined. Field that bunt. It has nothing to do with character, will, determination, achievement or a myriad of other positive attributes or does it? Hope is a choice.
Double-Amputee Returns to War

I understand and respect all the perspectives I've read here, however, if it were up to me...

I would fire the coach, fire the AD, fire the principal and anyone else who would deny a boy in this situation a spot on the roster.

How many of us have spoken about the life lessons baseball teaches over the years? There's no championship worth winnning that justifies cutting this kid.

quote:

Originally posted by Baseballdad1228:
I understand and respect all the perspectives I've read here, however, if it were up to me...

I would fire the coach, fire the AD, fire the principal and anyone else who would deny a boy in this situation a spot on the roster.

How many of us have spoken about the life lessons baseball teaches over the years? There's no championship worth winnning that justifies cutting this kid.

Wow....regardless of ability?

A high school pitcher who can throw 80 obviously has ability. A MLB veteran of 12 years attests to the fact that the kid belonged on the roster.

quote:

Originally posted by Baseballdad1228:
A high school pitcher who can throw 80 obviously has ability. A MLB veteran of 12 years attests to the fact that the kid belonged on the roster.

Obviously? Really? Can he throw a strike? Two Strikes?

Rule # 1: Sports Reporters all lie. The newspaper reporter says he throws "around 80". I'm guessing he rounded, probably up. Rasmussen is the kid's paid pitching coach. What if the kid had no arms?

this is shameless of his family trying to hijack the media. If the kid can play he should've kept quiet, get on a summer team and prove the coach wrong. Fat chance of that now, though. No one in their right mind will ever let him try out again.

What if my kid gets cut from the math team, but he can't add 2+2? Should I call the newspaper (and not be cut) because he obviously has a learning disability? What if I have no arms and I get cut from the swim team? Should I call the paper? Should I make the rifle team if I'm blind?

I have zero dog in the hunt. I'm not sure how a high school coach (AD or principal) can ever be rationally and reasonably criticized for cutting a BASEBALL player WITH NO FREAKING LEGS!! He cut 23 others with two legs. I didn't see them written up in the paper.

Dad04,

You can make any argument you like about the player being cut and I won't disagree with you. I respect whatever you want to say. To me, however, compassion and the belief that some things are more important than wins and losses factor in. Obviously we differ on that. You can be happy, based on your perspective, that the coach shares your outlook.

MM

The kid got equality. Isn't that what most in that situation would want?

quote:

Originally posted by Baseballdad1228:
Dad04,

You can make any argument you like about the player being cut and I won't disagree with you. I respect whatever you want to say. To me, however, compassion and the belief that some things are more important than wins and losses factor in. Obviously we differ on that. You can be happy, based on your perspective, that the coach shares your outlook.

MM

I don't think you do a kid a favor by putting him in a position to fail. That isn't compassionate to me. If the kid and his family had handled it differently it might have worked out better eventually.

So the coach guarantees failure by not giving him a chance to succeed. The one thing you cannot surmise is that this young man was afraid of failing. You win with this one - the kid's cut.