20 game pitches. How many in the bull pen before he took the mound? How many between innings? How many before this game and when was it? What other positions did he play prior to this game and when? Will he play the field after this appearance? How old is he? What kind of shape is he in? There are many questions.
Your first post about 50 pitches on Saturday and then 50 pitches on Sunday caught my attention to be honest with you. That is simply ridiculous. A 50 pitch outing is a complete start. That equates to around 100 pitches. Taking into account the bull pen before the game and the pitches between innings. And then your wondering if he can come back out for another 50 on Sunday?
Kids should not be pitching on less that four days rest. They should not be brought back on consecutive days regardless of how many pitches they threw. And many cases the pitchers on these youth teams are also the better position players. SS to pitcher to SS. Pitcher to SS to pitcher. It amazes me that more kids arms are not toast before HS. But the fact is many of the best young arms never see the mound in HS. And many of the best HS arms never make it out of college.
Heating up a arm and pitching in a game and then playing the field only to heat that arm back up the next day for I dont care how many pitches is simply ridiculous. But it happens all the time. And the damage many times does not show up to later in the career.
Thank you Coach May.
Well TPM and Coach May make my point. There is no exact answer.
What if my son pitched 10 pitches to close out a game? Are you saying he needs 4 days rest after that outing?
I do agree there are other factors to take into account such as weather, other positions the kid plays (such as catcher), physical well being.
But in the end there is not a one size fits all. That is just common sense.
One last thing; these discussion would go a lot smoother if you just assume I'm right since I've probably watched more youtube videos than anyone else.
What if my son pitched 10 pitches to close out a game? Are you saying he needs 4 days rest after that outing?
I do agree there are other factors to take into account such as weather, other positions the kid plays (such as catcher), physical well being.
But in the end there is not a one size fits all. That is just common sense.
One last thing; these discussion would go a lot smoother if you just assume I'm right since I've probably watched more youtube videos than anyone else.
*edit* Trad, we posted at the same time. I agree with you that there is no "one size fits all" and everything should be taken into consideration. your question about 10 pitches and does that require four days of rest... well, i guess you have to make that decision yourself. With that being said, Coach May provided great advise. FWIW - I ended up having my shoulder (rotator cuff) surgery in June of my Senior year... JUNE OF MY SENIOR YEAR. Think about it. Be careful and not just you and your son but everyone who pitches or has a son that pitchs, that's all.
Another factor is his mechanics...
My son is not a pitcher but his arm use to be dead at the end of the season, It wasn't until he went pro did he learn the proper way to throw a baseball. He's never had a problem since (knock wood).
My son is not a pitcher but his arm use to be dead at the end of the season, It wasn't until he went pro did he learn the proper way to throw a baseball. He's never had a problem since (knock wood).
quote:Originally posted by TPM:
You are right, where do these folks come from?
I know who runs them off.
quote:Originally posted by tradosaurus:
What if my kid closes out a game and only pitches 20 pitches. Should he be able to pitch the next day O Wise One? If so what should be his pitch count?
Why would you want your kid to pitch ANY amount on consecutive days? What could possibly be gained by letting that happen? Sometimes I am not sure what goes thru the minds of coaches and parents that would let or do something like that.
quote:Originally posted by tradosaurus:
One last thing; these discussion would go a lot smoother if you just assume I'm right since I've probably watched more youtube videos than anyone else.
Sultan,
You've got to be kidding me, with posts such as the above, he will run himself off.
Trad, are you suggesting that you have seen more than anyone here?
I'll add a little science to this post. Pitching is an unnatrual physical motion. With every pitch come micro tears in the arm and shoulder. These tears are measured in thousanths of milimeters. With proper rest between appearances they heal. Without proper rest they become cummulative damage you won't know about until the kid is sitting on the table in an orthopedic surgeon's office being asked, "Does this hurt?"quote:Originally posted by Coach_May:
20 game pitches. How many in the bull pen before he took the mound? How many between innings? How many before this game and when was it? What other positions did he play prior to this game and when? Will he play the field after this appearance? How old is he? What kind of shape is he in? There are many questions.
Your first post about 50 pitches on Saturday and then 50 pitches on Sunday caught my attention to be honest with you. That is simply ridiculous. A 50 pitch outing is a complete start. That equates to around 100 pitches. Taking into account the bull pen before the game and the pitches between innings. And then your wondering if he can come back out for another 50 on Sunday?
Kids should not be pitching on less that four days rest. They should not be brought back on consecutive days regardless of how many pitches they threw. And many cases the pitchers on these youth teams are also the better position players. SS to pitcher to SS. Pitcher to SS to pitcher. It amazes me that more kids arms are not toast before HS. But the fact is many of the best young arms never see the mound in HS. And many of the best HS arms never make it out of college.
Heating up a arm and pitching in a game and then playing the field only to heat that arm back up the next day for I dont care how many pitches is simply ridiculous. But it happens all the time. And the damage many times does not show up to later in the career.
quote:Originally posted by tradosaurus:
Well TPM and Coach May make my point. There is no exact answer.
And what exactly was your point to begin with?
It's about common sense, all of the factors that Coach May gave would make the final termination, are you unable to figure that out?
quote:Originally posted by lefthookdad:quote:Originally posted by tradosaurus:
What if my kid closes out a game and only pitches 20 pitches. Should he be able to pitch the next day O Wise One? If so what should be his pitch count?
Why would you want your kid to pitch ANY amount on consecutive days? What could possibly be gained by letting that happen? Sometimes I am not sure what goes thru the minds of coaches and parents that would let or do something like that.
If my son is used as a closer, say last inning of a game. Like I said each kid is different and there are lots of variables.
There is not a "one size fits all" answer to fit all kids in all situations.
TRAD--- what exactly is your baseball background?
When my youngest was 11-13 I coached his AAU team in the summers. It was a blast. But I was simply shocked at what some of these coaches would do. And many times like me the coaches were Dads. The typical tourney would be one game on Friday, two games on Saturday and the pool winners would play it out on Sunday. So you would have another 2 games on Sunday if you won the first game on Sunday morning. That would be 5 games in 3 days. Like almost every team we carried around 13-15 players. We would rotate position players a lot. And just about every kid was an option on the mound. They had to be. Of course some were better than others. And we would have a rotation set up based on who we would play in pool play. Many times our best arms would not be slated to pitch until Sunday. And sometimes we would have to come out of the gate with our best arms to make it to Sunday.
Here is what I saw over and over again. Top arm on many of these teams would start game 1 on Friday. He would then be used in a closing role sometime on Saturday. And then he would either pitch the first game on Sunday or the Championship game on Sunday. I saw this many times. And many times it was the HC son or an assistants son. Many of these teams would only have four or five guys that would pitch on a weekend. And they would "bounce" them back up there from one day to the next. One game to the next. It was not uncommon to see a kid pitch a complete game and close the next game and play SS in the same day as well.
The best youth pitcher I ever saw was during the summer when my youngest son was 13. He could throw straight cheese with a hammer and change up. He was legit. He also would throw at least two complete games a weekend. When my son reached HS I checked around to see what this kid was doing in HS. He was playing 1st base and not pitching. Labrum issues. He later went to a local JC as a hitter and 1st baseman. And stopped playing after his first year.
I had 3 guys on that team that were drafted. Several others still playing college baseball. And maybe some more draft picks to come. I had a dream that we would help them be the best they could be when it mattered the most. And not do anything to hurt their chances down the road just for a plastic trophy on Sunday. We won a lot. We developed a lot of arms. And most importantly I have never had to wonder if what I did was the reason they couldn't reach their potential as players.
Is it worth it? Do you know? When you run him out there on back to back days do you know? Or are you just hoping its Ok? You see I don't know. So I don't take any chances. When I had a great young LHP in my HS program a few years ago I pulled him when he hit 65 pitches early in the year. No hitter or not. Later in the year when he hit 85 pitches I pulled him no hitter or not. When he was a senior I didn't care how many scouts were at the game or if the GM of Atlanta was in the stands. When he hit his pitch count he came out. I limited his breaking stuff. I looked after him the best I knew how and if I had a doubt I erred on the side of caution. But I didn't know. And I still don't know. But if I am going to have to make a call you can bet its going to be on the safe side. He pitched game 7 of the WS this year. I didnt make him the pitcher he is. But I sure didn't stop him from being that pitcher either.
I had a stud 14 year old freshman you hit 88 on the gun his freshman year. 6'3 175 pure stud of a player. The most talented player I have ever coached. His Dad got a call from a program in ***X wanting him to come play for them that summer. I told him not to do it. Stay here and work out, long toss and get better. Play on a local showcase team for some coaches I know will look after you. "You don't know those guys. He is just another arm to them and they might throw him in the ground because he is going to be really good for them." Dad got the big head and wanted his son to be the star. And yes they threw him into the ground. Came back his soph year with shoulder problems. He didn't pitch for us again until the playoffs his Jr year when he was finally healthy. He had a great Sr year and was drafted. But he sat 91-92 and never really had that electric smooth arm where the ball just explodes out of it with no visible effort, like he had before. Still good enough to get drafted but what would have been?
So to all of you who don't know like I don't know why take a chance? Why roll the dice? When they are 28 and pitching in the WS is they want to push it and roll the dice of course your a man roll the freaking dice. Your not going to play this game forever go for it. But otherwise whats the point?
Here is what I saw over and over again. Top arm on many of these teams would start game 1 on Friday. He would then be used in a closing role sometime on Saturday. And then he would either pitch the first game on Sunday or the Championship game on Sunday. I saw this many times. And many times it was the HC son or an assistants son. Many of these teams would only have four or five guys that would pitch on a weekend. And they would "bounce" them back up there from one day to the next. One game to the next. It was not uncommon to see a kid pitch a complete game and close the next game and play SS in the same day as well.
The best youth pitcher I ever saw was during the summer when my youngest son was 13. He could throw straight cheese with a hammer and change up. He was legit. He also would throw at least two complete games a weekend. When my son reached HS I checked around to see what this kid was doing in HS. He was playing 1st base and not pitching. Labrum issues. He later went to a local JC as a hitter and 1st baseman. And stopped playing after his first year.
I had 3 guys on that team that were drafted. Several others still playing college baseball. And maybe some more draft picks to come. I had a dream that we would help them be the best they could be when it mattered the most. And not do anything to hurt their chances down the road just for a plastic trophy on Sunday. We won a lot. We developed a lot of arms. And most importantly I have never had to wonder if what I did was the reason they couldn't reach their potential as players.
Is it worth it? Do you know? When you run him out there on back to back days do you know? Or are you just hoping its Ok? You see I don't know. So I don't take any chances. When I had a great young LHP in my HS program a few years ago I pulled him when he hit 65 pitches early in the year. No hitter or not. Later in the year when he hit 85 pitches I pulled him no hitter or not. When he was a senior I didn't care how many scouts were at the game or if the GM of Atlanta was in the stands. When he hit his pitch count he came out. I limited his breaking stuff. I looked after him the best I knew how and if I had a doubt I erred on the side of caution. But I didn't know. And I still don't know. But if I am going to have to make a call you can bet its going to be on the safe side. He pitched game 7 of the WS this year. I didnt make him the pitcher he is. But I sure didn't stop him from being that pitcher either.
I had a stud 14 year old freshman you hit 88 on the gun his freshman year. 6'3 175 pure stud of a player. The most talented player I have ever coached. His Dad got a call from a program in ***X wanting him to come play for them that summer. I told him not to do it. Stay here and work out, long toss and get better. Play on a local showcase team for some coaches I know will look after you. "You don't know those guys. He is just another arm to them and they might throw him in the ground because he is going to be really good for them." Dad got the big head and wanted his son to be the star. And yes they threw him into the ground. Came back his soph year with shoulder problems. He didn't pitch for us again until the playoffs his Jr year when he was finally healthy. He had a great Sr year and was drafted. But he sat 91-92 and never really had that electric smooth arm where the ball just explodes out of it with no visible effort, like he had before. Still good enough to get drafted but what would have been?
So to all of you who don't know like I don't know why take a chance? Why roll the dice? When they are 28 and pitching in the WS is they want to push it and roll the dice of course your a man roll the freaking dice. Your not going to play this game forever go for it. But otherwise whats the point?
Since when did they begin using pitchers specifically as closers in youth baseball?
This is the problem why so many kids have arm, elbow issues, weekend tournaments with not enough pitching.
At the youth level there should be a one size fits all, to adjust as the pitcher matures and enters HS.
I don't ever remember son pitching anymore than his 3 or 4 innings in a weekend tournament at the youth level.
Most if not all of my son's coaches had the same philosophy as Coach May, surprisingly enough we seemed to get by and win a lot of games without running anyone into the ground. Until HS everyone pitched, that was just the way it was.
Thank goodness.
This is the problem why so many kids have arm, elbow issues, weekend tournaments with not enough pitching.
At the youth level there should be a one size fits all, to adjust as the pitcher matures and enters HS.
I don't ever remember son pitching anymore than his 3 or 4 innings in a weekend tournament at the youth level.
Most if not all of my son's coaches had the same philosophy as Coach May, surprisingly enough we seemed to get by and win a lot of games without running anyone into the ground. Until HS everyone pitched, that was just the way it was.
Thank goodness.
My son closed, if necessary from 9U through 16U. Once in showcase ball it was just getting his couple of innings reagardless of where it was in the game. He never pitched twice in the same day. If he threw two innings he got a days rest. The only time he started was 12yo LL and a couple of high school games during heavy schedule weeks.quote:Originally posted by TPM:
Since when did they begin using pitchers specifically as closers in youth baseball?
This is the problem why so many kids have arm, elbow issues, weekend tournaments with not enough pitching.
At the youth level there should be a one size fits all, to adjust as the pitcher matures and enters HS.
I don't ever remember son pitching anymore than his 3 or 4 innings in a weekend tournament at the youth level.
quote:Originally posted by RJM:My son closed, if necessary from 9U through 16U. Once in showcase ball it was just getting his couple of innings reagardless of where it was in the game. He never pitched twice in the same day. If he threw two innings he got a days rest. The only time he started was 12yo LL and a couple of high school games during heavy schedule weeks.quote:Originally posted by TPM:
Since when did they begin using pitchers specifically as closers in youth baseball?
This is the problem why so many kids have arm, elbow issues, weekend tournaments with not enough pitching.
At the youth level there should be a one size fits all, to adjust as the pitcher matures and enters HS.
I don't ever remember son pitching anymore than his 3 or 4 innings in a weekend tournament at the youth level.
I understand what you were saying, he just got in his time at the end of the game, not specifically he came into close out a game every game or everyday.
He did say what if his son were the closer, just sayin......
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
TRAD--- what exactly is your baseball background?
I have a PhD in youtube videos and I have read some how to books. What is yours?
Sometimes it's OK to say "I don't know". That's why I'm asking questions about pitcher innings.
I need to approach the Head Coach of our travel team with some knowledge of when to pull my son. Last year was his first year in travel ball and fortunately he wasn't the primary pitcher. This year I think he will see more pitching time as he had the lowest ERA on the team last year.
And if my son were the closer it probably wouldn't be every game, only the close ones (but I don't know for sure).
This is humorous. Trade is challenging high school coaches, showcase coaches, pro scouts, parents of pro players and parents of college players, all of whom have been through the journey.
Do what we did. My son had labrum surgery and we got a prescription form from the doctor telling our HS coach that he was not allowed to pitch...doctor's orders!
At least there was one benefit to the surgery.
At least there was one benefit to the surgery.
The first time I let my son play travel ball was when he was 12. We had plenty of kids on the team because, as it turns out, they let anyone who could pay the fee play on the team. I helped coach and was always watchful of pitching kids too much, especially my son. I did not let me son play travel ball again until this last fall when a team called and wanted him and a couple of other of his HS team mates to come out and help the team. I made it clear to the coach up front, he was only going to be able to be used once during a weekend.....so, it was throw him 50-60 pitches of throw him 10, did not matter. I am not a big fan of travel ball at young ages, just too much ball.
We will be on a showcase team this upcoming summer but the coaches philosophy is on track with my philosophy and the team will carry 5-6 pitcher only spots.
I think too many people (parents) get caught up in the winning or my kids needs to be the best NOW. I have preached too all my players and my kids that at the younger level it is all just practice for HS or College.
We will be on a showcase team this upcoming summer but the coaches philosophy is on track with my philosophy and the team will carry 5-6 pitcher only spots.
I think too many people (parents) get caught up in the winning or my kids needs to be the best NOW. I have preached too all my players and my kids that at the younger level it is all just practice for HS or College.
Trade, why do you ask questions when you know so much already (u tube) and will already do whatever you plan on doing? It sure doesn't seem like you ask your questions to learn rather simply to be provocative.
I really don't think this is the site for you. People here are sincere and honestly, your attempts to rile everyone up take away from the content on this site.
Perhaps you could go back under your prehistoric rock?
I really don't think this is the site for you. People here are sincere and honestly, your attempts to rile everyone up take away from the content on this site.
Perhaps you could go back under your prehistoric rock?
quote:Originally posted by calisportsfan:
Trade, why do you ask questions when you know so much already (u tube) and will already do whatever you plan on doing? It sure doesn't seem like you ask your questions to learn rather simply to be provocative.
I really don't think this is the site for you. People here are sincere and honestly, your attempts to rile everyone up take away from the content on this site.
Perhaps you could go back under your prehistoric rock?
Obviously the tongue-in-cheek comments went over your head.
Why don't you just relax or just ignore?
Coach May liked your recap of your 11-13 team and your approach, my son played for a a team with the same kind of weekend tournaments when he was age 13-15. The coaches took the same approach, and it did cost them some wins. In fact 8 of the players in their senior year made the all area team. I joked with the coaches that with all of that talent that they should have won more, must have been the coaching!
The team was put together to prepare the kids to compete for their high school team. Like you saw many teams that were going for the win. What concerns me now it seems that kids are starting even younger with this kind of approach with their players
This sport is a marathon not a sprint.
The team was put together to prepare the kids to compete for their high school team. Like you saw many teams that were going for the win. What concerns me now it seems that kids are starting even younger with this kind of approach with their players
This sport is a marathon not a sprint.
Tongue in cheek...ok try this one. Yeah, I am the only reader here annoyed by you.
quote:High School Team issues...What do I do?
dolphindan1, did you get your answer?
quote:Originally posted by dolphindan1:
So basically you are saying I need to find a head coaching job as baseball coach and just coach my on son?...Shouldnt have turned that job down last summer...Yeah Colts dad had his path prepared for him...
I think you missed the point, not that that is shocking.
Keep finding someone to blame until one day reality kicks you in the balls.
quote:Originally posted by 13LHPdad:quote:High School Team issues...What do I do?
dolphindan1, did you get your answer?
Yeah....lol....been good reading and again i appreciate everyones feedback....i dont wanna comment anymore because i dont wanna be called a ****** dad or whatever....
quote:Originally posted by ironhorse:quote:Originally posted by dolphindan1:
So basically you are saying I need to find a head coaching job as baseball coach and just coach my on son?...Shouldnt have turned that job down last summer...Yeah Colts dad had his path prepared for him...
I think you missed the point, not that that is shocking.
Keep finding someone to blame until one day reality kicks you in the balls.
That is the point....isnt it...
And i havent blamed anyone about anything.....just trying to see if i should pursue other options....thats all....too bad u cant understand that.....
quote:Originally posted by dolphindan1:
And i havent blamed anyone about anything.....
Really...
quote:Originally posted by dolphindan1:
I honestly think the dad made an ultimatum or the coaches are kissing his butt to keep this kid there,
Let your kid face adversity now or call his boss the first time he gets passed over for a promotion. You're choice.
quote:Originally posted by ironhorse:quote:Originally posted by dolphindan1:
And i havent blamed anyone about anything.....
Really...
Yes really...i have only stated what i saw....no blames at all....quote:Originally posted by dolphindan1:
I honestly think the dad made an ultimatum or the coaches are kissing his butt to keep this kid there,
Let your kid face adversity now or call his boss the first time he gets passed over for a promotion. You're choice.
I agree letting him face adversity but i also agree just like a promotion if u arent happy u go somewhere else....the whole situation is a life lesson....not just half of it
Dolphindan, you can't spend life running or fixing. I think the thing is that your son is a freshman and you must realize that freshman are not a given on varsity.
Look at it this way, let him hang out with kids closer to his own age....less exposure to things older kids are more likely to do while he is quite a bit younger is a very good thing! He isn't going to play baseball in college because of his high school team so this probably in the scheme of life isn't something worth a bunch of upheaval for. Let him work harder and over come it. That alone will give him great confidence for other things.
Look at it this way, let him hang out with kids closer to his own age....less exposure to things older kids are more likely to do while he is quite a bit younger is a very good thing! He isn't going to play baseball in college because of his high school team so this probably in the scheme of life isn't something worth a bunch of upheaval for. Let him work harder and over come it. That alone will give him great confidence for other things.
quote:Originally posted by dolphindan1:
I agree letting him face adversity but i also agree just like a promotion if u arent happy u go somewhere else....the whole situation is a life lesson....not just half of it
Well the other half should be that he was "the third best hitter" on a 15u team, which is the age of a freshman team. And your upset he didn't make JV against 16 & 17 year olds?
I hope you do transfer. Preferably to the East Texas powerhouse where trad's YouTube created prodigy will be playing.
Geez, when does the clock run out on this thread?
As a lurker I've been following this thread with interest. I think out of consistency we must understand that the coach's perogative is true however as parents we must do what we feel is necessary to help our kids. I think everyone is right here and we must let go of our ego.
Doing what we feel is best for our kids.
Thats the whole issue here. Do you step in and try and manipulate the situation to "help them?" Or you do you get out of the way and allow them to make their way in order to "help them?"
At some point and time if they play long enough you will be TOTALLY out of the loop. 100% out of it. It will be their gig. There will nothing you can do other than show up at the games if you can. They will either sink or swim.
Now what better prepares them for that time?
Isn't that the same situation in life? One day you will no longer be in a position to "help them." Now for those that say "I will always help my kids.'" You will? From the grave? The only things they will take with them are the things you have taught them. So if you have always been there to bail them out, fix everything for them, manipulate situations for them, be a crutch for them, what are they going to do when you are no longer in a position to "help them?"
What happens when you fix this situation for them and they find themselves in another jam? Do they look for you to step up for them? Or do they look inside themselves and find a way to overcome whatever obstacles are in front of them?
My advice to the OP was to simply transfer his son. Why? He is convinced his son is not going to get a fair shake with these coaches in the program. So why stay and become a negative for his son and the program? Now if he can step out of the way and allow his son's talent, work ethic and toughness to overcome whatever obstacles are put in front of him leave him be and let him deal with it.
If you think not making the varisty as a freshman is a baseball obstacle you aint seen nothin yet. And you never will if you don't learn to "help" your son in the right way. But thats just my opinion. Just one persons opinion.
Thats the whole issue here. Do you step in and try and manipulate the situation to "help them?" Or you do you get out of the way and allow them to make their way in order to "help them?"
At some point and time if they play long enough you will be TOTALLY out of the loop. 100% out of it. It will be their gig. There will nothing you can do other than show up at the games if you can. They will either sink or swim.
Now what better prepares them for that time?
Isn't that the same situation in life? One day you will no longer be in a position to "help them." Now for those that say "I will always help my kids.'" You will? From the grave? The only things they will take with them are the things you have taught them. So if you have always been there to bail them out, fix everything for them, manipulate situations for them, be a crutch for them, what are they going to do when you are no longer in a position to "help them?"
What happens when you fix this situation for them and they find themselves in another jam? Do they look for you to step up for them? Or do they look inside themselves and find a way to overcome whatever obstacles are in front of them?
My advice to the OP was to simply transfer his son. Why? He is convinced his son is not going to get a fair shake with these coaches in the program. So why stay and become a negative for his son and the program? Now if he can step out of the way and allow his son's talent, work ethic and toughness to overcome whatever obstacles are put in front of him leave him be and let him deal with it.
If you think not making the varisty as a freshman is a baseball obstacle you aint seen nothin yet. And you never will if you don't learn to "help" your son in the right way. But thats just my opinion. Just one persons opinion.
Boy, this is a rough place for newcomers. I hope they all make it through the hazing.
quote:Doing what we feel is best for our kids.
Thats the whole issue here. Do you step in and try and manipulate the situation to "help them?" Or you do you get out of the way and allow them to make their way in order to "help them?"
At some point and time if they play long enough you will be TOTALLY out of the loop. 100% out of it. It will be their gig. There will nothing you can do other than show up at the games if you can. They will either sink or swim.
Another perspective - I think what many of you are proposing should also apply to those daddy coaches. Let your kid earn it himself like all the other players have to. Dads should not coach their sons in high school. I have first hand experience and it's a nightmare. If you have other options, dolphindan1, you might want to consider them. At this point in the game, all you want for your kid is a level playing field. There will always be other politics at play, but backing off and letting your kid prove himself is easy, once the daddy coaches are gone.
For those that don't think parents lay stuff out for their kids.... what about the kid born on third that thinks he hit a triple! 
is it not best for our kids to leaarn how to handle adversity early on?
I am afraid I can't classify playing time with the HS baseball team or a run in with the coach as something that is that big of a deal.
Girls say no to dates, people don't hire kids at McDonald's, they don't get to drive the car they want and on and on. There will be hundreds of disapointments and slights big & small and imagined or real. Everyone starts dealing with this as soon as they are born. Some of it matters but most of it is unimportant and forgotten. I might be a little bit tough here but almost all Americans really don't know what adversity is short of a death in the family. Our country is so great with so many opportunities that almost everyone has not only food and the basic necessities but things that most of the world would think of as luxuries like cars, electricity, plumbing, air conditioning, flat screens, cable etc.
Let's put the High School baseball team in the proper perspective. For millions of kids it'll be the end of a sporting career becasue they aren't good enough to go further in the game. They will survive, have productive lives and the world will stay on it's axis.
Girls say no to dates, people don't hire kids at McDonald's, they don't get to drive the car they want and on and on. There will be hundreds of disapointments and slights big & small and imagined or real. Everyone starts dealing with this as soon as they are born. Some of it matters but most of it is unimportant and forgotten. I might be a little bit tough here but almost all Americans really don't know what adversity is short of a death in the family. Our country is so great with so many opportunities that almost everyone has not only food and the basic necessities but things that most of the world would think of as luxuries like cars, electricity, plumbing, air conditioning, flat screens, cable etc.
Let's put the High School baseball team in the proper perspective. For millions of kids it'll be the end of a sporting career becasue they aren't good enough to go further in the game. They will survive, have productive lives and the world will stay on it's axis.