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15 replies

How to advise son on a situation

RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
My son is playing short on the high school team. He's primarily centerfielder on his showcase team per advice of pro scout (speed, reaction, arm). His arm keeps getting stronger. Pitching he hit 85 on the gun last fall and cruised at 82/83 with the two seamer. The showcase coach believes there's a much higher ceiling on the pitching velocity. He wants to improve the velocity and showcase him as a pitcher/outfielder. Until spring training the team has a pitching coach (a minor leaguer) who's related to the head coach. He works with my son once a week at the team workouts.

I received a call from a locally well known pitching coach. He said someone recommended my son as a kid with an arm with an upside. He offered two free lessons. He likes to take a couple of lessons to figure out if he and the kid are a fit to work together. The guy likes my son. He thinks he has great upside since he has long legs and an abnormally wide wingspan (we M's are the missing link). My son loved the instruction. He better understands how this guy explains things.

The mechanics of the two instructors conflict. I wasn't real comfortable with what the showcase pitching coach was teaching. I'm very comfortable with what the new instructor is teaching.

Before I tell my son how to deal with this situation with his showcase coach, I'd like to get any input from the experts here. At first thought I plan to tell my son to tell the showcase coach he's more comfortable with the second set of pitching mechanics without saying where they came from.

I'd explain the difference in mechanics but I'm trying to be a little descreet. I'll just say one is an hybrid and one is more traditional. The hybrid gives me concern about his arm. The net is my son and I have more confidence in the new instructor.

** The dream is free. Work ethic sold separately. **

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rz1rz15,000+ posts
If the son and you are more comfortable with the traditionalist I would tell the other while you respect his philosophy, you are more comfortable with the other. A good instructor will know that you can not go both ways and that progression is what teaching is all about. At the same time ask the guy if things don't work out if the door is still open with him.

Tough situation but I'll bet the showcase guy has also been on the other end of the stick, and life will go on

Do the instructors know each other?
Last edited by rz1
Coach_MayCoach_May10,000+ posts
Your going to do what is best for your son so the only thing you need to figure out is how your going to tell the showcase coach. Just be flat out honest with him just like you would want him to be honest with you. Tell him your son really likes the instruction he is getting from this instructor and wants to continue with the instruction. Thank him for the help and let him know you appreciate everything he is doing for you.

If this showcase coach gets ticked that tells you all you need to know about him. If he is a good guy and truly interested in what is best for your son he will have no problem with it.
CPLZCPLZ1,000+ posts
Junior moved from his original pitching coach to his showcase coach. We were just straight up with the guy, told him that he was great, he gave Kirk everything he needed to get on the right track, thanks for all the good work. No explanation of why, there didn't need to be any. The original coach was thrilled for Kirk...The original coach also happened to be his Varsity Asst at the HS. It never impacted their good relationship at all.
20dad20dad1,000+ posts
i would have your son explain it to the coach. (maybe while your there.)it's not really about you, no disrespect intended. if the coach doesn't go along then move along.

while he is on the team, the opportunity's he gets will be his. he needs all the tools/techniques he can muster.


one of my proud moments was a college coach, who was recruiting my son. asked if i was his dad. he said he was impressed how he carrid himself, spoke to him, looked him in the eye. very good traits for any young man.
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
Hoping if his coach sees this thread (knows of hsbaseballweb/don't think he reads it) he doesn't read it all, I'll add in one catch. My son is taking these lessons with a teammate. The teammate's dad mentioned the new pitching coach to the showcase coach. The showcase coach insisted his pitching coach (his son) is better and blew off the conversation. The difference is the other kid isn't a pitcher on the showcase team.

I don't mind my son getting pitching help with the showcase team. I just want the mechanics to be consistant. I think my son is being used as a guinea pig to throw like Lincecum to see if it works. I've heard criticism of Lincecum's mechanics from a physical longevity standpoint. His dad designed the mechanics specifically for him.
Last edited by RJM
P Prime91,000+ posts
My son, who is now a Senior, has for years experienced differences among Teaching/coaching styles of his H.S. Coaching Staff and others he plays for or takes lessons from. He knows which he prefers but respectfully considers all the "advice" without having to take a firm stance and completely rejecting a particular person/style.

Two good points, regarding this type dilemna, seems to arise on each thread I've read here; First, Let the player handle it, AND secondly, listen to what each has to say and use what makes sense for you. I agree with both of the above.

By the age and level your boy is competing at, any coach worth his salt realizes the player is likely getting other professional coaching. As such, he also knows the player will adopt what he's most comfortable with. We personally know players that are experiencing "conflicting" coaching advice at the pro level; not only as they rise within their own organization but when they are traded to another. He may as well learn how to deal with it now, on his own!
Last edited by Prime9
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
respectfully considers all the "advice" without having to take a firm stance and completely rejecting a particular person/style.
It's two radically different styles. There's no middle ground. It's going to be one or the other. The showcase pitching coach is going to have to deal with it. Of course, he could deal with it by not putting him on the mound. We're not going to risk his potential as a position player and make a late scramble for a less suitable team. It's junior year.
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
My son went to his showcase workout today. He told the pitching coach he saw another instructor and feels more comfortable with the mechanics he was taught in the lesson. The showcase coach said he could work from that lesson plan even though he thinks his way would be better in the long run. The showcase pitching coach said some of his former teammates had worked with the same instructor.
Last edited by RJM

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