I am so fustrated right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mains3,
I absolutely understand your frustration - I've heard those words from my son many, many times. His dad has no interest in sports of any kind and has never been involved with that part of his life, and his step-dad's interest has been limited. And like you, for most of his baseball years, no other player in our area was interested in either playing catch or catching his pitching. Most players in our area are only interested in baseball during baseball season. The good news for him is that he now has a driver's license and we have some new facilities with terrific coaches available, and they've plugged him into other equally frustrated guys to throw with in the off season.

That said, I will tell you the same thing I told him when he went through what you're going through (and if you're like him, you won't like it either).

I can't catch you. I haven't been able to catch my son since he was 12. Your dad won't catch you and there's nothing you can do about that. You don't have players in your neighborhood to throw with and you can't do anything about that either. You can get mad, but that won't help your game, so you've got to find ways to do what you have to do one your own. It won't be as much fun as working with someone else, and it will be more work for you since you'll have to shag your own balls, but if you want it bad enough, there are things you can do.

If you have a backyard, set yourself up a target and throw to it. Take every ball you have with you, throw them all and then go pick them up and do it again. Work on your accuracy and your mechanics. Work on your focus.

If you have to build speed and endurance, run to your target and grab a couple of the balls you threw and run back to the starting point and do it again and again as if you were doing wind sprints or running suicides.

If you have a ballpark nearby - go throw from the mound. I don't know if you're in Westford, MA, or another Westford, but we're in NH. When my son was your age, he'd take a bucket of balls to a local field, drag a trash barrel or something similar to where the catcher would be, then trudge through the snow to the mound and clear himself a spot. Then he'd thow every ball he had as if there was a batter and a catcher. And then he'd collect them and do it again.

You can also work on your core while in the house and if you have a full length mirror available, you can go through your motion in front of it and work on your mechanics and muscle memory.

Like i said, it won't be fun, it will be hard work, but if you want it bad enough, you can be ready for the season.

Thanks alot for the advice! Im pretty used to training by myself anyways, but at least on saturdays I go to baseball clincs? And when I can drive in a year or two I can drive anywhere I want to play.

Again Thanks

KmomNH,...nice nice post!!!!

Mains3,....hang in there! Make sure you make the most of those Saturday clinics. Perhaps some of the boys participating, would be interested in getting together after school or once in a while to practice together. Probably couldn't hurt to ask.
I'd be willing to bet there are other boys looking for someone to play catch with too!!

My son has had to do alot of his own work outs because his dad ( an Army guy ) was not home alot.
His best friends at times have been his bat, a tee, a bucket of balls, and our ever so faithful retriever dog!

KmomNH has some really sound advice and great ideas! I hope you try them. I know you are frustrated, I can sense that. Just remember to never give up. You yourself, can make good things happen. Believe, believe, believe!!! Dont ever let frustration make you stop.

It sounds like you may have larger issues with your dad, particularly given your being so quick to anger in this case.

That being said, you are nearing the time when you will be an adult, and as you get closer and closer, you will be expected to stand on your own two feet. You don't get to blame your dad or anyone else.

It may be that you are being forced to reach that point sooner than some others, and that's a darned shame. But you can't change that.

You can change your own attitude and your own actions. My advice is, put aside the blame of others, and focus on what you CAN do.

Find friends to play catch with. Find a ride to a local coin-op batting cage and get your swings in. Work with wiffle balls off a tee in your back yard. Throw an old ball against a brick wall up at the local school (after everyone has left the building!). Do your running and show up to tryouts in shape. (That will put you way ahead of most of your competition right there, and that is 100% your responsibility, not your dad's.)

If you do these things, you will succeed. And then you will have pride in your accomplishments, especially knowing that you overcame a lack of support that did not burden others.

Mains, Keep working hard and find ways (as had been said) of working to improve your game with what ya got. Many boys are/have been in the same shape as you. I'm sorry your dad is missing out... but you don't have to miss out because of his lack of participation. We all have to face challenges that with hard work and faith can be overcome. Good luck to you!

Good advice KMomNH!!!

Sounds as if your Dad USUALLY plays catch with you. You should appreciate that. It's not realistic to expect catch everyday. Dads have their own pressures and obligations too.

You're a pitcher. A week or two before tryouts is time to back off the throwing. Don't do any hard throwing the final 5 days. You want your arm to feel great on that first Monday.

If you're worried about tryouts (very normal), burn off your nervousness by doing some light jogging around the neighborhood.

Hey thanks Micdsguy! Thats a great idea to back off my thorwing for the next couple days. Like you said I am very worried about the tryouts( what are exactly a week away tomorrow) Im probly going to take it easy.


Thanks again!

Your parents may be more nervous about them than you are, though they certainly won't admit it.

Good luck with the tryouts. Sounds like you're already far better prepared than most kids.

My husband is diabled,didnt play catch with my son. He also didn't have any else around to work out with.
Get a bucket of balls and throw into a tarp, you make do, no one said it would be easy.
If you mess up in tryouts you have no one to blame but your self, good luck

So, nobody is concerned with this kid's cussing on here??

Bluedog, kids cuss, it happens. Adults cuss, it happens. I am not saying it's right but it happens.

I have 5 sisters and I live in Alaska, so its not exactly baseball country. My sister plays softball but she cant really handle my speed anymore. You just have to find ways to get it done. Go to the local field and throw, maybe someone will see you and want to join up. Do what you gotta do and call someone on your team too. Take it easy

It concerns me, But I'm not perfect either.
Mains3 is nervous about the tryout's and is looking for advice that he not getting at home from his father.
And he's frustrated.

Mains3 I've tryed to Consul my boy on such thing's, and I get a grumpy snap back.
It's a 2 way street, Sometimes the best advice is no advice.

But Bluedog is right.
If you want to play baseball.
Keep your emotion's in check.
Meaning don't get mad to were everybody see's you throw a fit when you don't get the call.
Same emotion weather you K the guy or give up a hit.
EH

Because nobody's perfect, it is O.K. to use the cuss words he used on here??

That, my friend, is a sad commentary, IMO..

I'm not going to argue with you BlueDog.
Your Right.
EH

Mains,
I would strongly agree that you need to channel that frustration & anger if you're going to get anywhere in baseball

sorry, that was a really dumb thing for me to say as I now recall the antics of Elija Dukes, Alex Rios, Brad Penny, Albert Bell, Sweet Lou, and fan favorite Barry Bonds .. all of whom have had mlb throw buckets of money at them & when they did "go off" on someone - appologists say that
"they wear their emotions on their sleeve" ... that sounds so cool

take care of ol' # 1, and the heck with what others think
smash (hopefuly figurativly ) anyone who says otherwise

good luck



ps - if you don't make the team get a job & start kicking in some rent $$

Mains3,..I want to thank you for using your head and venting your frustrations out here on the HSBBW. You channeled your frustrations through a keypad,..and thats a smart safe way to do it!

Being a teenager is not always easy. Some of us folks forget that. Its been a while since we've been where you are standing.

Everyone needs an outlet.

If those of us here can help in any way, we are here for you. You have a broad range of people here who have lots of experience.

I would hope all of our intentions here, are to help.

Use what is useful to you,..and let the other slip by.

Make the most of your tryouts! Play good ball, and never give up.
Its not always easy, but remember,...we are here to help.

Kid, your post was selfish and disappointing, IMO....

Anyone who wants to succeed will find a way.....

Ever hear of a net??

You know buddy, I know for a fact I will succeed, or at least will try to. Im just very hyped up about the tryouts right now....

quote:

Originally posted by Mains3:
You know buddy, I know for a fact I will succeed, or at least will try to. Im just very hyped up about the tryouts right now....

Mains3,
I am not going to give you that mushy mom stuff! I agree with Bee.

There is no whining or crying in baseball!

Get mad, get tough, focus on the things you CAN control, and not worry about what you cannot and you'll make the team!

Good luck and as your bb career progresses, you'll have this to look back on and understand.

mains3
My father never played catch with me. I remember the first time he saw me pitching, I was pitching an exibition game at college in my native Dominican Republic. I know, in my times, I got kids that will play catch with me any time at any empty land in the neighborhood.(unfortuned that don't happen no more). But I remember that when I didn't get nonbody to catch my pitches, I draw a circle in any wall and throw the ball againts that wall figuring a catcher in that circle. Don't get frustrated, life put a lot of obstacles to people that will success, perseverance will drive you to your dreams.

quote:

Originally posted by Mains3:
You know buddy, I know for a fact I will succeed, or at least will try to. Im just very hyped up about the tryouts right now....

Mains3, keep on working hard and don't be discouraged if you don't make V this year. Your school is loaded at the pitching position--8 guys 6'1" or taller, all of whom can pitch! You have plenty of time to make your mark and go on to bigger and better things.