I don't get it

Now I realize that you wrote just LHP for your Junior Player.
And that very well might be were he ultimately ends up.
I think things happen for a reason.
And its not because we always plan it that way.
Amen
I think it would be nice to go into the Summer with a fresh Arm??
Also with the ability to play the OF and Hit??
It might not be a bad thing.
EH

EH- I get what you are saying. I really don't know about such things, but doesn't a pitcher have to pitch to get an education about the mental side? What you say is true, and may play out differently, but I think he knows his future is in pitching, and he wants to be good at it, you are right about the fresh arm for the summer though, good point.

Also remember the benefit of Long Toss.
The throwing motion is different from the OF?
Maybe someone with more knowledge about that will chime in.
EH

IT's good to have a LHP who can hit. I know MANY LHP's who stink at hitting. I would be thankful that he can be used in the OF. He will get more playing time, get to bat a great deal, and if good enough, the coach will be forced to use him on the mound----after all, he is a lefty and they are hard to come by. It all depends on how deep your team is. You have to remember...in high school baseball, you don't play that many games and so if there are senior pitchers (and good), they are going to get the majority of the starts. They are going to get the "loyalty" card as well from the coach. If your LHP son is an above average pitcher, he WILL see some pitching this year....if he is average (for a LHP), then you may have to just be patient. The one thing I would NOT do is approach the coach (not that you would). But just let things play out and I think it will all come together.

If he doesn't get much practice in the bullpen; have him do it on his own time because his chance to pitch will most likely come... he needs to be ready so he can do a good job: if all of his practice time is in OF, that's okay, just find some time for him to get on a mound with a catcher (most kids will catch a bullpen for a pizza! .... keep at it...
Abe Lincoln said it like this: "I will prepare, and then perhaps my chance will come."

Perhaps he is not as good a pitcher in the coaches eyes as he is in yours and it could well be that he is more important to the team in CF than on the mound

My son is a good pitcher, but I would prefer they kept him at his middle infield position.

HeartBB;

Maybe you son would like to join our SSK Junior Olympic Team. He can play OF and pitch. We need LHP and left handed hitters. If possible, we place 6 left handed hitters in our line-up.

Please open our web site <www.goodwillseries.org>

We can meet at SSU in Rohnert Park.

Bob Williams

sorry, had to go see older son play some ball for a few days

LHP jr son is good enough to play on a scout team last fall as an underclassma LHP). Travel team he played U19 against jr college players(LHP) and did just fine. So, he's pretty good - not that I know - i don't, TR, just kind of giving a general overview of where he is at. Others have made the decisions for him to play where he does, not me.

I just read so much about LHPs being fewer than RHPs so it was just thought that-- that would be his niche. It is not a problem at all, he will do what is asked of him, it was just kind of surprising for son to be a CF and in the lineup and not a pitcher.
I think he was hoping to get some stats going in this important jr. year. He'll do what is best for the team- he will be able to throw pens to stay in shape. Thanks for all the info/comments.

I think your son is in a good position. I suggest you let it play out. Coaches are always looking at their infield and outfield for pitchers. If your son were a pitcher ONLY he would probably have fewer options. Coaches rarely look to their pitcher for help with the bat. From reading your posts I would say he will be called on to take the ball. Hopefully your son communicates with his coach and has let him know he wants to pitch.
Fungo

You're right, junior year is important. One thing I would do is get a radar gun and see what his general speed range is (unless you already know). That way you can kind of guage how is stacks up against the other lefies and righties. If he is throwing pretty good heat and has a plus pitch, then something is wrong and you need to have your son approach the coach and be very subtle was simply ask questions about where he (the coach) thinks he stacks up. (if and only if the latter two are true).

quote:

One thing I would do is get a radar gun and see what his general speed range is (unless you already know).

Radar gun's should be used by Scout's and coach's.
Parent's don't need them.

iheartbb,
Stats mean nothing out of HS.
They will not even come up that much in the conversation with the recruiter.

As far as wanting your son to just pitch.
Be careful what you wish for.
It can be heart wrenching I tell ya.

I would much rather have my son play all position's then just LHP.
But that won't be the case.

So enjoy the HS season.
EH

My advice is to not let your son get down about not getting to throw because it might take his focus away from where the coach feels he best helps the team.. High schools can never have enough arms to go around, especially from the left side so I would keep him mentally prepared to take the bump at any time.

do you have an idea of how fast your LH son throws? For example (other people help me on this too), if he is a RHP and throws 77 in high school varsity, he is probably going to get hit all over the place. I have seen this first hand. 77MPH looks like slow motion to most good varsity hitters. Similar to a change-up but thrown as a fast ball and just waiting to get smoked over the fence. Even if a pitcher touches 80 in varsity, it could be trouble depending on what other pitches you have in your arsenal. I DO REALIZE this is not hoyle!!!! So don't everyone jump all over me, if you have other plus pitches it's a whole different story.

switchitter- I'll put this out there for the sake of education (we are all fine with his situation, just surprised) I have taken this info from his pitching coaches eval from last fall (start of JR year)
Velo is 84, Curve is ahead of his change, but has made huge strides on his change and if stays consistant would make a better pitch than curve. That is all I know about it. We are in no hurry for him to get "bigger and stronger" we are all for the natural progression of things - he is tall and thin and athletic.

quote:

and may not pitch.

Key word is: " may ".
That still leaves the door open.

Coach didnt say " He will not pitch ".

If your son continues to condition on his own or with the team as a pitcher, and he's on top of it, I'd say your son has a fair chance at getting back on the mound. For now, it sounds like the coach is doing some evaluating. I'd wait for the waters to settle a bit and see how things turn out.

The beginning of a season can be very unpredictable.
I understand why you would be suprised.

quote:

LHP jr son is good enough to play on a scout team last fall as an underclassma LHP

Doubt the coach will keep his pitching arm cold for very long!

In the meantime,...rock that bat!!!! Its a compliment in and of itself, if the coach says he needs your son in the line-up. Sounds like the kid has alot going for him.

I'd like to continue to hear how his season goes!
Please keep us updated!

quote:

Originally posted by iheartbb:
We are in no hurry for him to get "bigger and stronger" we are all for the natural progression of things - he is tall and thin and athletic.

Your kid is in his critical junior year of HS and you are in no hurry to get him bigger and stronger, just willing to wait? Sorry, but I don't understand this thinking. Are you willing to wait until it's too late?

The kids who conveniently wait to get bigger, stronger, and faster are the ones who get passed up by the hard-working kids. Perhaps coach noticed your son was not puting in the off-season conditioning that he expects out of his varsity pitchers. Being left handed by itself means nothing and deserves no special priveleges.

Knightime-
He works out, attends a core class, is a hardworker and a fierce desire to compete.
The bigger and stronger thing is a comment I threw in there, from another thread.
What I meant was he is not going to get into anything "unatural" to speed up the process

I don't think I implied anywhere that he expected any special privlidges.

quote:

Originally posted by iheartbb:
Knightime-
He works out, attends a core class, is a hardworker and a fierce desire to compete.
The bigger and stronger thing is a comment I threw in there, from another thread.
What I meant was he is not going to get into anything "unatural" to speed up the process

I don't think I implied anywhere that he expected any special privlidges.

Got it and I totally agree. Thanks for clarifying.

iheartbb - My son sounds like he was similar to yours in HS. He did both when he was younger. Got his first varsity appearance as a pitcher as an eighth grader. However in HS, he was used as a CF because of his bat and the need for the team. We had other pitchers who were very good. We didn't have anyone who could do what he could in his position. To make a long story short, he returned to do some pitching his senior year. He ended up getting calls from colleges for just pitching as well as some offers to do both. Now, I'm not talking about large majors, but the point is he had interest when he hadn't even been a pitcher all through HS. If your son can pitch as a lefty, he'll have interest if that's what he wants to do in college. I wouldn't be worried.