INSTRUCTIONAL BALL

They look at it as important. I don't know of anybody who has turned it down. It is unpaid. You have a unique position. Mine indicated it was not a lot of fun.

It's not a lot of fun, so I have also heard. Most want out after a long hot summer of playing ball. Often pitchers don't get asked so they can rest, and if they are invited they don't pitch much.

Fall instrux is where you get actual instruction from the teams best coaches. You also get a chance to meet those you will work with later on and they get a chance to see and evaluate you. Also for a chance for the pitching and hitting directors to see you. Practice games, sometimes against the same teams you may have played all summer. I heard the Cards play against Marlins, Mets and Dodger plus there own scrimmages. Marlins and Cards share a facility so they meet up often. Dave told me they are talking 5 weeks this year.

You don't get paid, you get room and meal money. Curfew.

Fall instruction can be different for many teams, sometimes their top prospects who need improvement are invited, sometimes not and sometimes many that they want to develop into better prospects in the level they are in.

I know college players that have turned it down, asking to return to finish up for degrees.

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Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:

Fall instruction can be different for many teams, sometimes their top prospects who need improvement are invited, sometimes not and sometimes many that they want to develop into better prospects in the level they are in.

It's also used for working on position change. A friend's son played in the AFL one season to find out he couldn't catch. He hit well at every level but had an all-star above him at his position. The organization thought a third baseman with a good arm could be a catcher. As his father said, "Not if he blinks back there."