Just got back from freshman baseball tryouts..........

Mains3, I am so sorry. I know you're dealing with a lot of disappointment right now. Hang in there, keep your chin up, and remember that everything will work out for the best. I and a lot of others on this message board are rooting for you!

I'm sorry to hear this - I was rooting for you!!!!

After a day or two, go back and ask the coach what areas you should focus on improving for next year. Also ask him if there will be a summer or fall program that you can join.

Most of all, go out and have fun playing baseball!!!

08

I"m in the same position as you. Got cut freshman year, worked hard all spring, summer, and the following fall. Made JV this year, so keep up the hard work.


No offense, but its time to accept that regardless of how good you are, you weren't as good as those who made it over you at tryouts. Don't second guess the coach, if you were better you'd be on the team. This must be accepted bro.

Mains3: Good luck to you. Give it your best in Rec ball and if you still love the game give it your bet in tryouts next year... best wishes... (trust me coaches do make mistakes; I've cut kids where I flat was wrong; and kept kids I should not have...) good luck.

08Dad gives great advice.

Keep working hard & go at it again next year.

Maybe your talent wasn't the problem, but the fact that you didn't stand out enough. Half of tryouts is trying to show your coach that you are different from the rest. I think the reason I got noticed at tryouts, is that I was the only kid who wore glasses. So coaches usually think I can't play or I'm not good enough. But when I do good, they remember me as that kid with the glasses (sadly enough) until I can show them that I am more than just a kid with glasses.

Main, I bleed for you my friend – keep playing and learn from this experience – stuff like did I start practicing early enough, was I practicing the right things, was I being challenged, etc.

I have posted this advice before – go to the coach and tell him you are disappointed BUT you want to find a way to stay involved with the team so you can learn for next year: Manager, helper, pens, anything….try to stay involved – if he says no – no big deal, if he says yes that may open an opportunity for you. I will give you an example, we have two girls who are our V level managers – guess what, they asked the coaches if they could take BP with the team – they now do it every day.

Many times when one door closes another opens.

God speed!

PS: I had a real good friend who was cut from our football team in HS – he became our manager. In his soph year at OSU he was named the team manager on a full ride. He is now the AD at a midsized college – you never know – in hindsight, I wish I was the one to be cut and travel the road he did.

Just a suggestion... maybe instead of rec, you try tryout for a local summer team. It will help develop you better as a ball player. And before you know, you will come back strong next year and make JV.

It's natural to feel disappointment, even anger. But now the question is, will you get 'bitter" or "better"? I think you're going to get better, work hard on your skills, and after a year, be able to run faster, hit harder, and be stronger than your competition.

Freshman year baseball will not define you as a baseball player, but your reaction to this adversity will. We will all root for you.

Mains3,

That's very disappointing news, but you have received some excellent advice in all of these posts.

Consider asking the coach for pointers on what you should work on for next year, but make sure that what he remembers from that conversation with you is your POSITIVE attitude and your desire to WORK hard. Don't make excuses, don't imply in any way that you are second-guessing his decision. You want him to walk away from that conversation thinking, "With an attitude like that, I wonder if I should have kept that guy!".

Good luck, and keep enjoying the game!

Just saw this post.

I am sorry you did not make the team BUT the suggestions have been good ones. There are some schools down here where 200 come to try out, very difficult situation for freshman.

Definetly go back to see the coach, ask him what you need to improve upon. Youm ight also ask if there would be a place for you on the team where you might be able to help out this year.

Right now you probably feel terrible and there is nothing we can say to ease that feeling. However, I always like to point out that Michael Jordan was cut from his freshman basketball team. Possibly the best player that ever lived.
For you just sit back, take some time and figure out where you need to be next year to make the team. Do you need to run faster, hit better , throw harder. Whatever it may be if you want it bad enough you and only you can make it happen. Work hard and you will make it next year and be proud of yourself for doing it.

quote:

Work hard and you will make it next year and be proud of yourself for doing it.

If you can pull off what BB1 suggests - it will make this disappointment seem like nothing. Imagine your pride for having to do it the hard way as opposed to the easy way. Go for it!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Mains3:
did not make it
I'm sorry to hear about that and I may be outside the "zone" but I'll be honest and go there.

I am one of the better players there, and he cut me. I just dont belive it I am better then half the kids who made it!
Don't take this as a rip, and I may be way off base, but maybe this is the attitude the coach saw. Sometimes confidence can be seen as arrogance and that is the last thing a coach needs

I just feel like ****. I worked hard this winter but nothing.
When you work hard everything has it's place and nothing is for nothing. Look back at what did and figure out where you can do it better. Camps and showcases are physical I think you're biggest obstacal may be yourself. I'm probably wrong but you have to look at every possibility and the easiest to start with is in the mirror

I just cant stop thinking about it
Don't forget it, instead use it as a lesson. If you were one of the best, there must have been other issues. You are really young and many times these lessons are bigger than any camp you can attend.

Mains3,...

Hi kid. Heard the news.

I'm sorry about tryouts.
Kinda stinks, huh?
You betcha it does.
Its bound to sting a bit.
Shows ya care about the game.

Dont let this stop ya. If you want baseball in your life, then find a different way to get there.
The key is to keep playing and keep improving!!

I like MN-Mom's advice about talking to the coach:

quote:

You want him to walk away from that conversation thinking, "With an attitude like that, I wonder if I should have kept that guy!".

Something else that impressed me was when you said,
" Me and my Dad just talked and we agreed that I will go to train centers,
and sign me up for a good team. "

Sounds like the future may be brighter than you realize!

Theres alot of good advice in the above posts.
I'm still rootin' for ya kid!!!

Mains3: Hang in there, keep working and try not to get discouraged. I have seen players emerge from getting cut as freshman and then become varsity starters and even stars later. And I have seen talented players get cut as freshmen and give up the game. It was hard to blame them, but to this day I wish they had stayed with it because they had something to offer on the field. Coaches make mistakes all the time. Try to use this mistake to motivate yourself even more.

Main,

My son and I went out to eat tonight and of course we talked baseball.

We both agreed that we both have great ideas but we dont write them dowm enough, make a plan (written) and follow it.

Had a Pastor ask us all once, how many of us have BIG dreams and of course we all raised our hands. Then he asked, how many have a (written) plan to get there.....I will let you guess how many hands were still in the air.

Plan, then execute!

You appear to me to be a bright and determined young man. These traits will serve you well in positioning yourself for another go at it next year.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Main3
Its far from the end of the world. Keep up the momentum you have to become a better player. Remember this, do not let one coach determine your career in baseball. It is only one coach's opinion. Go out play rec ball and work on your game. Use this rec.season for a practice season. When summer hits get on a good team and prove you belong. You should be ready and tuned when your rec season is over. A fair amount of coaches out here(so ca) are at lot of the games during the summer and it helps them get an look at their schools players, without having to manage a game at the same time. Use the time to your advantage and be ready when the time comes.
Good Luck

Oh, man. That stinks, but don't let it stop you just yet. Keep going, let it put a fire under you to "show" the coach you want it bad next time.

Some questions: Did you show the coach hustle and humility? Think back and ask yourself if every time you hit the field you RAN (on and off) There's no walking on a ballfield. Did you look sharp and focused, or loose and lazy? (chatting with buddies, joking in the dugout, etc.) Did you answer "Yes, sir" everytime. If you bobbled a ball did you say, "Coach, can you give me another one?" Did you make excuses for errors or say "I'll do better next time." Did you seem like a TEAM player? Did you seem intense?

My son missed his chance at a travel team once because of his demeanor, not because of his skill. He was so certain he'd make it on reputation that he just didn't give it his all. Coach told him to come back when he was "ready"... That taught him a lesson that he's never forgotten. Skill isn't everything a coach is looking at in evaluations.

quote:

Originally posted by Mains3:
did not make it

I am one of the better players there, and he cut me.

I just dont belive it I am better then half the kids who made it!

I just feel like ****. I worked hard this winter but nothing.

Now I have to play Rec...

Me and my dad just talked and we agreed that I will go to train centers, and sign me up for a good team..

I just cant stop thinking about it

First of all this is an emotional post and I know you are blowing off some steam. With that in mind I was looking at this post several times and wondering exactly if you really should have made the team or not. I understand how you feel and a parent compared to an unbiased person who was at the tryouts and their might be two different stories.

Also, going back to Rec. Ball and refining your game is never a bad thing. Secondly you should dominate at the REC League to prove to the world that you belonged on the team. Thirdly, the comment about you working your butt off all winter for nothing tells me that you only worked your butt off for this tryout? You should be working your butt off period. Not for the sake of a tryout. That same work ethic and approach should be used everyday. While kids are sleeping in on the summers and playing video games in the winter, you should be working your tail off to make JV next year.

I have seen the same stories countless times and I have also seen people rest on their behinds only to lose their starting position to a kid who has been working his tail off( on and off season).

Good luck in rec ball and prove everyone wrong, get on a good summer ball team and play against very good competition. Prove me wrong and everyone else, let this be the motivation to push you over the top.

On top of all of this have fun...!!

Good luck! ( a little bit of tough love is what we all need sometimes)

Sorry about the tryout. That’s gotta be tough.

Anyway, no offense here so take this as some constructive criticism. One of your first posts here on the board was one where you ripped up your dad for not playing catch with you, and then sort of implying that it would be his fault for a bad showing at tryouts:

Quote (Posted March 11, 2007 03:51 PM):
“So I ask my dad to have a catch today and just about every day. Well he says to me NO! Im just like =EDITED BY MODERATOR= ( in my head) Now I know if i dont do so well in tryouts next week I can get =EDITED BY MODERATOR= at someone.”


So you were already setting yourself up for failure. And if you think that your dad not playing catch with you a week before tryouts would adversely impact your ability to do well at tryouts, then your baseball skills are not as good as you think they are.

Or you’re just looking for a scapegoat.

Secondly, and maybe I’m reading too much into this, but generally a coach will be able to pick up on that sort of attitude, including the lack of restraint verbally (or in this case taking the time to use written profanity in your anger). Coaches also talk to a lot of people. They hear about some kid with some decent skills they’ll ask around about him. If he hears that the kid makes excuses, blames others, swears a lot, has anger issues, then trust me - the coach will find out. LL coaches, Babe Ruth coaches and umpires, and older players, they all talk and word gets around. Not saying that’s definitely the case here, but there are signs that some of this could be a factor. Lesson: Take a good look at your demeanor and get a good grip on your emotions.

Thirdly, you may not really know what the coach was looking for. What you think is ‘one of the better players’ and what he thinks constitutes a better player may well be two different things. There are many examples of this, but suffice to say I’ve seen kids hit every ball at BP at tryouts despite an awful swing, whereas other kids with good swings miss a few. A coach can tell that the first kid’s swing might be effective on BP fastball pitches at a tryout, but that he won’t hit a thing against good pitching, wheras the other kid has a swing that will allow him to hit good pitching. The first kid however will think he’s the greatest thing since Hank Aaron. Similar examples can be sited for fielding, pitching, running and throwing. Lesson: Learn some good solid fundamentals. Lessons, clinics and practice. But practice the right stuff, if you practice the wrong mechanics, you’ll just perfect bad habits.


A lot of good advice is given here by people who wish you well Take it to heart, particularly going to the coach and asking him what to work on to get better. Coaches will like that, they’ll remember you for that and be flattered that you think highly of him to ask his advice, even after he cut you from the team. And he'll be looking to see how you've improved next year.

Lastly, perhaps your dad learned something too, that despite whether you NEED him to play catch with you or not, that it wouldn’t hurt and would give him more opportunities to talk with you.

Good luck kid. Don’t give up, let this be a positive thing for the long haul. Now go see the coach, get some advice and buckle down and get to work. And let us know how things are going throughout your Rec season, ask questions here, people care and want every kid who comes here to do well. Play ball.

dad10


Great post

Another aspect to consider, and this may hurt, is that the boy is not a HS baseball player---he needs to figure that out in his own mind

Mains3,

This may or may not interest you.

You sound kind of like someone I used to know… ME when I was a young kid!

I didn’t get cut, but I was thrown off the high school team. Guess they thought I had a bad attitude or something! That rotten coach he had his favorites!

The next year we got a new coach. He called me in to talk. I will never forget just how much I learned in about a half hour. Much of it I’ll take to my grave!

I sat down and he said, “Do you want to play baseball?”

I answered “yes”

He - “Here’s the way I coach, It’s not of any importance whether or not YOU like ME! What is the most important thing for you is whether or not I like YOU! Because I don’t play people I don’t like!

Me – Having never heard anything quite like that before, I said something stupid like, OK!

He – Don’t you want to know what you need to do to get me to like you?

Me – What?

He – You don’t have to do or say anything, I like everyone in the beginning, you are going to have to say and do things that will cause me to dislike you! If you do those things you will not play because I will not like you! You understand? I only play the kids I like! I do have favorites!

I thought real hard about what he said. I liked him! I wasn’t going to do anything that would cause him to dislike me. I didn’t! He is the best coach I ever played for and I copied his approach once I became a coach.

Best of luck, Mains3

Hey Main, don't know what kind of arm you have but if you can reach LI from Westford on your long toss I'd gladly play catch with you ya see I no longer have anyone to play catch with either as my son has decided to hang up his spikes in this his senior HS season due to chronic back problem that prevents him from performing at his best

Don't give up, turn that frustration and anger into positive energy and motivation to improve yourself as a ballplayer. Continue playing the game you love for as long as it permits.

PG - thanks for sharing - that post is a classic that I will never forget

This past weekend a friend and his 7th grade son came to watch my son's college game.

I asked if he was playing school ball and his dad said he had been cut, and that my husband already told them BOTH of my boys had been cut in 7th grade.

I had no idea, but the mom standing next to us said her son had been cut in 7th, 8th and 9th.. Freshman yr of HS! Yet he made it for his sophomore yr in HS and now was playing college ball.

Work hard, be respectful, make good grades, don't give the coach any reason to cut you.

PG- That was very good! I made my 7th gdr read it and HE thought it was great! (exactly what he needed too at this point!)

I'd also see if you can get a third party to look at your skills and give you "honest" feedback and show you what to work on. Not the "Have I got a program for you" guys, but someone you trust to give it to you straight. I've often seen kids, and especially their parents, not truly have a feel for their talent.

I'll share a story; when I coached youth baseball. We had a mother contact our travel/select team stating that she had a son who could play for us. It turned out that he was too young for our team so we put them in contact with the coach of a younger team. One day at the park, the coach was waiting for them to show so he could give him a try out. The coach was excited, he needed more pitching and according to the mom, this kid could pitch and catch. As you may expect, he couldn't do either and didn't belong on a competitive ball team, and for pitch and catch, according to the coach, he could barely "throw" and "catch".

So, check your fundamentals, check your attitude, and check your level of intensity. Ask yourself the main questions every kid needs to ask. Did I do my best? Did I hustle every moment? Did I run everywhere? Did I leave it all on the field? Did I pay attention? Did I joke around any? Did I stand around when I could have been doing something productive? Did I do that little something extra to make me stand out from the crowd?

agree that PG's post is a classic

quote:

by Dad10: some constructive criticism. One of your first posts here on the board was one where you ripped up your dad for not playing catch with you, and then sort of implying that it would be his fault for a bad showing at tryouts:

Maine, you've found to a great place to blow off steam, get advice & help, etc ... HOWEVER

since there are 100s of unregistered folks lurking/reading each day you'd have to wonder what impression ya left if your HS coach was one of them ...
a future summer coach could be lurker ...
or just some guy who's in a position to help ya .... or NOT

good luck

That's very good advice Bee>.

When our oldest was 14 the pitching coach on his summer team, a pitcher in college, told the entire team that they are now of the age when interested people are paying attention to them...all of the time they are near the field. The coach's words were really taken to heart by the team.

It is important for the youngsters to know that these types of forums get monitored also. It doesn't cost a dime to behave and the benefits of good behavior are enormous.