Milb Spring Training begins

In general, it is about 180 players competing for 4 weeks to see about 95 players, or so, have their names posted for April assignments, and the rest battling not to get released.
They will have an orientation and sign more forms than they can ever understand.
That will be followed by a few very long days of practice and fundamentals, with afternoon scrimmages. Don't be late and be in game ready shape..or better.
In about 4-5 days, they start playing games against other organizations. 4 teams is the norm, AAA, AA, High A and low A, with players often being one team up from where they have a valid chance of an assignment in 4 weeks.
As players get dropped off the MLB ST list, then they drop to AAA usually and players drop down accordingly.
The norm is the AAA and AA teams play the same level from another organization at one complex while the high and low A play the same teams at the opposite facility.
Games are 5-6 days per week, sometimes 7. Any off day is practice and scrimmages.
The competition is keen and intense. Those who are watching and will make the decisions rarely change expression, or have any expression and are people of very few words. Every inning, every play, every AB and every pitch is watched, graded and is meaningful
When the first players are released, it is very tough.
When April comes and rosters are posted and many players released, it is about as hard as it can get in baseball.

Extended is games, games, practice and more practice but no pay. Pay, per the contract, requires a player to be on roster. Extended then happens until the draft, short season starts and a new and anxious group arrive trying to take a spot from someone in extended who is pretty desperate for an assignment, by that point.
Congrats to your son. Hope he is healthy and has a great ST.

I think that infielddad pretty much covered it.

ML spring training is a lot more laid back than milb. Most of these guys know they will have a place somewhere in the organization, it's just a matter of where.

Your son was a high draft pick last season and young, so he doesn't have to worry about much. All teams do things differently, we've all heard how heartless it can be, cuts after a tough spring training, I haven't really seen that side of son's organization. If they like you they will do whatever they can to keep you. They cut a 2007 drafted player last year who is now a hitting coach in the organization. So when one door closes, for sure another can open.

Extended is really for players that are on the bubble or not ready for a full season team, different than for those who are on the DL. He can be assigned to a full season team, on the DL and be paid and still remain with the extended players.

Best of luck to your son for his first full season and I hope all goes well with recovery.

quote:

He can be assigned to a full season team, on the DL and be paid and still remain with the extended players.

Great point TPM.
One might think I would include that considering our son's experience.

WOW, I honestly hadn't even considered players being released during or even right after ST. For as much as we have learned about the process getting to this point, there is obviously much more left to learn.

TPM - I hope you are right. The news of his injury wasn't anything that we wanted to hear, but the way the team handled it leads us to believe that they plan on keeping him around for a bit and giving him every opportunity to do what they drafted him to do... As parents, we couldn't have asked for an organization to do more than they did for him.

Being assigned to a full season team and still remaining with the extended players does make sense. I would assume that once a player is fully recovered, in the teams estimation, he then joins his full season team? My son was on what the team called a "full return to action" plan... what ever that means. So this might very well be their plan for him.

Lots to learn but thank you both for your input.

sportsfan5,
If a MLB organization does not want a player with an injury who was a high draftee, they have a way to do it.
Your son's organization did not take that action with your son. That is a true positive.
Keep looking forward. Your son isn't going to be released come the beginning of April. He will see it happen though and it can be a tough situation.
This is an amazing month. Hopefully your son will use it to learn, to get fully healthy, and move forward.
He needs to be fully healthy. Trying or being cleared to play at less than 100% isn't doing him a favor, based on our experience.

quote:

fully recovered from torn hip labrum

Cody Rodgers had this same injury last year for the Rays. He stayed in extended spring until he was deemed 100% healthy and then assigned to full-season Bowling Green. Cody played at Princeton the year before. If your son is 100%, he'll likely go to Princeton but could be skipped up to Hudson Valley and/or Bowling Green or even higher if the Rays deem it warranted. If he is not 100%, my bet would be extended spring until he heals properly based on Rodgers' experience last year. He might not be able to tell if he is 100% until he grinds though several weeks of spring training however.

I stand corrected.
I am pretty sure that if the player ended the season on the DL and not declared off as yet, they have to assign him to a full season team and pay him. Most likely it would be the team he ended the season with.

I just want to say thanks all for the great input in this thread. This is also my son's 1st ST. He has worked his a** off his entire life to get to this point, and I know he's prepared.

Not so sure about myself though. I've been keeping myself busy and prepping for who-knows-what.

Always nice to have a scouting report from those who've gone before-- one of the biggest reasons I love this site

Spiz,
One thing I recommend and you should all pass on to your sons.

This is a tough business but no matter what happens enjoy every moment, as we all know it doesn't last forever.

Also, we as parents have no control over their future anymore so you all just sit back and enjoy as well.

Best of luck to Sam!



JMO.

ditto Spizzltop. First for baseballson. He seems to be taking it in stride. It;s me that is chewing nails!
Their first game started today @ 1...getting tweets!

Awesome picture, CD. Thanks for posting. I love his exuberance.

One of my best friends sent a text pic of his son down at Milb spring training in his first Orioles camp.

Seems like yesterday they were 12yr olds playing on the same All-Star game. I was so proud to see the picture.

Well, after the first full week of ST, as usual, you guys were spot on with your explination of what to expect.

Day one was lots of examinations, blood work, pee in the cup, etc, etc. Pitchers and Catchers only the first day and son said there were a boat load of pitchers so it took all day to get through everyone.

Lots of bull pins mixed in with drills and BP for the next couple days until all of the position guys reported.

After everyone was in camp, son was excited to actually get to take some cuts against live arms. With the hip injury and everything, he hadn't seen live pitching since instructs. We were really surprised that he wasn't given any restrictions. I guess in the teams mind, he is fully recovered.

I had worried how good a "baseball" shape he would be in after not really being able to work out through the winter. He told me yesterday that he feels like he is actually in the best shape he has ever been in. Said his arm feels stronger than it ever has and that all of the "T" work (only thing they would let him do through rehab, no live cuts) had allowed him to work on a lot of things with his swing.

They have assigned players to the different level teams for the ST games. Son was assigned to the Bowling Green team, so we are assuming that as the big league team moves players down, as infielddad explained, players will move down according after ST. He will, as expected, probably go through extended and then be assigned to one of their two short season teams.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks to all for the explinations.

CD, have fun watching your son play next week. I won't be able to make the trip down this spring, but my wife and daughter both will be there the 19th through the 26th. If I get a chance, I'm planning on going down in a few weeks. If I do, I'll look in on your son for ya.

Nice photo CD! He looks good in those colors!!!

We'll be arriving in Florida on monday and attending games from Tuesday through Saturday. I'll post our schedule and whereabouts shortly and perhaps we can meet some hsbbwebsters! These pictures were from yesterday.

cant see the pics CD but thanks and i hope you have a blast. we cant go this year so if you see ours tell him hello for us and good luck to TB this year.post all the pics your heart desires,they are appreciated.

I got an interesting phone call. My son got his first ever call up to the big league camp. He will be with be with the Tampa Bay Rays this evening as they take on the Boston Red Sox in Port Charlotte. Better yet, the game is on Internet TV and you bet - our whole family intends to be watching. Who knows if he'll actually get into the game

Times like these are very emotional for me. I can recall with ease all the disappointments, setbacks, and challenges that simply had to be overcome. I would re-do all of that and then some to experience the elation heard in a young man's voice today. A young man and his dream. A young man and yes, his Dad's very same dream. Very emotional indeed

Fantastic news and congratulations CD!!!

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
Have no idea why my pictures above are not showing up because they did when I posted

That said, I got an interesting phone call. My son got his first ever call up to the big league camp. He will be with be with the Tampa Bay Rays this evening as they take on the Boston Red Sox in Port Charlotte. Better yet, the game is on Internet TV and you bet - our whole family intends to be watching. Who knows if he'll actually get into the game

Time like these are very emotional for me. I can recall with ease all the disappointments, setbacks, and challenges that simply had to be overcome. I would re-do all of that and then some to experience the elation heard in a young man's voice today. A young man and his dream. A young man and yes, his Dad's very same dream. Very emotional indeed

Good stuff CD. He gets extra pay for the day too!
Will be watching the box score. Good luck!

CD,
That is great news.
As TPM says, he will really like the Clubhouse folks tonight because he will get his per diem as he enters...based on past experience.
Paid in cash..just like money!
From what I have observed over the years, MLB teams plan these call ups quite well and usually with innings already scheduled for each player.
Boy, do I hope that is true tonight.
Have fun. Here is to seeing Tyler on TV.

Very cool!

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
Good stuff CD. He gets extra pay for the day too!
Will be watching the box score. Good luck!

He mentioned that to me

For those that are unaware, minor leaguers are only given a per diem each day which basically covers their food. He was given $50.00 for the game tonight for the opportunity. For someone that makes about 6,000 per year, $50 is a lot of money

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
Good stuff CD. He gets extra pay for the day too!
Will be watching the box score. Good luck!

He mentioned that to me

For those that are unaware, minor leaguers are only given a per diem each day which basically covers their food. He was given $50.00 for the game tonight for the opportunity. For someone that makes about 6,000 per year, $50 is a lot of money

Yeah they get a kick out of that. Actually ML camp meal money per day is 82.50, plus they are provided two full meals a day, besides that. Milb is 20,25 per day? ML camp money comes to about 1000K a week (they pay you for all sorts of stuff) a little less if you live in the hotel. Cash. Of course clubhouse fees are a killer but not as much for the guys not on the regular 25 man roster.
If you try to figure out how much it costs a team to run a ML team and milb it's just mind boggling, and you can understand why they pay the superstars what they do and why they charge mucho bucks for season tickets.
Anyway, regardless of whether he gets in or not, he will finally get the feel of the big league clubhouse and get to watch both teams at work up close and personal, it's a great experience.

I am so excited for you CD and Tyler as well. Congrats!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
I got an interesting phone call. My son got his first ever call up to the big league camp. He will be with be with the Tampa Bay Rays this evening as they take on the Boston Red Sox in Port Charlotte. Better yet, the game is on Internet TV and you bet - our whole family intends to be watching. Who knows if he'll actually get into the game

Well that just made my day!

Oh my gosh, all I can say is...



Way to go, Tyler!!! !!! !!! !!! !!! Have fun!!! !!! !!! !!! !!!

Julie

So exciting, CD! Congrats to you and your son. Enjoy!

Tyler's presence must have been good luck for the Rays - they beat the Red Sox 7-3.

I'd love to hear what Tyler has to say about the experience. So cool!!!

Julie

congrats CD, i know how you feel.tonight you'll never stop smiling. you and he will have alot to talk about for a while,glad for ya'lls family.see some games for me next week and all the best.

Thanks to everyone here for such kind wishes!!

He didn't get into the game last night...

He said hello to Manny Ramirez and Manny said "Hey, how ya doin!" in a nice way. It was a thrill to get called up.

Fun, ain't it, CD?

quote:

Originally posted by FormerObserver:


Fun, ain't it, CD?

I've always loved that question of yours FO

All he got to do last night was dress, shower, and sit in the dugout with big leaguers and it was thrilling for him. He said he was treated well and nobody "big-leagued" him with a superior attitude. Said Manny Ramirez was friendly and approachable. Growing up here in Cleveland, Manny was his hero as a kid. I've always liked Manny myself despite the goofy stuff and the other more unpleasant stuff. He gained a few points last night at least with this Dad for showing respect to his son.

Here is my spring training schedule for next week. We plan to be at all these games and locations so if someone thinks they might be at any one of those, send me a pm and I'll get your cell phone number and/or send mine:

March 22 Fort Myers Miracle Lee County Sports Complex
March 23 Salem Red Sox TBA
March 24 Frederick Keys Twin Lakes Park
March 25 Salem Red Sox TBA
March 26 Frederick Keys Twin Lakes Park

Was at a sports grill for lunch today and saw some of the highlights of your game last night.

My son was talking about someone he knew on the team that he had played with.

Certainly a much different perspective than what the media generates...............

CD, all I can add is WOW! What a thrill for your son and your entire family! You and Tyler have experienced what many readers on here dream of. The best of luck to Tyler!

quote:

Originally posted by carol:
CD, all I can add is WOW! What a thrill for your son and your entire family! You and Tyler have experienced what many readers on here dream of. The best of luck to Tyler!

carol - thanks so much for the kind wishes!

The key to this whole thing is enjoying what is going on today and living in the moment. Getting the most out of today and letting tomorrow take care of itself. Time flies so fast. Each level carries its own unique reward. No level of baseball out-ranks another in terms of its rewards imho. Enjoy the moment and encourage your son to love the game. From his love of the game, everything is possible.

My son just called and has been called up again today to the big league club for a game against the Orioles. We pray of course he could get his first opportunity in an MLB spring training game

Thanks again everyone for the super nice things you have posted in this thread!

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad: The key to this whole thing is enjoying what is going on today and living in the moment. Getting the most out of today and letting tomorrow take care of itself. Time flies so fast. Each level carries its own unique reward. No level of baseball out-ranks another in terms of its rewards imho. Enjoy the moment and encourage your son to love the game. From his love of the game, everything is possible.

My son just called and has been called up again today to the big league club for a game against the Orioles. We pray of course he could get his first opportunity in an MLB spring training game

Thanks again everyone for the super nice things you have posted in this thread!

Yep! Just when you think things have settled some...Things are moving pretty quickly...juts never know do you?

44

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Don't fret CD, the one day DK didn't call us to tell us he was dressing out with the team, he got in one inning. Funny how that works.
He still had a fun day for sure!

Perhaps he'll get a call up when you are there!

Awesome CD! Tyler must be having a great time living the dream. As TPM said I sure hope he gets in a game while your family is there.

It seems like Tyler is moving up quickly, or is this the norm?

Congratulations to Tyler and your entire family!

He did not get into the game today but he had some stories to tell. He got invited to lunch and he said a big league spread is nothing like the peanut butter and jelley sandwiches they eat in the minors. He sat with Ben Zobrist and Johnny Damon for lunch and said both players couldn't have been nicer to him. He said "You know what Dad? - they are just like me!" When he was out on the field, he got a Tampa photographer to take a picture of him and Manny high fiving. Imagine the thrill of being on the same filed as your boyhood hero! Here we have a young man living out every little boy's dream...

Awesome stuff CD! I love the smile on Tylers face. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Ahhhhh, yummy, ML spread!

I take back anything I ever said about Manny that wasn't positive, he's a good guy.

Yup, our kids are just like them, only a bit younger.

Congratulations Tyler, and Dan.




Awesome stuff.Its such a grind, and such an emotional rollercoaster.

I think this is a happy thread, so why am I crying? Just kind of melted when I saw the smile on Tyler's face in these photos. Fantastic!

You keep doing what you do, Tyler. Some day another young man is going to be thrilled to have his photo taken with you.

Julie

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
He did not get into the game today but he had some stories to tell. He sat with Ben Zobrist and Johnny Damon for lunch and said both players couldn't have been nicer to him. He said "You know what Dad? - they are just like me!"

Congrats! Awesome stuff!
I just noticed this...

.
From all I know players in the minors have a hard time getting a clear pitcure from an organization exactly where they stand in an organizations plans/thinking...Beyond the bells and whistles, the momentary thrill...This vote of confidence from the orgnaization is priceless...In this case the message is clear: the future's so bright you gotta wear shades...

44
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quote:

Originally posted by MN-Mom:
I think this is a happy thread, so why am I crying? Just kind of melted when I saw the smile on Tyler's face in these photos. Fantastic!

You keep doing what you do, Tyler. Some day another young man is going to be thrilled to have his photo taken with you.

Julie

Those are awfully nice things to say Julie as well as everyone elses comments.

We'll be in Florida this evening. I posted the schedule earlier in this thread.

Thanks again everyone for their kind wishes

CD,
Livin' the dream, awesome pics...Congrats!

We are all routing for him! Great Smile!

One of the best things about this site is rereading your own posts and reliving moments that happened in your son's baseball journey. Some day you're be able to look back on this time, CD, and remember all of the fun, too. It will always be there, no matter what the future holds, and will always bring a smile to your face. Enjoy!

quote:

Originally posted by TxMom:
One of the best things about this site is rereading your own posts and reliving moments that happened in your son's baseball journey. Some day you're be able to look back on this time, CD, and remember all of the fun, too. It will always be there, no matter what the future holds, and will always bring a smile to your face. Enjoy!

Thanks so much and again thanks to everyone.

We are here resting comfortably in Cocoa Florida at my folks home. We are headed up to Ft. Meyers in the morning for a game against the Twins milb team at 1:00PM. A four hour trip for us in the morning. We'll be staying up at a motel near Pt. Charlotte for the next several days so we are closer to the action.

My son got to hit off of two big leaguers today. He walked off of Jonathon Paplebon and stole second and third off of him. The next pitcher was Daniel Bard and he hit an opposite field double off a curve ball and drove in a run. Apparently, Bard was hitting very high 90's if not 100 mph on the radar gun.

CD,

I agree with everyone above...nice photos, and great smile on your son's face. You can tell he's having an awesome time. Have a blast watching him this week!

quote:

The next pitcher was Daniel Bard and he hit an opposite field double off a curve ball and drove in a run.

Believe me, that gets noticed................

It is great to hear about the progress all are making. While not against Big League guys, son had his second outing against real pitching in MILB camp. 2 innings, no hits, no walks, 3K's, 24 pitches. Unfortunatelly I am on the opposite coast so can't watch

quote:

Originally posted by kjktj:
It is great to hear about the progress all are making. While not against Big League guys, son had his second outing against real pitching in MILB camp. 2 innings, no hits, no walks, 3K's, 24 pitches. Unfortunatelly I am on the opposite coast so can't watch

Good to hear son is doing well. He's in Marlins camp right? Going to be on the back fields for cardinal milb camp this weekend in Jupiter. If you give me some details I will see if I can find him, send you a pic!

quote:

Originally posted by kjktj:
It is great to hear about the progress all are making. While not against Big League guys, son had his second outing against real pitching in MILB camp. 2 innings, no hits, no walks, 3K's, 24 pitches. Unfortunatelly I am on the opposite coast so can't watch

44
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quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad: My son got to hit off of two big leaguers today. He walked off of Jonathon Paplebon and stole second and third off of him. The next pitcher was Daniel Bard and he hit an opposite field double off a curve ball and drove in a run. Apparently, Bard was hitting very high 90's if not 100 mph on the radar gun.

On an unstoppable roll!

44
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All I can say again is WOW! Sounds like you guys are having fun!

Great stuff!! Wow!

CD,

Wow! Bryce who? Just kidding but he is not only making memories of a lifetime this spring but getting noticed no doubt also!

Thanks everyone again for the continued good thoughts and wishes. It takes a village of good wishes indeed and we'll take as many as we can get

The weather down here has been spectacular. I can see however why my son does not have much gas in the tank after his day ends in the afternoon. A full day out in that sunshine and it would take it out of you as we were tired after merely sitting in it.

It is a true baseball factory down here with fields and games and bullpens all over the place. A little dangerous as there as foul balls flying all over and from all different angles

We'll be in Sarasota today for a game with the Orioles at 1:00PM.

quote:

We'll be in Sarasota today for a game with the Orioles at 1:00PM.

Wish I had a nickel for every Spring Training game I've watched in that neck of the woods since my boyhood days. But, I haven't had the excitement (yet, I hope) to watch my own son. Congrats CD, how very neat and all the best to your son and his dream!

Sounds like a great get away CD! Nothing beats watching our kids play ball, although I cannot begin to imagine the excitement at the level you are now enjoying the game at.

Today has been another postcard day in Florida, great for baseball. Sure hope you throughly enjoyed todays game.

Wish I could have made it to one of the games and met you and your family. Perhaps next time!

quote:

We'll be in Sarasota today for a game with the Orioles at 1:00PM.

If you miss the Sarasota exit and find yourself in Bradenton, stop by Pirate City and say hello to my young'in will you.

Hope you're having a great trip!

How is your guy doing down there Jerseydad?

yes jersey dad,what position does your young one play?

mine has gone across the street a couple of times and david robertson came down and threw to him the other day.he is playing with the trenton thunder right now but you never know,"got no control over that."there's alot of intense competition for the catcher's spot in the yankee's organization and i think everyone is pressing to prove themselves.i know he's having a goodtime with his roommates.

Thanks for asking floridafan, Jerseyson is having a good Spring Training camp so far. Rabe62, my guy is a RH starting pitcher and he was in Low-A ball last year. He’s not sure where he will be this year and I assume he won’t know until the last week of ST. As mentioned in an earlier post they usually have the players working out with a team a level up from where they are going to play, if this holds true I would suspect he will be in Hi-A but who knows?

JS pitched in the AA game yesterday and called last night to tell me that he had a good day. He must have really felt good about things because he never calls… (texting rules as his preferred mode of communication). As happy as I am that he is pitching well, I was even happier to hear that his body feels good and he seems ready to start the season (fingers crossed). JS missed a significant part of last season due to a nagging injury so it was good to hear that he was feeling good. I have come to believe that the biggest hurdle the milb guys face in their quest to make it to the show is not so much the lack of talent to be successful; it’s their ability to stay healthy.

Professional ball has really opened my eyes to the reality that baseball is a business first… game second. I have been a lifelong baseball fan however before having someone in the “biz” I pretty much thought of Spring Training as a place that the MLB guys went to get game ready, a few prospects got a chance to prove they were ready to move up to the big club and most of all, it signified that the baseball season was just around the corner.

Now I can see that for many players, Spring Training is a 2 month long tryout, showcase and job interview all wrapped into one. As intense as that may sound, it goes on pretty much 24/7. The bottom line is that these guys are all fighting for a roster spot…period. No matter where you are in the food chain, you are still trying to get to the next level and that usually means jumping over some of your buddies to get there. These guys literally eat, sleep and live together, not to mention they work together so it is an interesting dynamic to see some of my son’s best friends competing for the same roster spots. While I am sure there is some jealousy, I have yet to hear Jerseyson mention someone getting a promotion without him being genuinely happy for them (my daughter calls them friendemies).

Professional baseball seems to be a strange, yet wonderful career to pursue. As hard and uncertain that their jobs may be, I bet very few ever regret taking a chance to grab the brass ring.

Here’s to a safe, healthy and productive season for all our boys.

Great post jerseydad and a very good and accurate summary!

Nice post!, jerseydad

very accurate description of baseball factory business jerseydad.our boy is taking his tools of ignorance across the street again tomorrow,maybe he'll play but maybe he won't.one thing for sure is he will have a blast,couple a days ago when he went across, david wells sat in the bullpen with them and chatted it up for the whole game.so whatever happens i know he's having his dreams come true every day out there in florida.by my way of thinking, this whole baseball business may get ugly sometimes,but the life experience is priceles.

i second those sentiments jerseydad safe healthy productivity for all of ours.

quote:

Originally posted by jerseydad:
Here’s to a safe, healthy and productive season for all our boys.

Ditto... And, nice post jerseydad

Great post jerseydad...

My son finally got into his first big league spring training game today against the Pirates in Bradenton. Got in in the 6th inning to play shortstop. Got one at bat and stuck out unfortunately but any big league opportunity is a good one

He's had some personal dealings with the big league club these past few days and they were to say the least - eventful...

I am a little out of gas but I'll try and type it as accurately as possible... hope all you baseball junkies enjoy and pass along this advice... don't be like him

When we got to the minor league game yesterday in Sarasota against the Orioles my son frantically waved me over to the dugout where he pointed to the back of his jersey. Rather than his customary name on the back - it said "Whammy" and it was #99. He said he would explain after the game but I was perplexed to say the very least

Flash back to the evening before, before finishing the story... You know how I have been posting the pictures of Manny and other spring training tidbits here and there at the hsbaseball web? I've gotten most of that stuff from my son's facebook page. Well... apparently someone from the big league club got wind of it and they decided to teach him a lesson. It started with the locker room being plastered with all of his facebook postings like his pictures of Manny and his comments about playing with big leaguers. Said there must have been 50 of his postings all over the locker room. He tore all that stuff down but the best was yet to come...

Yesterday... he was called up to practice with the big league club. They put him in a chair in the middle of the field and he said it felt like the whole team circled the chair. They shined his shoes, wiped his brow, and made him put on his special shirt named "Whammy" About this time, my son was pretty sure the message was that big leaguers don't post about their experiences with other big leaguers. He said it was all in fun however. They forced him to wear the Whammy shirt at his minor league game yesterday when we saw him for our final time of the spring.

After the little chair ceremony, he took infield and batting practice with the big leaguers. Manny approached him and asked him what size shoes he wore and he told him 11 and 1/2. When he got back to his locker, he had a brand new pair of Nike spikes waiting for him from Manny Ramirez. Seems like the two have bonded Hopefully, no one from the Rays will see my posting here at a "high school" baseball site

As he was about to leave practice yesterday, the Director of Minor League Operations Mitch Lukevics told him that the team had personally requested his presence at today's game. They of course made him wear the Whammy shirt when he made his first appearance on the big league field. My parents were listening to the Tampa broadacast on radio as we were flying home and the announcer told the whole story of Whammy as I have told it here and they died laughing. When my son was introduced by the PA announcer, he was introduced as Whammy. I guess all the fans were chanting Whammy, Whammy...

Lesson learned... memories that will indeed last a lifetime...

I read that to my son and wife. We all loved that story. lol.

What memories that will last a life time.

Great story CD...thanks for sharing!

Here is some local media coverage of the story I told above... it looks as though my son may have turned the proverbial "negative" into a "positive"

http://www2.tbo.com/content/20...-minors/sports-rays/

quote:

By ROGER MOONEY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 26, 2011

Updated: 03/26/2011 06:44 pm

PORT CHARLOTTE ....

Honored guest

Minor-league INF Tyler Bortnick was the center of attention during the morning stretch. Bortnick sat in a chair in the middle of the group as coach Tom Foley read Bortnick's recent posting on his Facebook page where he bragged about getting a hit off Boston RHP Jonathon Papelbon last week during a minor-league game.

DH Manny Ramirez asked him to autograph a baseball on the sweet spot and Olmedo brought him a bottle of water and shined his spikes.

"It demonstrates the power of the social media," Maddon said. "He utilizes his notoriety on Facebook to get invited to big-league camp. I actually admire his tenacity."

Bortnick impressed the Rays by taking it with good humor. As a result, he remained with the team for the rest of the day, wearing a jersey with the name "Whamyyy" on the back.

"He did handle it well, that's why he's still here," Maddon said before the game. "Had he not handled that moment so well, we would have just sent him back to the other side."

Maddon is curious to see Bortnick's next Facebook page post.

"The ball's back in his court," Maddon said. "We'll see how he works the social component afterward."

http://www.tampabay.com/sports...day-prank-of/1160025

quote:

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Sunday, March 27, 2011

Prank of the day

After minor-league INF Tyler Bortnick got a little too cocky in his Facebook comments about getting a hit off Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon in a minor-league game, he got hazed by the big-leaguers. The Rays summoned him to the outfield for the morning stretch, put him in a jersey with his screen nickname WHAMMYYY on the back and had Manny Ramirez ask him to sign a ball and Ray Olmedo shine his shoes and bring him water. "It was all in good fun," manager Joe Maddon said. "And he did a great job with how he reacted to the whole thing." Bortnick handled it so well, Maddon invited him to stay with the Rays for the game.

CD, that story is way funny...OMG, he must have died at first with the lockerroom...good for him thou, what a memorable day!

I guess it goes to show you " You never know who is watching, or reading your facebook"LOL

The unspoken rule for call ups is the unspoken rule... don't speak unless spoken to

Glad your son handled the razzing like a champ

Well, now I know how it feels to be the parent of a traded baseball player.

My boy...traded to Nationals earlier today. Very, very weird feeling. But probably a good thing...at least you know someone wants you.

Nats trade Gonzalez to Padres

quote:

But probably a good thing...at least you know someone wants you.

Yup. Everyone in Milb is playing for 30 teams, not one.
Having someone want you, and moving to the pitcher friendly parks of the Eastern League might be a nice development for one of the winningest pitchers in Milb for the last 2 years.
I did a quick search of AA/AAA and MLB pitching staffs for the Nats and ED is also one of the younger guys in the system now, too. Nothing but thoughts for you, your son and family today, justbb.

Looks like your son is doing well!
Congrats!

quote:

Davis has posted a combined 30 wins over the last two seasons, which is tops among all Minor League pitchers.

As unfair as I know the system may be, this kinda thing has to be noticed...and I have to believe that there is real good reason why they acquired ED.

44
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just a smile to the whole thread.

have a wonderful season.

I agree with ob44 as usual. Sounds like good news to me

The Nats went out and acquired the winningest minor league pitcher over the past two years. They're looking for winners at the big league level and that is good news indeed.

Huge congrats to Erik, justbb, and family!

Congratulations to ED!
He's moving..... That's good! We all know the baseball road to the top isn't a straight line.
Fungo

The Nats like the young smart pitchers, they took Dave's teammate (same age as ED) in the rule 5 last fall and he made the 25 man opening roster.

Congrats ED and family and welcome to the the right to play baseball!

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I know he sees it as a good thing and thats about all I care about right now. He had a nice talk with the GM and minor league director yesterday. He is excited about the new opportunity.

I really don't like posting stuff about my own kids in this personal manner, but I believe one of the great things about this website is for others to read firsthand accounts of life in baseball beyond youth baseball and beyond HS.

I know reading others' stories on here along with some of the terrific friendships I've made through this site with others' whose sons have played or do play pro baseball...helped my wife and me to process yesterday's events a lot better than we would have without that background. I knew something was up when a parent of one of his Stanford teammates (closer with the Nationals) posted 'We're on the same team again!' on my Facebook page. When our son called, my wife was well prepared and ready to respond to his initial shock (he read it on Twitter minutes before anyone called him 'officially'). I think her initial reaction back to him was very helpful indeed.

I hope he doesn't mind me recounting this story, but I once read a PGStaff post on here about sitting in a big league stadium in which 40,000 fans were not too happy with his son's performance that day. I posted back that I hoped to enjoy the same experience some day myself. I got a little of that yesterday as there were plenty of blog posts on both the Padres and Nationals fan sites...many were quite nice to read, but some were awfully difficult to read too.

I remain envious of PGStaff and hope to someday experience the 'full Monty' in a big league park!

I do know one thing and that is I gave up booing players about 7-8 years ago (not that I did it often, but I wasn't squeaky clean either ). Ya never know when the kid's dad might be sitting right in front of you!

Yep, it's a pleasure to applaud ALL of them.

Thanks for the update, justbaseball.........

Will he have to sit out a year for transferring?

OOOPS, I'm in the wrong forum, I'll quietly leave.

Great story and great info justbaseball. Thanks a bunch for being so candid! Good luck to the young man.

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
The Nats like the young smart pitchers, they took Dave's teammate (same age as ED) in the rule 5 last fall and he made the 25 man opening roster.

Congrats ED and family and welcome to the the right to play baseball!

My bad that's what happens when you post quickly at 7:30am.

Congrats ED and family and welcome to the right COAST to play baseball!

See ya in FL@ next year's spring training!

Just got word that son will be staying in Ft. Myers for extended ST. Not good news, but not all bad. Somebody there must still like him a little. It could be much worse; considering that somewhere in excess of 60 talented and highly accomplished baseball players were cut today, from one team. It ain't so bad.

My heart goes out to all those players who were released this week, and to their loved ones sharing that pain tonight. That feeling must be, as infielddad wrote back on the first page of this thread,

quote:

about as hard as it can get in baseball.

Good post spizzle. I understand virtually every feeling you expressed in there.

I knew what you meant TPM.

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:

... Hopefully, no one from the Rays will see my posting here at a "high school" baseball site

...

Hey, ya never know! Sounds like he's enjoying himself and fitting right in!!!

spizzle,
Thank you for the update. Great to have you posting.
I too can relate to the dynamics which occurred with your son and ST. In 2005, we got a nearly identical call from our son.
Not too long after that, some coaches who liked him stepped up apparently. A roster spot opened and his name got filled into it.
Your son has every reason to look at a glass being 1/2 full.
Experiences like this are why I think a primary lesson taught in Milb is to focus and pay attention on only those things you can control...what you do on the field and the preparation before and after game/practice to improve what you do on the field.
I am hoping for the very best for your son in achieving his very best on what he can control.

.
Spizzle...great to have you here...thinking good thoughts for you and yours!

44
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A good look into a player's psyche going into minor league camp "cut day". Jeremy Hall is a pitcher in the Rays organization.

http://jeremymichaelhall.wordpress.com/

Loved CD's "Whammy" story, great stuff!
I was down for the final week a few years back and saw some very talented and sad players leaving the parking lot. A few goodbye hugs from buddies and they were on their way. I'm sure for many of these kids it's very tough because so many from their family and community just "know" they're going to make it. The fact that it's been an amazing run for them to just get to this point seems hard for some family members and friends to understand. It's interesting being around MLB players, observing and finding out how normal and human most seem to be.

Won't be long now..... Good luck everyone... Hope its a healthy season!

quote:

Originally posted by njbb:
Won't be long now..... Good luck everyone... Hope its a healthy season!

My pitcher's season will be a bit delayed due to some minor issues, he will remain in FL on the DL for a few weeks. This minor stuff is really annoying.

Good luck to all of your players, enjoy!

And good news...baseballmom-SON is starting the season with Tampa Yankees.
WTG, kiddo!
Very proud (and releived) mom!

Nice baseballmom!

Baseballmom,

That is very exciting news! Good luck to Preston!

TPM,

Sorry to hear about the DL. Hope DK is back in action very soon!

Julie