Minor League Reporting

People get audited, everyday.

I am talking legit expenses which will be determined later. Just save all receipts. No way my son can be sustained on 20 dollars a day on the road for food. The bottom line is they earn so little so try to get back something. Equipment bought themselves, etc.

Not sure about the bike though....

What a fun thread to read!

Mary Ann (FutureBack.Mom) said:

"If everybody whose has a son in the minors wants to send me an e-mail with their son's name, MLB affiliation, and minor league assignment, I will put a list together, including a website link for their team, and try to figure a way to get it on a thread (I am sure Julie will help me with that).

My public e-mail address: mrsmarvls@yahoo.com

Mary Ann"

Yes, I will be happy to help get the info online...you know where to reach me when you are ready!

Julie

BH & TPM, of course.

Just responded that way, tongue firmly in cheek, as some in the audience here (based on those comments) might consider travel ball expenses and any away-from-home player expenses as tax deductable without further thought.

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando:
BH & TPM, of course.

Just responded that way, tongue firmly in cheek, as some in the audience here (based on those comments) might consider travel ball expenses and any away-from-home player expenses as tax deductable without further thought.

Thats why you buy an RV.
It's Tax Deductable.
A home on wheels.LOL

Make sure you parents have Vacation time.
Your going to need it.
EH

There was a player on the team last yr who traveled with his wife and baby in a camper. Not bad for the player but it must have been a long day for the wife cooped up in a little camper with a baby.
Take a special lady to be the wife of a ball player

I remember reading about Rod Beck living in a Camper when he tried his comeback with the Padres a few years ago. The article was great.

To me it sounded like a great idea.

quote:

Not sure about the bike though....

It is very deductible as business/conditioning equipment to be depreciated. Save receipts where ever they come from.

Generally speaking, moving expenses for work over about 30 or 40 miles are deductible, as is any milage over a normal commute, 50% of work related meals and entertainment, work related clothing, shoes, equipment, lessons, etc. Make sure income is averaged over the allowable number of years also to minimize the tax bite out of the bonus.

If the bike is used to travel to games it would have to be capitalzed. Throw it in what the heck. If you saw what I have seen you would throw everything in and let the IRS take it away.

You might want to keep a travel log showing how much biking is for pleasure and how much for work . Just kidding.

Dado4 is right on.

He did mention it was good for cardio.

Before you know it DK will be "country strong"

quote:

Originally posted by Dad04:
Before you know it DK will be "country strong"

If he doesn't start pitching soon that may be so!

Nothing new to report, seems like we don't get a chance to talk to him much. We are letting him "adjust" .

Batavia on their way to winning their second game in a row.

Diving plays - first pro stolen base - scoring - hitting it hard - and playing like a wild dog.

This is exciting.

A passed ball.

Base hit into left field on his first professional AB.

They got the ball and signed it for him.

Thrown out at third a couple of plays later trying to go from 1st to 3rd.

Lined out.

Flew out to RF and LF.

Called the game.

Pitcher threw nine full innings.

Fun, ain't it, its?

Has a bed now.

Got his check setup to be eletronically deposited.

Pretty good for a Monday.

No bicycles.

quote:

Originally posted by FormerObserver:

Has a bed now.

No bicycles.

FO - I dont know which one-liner was funnier. LOL

Forget about the plays and the excitement of the last week or so - the highlight was getting a bed and not a couch. LOL

Too much. LOL

Son is also playing in the NY-Penn in a backwater town called Staten Island . After living in downtown Chicago for the last 4 years he is not experiencing the same "culture shock" many of the other guys have seen. Before his first outing last week they moved him to the other side of the rubber to maximize his movement. After his first outing I've never heard him so optimistic about 4 BB in 2.2 innings as he said his stuff was electric but he had to learn to control it all over again. In the end he gave up 1 hit along with those 4 BB but no runs. I could tell in his voice that since he has not given up an ER in the last 26 innings (conference tourney, NCAA regional, Northwoods, NY-Penn) he is wondering when the sky will fall .

quote:

Originally posted by rz1:
Son is also playing in the NY-Penn in a backwater town called Staten Island

That's funny! LOL. DK's best friend plays for the cyclones and he is enjoying the NY hustle and bustle. Their first game I hear drew 9K? Looks like a beautiful facility next to Coney Island. His field more on par with the cape's fields.

Dave got a chance to call today and we had a chance to chat. I asked him something that has been discussed here before.
I asked him to compare the competition to short season in the NYPenn league (low A either college or former rookies) to that of his conference ACC, SEC teams played against or other top conference teams. His answer was as far as he can see for one week, the competition is steeper considering they are using wood. He has not seen any pitcher pitch over 90-91, but most of the pitchers had taken rest before they began (most of their seasons ended early) so their velocity is down or those with higher are at the next level.

So those that often say that the more competitive conferences are comparible to lower minor league, he thinks in general it is not.

You got that?

DK to get his first pro start tomorrow, says he is a bit rusty for not being on the mound since super regionals but he is ready, will be on a low pitch count.

Went to some mid season high A games last summer. Out of 6 or 7 pitchers in a game, maybe one guy worked at 90 or above...maybe. Velocity was not much different than upper level D1, but just about everything else was. Players were bigger faster hit harder, better breaking stuff, better command. Lineups are much deeper. The few Homer Bailey's and Sean Gallaghers are there. Just not for very long.

Last year in the penn league one of the stadiums had a gun that was about 4 mph faster than the other stops, so the pitchers liked throwing there because they threw so much "harder"

quote:

Players were bigger faster hit harder, better breaking stuff, better command.

bbscout always said it was much stronger than D1 and I took his word.

My initial reaction to the first game I listed to was that the above quote is very true.

Matt has said that all the players are bigger, stronger, and faster.

The ball moves around the infield much more quickly.

It is very fascinating to observe...............

Well, listen, anyway........

I also think that some guys are NOT throwing as hard as they did as now they need more command (and draft days have come and gone). That's just my opinion.

First few games we "listened" to, there were some routine plays that were not made, but I would imagine that has to do with not being "insync" with each other.

rz,
Best of luck to Ryan!

quote:

The ball moves around the infield much more quickly.

FO, excellent observation. Probably one of the biggest gaps in the levels. It moves like lightening. The typical D1 MIF is way closer to HS than high A, imo.

quote:

tpm quote:
rz,
Best of luck to Ryan!

Likewise to dk

Listening to the Staten Island game Ryan was just replaced after 5 innings and 47 pitches against Hudson Valley giving up 1H (inf single) - 0R - 2BB - 1K - 11GO - 3FO. A flyout to CF to the first batter was the only play made by the OF.

I'd take that start any day. I'm sure however he's frustrated with a "pitch count" start, but that's life .

The game gets much faster at every level. That is why so many high school and college short stops get moved to 2nd or 3rd.

Just saw the scoreboard, wtg! Nice NO ERA!

I like the low pitch count, it's early in the season.

This is a great thread. What a lot of fun to experience what is happening with every player and parent.
But for folks like RZ1, when you consider that pitch count, also remember that these guys still have 65-68 games to play. They have substantially more than a complete college season still to play...and they will do it in about 1/2 the time of the college season.
When you consider the heat, humidity, travel and 10-12 hour days at the park or at the park and on the bus, everyone will be thankful...when they get a day off!!!
This is a new journey and it isn't necessarily measured by wins/losses. Your son can have an 0-4 and coaches raving about him. He can get a big L and the pitching coach is thrilled because of his command of a new pitch or new approach.
Funny thing this world of minor league ball. It is so great your sons have "earned" this opportunity.
For me, I am looking forward to those posts in September as the season winds down. Now those will tell some stories.

njbb, I just saw Chris has been promoted to high A.
That is really

This is a wonderful thread. I love reading about the experiences and observations of "our" sons who have recently moved on to the next level.

Very best of luck to all of your sons, and please keep the reports coming!

Hooray for Chris!

It does sem to be a march --- for example, the Ems had a night game Saturday, on the bus for an overnight 8 hour ride and a 4pm gametime the folowing day.

i enjoy reading the exploits of these young men in their new profesion, more than that i enjoy what seems to be renewed excitement from their parents. a new level of baseball has recharged the batteries. i love it and even better is that they are proving they belong. keep reporting i for one look forward to these reports. congrats to all who are there.

Randy,

Awesome start for Ryan!

To all the others, I wish nothing but the best.

Last year a friend of my son had a no hitter through 6 innings, reached his pitch count of 80 and was relieved. The minors are all about player development. Of course the organizations love to win, but it is secondary.

So as not to put a damper on this thread I'll start my own.

Frank,
Don't start a new thread, I created this thread for all minor league reports.

Chris,
Congratulations!


Orlando,
Kind of reminds me of a song, "the wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round......"

A double off the wall.

Thrown OUT at home.

A pitch between the legs for the tying run to score.

quote:

'You don't have to be a great player to play in the major leagues, you've got to be a good one every day.'

Already gaining new insight into that quote, infielddad.......

Thrown out twice on the base paths now. Not sure if it's because the game is faster, he is slower, or it shows up now because of the strength of the players, or if they are playing to win instead of trying not to lose.

The fact of is that it is all of the above.

As I said above, he's glad he played three years of college.

But, I had sensed that school was getting in his way.

From a reps point of view, I can really see first hand why development can be better and faster in the minor's as opposed to college.

Like always you can see behind you better than you can ahead.

So, those of you ahead keep posting, post it here, please.........

From a pitcher's standpoint I can see how not going the college route would be more beneficial. Strict pitch counts and less abuse on the arm.
Son was very lucky that he had coaches who were very careful with their pitch counts.
From a hitters view, I can see how getting your reps in college might be more productive in college. JMO.

Either way, my son echoes the same words as FO's, I am glad I went to college first. School does begin to get in the way after awhile, as they mature.

Some things don't change though, we were ahead and our relief pitcher was lights out, then all of a sudden 4 runs, just like that and we were down.

This may prove I'm more Mom than Baseball Guy, but I believe attending some college, be it all of JuCo or 3-4 years of university is more beneficial to the boys both from a baseball standpoint and their development as people.

With the caveat that pitchers have to be exceedingly careful to do their research about the college coach's use of pitchers.

The boys who went to college before signing their contracts are adults, not impressionable and inexperienced (as in never away from home) 18 year olds. They've been good enough on the next rung of the ladder to be chosen. They've had the maturation and confidence-building excersize of playing/hitting/pitching better than the majority of college players, already a group of players superior to the hs competition.

I mentioned the occasional discussion here about D1 college ball being much the same as entry-level minors to my son the other night. I'm not sure what his answer was, as he was laughing too hard.

On a sidenote:

Although I am exceedingly grateful for the broadcasts, how are all of you finding your announcers? I've listened to two so far, one showed somewhat less enthusiasm for the game than he might have for the funeral of a passing acquaintance. The Ems announcer studied broadcasting; perhaps he should have studied baseball.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
From a pitcher's standpoint I can see how not going the college route would be more beneficial.

That may be correct in a very few cases. However, IMHO, if a HS player makes that decision it should be only because he has an offer he can't refuse (top rounds), or school is not in his future to begin with and not because it is the best route to the top. In our case my son was drafted out of HS, instead of signing he got a great education, made great friends, started his adult life with an educational mindset, and in the long run he will be ready to hit the ground running when his baseball career ends and "real life" begins. Looking back I doubt he would trade his college years for the minors and that is with a TJ injury thrown in.

At this point in his life he knows that a pitcher is one pitch away from an injury related retirement and as a result of his own injury his passion for the game has not only intensified but his understanding of the realities of baseball are now understood. Finding the "college fit" that not only has coaching that prepares you for professional baseball, but academics that provides training for a profession that will support a family AB (After Baseball) should not be looked at lightly. As I said there are those players that should look past the "college experience" but if you look at draft picks over the last 5-10 years who passed on college and went pro, regardless of rounds, you will see many, many more that regretted that decision than supported it. All we hear about is those who make the "big show", but for every one of them there are 100's that are tossed back into society. With those odds, I'd rather take my chances, go to school, and be prepared to be one of those thrown back.

From a purely baseball standpoint you may be fundamentally correct when saying a pitcher may be better off if developed in the minors, but life, and baseball, is not that kind when looking at the big picture of a persons future.

quote:

tpm quote:
School does begin to get in the way after awhile, as they mature.

If something has to get in the way of maturity, I guess school is not a bad bump in the road to run into and manuver through.

O,
Now get this one. Batavia only broadcasts AWAY games, so for HOME games I have to link to the other team.
After listening to one of the best announcers I have ever listened to from the Clemson Tiger Network, everything else is just well, borrrring. Though the College State Spikes announcer was pretty good last night (announcing from Batavia's home stadium).

Last year College State was affiliate with the Cards, this year they are the Pirates and Batavia was the Phillies, now the Cards.

Dave said there is very little crowd support, not sure if that is because they are not Phiilies anymore.

At this point, who cares, just give me anyone's broadcast.

tpm,

Staten Island does not have radio at all! You have to hope the other team does.

The Hudson Valley guys did an ok radio job. They do get good crowds but that may be due to the close proximity to parent team and a 70 mil dollar ballpark.

Nice pics of the field

SI Yankee field

rz,

I feel your pain. Now if they come to Batavia, we are both out of luck!

First Dave tells me it's because they do not have the "set up", NOT, why are the OTHER guys broadcasting there? So I did a little checking, not too easy to get someone to come to BATAVIA for the summer, to work for free (I hear they don't get paid), but Staten Island, heck, that should be easy!!!!

Did you go to milb broadcast site and see if the other team was broadcasting?

Don't trust that milb site alone. Last night the SI/Hudson Valley game was not listed because (I think) Hudson Valley is not part of the milb.tv network. I went to the Hudson Valley site and was a click away from hearing the game.