Really enjoyed your history. Thanks for sharing.
Old Pitcher ...
Really enjoyed your history. Thanks for sharing.
Really enjoyed your history. Thanks for sharing.
quote:He just plays - gets very dirty and lets the chips will fall wherever they are going to fall.
I happen to agree with this philosophy itsinthegame. My belief is to let baseball production on the field alone do the talking for you and nothing else.
Old Pitcher - I enjoyed reading your post as well
For any player/family who is being scouted or hopes to get that opportunity, PGStaff, Old Pitcher and Its bring a great deal of insight to the process with their comments in this thread. Interesting for me to contemplate that Perfect Game did not even exist when Old Pitcher got that call from the Orioles. Also interesting to consider that the process described by Old Pitcher in his negotiations may be why there are so many agents and why I have no problem with players getting paid. 
PGStaff,
Thanks for the kind words. My son is a senior catcher at Old Dominion, playing for Jerry Meyers. Wow, we just got rated #15 in the last Baseball America Poll.
Thanks for the kind words. My son is a senior catcher at Old Dominion, playing for Jerry Meyers. Wow, we just got rated #15 in the last Baseball America Poll.
I enjoyed "all" posts and insights, personally.
Always good to get all opinions and experience to decision making arena and true stories from those like OP who have experienced the process through first-hand knowledge, that's great !!
Old Dominion catcherdad, didn't mean to intentionally leave your son out of loop in conversations and banter here between all of us and wish him the absolute best in upcoming months with his baseball and all other future endeavors. peace, Shep
Always good to get all opinions and experience to decision making arena and true stories from those like OP who have experienced the process through first-hand knowledge, that's great !!
Old Dominion catcherdad, didn't mean to intentionally leave your son out of loop in conversations and banter here between all of us and wish him the absolute best in upcoming months with his baseball and all other future endeavors. peace, Shep
infielddad
I go back to the days when there was no draft---you signed with whomever you wanted and money was not a point of contention--it was simply--Get me in the lineup!
I go back to the days when there was no draft---you signed with whomever you wanted and money was not a point of contention--it was simply--Get me in the lineup!
TR, still remember Rick Reichardt on the cover of SI, the first draft pick to break the bank, so to speak. Interesting the draft was imposed to control costs...and failed. Now there is a desire to cut back on the draft but teams are paying huge amounts to players from Latin countries, Australia, Netherlands(??? ), and Asia. There are a lot of players who would still say "get me in the lineup" and, for the most part, MLB doesn't want them. Fascinating the way they can't measure heart but will pay $375,000 for someone who is so raw he really can't even play the game, but someone projects he "might". What an experience this is.
), and Asia. There are a lot of players who would still say "get me in the lineup" and, for the most part, MLB doesn't want them. Fascinating the way they can't measure heart but will pay $375,000 for someone who is so raw he really can't even play the game, but someone projects he "might". What an experience this is.
The draft started in 1965, and was put in place to slow down the bonus money that was going up very fast. Rick Reichardt signed for $200,000 in 1964 and then the next year when the draft started, Rick Monday was the first player drafted and he recieved $104,000 and was the only player taken that hit the $100,000 mark.
The bonus money did not move up very much at all for almost 25 years. Harold Baines was the 1st player taken in 1977 and signed for $40,000. In 1987 Ken Griffey only got $160,000 as the first overall pick, which is still less than the money Reichardt recieved 23 years before him.
1989 was the first year that things started to jump in the bonus world when John Olerud and Ben McDonald signed major league deals for over $800,000. Brien Taylor in 1991 signed a bonus deal for one point five million and from that point on, the bonus money started moving higher.
The reality is that the draft slowed down bonus money for about 25 years.
The bonus money did not move up very much at all for almost 25 years. Harold Baines was the 1st player taken in 1977 and signed for $40,000. In 1987 Ken Griffey only got $160,000 as the first overall pick, which is still less than the money Reichardt recieved 23 years before him.
1989 was the first year that things started to jump in the bonus world when John Olerud and Ben McDonald signed major league deals for over $800,000. Brien Taylor in 1991 signed a bonus deal for one point five million and from that point on, the bonus money started moving higher.
The reality is that the draft slowed down bonus money for about 25 years.
quote:The reality is that the draft slowed down bonus money for about 25 years.
bbscout,
I can surely attest to that. A left handed high school pitcher throwing 95mph and got $26,000.00. No telling what I would have commanded in today's market.
I don't have a historic perspective on the draft & scouting that the rest of you in here have talking about the past couple of days, so I'll cut to the present.
Our son just got "discovered" by MLB a few weeks ago. I know, how does that happen? Is he legit? All I know is that he had the great luck to be in the right place at the right time having a good game and there has been a parade of scouts to our games since.
Considering we live two hours away from a metro area, the fact that these guys are driving up to see him so late in the high school year is amazing to me. I know they're making up for lost time since they hadn't heard about him before, and that's probably why there have been so many, not because we think he's some phenom or anything.
I respect the ones who keep their distance. I know they're learning from what they see and hear in the stands (and on the phone - what did they do before cell phones?!). They know how intense this period is for prospective draftees and I think it helps to keep things more low key when they steer clear of parents and the player on game days.
OTOH, those who have introduced themselves have been very courteous and we have learned an incredible amount of practical info from the ones who scheduled home visits.
These guys work so hard and must be so focused to do their job right. I really want to say thanks to all of them who have taken the time to check out my son, no matter what happens. And thanks for putting up with our well intended "tips" about other kids on our son's team... so, thanks guys.
ktcosmos
Our son just got "discovered" by MLB a few weeks ago. I know, how does that happen? Is he legit? All I know is that he had the great luck to be in the right place at the right time having a good game and there has been a parade of scouts to our games since.
Considering we live two hours away from a metro area, the fact that these guys are driving up to see him so late in the high school year is amazing to me. I know they're making up for lost time since they hadn't heard about him before, and that's probably why there have been so many, not because we think he's some phenom or anything.
I respect the ones who keep their distance. I know they're learning from what they see and hear in the stands (and on the phone - what did they do before cell phones?!). They know how intense this period is for prospective draftees and I think it helps to keep things more low key when they steer clear of parents and the player on game days.
OTOH, those who have introduced themselves have been very courteous and we have learned an incredible amount of practical info from the ones who scheduled home visits.
These guys work so hard and must be so focused to do their job right. I really want to say thanks to all of them who have taken the time to check out my son, no matter what happens. And thanks for putting up with our well intended "tips" about other kids on our son's team... so, thanks guys.
ktcosmos
In reading PG's post it does seem it's all about information these days and getting as much of it as you can. Teams appear to be looking at the make up of player not just on the field but off the field as well.
The scouts have been in our house, talk to us at the games(they are all great about being respectful and letting us watch our son play). Our son has been given all kind of test.
It's been a great, fun ride this year for my son(and our family) in his Senior year of HS...enjoy every minute of it.
I wouldn't worry if they don't talk to you or your son at the games as scouts are like anybody else in that some are more personable than others...IMO, if they are still coming out to see your son play that would indicate they still have interest.
Good luck to you and your son.
The scouts have been in our house, talk to us at the games(they are all great about being respectful and letting us watch our son play). Our son has been given all kind of test.
It's been a great, fun ride this year for my son(and our family) in his Senior year of HS...enjoy every minute of it.
I wouldn't worry if they don't talk to you or your son at the games as scouts are like anybody else in that some are more personable than others...IMO, if they are still coming out to see your son play that would indicate they still have interest.
Good luck to you and your son.
Very nice thread. Really enjoyed reading Old Pitchers stories.
I can give you my experience with the draft if you care.
I attended a very small NAIA school. My junior year I put up some really good numbers. A few, like 4-5, scouts gave me the info. card and asked if I would be interested in playing pro ball instead of going back for my senior season. I was sure I was as good as gone. Come draft time............zippo.
So, I go into my senior year. Put up some more good numbers. Filled out a few more cards. This time I get drafted on the first day. 12th round, not that impressive really
.
So now I'm excited, I might be able to buy a truck or something. This was 1997 so I would need about $15,000 right. That should be easy enough.
Scout comes to the house to sign me and makes the grand offer of $5,000. I look at my college coach and he says "Son, playing professional baseball is now your job. First lesson, work hard and try to earn a raise."
So I sign and was off to mini-camp in Chandler, Arizona. Was there for a few weeks then shipped to Ogden, Utah. That summer began my pro career.
Wow, this is bringing up memories.
My recommendation to parents and players concerning the draft..........
Go out there and play the game, have fun, work hard, and let the draft take care of itself. It is easy to get caught up in all the how to's, and who's this or that. Nothing matters until draft day when the selection is made.
Then the fun starts.
I can give you my experience with the draft if you care.
I attended a very small NAIA school. My junior year I put up some really good numbers. A few, like 4-5, scouts gave me the info. card and asked if I would be interested in playing pro ball instead of going back for my senior season. I was sure I was as good as gone. Come draft time............zippo.
So, I go into my senior year. Put up some more good numbers. Filled out a few more cards. This time I get drafted on the first day. 12th round, not that impressive really
.So now I'm excited, I might be able to buy a truck or something. This was 1997 so I would need about $15,000 right. That should be easy enough.
Scout comes to the house to sign me and makes the grand offer of $5,000. I look at my college coach and he says "Son, playing professional baseball is now your job. First lesson, work hard and try to earn a raise."
So I sign and was off to mini-camp in Chandler, Arizona. Was there for a few weeks then shipped to Ogden, Utah. That summer began my pro career.
Wow, this is bringing up memories.
My recommendation to parents and players concerning the draft..........
Go out there and play the game, have fun, work hard, and let the draft take care of itself. It is easy to get caught up in all the how to's, and who's this or that. Nothing matters until draft day when the selection is made.
Then the fun starts.
Oh, and PG.
Gage Guthrie is really tearing the cover off the ball. This 2 week old switch hitting catcher is looking forward to attending your workouts.
Gage Guthrie is really tearing the cover off the ball. This 2 week old switch hitting catcher is looking forward to attending your workouts.
Ken, don’t know if you had a chance to meet Kentaro who works with us. He is Japanese and so is his wife. They had a baby a month or so ago and named him ROCKY! The ROCK! Rocky Yasutake! He has more hair than our whole family put together. Every time I see him I move his left arm in a throwing motion. Then I get him to squeeze my fingers with his left hand and try to get him to do everything lefty. Then Kentaro broke the news… He wants Rocky to be a shortstop! Be just my luck, force Rocky into being a lefty and he grows up to be 5’9” with good hands and runs a 6.2 60, but a below average arm.
Hope to see Gage swing the bat soon! In the mean time, make sure you keep the agents away from him. They’re going after younger kids every year.
Hope to see Gage swing the bat soon! In the mean time, make sure you keep the agents away from him. They’re going after younger kids every year.
quote:Go out there and play the game, have fun, work hard, and let the draft take care of itself. It is easy to get caught up in all the how to's, and who's this or that. Nothing matters until draft day when the selection is made.
Then the fun starts.
Ken,
You said it perfectly here. Great advice! Enjoyed the story.
