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MLB Spring Training

floridafanfloridafan5,000+ posts
TPM,

I for one was enjoying this thread and do not believe that you should have closed it! Perspective is what us Dads and Moms of players seek.

Please continue to post on this topic. Most of us know it is a "tough row to hoe" and most of us also understand it is a privilege as well.

As a job it does not compare with the rigors of coal mining, but the rewards are way overstated and the risks very understated.

I really do believe that the only reason to play this game is because a player LOVES IT!

The Journey Continues!

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justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
Just got back from visiting our son for 5 days in Arizona. This is his 2nd Spring Training. Some general observations:

* Daily interaction at breakfast, lunch, weight room with big leaguers who are mostly quite encouraging and helpful. Smile

* Daily worries about assignment (where am I going?)...on the minds of nearly every player in camp except for the established MLBer. Roll Eyes

* No pay, just meal money. Did you know they raised that to $25/day this year? (Good news) Did you know that the "clubbie" raised the laundry/etc... fees by more than the $5/day raise from last year's meal money? (Bad news) Bottom line - less $$/day this year. Frown

* A chance occasionally...to sit on a big league bench for a game and maybe get into a game. Had dinner with a player who had made it into the game just that day...televised on WGN...and his parents saw him! Big Grin

* The every-10(or so)-day release/cut day. Handled differently by each team...but suddenly friends are gone. Plane ticket home by noon often. Sometimes/often not even a chance to say 'goodbye.'

* Minor league Spring games are quiet...very quiet...handful of parents/girlfriends hanging around along with the organizational people. Played on the back fields. To me, its a little stressful to watch...tension in the air. It seems everyone there knows what is on the line. Everyone is making their own calculations about where they fit, comparing notes. Player bonding is strong and supportive, but I also sensed it is cautious.

* Bed time is early! Full day of baseball...EVERY day...seemed to me like players are wiped out by 9:00 pm. Back up at 6:00 and at the field around 7:00. On a day where they get off early (lunch time), one of the last things they wanna do is trek over to a big league game...a break from baseball is needed!

* At one point, I asked my son, "Ever feel like saying 'I've had enough of this?'" His response, "No way, I just wanna play more baseball...I just love it."

You gotta love it.

Thats enough for now.
Last edited by justbaseball
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
Thanks justbb - I'll post in your post highlighting differences and similarities.

quote:
Originally posted by justbaseball:
Just got back from visiting our son for 5 days in Arizona. This is his 2nd Spring Training. Some general observations:

* Daily interaction at breakfast, lunch, weight room with big leaguers who are mostly quite encouraging and helpful. Smile

** Mine has enjoyed standing right there at the batting cages while the big leaguers are taking bp. The Rays also hold an organizational wide banquet which was fun for all. They hold a talent contest and the winner gets $2100. For example, Evan Longoria played the drums in a makeshift band. The winner impersonated all the coaches including Joe Maddon.

* Daily worries about assignment (where am I going?)...on the minds of nearly every player in camp except for the established MLBer. Roll Eyes

** I haven't sensed a daily worry in this regard. I would imagine there are bubble guys out there worrying but perhaps you have to be there like justbb to pick up on it.

* No pay, just meal money. Did you know they raised that to $25/day this year? (Good news) Did you know that the "clubbie" raised the laundry/etc... fees by more than the $5/day raise from last year's meal money? (Bad news) Bottom line - less $$/day this year. Frown

** Mine gets 20/day. I was not aware of clubbie fees.

* A chance occasionally...to sit on a big league bench for a game and maybe get into a game. Had dinner with a player who had made it into the game just that day...televised on WGN...and his parents saw him! Big Grin

** My son's teammate who was a 9th rounder in 2008 appeared in a big league spring training game with the Reds and he called all his buddies to let them know Smile

* The every-10(or so)-day release/cut day. Handled differently by each team...but suddenly friends are gone. Plane ticket home by noon often. Sometimes/often not even a chance to say 'goodbye.'

** Very few cuts have happened with the Rays thus far. It appears they are going to do theirs in bulk at the end of camp.
* Minor league Spring games are quiet...very quiet...handful of parents/girlfriends hanging around along with the organizational people. Played on the back fields. To me, its a little stressful to watch...tension in the air. It seems everyone there knows what is on the line. Everyone is making their own calculations about where they fit, comparing notes. Player bonding is strong and supportive, but I also sensed it is cautious.

** This sounds about the same.

* Bed time is early! Full day of baseball...EVERY day...seemed to me like players are wiped out by 9:00 pm. Back up at 6:00 and at the field around 7:00. On a day where they get off early (lunch time), one of the last things they wanna do is trek over to a big league game...a break from baseball is needed!

** This is the same.

* At one point, I asked my son, "Ever feel like saying 'I've had enough of this?'" His response, "No way, I just wanna play more baseball...I just love it."

You gotta love it.

** Love it indeed!

Thats enough for now.
Last edited by ClevelandDad
justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by ClevelandDad:

* Daily worries about assignment (where am I going?)...on the minds of nearly every player in camp except for the established MLBer. Roll Eyes

** I haven't sensed a daily worry in this regard. I would imagine there are bubble guys out there worrying but perhaps you have to be there like justbb to pick up on it.



Obviously I wouldn't know about another camp...but yes, I didn't pick up on this over the phone...just realized it by being around the facility. Its like anything else, you just wanna know so you can move on in your preparations. For some, the worries are about making a team at all, for others about being held for extended...and for others about where will I be playing this year?
Last edited by justbaseball
RHP05ParentRHP05Parent1,000+ posts
I'll add a my perspective. There are many similarities.

quote:
Originally posted by justbaseball & njbb :

Just got back from visiting our son for 5 days in Arizona. This is his 2nd Spring Training. Some general observations:

* Daily interaction at breakfast, lunch, weight room with big leaguers who are mostly quite encouraging and helpful.

** Mine has enjoyed standing right there at the batting cages while the big leaguers are taking bp. The Rays also hold an organizational wide banquet which was fun for all. They hold a talent contest and the winner gets $2100. For example, Evan Longoria played the drums in a makeshift band. The winner impersonated all the coaches including Joe Maddon.

*** A couple of his reported "awesome" experiences ... Three MLB pitchers who came up through the club's minor league system met with him and his teammates to share their experiences. Going out for an early morning jog and finding yourself running with Halliday!

* Daily worries about assignment (where am I going?)...on the minds of nearly every player in camp except for the established MLBer.

** I haven't sensed a daily worry in this regard. I would imagine there are bubble guys out there worrying but perhaps you have to be there like justbb to pick up on it.

*** Tension is always there. Made it through 2 of the 3 rounds of cuts but several of the friends he has made have not. In what was a crowded locker room now has 2 lockers to the right of him, 1 locker to the left, & 1 locker behind now empty ... daily reminders of how dreams can end quickly.

* No pay, just meal money. Did you know they raised that to $25/day this year? (Good news) Did you know that the "clubbie" raised the laundry/etc... fees by more than the $5/day raise from last year's meal money? (Bad news) Bottom line - less $$/day this year.

** Mine gets 20/day. I was not aware of clubbie fees.

*** No pay, no meal money (food provided by club at nearby restaurant), no clubhouse fees until assigned to a team.

* A chance occasionally...to sit on a big league bench for a game and maybe get into a game. Had dinner with a player who had made it into the game just that day...televised on WGN...and his parents saw him!

** My son's teammate who was a 9th rounder in 2008 appeared in a big league spring training game with the Reds and he called all his buddies to let them know.

*** someday Wink

* The every-10(or so)-day release/cut day. Handled differently by each team...but suddenly friends are gone. Plane ticket home by noon often. Sometimes/often not even a chance to say 'goodbye.'

** Very few cuts have happened with the Rays thus far. It appears they are going to do theirs in bulk at the end of camp.

*** Final round of cuts will happen in the next 6 days, just before teams leave spring training for their home town or first road trip.

* Minor league Spring games are quiet...very quiet...handful of parents/girlfriends hanging around along with the organizational people. Played on the back fields. To me, its a little stressful to watch...tension in the air. It seems everyone there knows what is on the line. Everyone is making their own calculations about where they fit, comparing notes. Player bonding is strong and supportive, but I also sensed it is cautious.

** This sounds about the same.

*** same. Very few parents/family, mostly local fans.

* Bed time is early! Full day of baseball...EVERY day...seemed to me like players are wiped out by 9:00 pm. Back up at 6:00 and at the field around 7:00. On a day where they get off early (lunch time), one of the last things they wanna do is trek over to a big league game...a break from baseball is needed!

** This is the same.

*** same. Up at 6am, grab breakfast and at the field by 7am, asleep by 10pm. A couple of rain days have been the only breaks, otw 7-days a week.

* At one point, I asked my son, "Ever feel like saying 'I've had enough of this?'" His response, "No way, I just wanna play more baseball...I just love it."

You gotta love it.

** Love it indeed!

*** ditto! Cool
Last edited by RHP05Parent
20dad20dad1,000+ posts
the clubbie thing reminds me of the scout that signed my son.

he told him things not to do, how to act, etc. one thing he said was don't leave your uni or towel on the floor for the clubbie to pick up. after awhile i asked about the clubbie thing, he said not a very fun thing picking up clothes for young ball player's. and you don't want to po the clubbie, he said you get to your locker for a game a your uni is hanging there nice and clean on a hanger...... soaking wet. don't po the clubbie. Wink

i smiled at that one.
justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
20dad - Good story! I'll 'share' another one.

Last year, clubbie with our son's team wanted his "tips" before doing his job. Son refused thinking of it more like the waiter at a restaurant, telling clubbie (effectively), 'I'll tip you what you deserve based on the job you do.' Bad idea!

Instead of inspiring the clubbie to do a good job, son got the dirty/holes-in-towel treatment until he learned to tip before the job was done.

But being the college graduate that he is, he figured it all out...eventually! Cool
Last edited by justbaseball
RHP05ParentRHP05Parent1,000+ posts
YoungGunDad -
These are the things we'll share online ... other stuff about the life can be not so nice when you start getting into some of the steamer side of players and their morals and what not. Now that I know what I know and thinking back to when my son was being recruited out of high school ... I just don't know how he would have handled this world at 17-18. I'm still very glad we pushed college as he's much better prepared to handle the real-life side of baseball. Now from a baseball development perspective ... well, we'll see.
YoungGunDadYoungGunDadHSBaseballWeb member since 2005
I can't help but often wonder how a young 18yr who has never been out of their on home town does after being recruited and goes off 1000 miles away to play ball. All of a sudden he finds himself with grown men who can drink, smoke, stay out all night, chase the skirts, etc. without having to answer to anyone when they come home. (you get the picture)

When I went off to the Marines at 18 and "wanted" to sow my wild oats, I knew each day that I had Uncle Sam to answer to (and a Master Gunnery Sergeant the next day) so it kept me in check!

YGD
itsinthegameitsinthegame5,000+ posts
YGD,

I spoke to him today and got his answers.

1) Best thing about spring training.

"Being back on the field and competing".

2) Worst thing about spring training.

"Feeling the rust and getting rid of it"

3) Biggest difference Yr 3 vs first year

"Every year is a bit different - but you have a better concept of the experience. You have a clue - as opposed to having no clue."


Needless to say - I dont think he will be writing a book any time soon - LOL. But I do know one thing - he wants the games to start and he wants to play. Now.
YoungGunDadYoungGunDadHSBaseballWeb member since 2005
I have come to really respect and appreciate over the years those players who play in the Milb. I can't imagine the intense desire, devotion, and dedication they must have each and every day they awake to try and make it to the show. How it must feel to see all these 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounders come in and "bump" them with the snap of a finger. How disheartening that must really be. How they have to take a deep breath, regroup, and pull themselves up again by their boot straps because that dream still exist in their heart.

Man, the determination these young men have is so impressive. One can only believe that when the end does finally appear to them in time that what they dealt with daily in Milb, how they handled it, etc. will catapult them in whatever career they choose.

My hat is off to them all.
itsinthegameitsinthegame5,000+ posts
OK - how cool is this!

I am watching the game's live stats tonight against the Yankees. Didnt even think he would get in.

D pinch runs for Vernon Wells in the 7th - with Mariano Rivera pitching - and Jeter at short.

I can't see the play by play - but somehow - he scored.

It aint much - but I still think it is cool that he was on base against Rivera and ran right by Jeter on his way home to the promised land. LOL
N njbb1,000+ posts
Mine signed out of HS and was across country away from home for the 1st time.

He was very lonely.. He had no transportation, lived in a motel with mostly latin players who he couldn't speak to.

Most of the players were his age, most of the coaches and the trainers lived in the motel and checked to see if they were in their room by 10 or 11.
He had would have had more freedom in college.

It is an adjustment for an 18 yr old...Heck my husband was in the Army at 18, was sent and fought in Vietnam and he felt bad for the boy Smile
YoungGunDadYoungGunDadHSBaseballWeb member since 2005
quote:


Originally posted by baseballguy:
njbb -
Maybe one of the lessons is for all hs baseball players to take Spanish as a requirement!



No kidding baseballguy!

My son took French (with Honors) in high school. I asked him why and he shrugged. I asked..."do you know how many French live here in Georgia? No where near as many as, um, Latinos!" lol.

Roll Eyes
justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by baseballguy:
njbb -
Maybe one of the lessons is for all hs baseball players to take Spanish as a requirement!


There is no doubt that as a pro baseball player you will have Latin teammates. Speaking Spanish breaks down barriers in the clubhouse and this is a VERY good thing. Requirement? I dunno. Great idea? Yup! Wink
Dad04Dad045,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by justbaseball:
quote:
Originally posted by baseballguy:
njbb -
Maybe one of the lessons is for all hs baseball players to take Spanish as a requirement!


There is no doubt that as a pro baseball player you will have Latin teammates. Speaking Spanish breaks down barriers in the clubhouse and this is a VERY good thing. Requirement? I dunno. Great idea? Yup! Wink


Son's friend is in the Blue Jay's system. He is bilingual, so he sits in the middle of the bus translating for the gringos on one end and the latin guys on the other end. Spanish hasn't hurt him, after 4 promotions. Neither has his 98 MPH heater.
Last edited by Dad04
jerseydadjerseydad1,000+ posts
Son took 3 years of HS Spanish. I asked him if he was able to use any of what he learned to communicate with the Latin players.

His response was the language they spoke was much different that what he had learned in school. While he can follow parts of what they are saying by no means could have a conversation with what he knows.

The words he needs to make sure he knows are are mi mala (my bad),bloque agradable (nice block) and buen trabajo (good job)... there are a lot of Latin catchers in the system Wink
Last edited by jerseydad
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
I know we are joking about it a little here, but I do indeed believe it would be an advantage for American players to learn to be bi-lingual. I took four years of Spanish in high school and it is a wonderful language. I have been thinking about getting my son the Rosetta Stone software (assuming he is open to the idea). Do any of you have experience with that product?
RHP05ParentRHP05Parent1,000+ posts
The Dominican Spanish he's hearing is a bit different than the classroom variety. He says he has no problem figuring out what some of the words mean! Wink A few seem to be repeated quite frequently Eek

Though I too encourage knowing more than one language, I've heard that many of the bilingual players get pretty tired of always being brought over to translate. Some won't admit they understand just so they won't be called upon. JMO but if the teams bring over non-English speaking players they really should make sure there are always translators available at all the levels.
Last edited by RHP05Parent
jerseydadjerseydad1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by RHP05Parent:
Whoopee! Survived the last round of cuts today. Son will be headed to Lakewood, NJ .... new logo for the season. Cool


Congrats to RHP05son. Looks like our boys may be facing each other this season. Jerseyson was assigned to the West Virgina Power which is in the same league as the Blue claws.
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