Parents of pitchers

I guess I'm pretty lucky. I've seen pretty much every pitch he's thrown! It hasn't changed since day 1. I'm the loud one.

When he takes the field I go to the outfield to watch. But I can tell during warm-ups if he's "on" or not. If he is it's easier. If he's not, I'm a wreck!

I should stay in the stands so that my voice can at least blend in a bit, but in the outfield it's just me, so.....

"You should enter a ballpark the way you enter a church." Bill -Spaceman- Lee

Finally, its been diagnoses PMS, yea I have it bad...never use to bother me but as I got older and my sons convictions and intentions still has strong as ever it get worse.

PSstaff, I have to agree, for the first time I had to listen to our sons team play a top 25 team I was a wreck the entire time. I knew he was going to be in first in relieve against a good top 25 team....and so he goes in bases load and no outs..I was a mess and in the bathroom, I heard the annoucer go on about the first pitcher and was waiting for it to happen...I don't have the stomach for it..my husband found it hilarous, very unsympathic..fortunately he did ok got out of that inning giving up no runs..but did give up a two run homer later..sigh but he wasn't walking everyone and was hitting the strike zone and they did go on about him hitting his spots and even said he did an assist with textbook execution...so I lived....but hearing his name over the radio and everything he was doing being disected was interesting in retro spect but not fun at the time.

Interesting enough the players bus drove home after that game about a 3 hr trip and about 1:30 I heard the front door and decided not to get up but our son start calling the cats rather loudly so I figured he wanted to talk so then got up. He talked my ear off was so excited about how well he did talking about his curve ball really being on etc and then his dad heard us and he got up andd told him how sick I was and my son could not even begin to understand it , like why you see me pitch all the time, I am the one out there and it doesn't bother me...yadayada yada....and I'm like you gave up a 2 run homer and I don't remember his exact comments but it was like he swung so it was a strike and he earned it, he was a good hitter(an all american I think he said) and really the pitch was high cause I was pitching around him and he got a hold of it he did his job and I did mine....

He has the mentality but I don't know if I have the stomach...But if I survive this season it will be a miracle

sampb

What I have learned is we all need to relax and enjoy the game. Sitting with scouts have taught me that one bad pitch does not matter. Yes it is hard when there is a error to extend a inning but I know that player is trying his best and errors happen. Plus his friends and family is sitting within earshot of you it doesnt do any good to say something rude because in the end you end up looking bad.The important thing is to take care of your sons arm , not to many pitches and ice after the game. Now that mine plays in the minors listening to the games over the internet is a lot harder than bieng there, the only good thing is no one can hear me yell when someone makes a error to extend the inning
good luck to all and enjoy the game because it goes by real fast !!!!!!!!!!

When my son was 10 yers old, a "friend" video tapped me pacing the sideline and generally acting like a dope. He played it back for me and I have sat in my chair and smoked my cigar ever since. I was soooo embarrassed, Thanks George!

the Florida Bombers
"I love the HSBBW"

quote:

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Originally posted by Bighit15:
When my son was 10 yers old, a "friend" video tapped me pacing the sideline and generally acting like a dope. He played it back for me and I have sat in my chair and smoked my cigar ever since. I was soooo embarrassed, Thanks George!

---

Nahhh.... save those worn-out tennis shoes as a "badge of honor".

justbaseball,

Have you heard the term PMS (of course I am referring to Pitcher's Mom Syndrome)? I have a very serious case of it...the dad's version would be PDS and I think it can be just as serious as the mom's malady. My husband's a pacer while I just sit and pray a lot.

I CANNOT sit right behind home plate when my son is pitching or I will be much more prone to question the home plate umpire's strike zone! I learned that it wasn't healthy for me to sit there a long time ago.

H-mom,

I can't wait to see you in action at OU! It won't be long now.



Ann

Funny thing-- watching my son play,he was an outfielder, especially when hitting I was not nervous at all-- he had such confidence in his ability it somehow wafted over on to me as I watched in serene contentment.

One picture I will always have in my mind-- the summer between his JR and SR HS years, him rounding first base with his lead off homer in a major tourney title game--he had two dingers in the semi fianl game and was 8 for 11 in the final three games-- I was down the right field line and as he rounded first he pulled an imaginary pistol from his hip and blew on it to cool it off all the while smiling at me with that super smile-- by the way he won MVP in the event and they won the title.

Coaching now that is another matter--- lets put it this way when I retired from running all the rec leagues in town they gave me a plague-- the two presenters--the refs who had given me my first and last technicals ---LOL--

TRhit

This has been one of the most enjoyable threads for me to read in a long time.

OH - I am so happy that I am not alone in these thoughts. This is good therapy for me. Yeah, I've got big-time PDS as OUBsbMom says.

________________
"Pitching is the art of instilling fear," Sandy Koufax.

Bighit,
Like to see that tape..........

Dad is a nervous wreck when our son pitches. He paces and usually walks away, coming back in between innings to check on things. I am much better than I used to be, I can sit and watch now, where I used to walk down the right or left field line. Now I keep score to calm my nerves. I don't yell at umpires, though I may mutter under my breath when they make a bad call on a pitch.

baseonballs50,

When our sons play each other we can pace together!

PS I burned the tape.

the Florida Bombers
"I love the HSBBW"

Having suffered from PMS for the past 8 years I concur with much that has been written. My pitcher has always had great poise on the mound and we never wanted to embarrass him.

Dad paces a bit but I could count on one hand the number of times he's actually said something that could be heard by anyone other than those sitting next to him.

I tend to sit very quietly and keep pitch
counts, locations and score. After the game I hand my notes to our pitcher -- hits, runs, walks, strike-outs, first pitch strikes. He may or may not read them.

I thought I was over much of my anxiety until his first college game that I saw (I missed his first appearance). I sat, frozen in the stands trying to breathe. Of course, I could tell that he was nervous too, but the other parents in the stands all commented on how much poise he showed. It's a Mom thing.

I just keep reminding myself -- breathe, it's only baseball, breathe, it's only baseball. He's having a great time -- I just need to remember that if he's learning, enjoying, and doing his best -- we're all getting a tremendous gift from this game of baseball.

And, (sorry to quote a politician) WE FEEL YOUR PAIN.

Say Hey!

TRHit writes:

One picture I will always have in my mind-- the summer between his JR and SR HS years, him rounding first base with his lead off homer in a major tourney title game--he had two dingers in the semi fianl game and was 8 for 11 in the final three games-- I was down the right field line and as he rounded first he pulled an imaginary pistol from his hip and blew on it to cool it off all the while smiling at me with that super smile-- by the way he won MVP in the event and they won the title


You were lucky that the guys from "throwing at batters post" were not there ;they would have stoned him to death with baseballs for that performance

Bighit,
It's a deal, my side or yours?

ROF, BOTH!

the Florida Bombers
"I love the HSBBW"

People whos sons do not pitch will never understand the anquish. I hate it when my son pitches. His primary posistion is catcher. But because he has a strong arm he has pitched AAU and in Middle School he is an 8th grader. I never get nervous when hes hitting or catching at all. He is so confident that I think it calms me. But when he's pitching I really dont even want to be at the game. I really dont enjoy it at all. I hope he never pitches in High School. But I have a feeling I better learn how to just chill. I'll be asking for some advice on this in a couple of years I'm sure.

I'm not sure if this is true for all; obviously, I am close with the parents of my son's teams, but there is a special bond of all parents whose son is a pitcher regardless if the parent is on your team or the opposing team.

If I know personally or if I find out the parent/s of the opposing team's pitcher, I always seem to seek them out after a game and something that amazes me is there must be a special markon a pitcher's parent because they sincerely thank you for your comments (as if you were on the same team)....and come to think of it...you are!

I second justbb's comment....let's have more of these type of threads as we wait for the games to start.
We had our first scrimmage yesterday. Son started the game and out came the seeds……….. PDS/PMS hasn't gotten any easier and it’s been nine years now since he was "called up" from LL coach-pitch to Farms at the age of 8 to pitch in his first game. We've learned to be pretty calm on the outside, but that's where it stops.

When my son was in HS whether he was pitching or not I tended to wander with a coke and fanny pack full of seeds. Most thought it was nerves, but it was always in search of the best spot to see the action. My son knew this and compared it to a "Find Waldo" poster. The ultimate situation, I was returning a couple of foul balls to the visitors dugout when my son made a great sliding catch ending up on the dugout steps for the third out. He looked up and saw me standing 4 feet away next to the opposing pitcher. I commented to the player that the catch was lucky, he responded "no, he's good". and walked out to the mound. I gave my son a wink and said, nice seat huh. He jogged away shaking his head.

PG and Fungo, the radio thing is so true. I had my first experience today in a 5-4 nailbiting loss at Arkansas State. the kid didn't get to mound, but, I felt so helpless in the pressbox 1000 miles away.

entered twice

I always tried to be a least where my son could see me if he wanted to look which was not often enough for me. One game he looked at me a few too many times and of course the questions came about if I was calling pitches from the outside. I could barely remember my name much less be able to call pitches because of how nervous I get when he pitches.

Great thread and I must say that the timing is uncanny.When my son was in little league I never worried when he pitched as it was all in fun.But the higher level he reaches the tighter I become. I actually thought it might become easier but not so far. Speaking of timing he got his first work at home today for a top 5 D1 school and when he trotted out of the bullpen I think my heart skipped a beat.But it helped that they had a big lead and I have huge confidence and respect(along with my son)in his pitching coach and seeing his dream become reality was a beautiful thing.

BIGSTIK,

C'mon, don't leave us hanging ... give us a little recap!

Braves -
I couldn't agree more with your comments about the 'fraternity' between pitcher parents. I've sat in the stands and watched pitchers by our team get rocked and felt horrible for them.

Two years ago, we won a HS game in the bottom of the 7th on an error and I found myself hugging the Mom of the losing pitcher -- somehow he didn't deserve to lose. But it's a pitcher's life -- sometimes you pitch great and lose, sometimes you *&^% and get the win. Frankly, I think won/loss doesn't tell much about a pitcher's effectiveness.

Our pitching coach is a former major leaguer. He tells a great story about giving up what could have been the winning run in the playoffs in the top of the 9th, only to have his team come back and win in the bottom of the 9th on an error. Some times -- you win when you don't deserve it and sometimes you lose and pitch your rear end off..... the life of a pitcher and Moms and Dads.

Best wishes for the coming season.

Mays

Say Hey!

My son's pitching never really bothered me until last year. He made the varsity team when he was a freshman. The first game of the season, he was the first pitcher. The batter of the opposing team was the best in the league. His very first pitch, the batter hit it over the centerfield fence. I felt so terrible for him. The whole year was a learning experience for him.
He did rise above it and this summer he became the only winning pitcher from his Legion's team in a playoff game.

Well just a follow up, my son has been doing all relieve work and when he come home Wed as I said previous his dad told him how bad I was listening to the announcer over the radio.....My son though he was being nice and didn't tell me he was going to start today..I found out yesterday when another player let it slip and when I asked why he didn't tell me he said he didn't want me to worry and to get a good night sleep....

sampb