PD and others....

The biggest difference I notice between college and HS baseball is.....

The parents don't make as much noise.

quote:

Originally posted by Danny Boydston:
Just curious what the boys have told you about their first experience at the collegiate level. Although it was just the Fall and the real test is coming up, what were the differences they noticed between high school and college.

As I stated last year, the biggest difference we noticed were how much bigger some of the kids were, and it seemed like every ball hit whether it be foul, an out, or a base hit, they were hit hard.

Also, when you go to places like Baylor, Texas and A&M, the hecklers are pretty vocal.

Biggest difference so far is level of commitment it takes to be an athlete in college. When fall ball started in mid September, he would have 15 to 16 hour days of school and athletics (baseball and conditioning). Only night he went out was Saturday, Friday nights he was in bed my 10 PM.

My son spent a lot of time over the holidays working with a minor league ballplayer. One thing this young man told my son was, "you have to love the grind". College athletics is a grind. Many Freshman spend a lot of time working to transition and improve at the college level. For many their playing time will be after their Freshman year.

quote:

The biggest difference I notice between college and HS baseball is.....

The parents don't make as much noise.

Kirk - I will be looking forward to that...lol

PS III loves Mizzou. He does not complain about the work or the hours. He believes his old man is on a "need-to-know" basis....and, at this point, I just don't need to know much. From my perspective -- and I know many here will disagree -- I feel like as long as I pay for it, I want to know more. But, it's going good. His team was 100% intrasquad this fall, so the hecklers will come soon enough. Ken is right -- most of the parents are on the outside, looking in -- and that's the way it should be, I suppose.

My only fear for these guys is that they have a tendency to put all of their eggs in the baseball basket. He did fine academically, but the work load was not exactly strenuous. It was one semester....the school work will get tougher. It takes tremendous commitment to play college sports. For baseball, it is particularly hard because the guys cannot work and it is difficult to take classes in the summer. It is a year-round job that takes ongoing passion and love for the game. Most 19-21 yr olds don't like to ask mom and dad for money (although mine is refining the art).....I suppose that's a drawback to the never-ending grind.

This semester will be challenging with the travel, school and baseball pressures, not being able to come home, added competition, etc. Maybe I'll blog a bit for the benefit of the parents that follow. In any case, it is his chosen path for now.....and God continues to bless him with open doors. Stay tuned.



Oh -- and YES! DB -- the mistakes get hit -- HARD! It's a challenge to get outs with good pitches, let alone balls up, with little movement.

PD,

Two things- My son is still on a "need to know" basis. If I don't call and ask, I probably get a call with a recap of the season (maybe).

Money wise, the young one has a debit card with my name on it. He never has to call and ask for money, it's just my bank calling telling me I need to put more money in there.

Ken, to be honest, I don't ever recall a parent yelling at the coach, the umpire or the opposing team once last year.

The only thing my son found tough was missing classes in the spring. His GPA usually dropped a point or 2 in the spring semester. He loaded up his fall semester this fall and tried to avoid Friday classes.
Told me Florida State was the noisiest jeering crowd and team he has faced in 3 years.

quote:

Originally posted by dadto7:
Ken
Your comment hit home with me because recently I have made "noise" at our HS for the first time. I did so in belief that I am doing whats best for my son. Being at a small school (2A) he is depended on as one of their best pitchers. Last year he had serious arm fatigue when summer started. On one occasion the HS coach pitched him over 120 pitches and he started 9 games and appeared in others. The thing is he is an infielder that was lucky enough to be recruited early and he signed a great scholarship with a D1 program. He has never pitched in his summer program-his mechanics are less than desirable but he has not pursued pitching knowing he is an infielder/hitter. This may be the root of the arm fatigue.
I recently asked the coach to reduce his role as pitcher explaining his scholarship was for his defense and bat. He would not compromise at all!!

I'd love to comment, but surely it would distract from the topic at hand.

New Year's Resolutions regards,

Ken, go ahead.

Since I was the topic starter, I will allow you one of these.

Sorry DB, I deleted the post. Not trying to hijack, I just saw the connection on the future.

Ken,
Your thoughts would be appreciated on PM. I am a Northwood fan, waterfowler ( just returned today ), and I collect bullpen catcher baseball cards.

dad, no problem. Deleting the post wasn't necessary.
I saw the connection and have (or had) no problem with it.

I'm probably one of the worst hijackers around!

quote:

Originally posted by dadto7:
Sorry DB, I deleted the post. Not trying to hijack, I just saw the connection on the future.

Ken,
Your thoughts would be appreciated on PM. I am a Northwood fan, waterfowler ( just returned today ), and I collect bullpen catcher baseball cards.

Well if you would have said you collect minor league baseball cards I would have taken the time.

Unfortunately, our interests are too far apart.

Fun, ain't it?

yep! (so far)