Pitcher Parents

HAHA - You have no idea!  My son has been his college teams closer for three seasons (he's a senior).  The absolute worst job in college sports is to be the closer's dad.  Long stretches of boredom followed by a few minutes of terror!  If he shuts 'em down, then he's done his job - no props deserved.  If he lets in a run then he's a complete goat, nothing but shame. I hate it….but I can't stop watching…. and I'm really going to miss it when its over next week.  

 

I heard his conference is finally saving an All-conference position for relievers since each team now has a primary closer.  Another good week (he has 5 wins and 2 saves in 14 appearances - never coming in before the 7th inning) and maybe he'll earn that spot.  I know I'm gonna cry when its over, but I'm always ready to scream in terror when they load up the bases in the eighth and he trots in from the bullpen.

I'm glad I am not alone...So funny but so true

Good stuff.

 

I think it is funny how different this all is for each parent or different parents.

 

I'm the exact opposite.  As my son is transitioning to a primary pitcher I am much more calm.  He is much more confident and in control on the mound than he ever was at the plate.  Like your son he has more succesful outings on the mound vs. ones where he struggles.  Between that and his confidence I generally think he has it under control. 

 

For some reason it is easier for me to deal with the occasional bad outing as a pitcher than it was for me to watch him struggle at the plate.  That really gets to me.  As he got older and I got wiser it went from "jeez why can't you get a hit" to "jeez I really feel for my kid right now". 

 

 

 

 

I think I need to drive down to Texas and spend a weekend with you for some therapy.

Welcome to the club!

 

Hitters add to their stats when good things happen.  Pitchers add to their stats when bad things happen, so their parents' stress doesn't end until the game is over and no more bad things can happen.

 

A position player can strike out four times and make two errors, but then get one seeing-eye hit in the last inning and go home the happy hero of the game.

 

A pitcher can throw a gem all day and then have it all fall apart with a walk, an error, and a bloop in the last inning.

 

Position players can make up for their mistakes with good plays later.  But when pitchers make mistakes, they get yanked.  No chance for redemption.  Just sit in the dugout with the tally of their mistakes illuminated on the scoreboard. 

 

And don't forget the weight of individual responsibility for the entire outcome of the game, even aspects the pitcher can't control.  If the crucial run scores against him, regardless of how it happens, then he alone of the whole team gets fingered in the box score as the loser.  None of the batters who didn't drive in or score runs are losers.  None of the fielders who didn't make plays are losers.  Only the pitcher.

 

Every pitch my son throws is like a guy trying to defuse a bomb by snipping wires.  Red?  No!  Green!  BOOM!  Everything he worked for all day can be destroyed at any instant.

 

And position player parents wonder why pitcher parents tend to wander off away from everybody and mutter to themselves?  

 

 

Dang you Swampboy!!! I have this together don't go ruining it for me

BucsFanSon is a PO for Summer/travel and is essentially a PO in HS as a sophomore (a little OF and 1B).  Boy, can I relate to the original post here.  I do all I can to not let him know the nerves I feel when he is on the mound.  It is nuts, and I am the first to admit it....I guess I'm ready for therapy now that I admit the problem exists!  He is in the regular rotation which is great for him but worse on me, because it starts for me early in the day when I know he is starting that night.  That he is relaxed and confident and loves being on the mound helps but not a ton.  Funny thing is I was a D1 PO myself and never saw this coming.  I knew as he was growing up and training to pitch I'd be anxious and nervous but to this degree..no way.  I rarely go behind the plate to watch his ball movement or check velo, because I feel like "it is written all over my face" and don't want him to catch a glimpse!  Of course, he tells me that he has no clue and nor does he care where watch from. 

Just to add one more option for anxiety:   when my kid was a pitcher, I never got too worked up; he usually did well. And if he didn't there was the offense or the pen to pick him up. Likewise on offense. But this year, his first in HS, he's mostly being used as a defensive replacement, and that makes me more nervous than I've ever been at a game. We had a 1-run game last week against #2 team in league where he entered in the fourth.  I think I was hyperventilating the whole rest of the game.

Well said.  And that green wire got everyone out in the previous 8 innings.

Swampboy, that's one of the funniest post I have ever read, but soooo true.  I as well am a nervous wreck, but I do think I like it better that he is in control.  It is up to him and he gets the credit or blame.  Maybe it will be a little easier if he makes it to college to get "lost in the crowd".  I dunno but it sure is a rollercoaster ride.

This,

My son is a starter for his D3 team. He has been in the conference rotation since a freshman. He is now a junior. This weekend we played a four games conference set. We took two out of 3. in those games we won the scores were 12-3, 10-1 and 14-0. The game we lost was 0-4. Guess who the pitcher was? It wouldn't of mattered if he held them to 1 run, he was still getting the loss.

I am acquainted with OH BB Mom's husband on another board. The only opportunity we had a chance to meet was a year ago when both our sons teams were in Florida. He wondered over to our field and realized my son was pitching. Son was pitching well but he still though better of trying to find me and strike up a conversation. His son is a pitcher as well and this being the first game of the season, he knew I would not be much of a conversationalist.

It is not just game to game it is inning to inning and batter to batter.   

I can certainly relate to this whole thing.  My son is a relief pitcher in a top 10 D2 program.  He's been pitching his whole baseball career, but I still get the nerves.  My wife is worse!!  Every time he doesn't throw a strike, she makes a comment and winces.  Haha.  At this point in the season, every win means something as we are battling for the conference championship and every time my son goes in to pitch, I am a nervous wreck as well.  You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but there I am doing what Swampboy posted up there.

 

Younggun, there is no getting lost in the crowd in college.  Hate to burst your bubble, but believe me, it is even more amplified.  In HS, most of our kids were the studs, so even if they had a bad outing, we knew they would be back out there.  In college, every kid was the stud in HS, so there is always someone waiting in the wings to get the innings if someone messes up.  

 

And yes, when you are hitting, there are 8 other guys to come to the rescue.  And there is plenty of time when others are doing the work.  Pitching, every single pitch has consequences.  Good and bad.  And you pray every pitch isn't the one that is going to get hit out of the park.  Or in the gap, with men on.  Or a bloop just over the infield to score a run.  Or a swinging bunt infield single. Or ..........  Need I say more?  

 

Believe me shortnquick, you are not alone!!!  I will be going to another game tomorrow.  I will be hoping that my son gets in.  I'll be keeping an eye on the bullpen to see if he is up and warming up.  I will be hoping that my 2 hour drive is not in vain and he doesn't get in.  But when he does get in, I will be sweating every pitch.  And when he gets through his time on the bump unscathed, I will breath a sigh of relief.  If he doesn't, well.......  Gotta live with it until next time and hope he proves his worth in that outing.

 

Ugh, the life of a pitcher's parent.  It's great and it stinks.  

Bballman, I was referring to ME getting "lost" in the crowd so maybe I can hide my nervous ticks. In HS everyone knows who kids are and who parents are. I can only imagine how much more magnified the college level is, especially on road games with the crazy students and such. We just better learn to enjoy the ride as much as possible.

Ah!  Another member of the club! 

 

I never felt the stress really until Opening Day of our older son's freshman college season when the starter loaded the bases with no outs and our boy got sent to warm up in the pen.  I did not anticipate one single bit the anxiety I would feel until that moment.  I never rooted so hard for my son to NOT get into the game than then. 

 

I've gotten better over the years with both sons.  Still, I can be cranky on the day of a start and a beer to go along with the game can help at least a little. 

" I never rooted so hard for my son to NOT get into the game than then."

 

Ah...Ha Ha Ha ..... Sooooo Understanding of that but that is the conflict ....you, probably like I, would then be disappointed if he did not get in. 

I thought I was the only one.