All of this talk of early bloomers is pretty crazy. Professional scouts are wrong, what, 95% of the time in picking Major Leaguers? People that think you can pick how a kid will turn out is very conceited. I doubt if Jimmy Rollins grew much after he hit 5'8" or Ecs after he hit 5'6" or Billy Wagner after he hit 5'9". Why do you think you can pick who will/will not have success at 11-12?
My son was 5'8" at twelve. In puberty. I am 5'10" and my wife is 5'7". He wasn't shaving or anything but he was the fastest kid, hardest throwing, and best hitting. Early bloomer? Waste of time?
Let me help you make your decision. He was 5'4" as a 10 year old. Fastest kid in the league. Swung for the fences, led the team in K's in batting and couldn't throw a strike to save his life.
My wife and I were the same height.
My wife and I were the same height.
I agree about the early bloomers. There is just no way to tell. And even if a young man stops at 5'9" or so...does that really mean that they will not play at the highest levels? There are too many "average" height players at every level...so the answer is clearly, "no".
I'm 5'10", my wife is 5'7". 27 shot up early and often as a little guy. Tallest kid on his 10U team, and tallest on his 13U team. We kept telling ourselves that he would stop soon. Being an "early bloomer" gave him a distinct advantage. He was 5'10" at 12 and throwing from a 45'-48' mound. People would say that his hand got to the batter before the ball did!
But, he was fortunate...he swam in the deep end of the gene pool
. At 15, and 6'4", he's probably pretty well done, vertically. Once he starts shaving and putting on weight, then we'll finally have an idea about height and weight. However, looking at my wife and I, you could never have foreseen that 27 would end up over 6' tall.
My uncle (no blood relation) was what you'd call a "very late" bloomer. He graduated from HS and entered the navy at 5'9". After basic, advanced, and one cruise, he came home for a visit. My grandfather barely recognized the 6'4" young man who stepped off of the plane.
Two very different paths to the same height. I would hazzard a guess that there are many incoming freshman who are on similar paths. And, if not...then the first paragraph still holds.
I'm 5'10", my wife is 5'7". 27 shot up early and often as a little guy. Tallest kid on his 10U team, and tallest on his 13U team. We kept telling ourselves that he would stop soon. Being an "early bloomer" gave him a distinct advantage. He was 5'10" at 12 and throwing from a 45'-48' mound. People would say that his hand got to the batter before the ball did!
But, he was fortunate...he swam in the deep end of the gene pool
. At 15, and 6'4", he's probably pretty well done, vertically. Once he starts shaving and putting on weight, then we'll finally have an idea about height and weight. However, looking at my wife and I, you could never have foreseen that 27 would end up over 6' tall. My uncle (no blood relation) was what you'd call a "very late" bloomer. He graduated from HS and entered the navy at 5'9". After basic, advanced, and one cruise, he came home for a visit. My grandfather barely recognized the 6'4" young man who stepped off of the plane.
Two very different paths to the same height. I would hazzard a guess that there are many incoming freshman who are on similar paths. And, if not...then the first paragraph still holds.
I said earlier that you really can't tell until about age 16. Your son makes my point. There are other tell tale signs besides height. How about an 11 y/0 who is pretty much furred out and shaving?
In any event, this horse is no longer twitching. I am not even sure what the points being made are. Generalities are full of exceptions.
In any event, this horse is no longer twitching. I am not even sure what the points being made are. Generalities are full of exceptions.
Well, as long as we're talking about horses, as a kid growing up we had up to 5 horses at a time and none were the same size! And none played travel baseball.Consequently, none made the varsity team...
My point was that what works for some may not for everyone, at least that's not how it played out around here. I also can't understand why some seem to be poking fun at kids who work on their skills at a young age when everyone "knows" that "superior talent" or "cream" will take over in high school. If that's the case, then maybe they should get in lots of games at a young age because it's the only baseball they'll get to be a part of. By the time they get to high school the superior gene producers will be looking down their noses at them as they tell them they're done fooling people.
My point was that what works for some may not for everyone, at least that's not how it played out around here. I also can't understand why some seem to be poking fun at kids who work on their skills at a young age when everyone "knows" that "superior talent" or "cream" will take over in high school. If that's the case, then maybe they should get in lots of games at a young age because it's the only baseball they'll get to be a part of. By the time they get to high school the superior gene producers will be looking down their noses at them as they tell them they're done fooling people.
Probably except for a few points.
1. Nobody can tell which kids will ultimately be the athletes and which will be the hangars on. So work hard and play hard and enjoy the game as long as you are able.
2. I do not remember reading anything on this string that would be consisdered belittling kids for playing the game.
3. Parents just need a wake up call that you cannot buy talent and you need to be ready to support your kid in the event the game tells him it is over.
4. Your sarcasm betrays your anger, perhaps generated by disappointment. Get that under control so you can be there for your son when the train stops.
1. Nobody can tell which kids will ultimately be the athletes and which will be the hangars on. So work hard and play hard and enjoy the game as long as you are able.
2. I do not remember reading anything on this string that would be consisdered belittling kids for playing the game.
3. Parents just need a wake up call that you cannot buy talent and you need to be ready to support your kid in the event the game tells him it is over.
4. Your sarcasm betrays your anger, perhaps generated by disappointment. Get that under control so you can be there for your son when the train stops.
quote:Originally posted by Daque:
4. Your sarcasm betrays your anger,
I've thought about it, and you're right. I have been a bit too sarcastic.
I apologize to those I've offended. But I'm not upset about or even worried about the "train stopping". Give me a break. If my boys both quit today, we would all be fine with it. We've had so much fun up to this point and they've both done far better than I ever imagined. The older one went to college on a scholarship and graduated with a degree in 4 years, the younger one looks like he has a chance to be better than the older son if he so chooses, if he does or decides to do something else with his life is fine with me.What was making me angry was how a few posters were acting as though what they were saying was straight from the Holy Baseball Guide and the rest of need to follow their way because it was the only way. People need to be aware that what works for some may not work for others. As many have brought out, rec ball is so different in different areas.
What people need to know is that the average boy can play varsity baseball and do very well if he's willing to work, and that can be in strong rec programs or travel. If he can work out on his own he could do it while playing in weak rec programs. Which ever way is chosen, the average boy needs to know that he needs to practice, probably a lot. There are plenty of superb athletes out there who can wake up, play any sport they want and dominate with one eye open. They're not average. Most of our kids are average whether we admit it or not. But it's still okay to out work some kid with more physical gifts and displace him at the high school level and beyond even if some here are saying that talent will win out. Supreme talent, sure. Just above average talent is not going to cut it if you're not willing to work.