Proving a point on the HSBBW

Fungo, good post

I should have been an NBA player. I'm 3" taller than Earl Boykins. Problem is my weight is more like a defensive lineman. And I haven't dribbled since my last dentist appointment.

That said, #1 CAN happen. The only way to know for sure is to try.

Frank, Your post made me choke on my fruit drink

quote:

And I haven't dribbled since my last dentist appointment.

Spilled my java juice, too.........

Fungo, A very good post. I think sometimes people do that sort of thing to be encouraging. If I want to share my 5'11", under 90 mph throwing son's dreams about his future, it feels good when I see an under six foot, under 90 throwing guy make it. I can believe he has a chance.

We all have dreams and fantasies about things. I don't think there's anything wrong with grasping on to those moments/stories that encourage and foster our dreams. Just have to keep a grasp on reality too... I guess it can be a fine line.

In order to find out if you are the 1 or the 10000, you still have to try!

For those that do make it against the odds, my guess is that they never doubted it the whole way.

"Walk Right In, Sit Right Down"



Walk right in, spit right down,
Franky let your drool hang down.
Walk right in, spit right down,
Franky let your drool hang down.
Everybody's hintin', 'bout Franky's way of spittin',
A better dribble you can not find.
Walk right in, spit right down.
Franky let your drool hang down.

The SS from Louisville, I wonder who gives him hope!

His most supportive fans of course!


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Please let it be known that I'm only a few inches taller than Louisville's SS Chris Cates...unfortunately I'm walking around with about fifty more of these than him...


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I should have known better than to ever sign up...

interesting post fungo .. ya did get me to thinkin',

but - as your post is only ONE example of that viewpoint, I must disregard it as you suggest

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The SS from Louisville, I wonder who gives him hope!

The shortstop from Louisville (Chris Cates) is 5'3" last time I checked. He played in one of our tournaments while in high school. Among many future first round picks and top high school prospects, we named Chris Cates the MVP of that event and it was very much deserved. What gives him hope is his amazing ability. He may be the exception when it comes to size, but he is also the exception when it comes to talent. It might not happen, but I, for one, would love to see him in the Major Leagues some day.

I saw Louisville play this year and the ability you speak of PG. He is a great "little" player that I suspect was passed over by larger DIs because of his size. He's a great example of what Fungo is speaking of too. Should all 5'3 (I was thinking he was 5'2!) SS think they have a chance because of Dad sharing about Cates?

No, of course not. They should be realistic and realize that the odds are stacked against them. However, they should know that if they have true talent, the lack of size won't hold them back... perhaps fewer opportunities, but they can overcome.

Well, to prove a point, maybe Chris will have the same experience as Dustin Pedroia. Have a terrific college career, get drafted, and end up a few inches taller on the pro roster than you were on the college roster.
Maybe it's the spikes????

I suppose they could add a few inches...

Not to worry, Frank F. You've still got potential on the court. Remember that Michael Jordan got cut from his high school basketball team!

Who says size matters?



Woody......thank you for sharing a family photo. By the way, can you tell from the picture, which one is me?

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I, for one, would love to see him in the Major Leagues some day.

Agree!

How true! I can honestly say I was never cut from ANY basketball team! Does it matter that I never went out for one?

Okay, enough hijacking Fungo's thread. I still believe people need to reach for the stars and yet somehow know when they are out of reach.

IMO, who's to say how long to keep the dream alive other than the individual. Look at all the "starving" artists, writers, actors, (fill in the blank), there are out there. As long as I don't have to foot their bill, they can persue it forever.

Fungo, I believe the Maddux-Eckstein example is given because it shows that (1) It Can Be Done. (pretty obvious, it has been done...by Maddux, Eckstein, Ozzie Smith, Feliciano, Stubby Clapp, Aaron Miles off the top of my head). That's always been one of my examples as to why baseball is the Perfect Game: doesn't hinge on body type.

If we encourage any young ballplayer at any level, are we not potentially giving false hope? Aren't the odds of going pro long, and making the major league club even longer?

What are parents/coaches of the under 6' player to do? "Sorry, kid, you're SOL. Might I suggest s****r?"

Young players naturally identify with those who hold their position in the majors, or those who fit their profile. And there are a heck of a lot more Ecksteinlike players out there than Randy Johnsonlike. Bringing up Our David isn't suggesting the path is easy, just that the path is possible.

I don't know that anyone is attempting to 'prove' a point with such examples; just keeping the door open.

And what purpose would naming the 10,000 Little Guys who didn't make it serve? Particularly considering there are also 10,000 over 6'-ers who thought they could make it and didn't either?


Frank, loved your take
Bee --- now THAT was funny.

All joking aside, the best example of a player in the modern era that fought these kind of odds was Fred Patek of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, and Anaheim Angels. Sorry halo fans, I'm not big on the "LAA" thing.

From Wikipedia………

Patek was a three-time All-Star, and at a height of five feet, five inches (by some accounts he was five-foot-four), was the shortest player of his time.

Patek made his major league debut in 1968 with the Pirates, but made a name for himself after he was traded in 1970 to Kansas City, where he would lead the league in triples in 1971 and stolen bases in 1973. Not normally a power hitter—he hit 41 home runs in 1,650 games over his career—Patek became the second shortstop, after Ernie Banks, to hit three home runs in a single game on June 20, 1980 while playing for the Angels. Patek was better known for his speed and his defensive abilities. Former manager Whitey Herzog called Patek the best artificial turf shortstop he ever managed, ranking him even higher than Ozzie Smith.

Patek retired after the 1981 season with a career batting average of .242.

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If we encourage any young ballplayer at any level, are we not potentially giving false hope? Aren't the odds of going pro long, and making the major league club even longer?

What are parents/coaches of the under 6' player to do? "Sorry, kid, you're SOL. Might I suggest s****r?"
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i don't think we encourage kids in sports so they will be pro players? we do it so they learn to love it like we did. that is why they go to school too.
if we were all scouts all our kids would be in the pro's. and we would make the same comparisions to size and ability as fungo said. when the scout say's i like you.you remind me of Maddux or Eckstien then that means something. we all wear parent goggles from time to time, that's ok from time to time. we should just keep it to ourselves most of the time. imho

Sorry, 20Dad, I should have been clearer in my most. I was assuming that Fungo was referring to encouraging the dream of Going Pro because pro players' names were invoked. Of course, encouraging kids to play ball for the game itself is much more important. But play at the school-travel team level is not discouraged because of size the way it gets to be at the D1 & pro levels.

And Eddie, Whitey would rank Patek above Our Ozzie; they didn't get along. Boy, can those two hold grudges!

I like much of what Orlando said. I truly believe you encourage your kids to play for as long as they want to, and enjoy, playing...but keep them grounded, regardless if the ability or body size. Make sure they understand that they were given gifts and should use them, but play with humility.

If you are successful in doing that, your player (and his talents) will find his ceiling on his own. If you were able to keep him grounded, he will deal with his last game with class and move into the next phase without any regrets. Telling him he won't be a pro player serves no purpose...he will figure that out on his own as well.

Orlando.....

I guess Whitey and Ozzie don't get the picture.

quote:

Originally posted by Fungo:
Ever notice how some posters tend to use ONE example to prove a point.

The reason is that they are typically citing the statistically accepted measurables as the gospel; you need to be >6' tall....throwing harder than 90......running faster than 4.0.... or whatever. Obviously there are many, many examples of those who have made it without THE stats but most likely due to other reasons that can't be measured; heart, determination, persistance, connections, etc.

"Woody......thank you for sharing a family photo. By the way, can you tell from the picture, which one is me?"

I recall you telling me about this particular family reunion Eddie G.....it was 1978 in Chula Vista...the whole clan rented a FotoMart for all of the weekend's festivities. If I remember right you aren't in the picture...you snapped the photo.

While I wouldn't use ONE example to prove a point, I would use ONE example to ENCOURAGE a player.

Not everyone is going to make the middle school team, or the HS team or a college team. Then even if they do, they are not necessarily going to be a starter.

Sometimes I think WE parents get too caught up in that, when the KIDS know who is going to play and the KIDS make their decision as to whether to stick it out and hope for their shot.

I use MY kid as an example.... didn't make 7th grade middle school, did in 8th, but hardly played, made the HS team on the coat tails of his brother, hardly played as a Freshman on JV, played alot as a soph, was 7-1 on JV, hardly played JR or SR yr of HS (lots of good pitching ahead and behind him)

Per HSBBWEB, wrote the letters, went to the tryouts, found a place on a JR college, was going to redshirt.... I.E. coach didn't see much in his 82-84 fastball, then GOT a SHOT, made the most of it, became a starter, and now is playing at a 4 yr school now, happy, going to get his BA degree (something most teachers would not believe).

He has been compared to Maddux,(lightly and yeah WE KNEW) as he is a finese pitcher. Will he go on from college? Very doubtful. Is it HIS DREAM? Absolutly, yet he will have his degree, he has kept his head on straight, makes grades, works hard.

IF NOT FOR BASEBALL? I have no idea. I just thank the Lord for BASEBALL, and for HSBASEBALLWEB.COM!

great story, '02^04Mom!