Question about PO

A simple answer would be to have him go to the games in between when he pitches and cheer his teammates on, chart pitches, and generally help where needed. He would then feel more part of the team.

The decision on whether or not to be a PO or not is an individual one.
As far as being a PO and the difference in schedules and work routine, I encouraged mine to always be there to support his teammates and it was a great opportunity to learn how to become a leader both vocally and by example. The bonds he forms with the other pitchers is unique and they are often the ones who keep the team and dugout loose. They can relax more and have "fun" being cheerleaders for their teammates.

Been there and done that.  I have three pitchers in my house (currently eating me out of house and home!).  Frankly for my son(s) it was either a function of age an/or the talent level of their respective travel team. 

 

My two oldest played positions and pitched in high school because their high schools teams needed their glove, bat, and pitching.  My youngest son's high school team is loaded from 1 to 9 with little drop off, so he is a PO. 

 

On my oldest son's travel team, he was a PO and it was a tough adjustment at first.....but winning national tournaments has a way of helping to swallow that pill.   He did exactly as Birdman14 suggested...he took the pitching charts over and analyzed the heck out of them for the travel coaches.   But he knew his role, and he did it well.   He knows he would not have been recruited to play a position in college, but pitching was his ticket to college baseball.  He tried to learn everything (mechanics and physics) there is to know about pitching and then some.  I think if your son can understand where he will have the greatest impact now and possibly his best chance to play at the next level (if desirable) then he can justify it with his travel team.   If he's unhappy with being a PO, then he may have to think about it some more.

 

Good luck!

Depends on your son's reason for being on the team.

 

In my son's case it was an easy decision.  Travel coach made it very clear the roster spot he was offered was PO, and when we attended the first practice we saw why:  everyone else on the team was better than my son at every non-pitching baseball skill.  PO was his only avenue to play on the same field as those talented players.  (Golfball's son is one of those players, and we're rooting hard for him in Omaha!)

 

With the coach's support, we cut travel expenses by minimizing son's presence at out-of-town games, but he went to nearly all local area games to be part of the team.  

 

For your son, the decision might turn on his future in baseball.  If he aspires to play a position in college, he should be on a team where he can play a position.  If his future is as a pitcher, being a PO on a strong team that attracts college coaches and backs up its pitchers with great defense and run support is a good place to be.

 

This is a tough one.  My son was ask to PO for a top team between Junior and senior year.  They struggled hitting so halfway thru the summer he took his wood bat ask the coach to let him take BP hit 4 or 5 bombs and hit the rest of the summer As a DH.   he went to every game whether a PO or not.  it really depends on the kid and what he is comfortable with.  My son was ok being a PO until the team couldn't hit then he felt he could help them and he did.

Two comments above are on spot for me: 1. Being a PO may be only way to roster on a stud team.  2. While on said "stud team" get more exposure because of the 8 studs around you while on mound.  Those 8 studs need "PO-Studs" to come in, do their job, and help original 8 studs win.  As a wise baseball man once said, "Know what you do well, and do it."  If everyone does that, then you have a winning team.

 

My 6-5/180 RHP 2017 has recently found himself in this same boat.  Started as a freshman on his varsity high school at SS, CF, C, and on mound, all season. Not a strong team at all, but son enjoyed all the opportunity for PT and reps. 

 

Now playing first season with summer showcase ball on a HIGH caliber team coach pulled him aside during first weekend and told him that he would bat him at standard showcase tournaments, but come PG-WWBA type events he'd be a PO.  Son was taken aback.  He'd heard of the "PO Grim Reaper" before, we'd even talked about it, but I think he was taken off guard to suddenly hear it so soon?  "Soon" meaning as a rising sophomore.  We've talked already about it for college, he just didn't imagine the PO Grim Reaper would visit him in the middle of a game, in the dugout, as a 15yo?

I told him, "hey, you have two more weekends to show coach your batting potential.  Keep working at it. Make use of your ABs.  Show him what you've got."  Last weekend he went 3-6, with 3 doubles (one a walk-off) and a BB.  This weekend, last one before their big PG tournament, he is still batting #9.  Not a good sign he will be swinging the stick next week.  Did not make much noise this weekend with wood bat either so it does not look good for next week.  But I'm coming around to it, and beginning to understand the reasoning for the PO transition.

 

A true 6-5 (barefoot) and 180, it is clear my 15yo is destined for the mound.  He plays fist base but he is not a lefty, his bat has potential but is streaky, he runs a 7.3 which for a big guy is pretty good, but not enough to really want him on base paths.  So, why waste ABs on a kid who does not project as a Position Player?  Really makes no sense if you think about it?  At the showcase level.  Again, showcase coach said he can bat in standard showcase events but when it comes to the "Big" tournaments, coach said he will bat "best 9 bats."  Surely suggesting my son's bat was not one of them.  Which leads back to original quote at top.  Being a PO allows good pitchers to become better students of the game by charting pitches, being a #1 chatterer, doing GameChanger, being an assistant to the assistant coach, etc. 

 

Great topic.  Have enjoyed reading previous posts in archived forums on same topic.  A few years old but all relative and enlightening.   

Regardless of what position he plays he should be at every game.  He can participat in every game by being there to support his teammates. No wonder there is no bonding.

For most PO the decision doesn't always belong to them, so him thinking he would like to go back to hitting usually is not up to them.

 

I don't get the grim reaper thing, there are more opportunities in college and pro ball for pitchers than position players.  I do find that many parents have more trouble accepting it then the player.

 

Being a 2 way player IMO isn't always a good thing, pitchers and hitters need time to develop. Keep in mind that most pitchers were hitters at one time, and most likely in most cases the most athletic on the team.  If you trust those that you have placed your son with to play, they most likely  know what would work best for each individual player.

 

As a sophomore, they took the bat way from son, who was a bit upset, but he managed to find a way to find a happy medium. He was a pretty good hitter too, and played multiple positions.  He took batting practice at every practice. As a senior the coaches let him hit and pitch play first (not a lefty).  By that time he had almost a full scholarship to college.

My son became a PO for his summer team and played a position as well as pitched for his HS team. His future was a pitcher, so he and us were ok with it. Frankly was tougher on Mom and I only seeing him start once per weekend.