Right Place at the Right Time

As usual, you are dead-on. I always told my wife that it would come down to our son being seen, "at the right place, at the right time, by the right coach, with the right need." That is exactly what happened with the school he is likely to attend. It certainly is NOT about luck, but it was about getting him the exposure opportunities and HIM making the showing.

Fungo, Interesting thoughts. I have used this expression myself on many occasions. However, I had a college coach in the fall of '04 tell me that he didn't believe in luck. I thought about that statement for quite some time. I decided that I agreed with him. I think most of us "make" our luck. This is accomplished through hard work and effort, education/intelligence, and on occasion taking a risk that we wouldn't normally take. As a person of deep spiritual faith, I also believe that divine intervention plays a part.

I think any one would be foolish to depend on "luck" regarding something as important as a college scholarship. While many of us use that term, our success is really due to one or all of the things listed above.

I would advise any player and parent to concentrate on skills, attitude, and making good life choices. Those things combined will alone put you around the people that can help in many ways. Then take opportunity to "showcase" those attributes.

I totally disagree.

It is folly to think that it's all about luck and to sit back and let things happen. With that part I do agree.

There is indeed a lot you can do to INCREASE your odds of being in the right place at the right time.

But there is ALWAYS some amount of luck involved.

Things happen which you have no control over - and cannot plan for.

Coaches can have emergencies, scouts can get sick and both can miss your performance at the place you anticipated being seen.

On the flip side, coaches and scouts can stop by to watch their cousins son play, not even knowing you are on the opposing team, only to be blown away by your performance.

That is luck. Never underestimate the power of a lucky day.

AParent - In my mind (dangerous place to be sometimes) - it's almost thinking of the chicken or the egg. While I understand the thinking of the scout that "happened" to be at a game as "luck". Why was the player at the game to begin with? How did he get that far? It's a matter of how you view that situation IMO. I completely understand where you're coming from with your thoughts. I think the situation you describe would probably be where I would give the "divine intervention" I referred to, some credit also.

Chineese Definition of "Luck" =
When preparation meets opportunity!
We DO make our own luck.
Steve

Yes in a sense we do make our own "LUCK" but the player still needs to be at the right place at the right time. That means playing for a team that f=gets seen every year ; attending showcases where the colleges you have an interest in will be attending; having a travel team coach who makes sure that the colleges get to see his players.

Yes there is luck involved but the path has to be paved prior to it all happenening. The player needs to put himself in the position so that the "right place at the right time " can occur.

The number 1 way to get seen by the college of your choice is to attend camp at those schools.

#2....Tie between showcases (PG,etc.) and top travel teams that will allow a player to play in front of the same recruiting coaches.

There is no guarantee that you'll be seen by the recruiter of your choice at a showcase or tournament. Even at the MLB showcase in Wilmington some of the very best program's do not attend!

soxnole

What we do for the kids is furnish each confirmed player with two postcards so that they can send notice to the schools that they they have an interest in.

This was worked well for us and in many cases the coach will call or email us to get more information on the player before he comes to see him in action.

There is some luck involved in every aspect of our lives. We have been "lucky" to have ended up with the best coaches (until last summer)thru Little League, AAU, Dixie Youth; going to a non-baseball high school only to find that they hired a great young coach the year my son started there; finding our dream house, only to learn they had reduced the price 5K the day before; son throwing 86 mph at a camp in Nov., then making the Junior Olympics with a 92 mph fastball 6 months later AND having the right people there to see him as he had blown a save in a horrendous performance the night before.I could go on, but as stated in an earlier post, we make our own luck by preparing ourselves and our family to provide every possible opportunity to allow them to succeed daily. I will never win a lottery because my "luck" is my daily blessings that I thank the Good Lord for daily!!

Sorry, if this is a bit off the topic.

I’m not so sure that luck plays a big part in being recruiting or being drafted, but I for one am a BIG believer in LUCK in baseball.

This topic could cause some very interesting discussion.

Not sure that anyone believes the old “rather be lucky than good” thing people say. However, nothing wrong with being good and lucky!

Year’s ago as a coach, I wrote a fairly lengthy playbook. One of the key points in this playbook was what I believe to be the “only” 4 ingredients in winning. All other things that pertain to winning, fall under one of the 4 following categories.

1. Talent
2. Effort
3. Intelligence
4. Luck

I know this probably doesn’t have much to do with what “Fungo” posted, but I think it’s a simple approach that can help young players and coaches be successful. Of course, each of these ingredients needs to be broken down and understood.

To look at it as simply winning or losing the next game… We all understand that the team with the most talent will always be the favorite to win. We also know that often that doesn’t happen. The other three ingredients can and sometimes do win the game against superior talent. Sometimes luck does play a role when this happens.

We always looked at umpiring calls (good or bad) as being nothing more than luck (good or bad). Funny how when a bad hop loses the game, people think it’s bad luck. When a bad call loses the game, some people think the umpire should be lynched. To us they were much the same… just bad luck! (that is as long as that bad luck wasn’t handed out on purpose)

The reason this stuff was so important to me was because it allowed our players who really wanted to win (that was all of them) the understanding of how important #2 and #3 are. There were 2 of the 4 ingredients required to win that we could completely control.

Our goal was to be confident that we were the team that had the most of #2 and #3 every single time we showed up for a game. This confidence was very real and valuable. This often would create more than our fair share of luck, too.

And as individuals once a player understands the importance and true meaning of effort and intelligence, they will also increase their talent.

It is not as easy as it sounds to fully understand all the things that go into effort and intelligence. Each word could include hundreds of things that are important. Effort is not simply “hustling”. Intelligence is not simply “thinking”.

I suppose some will laugh at this seemingly stupid approach, but it worked very well for many years.

Some very good points PG!

Example:

Kid gets invited to big showcase - 2 weeks prior to the event - he gets injured. Cant attend showcase.

That is bad luck IMO.

IMO - You may not need good luck - but you definitely dont want bad luck as you go through the process.

I think luck has little to do with a player's success or lack thereof. Most everything that happens in their season can be attributed much more to preperation and attention to details than to luck.

I've always told our players that an umpire's call, good or bad, shouldn't influence the outcome of our games. If it is close enough that something out of our control can decide the final score, then we didnt' do enough on our part to take "luck" out of the equation. The same goes with a bad hop, we shouldn't be in a close enough game to have that determine the outcome very often. If those things determine the final outcome, we didn't do enough to deserve to win. I agree with PGstaff about both of those things being examples of bad luck, but I also beleive we should do everything we can ahead of time to remove luck from being a deciding factor in our affairs. Of course, we lose our share of games like any other team, but we try to take care of the small details that often can decide who gets lucky and who doesn't. I'd much rather lose a game because we were soundly beaten on the field than lose a game due to "luck". We can work on the reasons for being beaten.

Unspectacular preparation often leads to spectacular success, and coincidentally, tends to make those who took the time to prepare look lucky in their success.

IMHO - there was luck involved in our case. We were completely unaware of the showcase circuit or at least the value of attending them. We received brochures on many of them but were not aware this was a major vehicle for getting to the next level. Our hs coach advised us to wait until the spring of senior year to see what offers we would get. We didn't know any better and figured he was the expert. I clearly see things differently now.

Where luck came in somewhat with my son was that he managed to play on some high-powered high school teams and thus, managed to get his exposure that way. Of course, without the talent he doesn't play on those teams. However, if those teams were no good, he would have gotten very little exposure. His current college, he was spotted by assistant who decided at the last minute to stop at the Caba WS tournament in Cleveland on his way from Chicago. He just happened to watch my son's game and my son must have done something to catch his eye. He appraoched his hs coach after the game and frankly we had never heard of them before. After some Internet research, we pretty much recruited them from that point on. You must have the underlying talent, no dispute there, but luck can and often does play a role.

I have to agree with you Cleveland. It can also be luck that he had a game he could show his stuff well. Pitchers especially don't always have their A game on the day the great opportunity presents its self.
I was taping my son who had just gone in to close 1 2/3 innings with one out and bases loaded top of the order with a 4 run lead.
There was a scout there and I recorded his phone call. I heard him talking to a member of his staff about one of our players. This player was having the best day I have ever seen him have. The coach was hot after him. He signed and was hitting 125 all fall. He was lucky that scout saw his best game. He had absolutely no schools interested.

People who support my son are saying he signed D1 because of his ability. People who are envious of his success are saying he just got lucky.
I'd have to say that you bring the ability into the lucky situations. Its up to the player to make the most of his opportunities (you could call these moments luck). If you don't do well when the moment occurs, no amount of luck will get you through.

IMHO you can't believe in God and in "luck" at the same time. Either you believe that the result of the choices you make are due to chance or are part of a divine plan for your life.

For me "being at the right place at the right time" means you work hard to develop your God given talents, seek divine direction in how best to use those talents, and then respond to opportunities that God puts in front of you.

Whether or not it was luck or fate - it played a part in my son's story. He was all set to attend a showcase tournament in August. His HS Legion team then proceeded to upset the competition and advance to the state tournament. We were proud of him for making the decision to stick with his team; but a bit sick over the showcase opportunity he was going to miss.

s it turned out - he ended up signing with a school who attended the Legion tournament (primarily to watch a different player). This school was not in his top two at the time - but he loved it at his official visit in the fall. Luck or divine intervention? - IDK. Hard work and talent had him pitching well in the finals of the state tourney; something else helped it all fall into place.

AMEN Brother.

Being lucky includes making the most impressive defensive play of your life at a national showcase vs. making it at a Saturday pick up game with only friends watching.

Many successful people like to think it was all due to their own hard work and effort. Ironically they don't consider things like being born with a 6'2" athletic frame, or a strong arm to figure into the equation.

Many unsuccessful people like to blame bad luck. Ironically they don't consider things like not working in the off season, and not attending showcases to figure into the equation.

Counting on luck to provide for your success is totally nuts. Admitting on occasion that luck did play some role in your success is humbling.

I believe that "luck" is synonymous with "Divine Providence"--and that things work out for a reason...maybe not what WE have in mind at the time....


But I also believe that luck is very much a part of the baseball recruiting process...or is it Divine Providence?

Two summers ago, my son played in the CABA World Series in Euclid. Just prior to the game against Bergen Beach, where there were lots of scouts, he got hurt and just flat-out couldn't play. In a rematch with Bergen Beach, he got a double off one of their stud pitchers, but the scout for the school that he was interested in was in the bathroom. Luck? It wasn't meant to be.

But luck, or is it Divine Providence, played a part in where he is now. And all's well that end's well. I hope.

Timing is everything.

How about this for luck.

You all remember when Randy Johnson was pitching - and he hit the bird with a 98 mph fastball.

That poor little bird - worked very hard at learning how to fly - was watching a good ball game and not bothering anybody - and then - BAM - bird gets hit with a Randy Johnson heater.

End of bird.

That is bad luck in my book.

itsinthegame:

But on the other hand...with a little Bearnaise sauce...

The better the player the more luck he has. The better my players are the more luck we have as a team. I have always felt that the kids that have the most luck are the ones that invest the most in the game. Sometimes you think you are unlucky because you have a bad game or a bad year. But then because of that you work even harder in the off season and you appreciate the success you have in the game even more. And all of a sudden you are a better player for it. Is that luck? Some kids seem to be in the right place at the right time during a game. They seem to do this all the time. Is that luck? Or is it instincts? Or is it focus? I have always felt that the statement You have to be in the right place at the right time is something used by people looking for an excuse. I have never heard a kid that has worked his butt off at the game and had success say "Yeah I got the scholley because I was at the right place at the right time". I have heard a ton of kids say this that ended up hanging them up after hs. YOU can put yourself in the right places. Its up to you to prepare yourself for the moments that you are there. I happen to believe that the right place at the right time is at the cage when everyone else is chilling out. Running those hills when everyone else has found something better to do. ETC ETC. Those kids seem to be in the right place at the right time. And they seem to have more luck. JMHO

This is a great thread....and I agree with a lot of what has been posted.

We call it "insurance".... Son would always put in extra work to earn extra credits on those special projects.....some classes he had over 100%...but then..... when bad luck hit....like in mono....he was okay and managed to keep his GPA up.

He worked as hard as he possibly could at baseball.....but did the extra....showcase, travel teams.....and then the time when he shows up at his one and only PG event, after spending most of the previous night in ER (allergic reaction)....bad luck again....well you hope that the other times he worked hard will make up for it all.....

Think it's a lot of work and a little luck.....and making sure you do as much as you can......insurance......

lafmom, Liberty and play baseball,

I believe things happen for a reason (even if we don't know what that reason is). How we react to those things will dictate how we grow and live our lives.

Baseball wise, yes, I've seen plenty of bounces that most would call either lucky or unlucky. Tony C of the Red Sox had an incident that still gets to me this day. Simply tragic. Don't ask me to explain it. I can't. One of Dan Quisenberry's quotes towards the end of his life still stick with me. Here is a short bio in his own words:Dan Quisenberry-In His Own Words

I was more upset for my son last spring than he was. (For those that don't know, he was projected to possibly be a top 10 round draft pick after his summer at the Cape. Disapointing spring season and his asking price dropped him to late rounds.) Can't explain it. Maybe it is a growing process that we both needed. (I say "we" because he is very much a part of my life.) How is it going to end up? Who knows? Playing pro baseball is still his goal. Time will tell. I'd like to think he is a stronger person for how it's playing out.

JMHO. Peace.

FrankF....lafmom, Liberty, Playbaseball...and your's too.....great posts....and Zola's quote....it's going up on the regrigerator door....(my way on conveying good words to son....and he doesn't think I'm lecturing!) Thank you

"Tony C of the Red Sox had an incident that still gets to me this day. Simply tragic."

FrankF:

I remember that tragic incident. August, 1967. The American League pennant race was VERY TIGHT between the White Sox, the Red Sox, the Twins and I forgot the other team; the excitement of Carl Yaztremski becoming a Triple Crown winner and all...and then Tony got smacked...and the pennant race didn't seem quite so important, after all...May Tony rest in peace....

I agree with you--things do happen for a reason. We just don't know what the reason is, and we may never know, or maybe YEARS later, after we forgot about it, something will occur and we are transformed to many years earlier and we go "Ah HA!"

I didn't know about your son, thank you for telling me. I'm sure things will work out for him. And you! I truly believe that you will someday know the reason for his current set of experiences. Good Luck! Keep us posted on his progress!

By the way, I read some of Dan Q's poetry...wow. That's some heavy stuff. Good stuff, but heavy. Thanks.

Luck favors the prepared mind. As for bad luck, we don't have many sayings about that other than, I don't want to be there when it happens.

Coachric,

I think the bird that got beaned by Randy Johnson felt the same way.

Right place at the Right time, or Good Luck. I'm not sure the Mother meant it that way.
I think She was saying that if the right person at the right time and the right place saw here Son in the best of conditions
That it would be good luck.

Let me tell you about the Wrong place at the Wrong time and the Worst of luck!
A Coworkers Son, who happened to be a very good ballplayer in the Bay Area, A Two time All League SS in a very Tough league, 2005 grad. also Played football at West Valley JC, and was getting ready for the baseball season.
Was gunned down in a drive by shooting at a party after Thanksgiving.
And my Heart is just filled with so much sorrow for his Family!

His Name Was Micheal DeJesus, and he will be surely missed.
We Are better to have known him. God bless you Micheal.

EH,

That is a very sad story.

I think that for the folks whose kids have had success - in many cases - on a straight line - it is easy to say that luck has nothing to do with it. It is a badge of honor - so to speak.

We all know that without hard work - and mental and physical discipline and toughness - and desire - you probably wont be successful. That is no great revelation IMO.

But there are many folks whose kids have all those attributes - and then have horrible luck.
Bad things happen to them for which they have no responsibility.

They just - unfortunately - happen.

In some cases - as you mentioned - severe and very sad horrible luck.

Thanks for sharing your story.

Thank you for reading it. It kind of puts life in perpective.
I did not want to make it a downer post.
But I wanted Micheal to be remembered as a player that was full of Energy, With lots of friends.
And the posts about good luck, bad luck just hit me that way.

They say that Energy is never lost it is just transformed.
Micheal Dejesus was pure Energy.

EH...you didn't make it a downer for me.....more a reminder......to be so very thankful for what I have....my prayers tonight will be for Micheal's family.....I cannot imagine their pain.....I'm so very sorry.