Road Blocking a Good Player.. Help!

Have him find a strong summer team which play in and do well in strong tournaments and attend some good showcases.

Hopefully he can still work on his catching skills during the school season.

I have limited experience but here’s my two cents:

I agree that exposure outside of high school is probably more important than what comes from the high school team.

(Background)
My son played the 2006 season with the varsity (bench warmer) as a sophomore pitcher (16 innings total for the season). He had a .88 ERA and threw 80ish and is a left hander. He had a 3 Ks to 1 BB ratio in those 16 innings. (I add this info to show he has potential and still didn’t see much field time, very political coach; he started 1 senior batting .100, over a .450 junior with equal or better defensive skills, in the state tournament) They also had one kid, who ended up as the 60th pick (last of the second round, who made a name for himself in East Cobb) in the MLB draft. 2006 was his senior year and the stands were always full of college and pro guys. So they will come if you’re good enough.

My son is on a lot of mailing lists this fall from schools all over the country. I attribute this to his solid performance at a couple of showcases; including 1 PG that I feel is the source of many of the contacts. He has also joined his first, for the lack of a better term, “Big Time” select team for the 2007 summer season. We feel lucky to have been asked to join this team because the coaches feel it is their job to get the kids to college and do a LOT to make it happen, including newsletters to college coaches, and this is even before the season starts. The head coach has college assistant experience and a lot of contacts so I feel that this is where the other contacts are coming from. (I also have to add, my son never played on any “big time” select/travel teams prior to this coming summer so he hadn’t been on the radar before last summer’s PG Showcase. Also, I’ve saved a lot of money by not spending those team fees till he was ready)

Bottom line: school ball performance is needed so the coach can supply his assessment of your skills and for any relationships he has with colleges, but a good summer coach may have more influence as well as contacts. What I've always heard I believe is true "make a name for yourself your junior year and perform your senior".

ILBaseball - I think this shouldn't be looked at as a roadblock at all! It gives him an opportunity to learn another position, to help his team, and to learn that you have to adapt in life! I disagree with the above that HS isn't important or that the coach doesn't have contacts. I've learned from HSBBW that this varies greatly from area to area. Around here, HS baseball is very much the big dog and the HS coaches are respected for their input. However, to me, this just means the HS coach should be able to speak up about the player and his ability as well as cooperativeness. All good things that should only enhance any opportunity for the future. Plus, college coaches know that sophomores that make varsity often have to play behind other kids.... sometimes junior year too. Plus, as you said, he'll still have opportunities to catch and keep working on those skills in his summer team.

Again, I don't see this as a roadblock at all.... just an opportunity to shine!

I've always told players they need to be able to play more than one spot. You can be the #2 in the state, but if #1 goes to the same school, you're on the bench. My son has always played MIF, but I've always had him do OF drills and he's even caught quite a bit just in case he ends up somewhere they don't need a SS.

Playing another position in HS is not going to be bad for him at all. At most, you're looking at ~20 games. As long as he is getting his AB's, he's in good shape. If nothing else, he may find out he's a heck of a 3B or SS. He'll get his innings behind the dish over the summer.

The other option is to do what I did with my son freshman year of Hs. I talked to the coach and said if he's not going to start on varsity, I want him on JV where he'll play and then they can call him up for the playoffs. Luckily for us it didn't come to that.

You can market your child yourself. Make of list of colleges your son in interested in. Call the coaches and tell them about your son. The coach will normally set up a try-out to get a look. Takes a little effort but worked for us.

quote:

Originally posted by ILBaseball10:
but the junior catcher may start junior-senior year because of politics.

We hear this so much on boards that I, for one, tend to dismiss it out of hand. It's so subjective. Specifically, what do you mean? How do we know the junior catcher just isn't better than your friend's son in the coach's eyes? Are you somehow more qualified to make that call? Is your friend just as upset about his as you? I'd suggest doing exactly what the coach wants him to do. Colleges, especially those handing out scholarships will place more value on a kid who plays more than one position. More bang for their buck. Summer teams, camps, showcases, these are all places to show off skills at a preferred position, and even then, more value will be placed on a kid who can play more than one position well.
Sorry for sounding like a jerk, because I know some will see this post as less than supportive, but this whole "because of politics" thing wears thin after a while. Unless you can be specific and somehow demonstrate political wrongdoing, I'm not buying it.

quote:

Second-Team All-District as a sophomore playing third base...as a junior he was a First-Team All-District selection as a catcher

ILBaseball10, there's a lot of roadblocks.

The question is, "Can you find another way?"

quote:

Originally posted by ILBaseball10:
Hello all,

My good friends son is sophomore (2009) and an extremely solid catcher. His son has a 2.0-2.1 pop time and a great bat. He played up on sophomores as a freshman while the sophomore starter was moved to varsity because of his good defense. As my friends son led the team in
many offesive categories, the varsity catcher didnt make much noise offensively but caught great. Word is this year they may move my friends son up to varsity as sophomore but to a different position, but the junior catcher may start junior-senior year because of politics.

I'm afraid this may hurt my buddies son for college because most offers are made Junior year and he wont start catching til senior year (he will most likely be at third soph-junior year) although he is a more valuable player than the other catcher. How can he still get offers for catching if he is playing third in his most important years..... Thank!!!!!!

I am amazed not one word was mentioned about your buddies son's grades, but more concern regarding not having significant playing time in HS.
I think (maybe)if most of our kids had to rely on what they did in HS, they wouldn't be in college.
Mine was not a starter in HS until his SENIOR year. Get on a good summer team, NLI is not signed until November of each year.

Pretty much the only players seen in HS are scouted by pros and then college is foregone conclusion anyway.

Like others said good summer and fall team and a well placed showcase or two - bingo.

We had a kid on our team, the worst coached HS team in america. Kid couldn't even make varsity as a pitcher until junior year (team wasn't good either) Junior year was unremarkable in results.

Kid and his Dad believed in his ability --spent to make it happen in summer fall etc.

Kid went to East Coast Pro, recruited heavily chose top flight SEC baseball school - hint (they've had best team results last three years). Did relatively nothing (good senior year but a little hurt) in HS compared to his summer/fall and showcase stuff.

HS means little if kid is a player.

One man's road block is another man's opportunity.

The kid (and his dad) can choose to have the perception that politics is playing a role, or choose to think more positively and take advantage of the opportunities that are there. We all choose our own perceptions and our responses to the perceptions.

And actually, high school means a heck of a lot if the kid is a player.

quote:

One man's road block is another man's opportunity.

The kid (and his dad) can choose to have the perception that politics is playing a role, or choose to think more positively and take advantage of the opportunities that are there. We all choose our own perceptions and our responsibilities to the perceptions.

And actually, high school means a heck of a lot if the kid is a player.

grateful - that was a classic post so I quoted the whole thing. And since it was so good, I have nothing further to add

No Worries!

Our Son has not caught an inning at his Highschool. Only got the chance to tryout for the position as a Freshman and not since. He has played three other positons for them. I do think it made him a stronger player. He probably will catch this (senior) year.

Anyway every College that has shown interest or made an offer was only interesting in his Catching ability. The interest came from Showcases and good competitive teams. Not the Highschool.

It can and does happen! He signed a NLI in November never catching an inning on the Varsity level.

Just tell your friend and his Son to find the most competitive team they can. Also to find some good showcases.

You can PM if you need anymore info on how our Son did it without any help of the Highschool.

The HS and summer seasons are both important. The summer season is where a player can make his mark outside his backyard and open more doors. I wouldn't minimize the HS season though. Baseball is a great game requiring the player to perform consistently, wherever that may be.

Being a summer stud and a springtime bust may send a red flag out there regarding a players makeup.

On the issue of a roadblock. Simple. Anyway to get your bat in the lineup is a good thing. Eventually, you have to be able to hit to advance.

quote:

Originally posted by OLDSLUGGER8:
The HS and summer seasons are both important. The summer season is where a player can make his mark outside his backyard and open more doors. I wouldn't minimize the HS season though. Baseball is a great game requiring the player to perform consistently, wherever that may be.

Being a summer stud and a springtime bust may send a red flag out there regarding a players makeup.

I think the makeup of a player that faces adversity and still has the drive to continue on is stronger than a player that hasn't. I know that is one the strongest part of our Son's game. His drive.

Sophomore starter at any position is a foot in the door that can not be ignored. It also can not be ignored that the player is good enough and flexible enough to play. I see it as a much bigger red flag that player offered chance to play at varsity level, opts too stay back, not interested in playing third, wants to be a catcher.

At our Son's school both he and the other catcher were very good hitters. Coach wanted both in the game at all times. So one had to be flexible enough to play somewhere else. In our case that was our son. The other player had little or no experience at any other position. Any coach must put the team before the player. It gave our son an opportunity to see the game from a different perspective.

Was it bad for him? No and it taught him the value of responsibility to the team. Politics is a fact of life and the sooner that is understood, the sooner the better. We as parents see things through parental glasses, which are often clouding our judgement

Did it affect him in a negative way. Who really knows? Hopefully the player accepts the positive and is motivated to do his best at all times.

If catching is his nitch, he should keep working on it in every way possible. That is what made our son stronger and the summer and fall results showed it. Could he have had more opportunities if he was behind the plate on his high school team? Who knows? But he was recruited and eventually signed as a catcher. What does that mean? It means he has that opportunity in college, but you know what, what happens if they want him to play somewhere else?

Ask Babe Ruth. He was the best pitcher the Red Sox had and all he became was the best home run hitter to ever play the game. When opportunity knocks!!!!!!!!

Ilbaseball10, you are getting some great advice here. Sue54, grateful, lafmom, and FormerObserver are right on in my opinion. Nothing new here. This is just the nature of the beast. Every player that takes a spot on the field has had to earn that spot. Every player has had to face the challenge of another player and has had to sway the opinion of coaches along the way. Politics? That is a catch-all phrase for and undefined challenge that can be overcome like any other challenge with talent and hard work. Sometimes I think we look for ways to fail rather than looking for ways to succeed. Your friend’s son may be a little better than the other catcher but he needs to make himself “more better” and his “problem” will disappear or at least be passed on to another player.
Fungo

PS: Traffic light are not "Stop Lights". They are "Go Lights" as much as they are "Stop Lights"!

Road Blocking a good player? Road Blocking a good player because he wants to put the best team on the field? Could it be that the coach is concerned about winning? Shouldnt the players be concerned with winning as well? Maybe the other catcher is adequate and the other kid helps out more being at 3B? How is that road blocking a player? Maybe we should let the parents tell the coaches where there kids need to play so they have the best chance to play at the next level. And if we have three catchers we can let them rotate and no one can play 3b because its not about winning its about making sure he gets seen at his best posistion right? Man Im sorry for the negative post but these attitudes are the reason kids are not team players. It starts at home and filters down to the kids. Play the game and be happy your in the line up. If he can hit that good he should hit even better not having to squat all day long. And if he can show that kind of quality bat they will find out he can catch sooner or later. Play the game to win the game let the other stuff work itself out. It always does. What would you have the coach do? Sit the upperclass catcher that has already proven that he is a quality catcher so the underclass guy can get looks? Yeah thats more important than putting the best team on the field. Think about it. Honestly think about this. What if your son was the upperclass catcher? What would you want the coach to do? Road Blocking. Players road block themselves by finding excuses. And parents road block players by giving them excuses.

C'mon Coach, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel.

Wow!

Lafmom and Tigerpaw Mom are right as usual...And Coach May! Makes me want to suit up and run through a wall... Two-way players are much more valuable to a college coach. Just shut up and play. Your time will come if you're good enough.

Let me see, so your son (I mean your friend's son) is a good young bat who is a victim of politics, but the other guy caught great?

I'm missing something here. Defense up the middle always trumps one guy's bat. If your guy hits .350, and the other guy hits .300, your guy gets 1 more hit every 20 at-bats. Not enough to make the change.

Thank you for all your responses, it has got me thinking how maybe playing third base won't be as bad for his son. I will show him this thanks to all who put your thoughts in. Thanks again!

hey what area are you from?

The only thing the player should worry about is where he is hitting in the lineup---where he plays in the field is inconsequential

Maybe your friends son is the next best option in the outfield for his team to be better. Even if he is a better catcher. Most likley the same will happen for the kid at college. Breaking into a lineup as a freshmen is tough. But if your good enough and athletic enough to play multiple positions it will only benefit the boy.

I have a kid last year experiencing this right now. He is a catcher at a D1 school and has a JR in front of him catching right now. He will most likely play right feild so his bat can stay in the lineup. Next year may be a different story.

Also needs to stay mentally ready to catch, you would be surprised the things that can happen in a season.

JMHO are 2 cent's.

If the coach asked me to play the second base Bag.
I'd run out there with a smile on my face and laydown.
But then I would ask the coach if I do good can I play Home Plate. LOL
EH

The kid who hits best plays as you move up, even at the catching position.