Roller Coaster Ride

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
Now that he is on the team yet sitting on the bench, I have focused on all the virtues of his current development and situation. He is now seeing live college pitching during the week and getting his regular turns in practice and before games - which he was not getting while redshirting. He just needs to climb the next hurdle and get into the games.

For what it's worth.....I know a certain 13 yr old who would worship the ground TB walks on if he ever had the chance to meet him. It doesn't get TB any more game time, but maybe it'll make the bench feel a tad more comfy.

His time will come. Just like many have to wait for their shot in HS, college is SOOOO much tougher and just the fact that he's getting chances here and there as a freshman, it's very promising.

luvbb,
sorry I took me so long . . . but, you could'a could be my wife posting . . .
I was just going to say that Orioles pretty much has a grasp on things,
BUT . . . also - "STEP BACK" .. just allow yourself to see the "bigger picture" . . .
like . . . your SON becoming a MAN

when you're too close things are magnified - -
(ie: the Grand Canyon is AWSOME standing on the ledge - - but, "just pretty cool" on the fly over)

saw the box today, so nevermind


just feed him & YOU drink some green wine -
(but - not Boone's Farm/Apple) (save that for Columbus)

Bee> - classic post

Luv,

From my vantage point - I can say that participation in any serious level of any sport is a roller coaster ride.

Exhilerating at times - YES
Frustrating at times - YES

What I learned more than anything a long time ago- in a big picture sort of way - from my dad - and uncles - and my own experiences - and both my sons - is that the ups and downs are actually the heart of the whole experience.

It is what makes any sport - and any success - so valuable.

At some point it ends - but until that happens - I will keep paying my ticket price for the Loop the Loop. IMO.

its - I love your perspective as well If we simply embrace the roller coaster, it is another way of "mentally" dealing with the ups and downs.

As I have noted before, you have the best avatar of anyone on the hsbbweb. How is Darrin's (sp) health doing these days. He obviously was tearing it up before the injury

Cleveland,

Thanks for asking about D.

He is doing well - Missed 6 games with the ankle injury. Came back this week and has hit well - but isnt 100% running or moving laterally defensively yet. (Called tonight - and mentioned that today he faced one of the best change-up pitchers he ever played against - got skunked twice - then came back a rapped a double)

My guess is that in another week or two - he will be back to 100% - god willing.

More importantly - His team has lost the last 4 games in a row - each one in the 9th inning - so he isnt in a good mood. LOL

Is your son enjoying CC? (I love that program)


Regards - Its

"It's" -
happy to hear he's mending ....
I have the Screaming E's in my follow list


wishes for a great season

Its - It (no pun intended) was his weekend this weekend. It has been a struggle but worth it. He has grown as a player. Please see the thread just below this one in the Ohio forum on CC. It started out innocently enough yesterday, and then transformed into the highest of highs without any inkling it would.

Bee> has been very kind in the whole process.

Thanks for the kind thoughts Bee.

Hope all is well with your son!

Cleveland,

That is awesome! What a way to start!!!

I bet that shaving cream tasted pretty good - LOL

I usually follow all of the Big South games - but have started a new job - so have been a bit off the regular routine the last few weeks.

Congrats to Tyler - and please tell him for me - when they play Winthrop - beat the h*** out of them.

Thanks Its - will do

I am afraid it is a down year for Coastal this year and an up year for Winthrop. They have beaten some heavy hitters this year already and Coastal is really struggling with their pitching. I am praying for a turn around but also hopeful for the future.

quote:

when you're too close things are magnified - -
(ie: the Grand Canyon is AWSOME standing on the ledge - - but, "just pretty cool" on the fly over)

Bee....IMO that is a great analogy.

Orioles....got back from the weekend series vs. Furman tonight and you would be VERY proud of me! I've decided to take your advice and step back and relinquish control of the situation. Yes...there were some things that happened that I had to repeat that mantra mentally for quite awhile , but I think I am off to a good start. Not sure how many people tell you this...so I would like to reiterate it....YOU WERE RIGHT! Of course, hitting the micro-brewery around the corner from the hotel helped me relinquish control too!

Wow...I feel I have been gone a month between my work schedule and traveling to Cincy and Tampa

TYhis is a great topic for me at this moment...I HATE ROLLER COASTERS!!...lol

When we got to Cincy we were excited, they were ranked #24 and had a great trip coming up. What WE saw was a team that has talent that seemed to forget they had to use it every play. We saw 11 games and saw 4 lost from errors, 1 by a hit batter with bases loaded, saw them nno hit and absoulutely destroyed by Tampa...men amoung boys! Tampa threw the #1 pitching prospect in DII,(with 25 scouts in the stands) we threw number 7. With the trip ending with 4 conference games, they didn't use 1-4 until the weekend.
My roller coaster didn't really start until the conference games. The left fielder and short stop are All-Conference players and ahead of Brian...and deserve the opportunity, the Third baseman is a senior and captain, ahead of Brian and deserves the opportunity, the second baseman is a returning starter who is ahead of Brian and derves the opportunity....they all cost us games along the trip with defensive miscues...and multiple ones. NIt didn't seem to matter until the last day when the short stops dad says...they should pull my son out and put Brian in because he WILL make the plays. I figured it was just a dad being hard on his son and told him he seemed to be lacking confidence but he would get it back. Then while sitting in the stands by my wife I over hear the pitchers doing the logging (3 are starters) say, we ought to pull these guys and put Brian in, he is the best we have and we could have won 4 games more"...At first I thought...nope, he can't play all positions. BUT THEN... DAD starts analyzing...hmmm. With 24 errors between the Left Fielder (3), Thrid baseman (5), Short stop (13) and Second Baseman (3) maybe he should be getting more opportunities. He has been perfect in 16 opprtunities and had some very hot shots that he made look pretty easy. I mentioned to him what the pitchers said and he says " I am ready when they call me number, it isn't my decision" I have always told him that "in this game you can't get too excited when it is going good and not too low when it is going bad"...he does this soooo much better than me.
When I start to feel I am on the "roller coaster"...I know step back or get off...think about what I have read in the book "The Mental Game of Baseball". Basically it says "Worry about what you can control and don't waste energy and thought on what you can't control"...I don't play but if I transfer MY ROLLER COASTER to my son by asking him "WHY AREN"T YOU..."...HOW COME YOU.." then I can make him think about things outside of his control, which he doesn't need to do. Now I ask.."How did the games go"..."How did so and so do..? Did you get in?...if a NO, then I say stay ready you never know when"...if it is a YES, I say "how was your defense?..."how'd you see the ball"..."Keep working, as you see more you'll do batter...believe in your abilities, I do as do a lot of other people"...and then..."have a great night, do well tomorrow and most of all...have fun andremember I love ya"...

BY then I am so off the roller coaster until they have another game and I can read about it or ask him my 5 or 6 questions....lol...

Did I say..I HATE ROLLER COASTERS!!!"

Than good ness he still has to more years after this one...god willing

Welcome back MDE!!! Seems you've been gone for quite awhile

quote:

"Worry about what you can control and don't waste energy and thought on what you can't control"...

Mde5 - This is the only philosophy that I can imagine works to any great degree in controlling emotions. Nice post.

M - Yes, good advice. My son is struggling with some issues right now and I'm going to try and put that advice to practice.

You folks are correct in trying to understand what is in your (and/or your son's) control. Many coaches try to get players to understand the same thing. Another thing coaches try to convey to players is to avoid getting too high or too low......good advice for parents, too.

We have to remember that as important as baseball is to our boys, ultimately there will be many more things in life that are more important, that will break their hearts much more and create major distractions in their lives as well as allow them to experience the great joys that life has to offer.

The guidance of us parents and the example we set for them, the strength that we exhibit, the love that we provide for them and the support that we can offer to them as individuals as well as members of a team.....those are the things you have all been doing for the first 18+ years of their lives......there is no reason to change that, even though things aren't always going as smoothly as they usually do.

For most (if not all) of the parents on this site, your children have been raised with a fabulous value system......now they are becoming independent and can put that value system to work.

People can control their emotions by controlling their thoughts, since our thoughts (which we choose) influence our emotions. This is important for players and parents. We choose our thoughts, and because of that we create our emotions.....whether they are positive or negative.

No matter the path, it is only a roller coaster if we make it one.......I know that in my own personal life (yeah, the one outside of baseball) I have also had to learn that I cannot control what any other person says or does, but I can control my thoughts and thus my emotional responses.....same way in baseball.

Very nice G!

Did anyone see Gray's Anatomy last night? The Serenity Prayer works for baseball, too. Such a simple philosophy of life in essence. But admittedly so difficult to follow when things go awry. Here's the reminder---which should be branded on my soul by now:

Lord, grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change, the COURAGE to change the things I can, and the WISDOM to know the difference.

PAMom - That has always been one of my favorite prayers.

Thanks for sharing that - a nice reminder!