Round 2

Shane,

Sounds like a very good second outing, and your first career start, congratulations! I am really enjoying reading your reports of these milestones in your pro career. Your enthusiasm and love of the game, along with your openness and sincerity, are really fun to see.

Any other members or visitors who wonder who AHSpitcher17 is, here's a Q&A from a while ago - what a fine young man, don't you think?
http://mlb.scout.com/2/334479.html

MN-Mom,

Couldn't agree more. I am getting a kick out of players reporting about their progress as well as parents describing their kids pro experiences. Thanks Shane!

Looking back there have been some great pro experiences shared this year. I believe it was infield dads son who faced Randy Johnson for the first time. Then Zach Duke facing Curt Schilling and eventually making it to the big show and then dominating. It was also very nice to hear about hsbbweb's son and his first pro experiences.

ClevelandDad,
According to mine, if you have not done so, grab your son and head to Dayton to watch the the Reds A level MWL team. Pick a Homer Bailey night if possible. Might well see him at 100mph. The players like Dayton as they average over 8,000 fans in a nice stadium and they put a lot of energy into the games. Also will see BJ Syzmanski there and he can hit a ton. Barring injury and with good development, you could see two future stars. Of course, they are not going to play for the Indians either.

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Originally posted by infielddad:
Of course, they are not going to play for the Indians either.

Thats right! They're going to play for the Reds and boy do they need them.

Infielddad and justbaseball,

The Indians have a fine minor league organization as well so I am not envious.

Interesting that you mentioned Dayton infdad. My son played in the Ohio state high school semifinal game there this spring and the stadium is new and beautiful. Some of the most beautfiul minor league venues exist here in the midwest. The Indians have several brand new ones which are absolutely to die for. Ask your son if he has played at Lake County (A ball) or Akron (AA ball). No better place in the world to watch a game than at these new ball parks. If he does play at either of these places, please let me know and I will go to a game to see him play and maybe get his autograph! I doubt I will go to any games in Dayton since it is about 4 & 1/2 hours away from the Cleveland area. Thanks for the info. and huge congrats to both of your sons!!

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Some of the most beautfiul minor league venues exist here in the midwest.

Boy, that is so true. We have been to Peoria, Grand Rapids and Lansing. Beautiful stadiums all built within the last 10 years, with suites, jumbotrons and food/promotions for every age group. These franchises do a spectacular job of promoting baseball in their communities and making it a great night for a family at a very reasonable cost. I can guarantee that we are truly envious.
Akron(AA)????? That would be like music to our ears. They are in the Eastern League with New Hampshire, the AA team of the BJays. If he ever gets that oppotunity, we will likely let everyone know.

ClevelandDad - Look out for Chuck Lofgren on Lake County...he's from our area and a really neat kid. He's one that I'm pulling for big-time!

This is turning out to be a very interesting topic. I hope Shane is listening because he has a lot of potential places to look forward to playing at.

Just - We will go to a game to see Chuck play. I have seen his name in the local newspaper. He is very lucky. The Lake County ball park is my favorite ball park of all time - including the majors. It is a perfect place to play and watch a game. Chuck generally plays before a sell out crowd of about 8,000 people each night - not bad for a young man! My son got to play three high school playoff games there this year and I still have goose bumps from the experience.

Infdad - I think you are on to something there. They talk all the time how the college game is growing. I think the big growth area is minor league baseball. The entertainment value for a family is unbelievable. These new ball parks and how these franchises run a baseball game kind of reminds you of how baseball was as a kid - unmitigated joy!!! Watching potential future stars lay it on the line is of course a major plus. For those of you who have not been to a minor league game, you may be shocked at how much fun there is to be had at an unbelievably affordable price!

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For those of you who have not been to a minor league game, you may be shocked at how much fun there is to be had at an unbelievably affordable price!

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! MLB will ruin THIS, too!

For the record, the Pirate AA affiliate Altoona Curve (Zach Duke was there for a minute last season) play in AWESOME Blair County Ballpark. The right field backdrop is the oldest roller coaster in the country, which can actually be hit by a major dinger! LOVE going there to see a game!

ClevelandDad

Yes, AZ league is free to get in and has no concessions. Can't get a better deal than that. Bring a cooler.

Hmmmmmmmmmm. A new topic? Great minor league ballparks.
ClevelandDad, minor league baseball is indeed on a surge. Have a couple of friends who are investors in a group that just bought a franchise in the California league and moved into a beautiful new park. But again, to me, there is nothing like the parks and community support in your area of the country. Let me again say, I am envious.
Oh and BTW, I agree with Justbb. If you can, watch Chuck Lofgren. He has a chance, a very good chance, to make an impact. My son is in the MWL and Lake County is in the SAL I believe so Dayton is the closest he gets to Cleveland. I do like that Akron idea though.

oh yes im listening, and i am welcoming actually playing in front of fans, we average about 12 people a game, usually family. ha, but we start playing in the big stadium tommorrow, i have another outing, hopefully all goes well, but our big stadium isnt bad, its perfect for our night games which we also start tommorrow. Maybe we can even draw 30 fans on weekends, only time will tell!