Should I be worried?

Don't worry ....if he doesn't struggle he will NEVER be a ballplayer. As i always say in baseball ...there are 2 kinds of players, those who are humble and those who are about to be.

How is he struggling on the mound? Could it be his arm is hurt/hurting and he's not telling you? That can be mistaken for timidity.

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Welcome aboard the HSBBW Mom's a Fan.

I think Tx has offered some great advice. This possibility needs to be discussed with your son.

All of the best to him and his team this season.

quote:

Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
How is he struggling on the mound? Could it be his arm is hurt/hurting and he's not telling you? That can be mistaken for timidity.

We've asked and he denies any pain. He gets professional instruction on pitching and has always been very efficient in his mechanics. He ices his arm after pitching and rests one week between outings.

He did well his first game, but the coach left him in a little too long in my opinion. I'm wondering if this stressed his arm too much too soon in the season. By too long, I'm talking 90-100 pitches. He plays year round here, but that's taxing no matter who you are. Since that game, it's been a downward spiral.

I have a lot of respect for his coach, but it seems like the situations he's been put into haven't been ideal. Twice he's been put in with bases loaded, no outs, once when he was still recovering from an upper respiratory condition and was told he wouldn't be pitching, once in the pouring rain with very slick conditions...etc.... There is a part of me that really would like to address this with the coach, but I've been letting him handle it and know it's probably better to stay out of it. Part of me feels he hasn't been given the right opportunites to be successful, the other part of me tells him that he needs to perform in these tough situations like he was able to do last year.

His outlook was very positive at the beginning of the season, always has been until this series of unfortunate events started occurring.

That's good. Always have to be careful about young men trying to "tough it out". If he has any sharp pain when throwing in the joints, I would go get an MRI to be safe. But it sounds like it may just be a growing experience. I think I would let him work it out with the coach and just be there for your son to bounce ideas off. Sounds like the coach trusts him or he wouldn't put him out there in difficult situations.

quote:

Originally posted by Mom's a Fan:
I have a lot of respect for his coach, but it seems like the situations he's been put into haven't been ideal. Twice he's been put in with bases loaded, no outs, once when he was still recovering from an upper respiratory condition and was told he wouldn't be pitching, once in the pouring rain with very slick conditions...etc.... There is a part of me that really would like to address this with the coach, but I've been letting him handle it and know it's probably better to stay out of it. Part of me feels he hasn't been given the right opportunites to be successful, the other part of me tells him that he needs to perform in these tough situations like he was able to do last year.

His outlook was very positive at the beginning of the season, always has been until this series of unfortunate events started occurring.

Mom's a Fan - welcome to the hsbbweb!

If he says there is no pain, perhaps there is no problem then. Sometimes you have to realize that the kids on the other teams have parents who want to see them do well as much as you want yours to do well. It is easy to have a positive outlook when things are going well.

If injury is not an issue, I would be reluctant to find other reasons or excuses for things. Let him work his way out of it. Rather than question whether he is being used ideally (e.g., bases loaded situations) - doesn't that beat the alternative than not pitching at all? IMHO, the best thing you can develop in your son is the ability to bounce back from adversity because it will find you in spades in this game - eventually.

Very good and useful advice, thank you all!

Mom's A Fan,

I don't post too much here anymore, but your questions brought back some memories for me that prompted me to post.

First, I'm sittin' at home, not feeling too well, more than 1,000 miles away from you.

No way would I, or anyone else really know what might be happening.

You are correct to be aware of what is going on with your son.

My son played as a high school freshman, too.

A lot of pressure there when a young 14-15 year old is thrown in with some 17-18 year olds.

As a freshman, he likely contributed in a supporting or, less pressure filled role, while the other older more experienced players took on the more difficult tasks.

Not many high school players ever have more than one year of experience, usually their junior year.

Your son now has a leadership role because probably has as much, or more experience as anyone else on the field.

Not until my son was a sophomre did I realize how much pressure there is on the underclassmen.

That requires an adjustment from you as to how you view your son.

He won't always win or succeed. Baseball is a game about failure and how well players handle it.

quote:

Twice he's been put in with bases loaded, no outs, once when he was still recovering from an upper respiratory condition and was told he wouldn't be pitching, once in the pouring rain with very slick conditions...etc.... There is a part of me that really would like to address this with the coach

Momma's don't like that position for their sons.

quote:

the other part of me tells him that he needs to perform in these tough situations like he was able to do last year.

You are also realizing that your son does have limits.

Make certain that he is healthy, but he has to overcome challenges to grow in baseball and life.

There's nothing better than having him come in with the game on the line and the bases loaded and having him shut things down.

But, that's not gonna happen everytime, and I think that is what you have to prepare him for.

Has your son grown lately? Growth plays havoc on everything.

Well, I suppose you know that if you post, somebody will seize upon something and criticize it....and here it is.

You mention considering to speak to the coach about bringing your son in under less than ideal conditions. Ask yourself this. Somebody has to come in with the bases loaded or with slick conditions. Why should it be a pitcher other than your son?

quote:

Originally posted by Mom's a Fan:
His outlook was very positive at the beginning of the season, always has been until this series of unfortunate events started occurring.

Welcome to the HSBBW.
From one mom to another.
This sentece jumped out at me. I understand because I have a pitcher who has been there and done that.
Pitching success is never constant, you see that on the ML as well, a pitcher will have good years amd down years, there are reasons, but the bottom line is that most figure it out and emerge as winners. Former Observer is right, mom's don't like to see their son's thrown into the fire. My opinion is, it's the best thing that can happen to them.
You have gotten some good advice here, could be a number of reasons, just make sure all is ok with his arm. Then take a step back and let your son and his coach figure it out.

quote:

Well, I suppose you know that if you post, somebody will seize upon something and criticize it....and here it is.

3FingeredGlove, since she's new, she might not know that.................

Welcome "Mom's a Fan"

Don't worry, there will be both better days and many more things to worry about in the future. Struggling is something we all know about or will experience at some point.

quote:

Originally posted by Ozone:
Don't worry ....if he doesn't struggle he will NEVER be a ballplayer. As i always say in baseball ...there are 2 kinds of players, those who are humble and those who are about to be.

and 2 kinds of pitcher's moms

those who take Tums and those who take Pepsid



My son had a "bad" outing, and then was spot on the next. He was talking to another pitcher and said something like. "You know when you pitch bad you think that is all you can do? Then you pitch good, and you know that is where you really are - plus it feels right and good too?"

The kids know the deal and imo, the "bad" outings prepare them much better for all future outings. I'd much rather him face adversity now (HS) than first face it in college.

I have a lot of respect for his coach, but it seems like the situations he's been put into haven't been ideal. Twice he's been put in with bases loaded, no outs,

sounds like the coach has confidence in your son ability.

Baseball is full of bases loaded situations---the pitchers who are "gamers" want to be on the mound at that time---Mom if this bothers you, you had better not be at the game

Mom's a Fan,

Welcome to the HS Baseball Web, from a fellow pitcher's parent.

I think you've been given good advice. I do want to touch on one thing that I haven't noticed highlighted in the above posts, though:

"He did well his first game, but the coach left him in a little too long in my opinion. I'm wondering if this stressed his arm too much too soon in the season. By too long, I'm talking 90-100 pitches."

That's a lot of pitches for a sophomore (is he 15?) that early in a HS season. Although your son says his arm isn't injured, he may be pitching less effectively because of a tired arm. Not a major issue, but something that might improve over the next few weeks if he doesn't have any long outings for a while.

Lots of pressure for your son, and many of the parents posting here have had a son in similar spots as a freshman or sophomore. Try to remind him that he has had success at this level, it's normal to go through some rough patches in the road, but if he remains confident he is likely to have a lot of success over the next few years. Good luck!

Julie

Julie,
I agree with you about the pitch count that was a lot for first outing. Watch for any changes in mechanics.

Does sounds like teh coach has confidance in him, that's great.

As far as those queazy feelings in your stomach when he goes out in those situations, don't worry, they most likely never will go away, you just get used to it .
I think that there are some dads here that can relate to that also.

Thanks everyone for your great posts. You sure do now how to make a newbie feel welcome!