So much to learn, so far to go ...

Pitchers may not be able to throw at 100% at this stage of the season but I imagine that they are not "holding back" on the hitters.

So you're saying that since pitchers aren't holding back, batters shouldn't either -- and I should tell him that? 

 

I think maybe you inferred that my son thinks pitchers are holding back. Maybe I wasn't clear. HE holds back, at the plate.

I understood perfectly what you said. They aren't holding back....he shouldn't either.

(My son's a pitcher)

I've never been one to "hold back" when I'm competing against anyone (well, maybe a little with my wife ) and taught my son's  to do the same as I figure it doesn't do anyone any good to "hold back".  I can only improve and learn if I'm doing my best and the opponent is doing their best.  And I'm pleased that my sons don't ever "hold back" for that very reason even when competing against their very old man .

jp24,

 

Not to worry.  There is no doubt his college coaches and teammates will provide him an over-abundance of motivational opportunities!  

JP,

IMO your son's attitude about hitting against his own team's pitchers is very rare.

My son has a strong dislike for pitchers when they are throwing against him. Whether it's a game, scrimmage, showcase or anything else. Whether they're from another team or his best buddy, his plan is to hurt you. End of story.

Tom Brady and Darrelle Revis are two of the best their positions. They go at each other in practice like the Super Bowl is on the line. They both say it makes them better.

Couple days ago my son told me he is slated to pitch some inter squad against his varsity teammates.  Since he knows their weaknesses, strengths, tendencies he has formulated a plan to attack each...at 100% of what he has at that point. 

My son got a varsity tryout when he was a freshman. The cleanup hitting captain took him deep but inches foul. On the next pitch my son knocked him down. Then he K'ed him with a change. The coaches went nuts. The captain's teammates rode him a bit about being taken down by a freshman. The captain made my son carry two equipment bags. He said he wore them like a badge. He was a last cut. But he made his mark and was high up on the radar. Starting on varsity was a given before tryouts soph year.

JP, I agree with RedFish. Tell your son to go 110% at every at bat. It's not showing his pitchers up. It will make them make adjustments to get outs while not having their best stuff. I think early in the year the hitter has a little advantage because arms probably aren't quite there yet. This will only make your team stronger down the road. The pitchers have to learn how to win without their "A" game as they likely will not have it every outing.

JP;

Hitters never "hold back". you never know who is watching. Your team's pitchers need to learn how to "pitch" to good hitters.

Your son should use every opportunity to learn the pitchers methods and patterns.

He may face this pitcher again in College, Summer League or Professional.

 

Will Clark the former SF Giants 1B, during preseason would use each AB during a practice game. His 1st AB, Will would wait for an outside pitch and hit to left field; the Second AB he would work "up the middle" and the next AB he would "pull the ball".

 

The batters box is a classroom. In the practice games use a heavy composite wood bat.

 

Always work on your skills, "canti" is the Japanese word for constantly improvement.

 

Bob

<rwilliams@goodwillseries.org>

Quite a contrast compared to my sons HS program. My son is a LHP/OF two way guy and he says that intra-squad match ups are flat out war. Guys looking for bragging rights and talking plenty of trash!

Sounds like jp24's boy's intention is to be a solid teammate though, doesn't want to show up his guys. That sounds reasonable especially if he is a stud. However, I suppose one could make the argument that by going easy on them actually may not be really helping them or himself. Regardless, it's pre-season in Los Angeles and all the pre-season intra-squad stuff will soon be forgotten. And won't really matter a whole lot once season begins. At least thats how it is here.

 

Also remember that jp24's son maybe the only teammate committed to a well know D1 program.  This could factor in to not wanting to "show up" they guys.  

 

My son is a pitches. And while I appreciate the swmntiment your son expresses, I know my son would not want a D1 prospect, tak7ng it easy on him. He would relish the challenge. Every pitchervwants to measure themselves vs the best.

It's common in the younger age groups where the skills are not always on the same page.  i.e. the SS might not throw a bullet to first knowing that 1B won't be able to catch it, so he throws an accurate but not lethal throw to ensure the catch..

 

Makes me wonder if the OP's son is just miles ahead in skill and not wanting to come off like a showboat among kids that have lesser skills.  Perhaps when he is on a team where everyone has superior skills he won't have this attitude.

NEVER take it easy on anyone!!!  For one thing, every time these players are on the field, they are being evaluated by the coaches.  Coaches do inter squads for two reasons.  One is to get pitchers and hitters "real game" experience without having to play another team.  The other is to evaluate their players so they can get a better idea of who to start and where they will hit in the order.  Pitcher or hitters taking it easy on their teammates will nothing to help them when they play a "real" team AND it will do nothing to help their case as coaches are evaluating them.  

 

And that's not to mention that all these guys should be hyper competitive!!  I know my son does not want to give up a hit to ANYONE - including and maybe even especially his teammates.  He's just too competitive to lay down in any situation.

 

110% all the time.  Doesn't matter who you are playing.

 

Exactly my first thought.

The OP's son just committed to Oregon, so yes I would say he is miles ahead of his peers on his HS team. I am sure he will not take this attitude into college. So you are right he does not want to show up his friends. 

 

 

 

 

 

this is closer to what i have heard from my son. thye don't get many AB's vs each other and they are wars. There are always one or two games a summer that involve kids from the same HS and while they are not hostile games the intensity levels goes up a noticable amount.

My son is a freshman and practices start here Feb 23. He enters with a BIG reputation. He's already friends with several of the senior baseball players because our JV and varsity basketball teams go head-to-head a lot in practice. Word is that they can't wait to get in the box against him and it isn't because they plan to take it easy on him. It oughta be fun for him.

When I coached travel, I told pitchers before inter-squad scrimmages that throwing meatballs to teammates would pretty much guarantee that one of those balls would come back and hit you in the grill.  If you're supposed to pitch, pitch as well as you can. Otherwise, use an L screen.

Didn't intend this to come across like my son in any way thinks about his skill level vs. his teammates. I really don't think that's it. It's more along the lines bballman talks about here:

 

"All these guys should be hyper competitive!!  I know my son does not want to give up a hit to ANYONE - including and maybe even especially his teammates.  He's just too competitive to lay down in any situation."

 

It's unusual, apparently, but if I had to bet, I'd say my son's flawed approach comes from being SO competitive that he has a hard time viewing his own pitchers as competitors. 

 

Silly? Yes. Fixable? I have no doubt -- when coaches later make it clear: This matters.