STOP and TAKE the TIME

quote:

Originally posted by orioles42:
To all of my friends in the OKPWV as I call it, I wanted to sneak out of the shadows and wish you and yours a very Merry Chrsitmas. I miss you guys so much and I am sorry for not really contributing to much at all really the last couple of years.

I ask that each one of you take the time and slow things down a bit over the Christmas break and stop to enjoy what we have; all of us I know are truly blessed.

Sometimes and I am certainly guilty of this one, we get so caught up in baseball and helping our players be succesful that we tend to forget the really important things we have in life.

I am still heavily involved in the development of players in the game I love.....but the last couple of years I have started to stop and take notice of some really important things outside of baseball. I have spent so much time with my son who is out of professional baseball and doing very well as well as all of the time I am spending with other parents kids, that I lost perspective of what truly matters. Now I have that perspective back...took me long enough, but NOW I have balance. I wished the heck I could have figured this out years ago.

Stop Take Time and gain that balance!

Merry Christmas my friends.....Mike

Mike - thanks for posting - your posts always have special meaning for me and this one is no exception. I'll definitely heed your words! If you get a chance, send me a pm with your cell phone number and I'll give you a call for a friendly chat.

Merry Christmas indeed!

Mike,
Thanks for such a meaningful reminder.

One of the blessings that has come with baseball being out of my son's life as a player is that I have found the time this year to reinvent myself a bit. I have tried to make time to do and appreciate other things that have taken a backseat for so many years. Life is full of so many blessings - baseball is certainly one, but I'm grateful for so many things this year.

Merry Christmas to all my HSBBW friends! May you have a blessed and joyous day tomorrow!!

Thanks for the post. I'll stop and be reminded of your words.
Thanks,
Luke

quote:

Originally posted by lafmom:
Mike,
Thanks for such a meaningful reminder.

One of the blessings that has come with baseball being out of my son's life as a player is that I have found the time this year to reinvent myself a bit. I have tried to make time to do and appreciate other things that have taken a backseat for so many years. Life is full of so many blessings - baseball is certainly one, but I'm grateful for so many things this year.

Merry Christmas to all my HSBBW friends! May you have a blessed and joyous day tomorrow!!

Really good points lafmom!

Hey, I just noticed that Mike stopped and took the time to give West Virginia TWO initials! So what, the state has two parts to its name.

I am sorry, I thought that is how you spelled WV; with two letters....

quote:

Originally posted by orioles42:
I am sorry, I thought that is how you spelled WV; with two letters....

Wrong, you do not even know how to spell orioles42, that is UU-Vee (Double U, followed by Vee)

PS - please update rz1's thread in the main forum that you are from West Virginia - thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by orioles42:
I am sorry, I thought that is how you spelled WV; with two letters....

Justify it any way you want!

KY is actually abbreviated by CATS!

It is done Dan....I even put the City down for them.

Hey all...it's been awhile since I've posted aside from my insightful American Idol banter! However, I saw this thread and thought it was a great place to let you all know that I am officially off the baseball ride now. For those that did not know, my son was not drafted out of college last year, played 3 weeks in the independent Frontier League and was signed by the Phillies. He played last summer in their short season Williamsport team and had a wonderful experience. He played behind the Phillies #2 pick last summer, and altho his playing time behind the dish was limited, the coaches thought very highly of him and he even was able to "teach" the out of high school starting catcher some pointers on calling a game, working with the pitcher, etc.

Joe was also lucky in that his goal was to experience a spring training with the Phillies...which he did this spring. However, it soon became apparent to him that his heart just wasn't in the game anymore and the daily grind. He's a 23 year old man, who has a very serious girlfriend back home, and law school deferred for a year so that he could give baseball a shot. The realities of his situation in the organization and the fact that he wanted to move on with his future ....soon became apparent to him. The downshot is he met with the coaches and thanked them for the opportunities he was afforded, but felt it was time to move on with his life. The coaches couldn't have been more supportive and understanding.

I'm very proud of my guy...he certainly has had a huge rollercoaster ride...but I am so happy he had a "plan b" in place to move on to once he determined baseball was over for him.

And I am indeed shocked that I am so completely at peace with his decision. He's happy, he can now concentrate all his energies on his law school education, and he's at peace too. Baseball has been the most wonderful experience in the world for both him, and our entire family. I truly look forward to what new experiences are brought into our lives now

Kathy,
Congrats to Joe on having the rare opportunity to experience a bit of baseball at a higher level. It is amazing what baseball can bring into a family's life and the memories that we will all treasure forever. Needless to say, Joe will have memories that will truly last a lifetime and that he can share with his children! Best of luck to him in his new adventures... may they be as joyous as baseball has been!!!!

Kathy - huge congrats to the young man!

Having gone to law school myself, I can assure you he has many wonderful things to look forward to in his life. Perhaps, after graduating, he can turn that law degree back into a sports career (e.g., agent) or many other things that might stir his passions like baseball has. All the best to Joe in the future!

That's the plan Dan

Best of luck to Joe. It is great to hear he got to be the one to make the decision.

I hope luvbb does not yell at me, but I am going to link this thread into the General Forum.

Please welcome me in congratulating her son on his next endeavor of Law School

luvbb - I hope you can still chime in from time-to-time here on the hsbbweb

Again, I want to wish Joe the best.

You are shocked with being at peace because your son is perfectly happy with his decision, and isn't that was we all hope for, for them to be happy.

Plas, having a plan B always helps...

Law School?

Most impressive. Congrats on his new journey in life.

Hooray for Joe and following his heart. You've raised a good boy with a good head. Well done to him for gathering all the experiences he's wished for.

Best of luck to him ---- forever!

Congratulations to Joe for having such wonderful experiences---and has chosen for himself that it was time for him to move on. Oh that we all should be so blessed.

Good luck to him---and to all who have taken or will take this same fork.

I can't say it any better than others have already. Congrats to Joe, and a big attaboy to his parents for doing it right. My bet is he'll make a great lawyer.

Best wishes to you and your son, luvbb..........

Congrats to Joe. It's eventually going to happen one way or the other for all our boys. Great to see he has a plan and a darn good one!!

I wish him well!!

luvbb, It has been too long since we've spoken. I want to say congratulations to your son, both on his long and outstanding baseball career, but on his new journey into law school. None of us know how long this baseball ride will last, and you should feel just so proud of all your son's accomplishments. All the best to him and your entire family.

Bruce

The very best to Joe. luvbb, you have every reason to be very proud and so should your son.

Remind him that Scott Boras makes more money than any of the players.

My very best to Joe. Like his mom, he sure sounds like a very, VERY grounded and thoughtful person. You should be (and surely are) very proud!

Luvbb,

He hit a "Life Grand Slam"; doesn't get any better than that.

luvbb,
Congrats to your son for fulfilling one of his dreams. And congrats to you for raising, what sounds like, a great young man.

You mentioned that you are, surprisingly, at peace with his decision to leave baseball. The funny thing is that all you, and the rest of us, really ever wanted was for your son to attain his dreams and be successful.

As we sit at these baseball games and worry and pace with each at bat and every pitch they throw, we may really be worrying about their future and success in life in general. You are at peace because IMO you can see your son's future, and although it might not be in baseball, it is certainly on the right track for success. I have witnessed many fathers who get as much joy following their childrens' business careers as they did their sporting years.

My sincere congratulations and admiration go out to both of you.

Again great posts. Good luck to your son.

Okay Dan.....consider yourself SMACKED! lol While I am uncomfortable that you posted this in the general forum (as it wasn't my intent).....I DO thank each and everyone of you for all your best wishes. Life does go on....and I am just happy that "I" am adjusting as well as I am!

ItsRosy....WOW...you are right...it has been WAAAAY too long. Please drop me a PM as to how your son is doing!

quote:

Remind him that Scott Boras makes more money than any of the players.

PGStaff...I'm not even sure HOW to respond to that!

quote:

I'm very proud of my guy...

So am I.

There's nothing better than going out on your terms knowing a bigger challenge lies ahead, and you want it. Joe is a winner!

quote:

Okay Dan.....consider yourself SMACKED!

It would have been buried by the American Idol thread and I didn't want that to happen. Sometimes executive decisions have to be made

Kathy,

As I've said before, this young man will be very successful in life. Some of you posting here may have gotten the chance to listen to Joe in Penn State broadcasts the year he had surgery, or in an interview when he was playing pro ball. For those who didn't ... I just want to tell you how articulate, poised, and relaxed he sounded on the air. Very impressive for a guy his age, and yet not seeming like he was trying to make an impression - it just sounded like he was being himself.

He earned the chance to do something very special in baseball that he will remember for a lifetime - and he's got an exciting road ahead of him too. I liked this comment by PGStaff also: "Remind him that Scott Boras makes more money than any of the players."


(I have a feeling I'd enjoy meeting Joe more than that Boras guy, though.)

Julie

Kathy,

When I got the call from mine after 3 years of pro ball and he said to me....."It just is not fun anymore and I know it is time to get my life started"......I was not surprised but deep down really wanted him to try and give it a go....just ONE more year. I never told him that, I told him to come on home and that the house had not moved, it was still in the same place. That was in 2006; as of April 9th he will have (2) years as a Deputy Sheriff in the county where I reside.

Here is the great thing......I have NEVER ever seen him happier than he is now.

I am so glad Joe got to ride the ride and you got to experience it with him. We all think when the time comes that it is a difficult decision to pull the plug, but it really isn't if you know what you want. It sounds like Joe is going to be what all parents want their kids to be.....a productive member of society; not that baseball players aren't.

I am very happy for Joe and you as well, now sit back and enjoy this ride...

Mike

And you know what else Mike...I have waaaay more time now to contribute to the American Idol thread!

Julie...you are just too, too kind...as usual! I hae to admit, when I heard Joe on the radio broadcasts I said to myself "Who the HECK is this guy and what did he do to my son?!?". The guy who always mumbles around the house, and I am always asking to speak more clearly...obviously was playing me for a fool all those years!

quote:

Originally posted by luvbb:
...he can now concentrate all his energies on his law school education, and he's at peace too.

Congrats Luv!!! You must be proud as ever. If he'd like to work on his negotiating skills, maybe he could work on getting a certain current HS soph a chance to play for a college team in a valley where everybody is happy?