The best play

IMO, you may be stressing over something that you need not stress about. 

If you can hit they will find a position for you. 100% true. 

My oldest son played 1B in HS...he probably won't play there in college. He's "not big enough". But he can hit. So he will play where they need him. Easy.

thirdtofirsttothird posted:

The coach made this statement after a game two weeks ago. I completely agree with this philosophy. My sons team is almost half way through their summer season and I have yet to see a consistent defensive lineup . My question is can my son ask his coach where he is in the pecking order at each position he plays and what he needs to do to get the lions share of playing time at said position.

 It is a playing time issue but, just need clarity. I'm not one of those parents who are going to be in the coaches ear. The status quo isn't going to work either though.  My son is going to be a junior next year. So this is getting to the meaty time to get colleges to watch him. If his coaches opinion is that he has better options than him I think its important info for my son to have. Going into the season we knew there would be some rotating going on. This is a roster of 17 made up of 18's and 19's (3 p.o.) . So there 14 position players he is juggling playing time with. My son hits every game whether they are batting 9 or 10 and hasn't made an error in the field . When schools are seeing at him in games . I don't want them to think if this kid isn't good enough to play in the field on his travel team , how is he going to play for me.

Welcome to the site.  What is the structure and purpose of this particular travel team?  Wins?  Game experience?  Exposure?  If playing time is a particular hot button, why is your son, as a rising HS junior (15ish?), playing with 18's and 19's?  

"The best play" is usually just one element of many that go into the lineup decision process for a travel/club/scout team.  When one of my sons was a junior in HS, he played with a scout team in the fall.  There were around 40 players on the roster.  Many were scheduled to come only to play in parts of games.  A few would hang around for any "change of plan" or spot opportunity.  The primary objective here was clearly scheduled exposure.  All of these players were good and expected to be recruited or drafted.  No scout or RC in attendance thought any of these players weren't good enough to play at the next level.  Each organization is a little different and you should know, within reason, what the basic setup is before your player signs up.

Regarding one of your comments, it never hurts for any player to ask a coach specifically what areas he needs to improve upon and what things he should be doing to accomplish that (assuming the coach hasn't already made it very clear several times already).

Is this a travel team or a Legion team. I'm asking due to the 19yos and only three POs. If it's a Legion team ask yourself where is the exposure? Do several college coaches attend each game? Is it a one shot deal if your son makes the all star game? Does the team need to make states before college coaches show up? Your son may be on the wrong team for development and future exposure.

I think he means 2018s and 2019s (so rising sophomores and juniors).

jacjacatk posted:

I think he means 2018s and 2019s (so rising sophomores and juniors).

haha... well, my excuse is it's still early in the morning out here     In the famous words of Rosanna Rosannadana...  never mind.

I'm sorry his team is made up of 2018 and 2019 . It is a travel/exposure team . Position wise though we are heavy on infielders . A guess would be 10 or 12 pitch. This is not the coaches first rodeo with this kind of team . Again I don't recall the exact number it was like 19 of 20 kids from his last team he helped get placed in college baseball. My son is not used to coming off the field ever . The window is shrinking on time to impress schools 1 1/2 travel ball seasons . It just seems like every play he's off the field is a missed opportunity. 

thirdtofirsttothird posted:

I'm sorry his team is made up of 2018 and 2019 . It is a travel/exposure team . Position wise though we are heavy on infielders . A guess would be 10 or 12 pitch. This is not the coaches first rodeo with this kind of team . Again I don't recall the exact number it was like 19 of 20 kids from his last team he helped get placed in college baseball. My son is not used to coming off the field ever . The window is shrinking on time to impress schools 1 1/2 travel ball seasons . It just seems like every play he's off the field is a missed opportunity. 

Does your son also pitch in addition to playing infield?  Every play he's off the field might be an opportunity to rest his arm and prolong his career in that case.  (I know, I know, everyone thinks it won't happen to their kid).  Playing SS/3B after pitching can be tough on a kid's arm on the full size field.  Same thing playing 2B.  Murphy's Law say you put a kid at 2B to rest his arm after pitching and in the course of 3 innings he's turning 3 double plays and throwing 120 foot laser shots as a cut-off man home.

thirdtofirsttothird posted:

I'm sorry his team is made up of 2018 and 2019 . It is a travel/exposure team . Position wise though we are heavy on infielders . A guess would be 10 or 12 pitch. This is not the coaches first rodeo with this kind of team . Again I don't recall the exact number it was like 19 of 20 kids from his last team he helped get placed in college baseball. My son is not used to coming off the field ever . The window is shrinking on time to impress schools 1 1/2 travel ball seasons . It just seems like every play he's off the field is a missed opportunity. 

What is his 60 time?  What is his throwing velo across the diamond?  What is his bat exit speed?  Height/weight?  How would you describe his current athleticism as compared to the better varsity players in the area?  Does he show hit-for-power?

If your son is going to be a junior next year he is not running out of time. For most players post junior year is the most important exposure time. The only issue is being on the right team next summer. 

A couple of things -

If a school is interested in your son, it won't matter to them if he isn't on the field.  They will make up their minds based on what they see him do, not on what his travel coach does with him.  WIth that said, he does need them to see him play - so you have to figure out the best way to have that happen.  There are ways other than just travel games, and you may have to take one of those routes.

Also, a team that is an "exposure" team, will tend to work towards that goal - rather than focusing on winning games. (The best play philosophy)  There should be a clear plan from the coaching staff as to what their goals are, and participants should decide if that plan fits the player's needs/goals. Some teams are about development, some are about exposure, some are just about winning. You need to make sure your player is on a team that matches his needs.

Finally, even though the parents are the ones paying the bills, the baseball playing time discussions should be between the coach and the player. Try to stay out of those if it is at all possible.

cabbagedad posted:

thirdtofirsttothird posted:

I'm sorry his team is made up of 2018 and 2019 . It is a travel/exposure team . Position wise though we are heavy on infielders . A guess would be 10 or 12 pitch. This is not the coaches first rodeo with this kind of team . Again I don't recall the exact number it was like 19 of 20 kids from his last team he helped get placed in college baseball. My son is not used to coming off the field ever . The window is shrinking on time to impress schools 1 1/2 travel ball seasons . It just seems like every play he's off the field is a missed opportunity. 

What is his 60 time?  What is his throwing velo across the diamond?  What is his bat exit speed?  Height/weight?  How would you describe his current athleticism as compared to the better varsity players in the area?  Does he show hit-for-power?

Well, I was hoping you would answer the questions I listed.  The point I was trying to help you see is that if his numbers are really strong at this early stage, then the RC's and HC's will recognize this, even if he isn't on the field as much as you'd like.  If his numbers aren't quite there yet, in some ways, he is just as well off not "exposuring" himself to the fullest.

Please be sure spend plenty of time in the moment, enjoying him playing good baseball just because he loves playing good baseball and don't get too caught up in thinking that every moment has to be with the next level in mind.  And please be sure he is doing the same.

He's 6'1" 230 just turned 16 . Not going to grow much more , maybe fill out in the chest . He runs a 7.5 throws 84 across the diamond and his exit velo is 88. He has started at varsity for two years earning all-district this year . Last year he had 16 doubles 1 HR and this year 7 doubles and three HR . Missed a quarter of the season due to some nagging injuries. He has some work to do for sure but, he's not bad. 

Definitely going by fast. Trying to take it all in . Sorry for the late response. He had a game.