The Off-Season

Give up football and work hard all fall and winter in preparation for the baseball tryouts

Don't give up football. You only have one chance to play high school football. Trust me, you will regret it for the rest of your life if you quit. Keep practicing baseball in the off-season when time and energy permits. But, you may have to face the fact that baseball is over for you. Don't quit, don't you make that decision. Let the coaches make that decision. Baseball ends for everyone at some point. This may be your time.

Keep a good head on your shoulders. Things can happen if you put the time worth it into it.

Live in the weight room (NOT WAIT ROOM) and get bigger, faster and stronger. Then tryout again. Naturally, it will help if you work at baseball in your off season. Approach tryouts with a positive attitude and look like you belong.

I really hope you guys are kidding about dropping football and/or baseball.

It would take far more than sinus surgery or an internet post to ever let baseball end. And no way am I going to give up football to focus only on baseball. I can't do that in good faith, after the time, energy, and commitment I have invested in the world's two greatest sports. (Baseball, obviously, is #1). Thanks for the advice, but no way is it over. As a matter of fact, it's only just starting.

Nobody actually was saying to drop baseball for not making the freshman team, right? What if Michael Jordan quit after not making his HS basketball team??????????? Baseball ends for everyone, but it'll be years before I walk off a diamond for the last time.

Yankee Clipper,

That is a good attitude to have. Show up to tryouts ready and in shape. Be the leader.

Yankeeclipper,
I think you have to ask yourself, or if appropriate ask the baseball coach why you weren't able to make the team. That will give you an idea what specific areas you'll need to improve before the next tryouts.

quote:

Originally posted by CADad:
Yankeeclipper,
I think you have to ask yourself, or if appropriate ask the baseball coach why you weren't able to make the team. That will give you an idea what specific areas you'll need to improve before the next tryouts.

I like the idea of asking the coach... but I would word it more like this...

Coach, What do you think I need work on to be able to help the team in the future?

Cong,
When I failed to make my freshman team two years ago, I went up to him and did just that. He told me in a porfessional matter that my arm strength just didn't compare to the bigger kids. Now I was a big contributor to the JV team before I got hurt.

havent you guys seen that inspirational TV commercial where they show Larry Bird's junior high, where he supposedly played on the 'B' team? he turned out okay

Hey guys, thanks a lot for the help. I will ask the coach what I need to work on to have the best impact on the team next year. This advice is great, so thanks again.

I cut Mike his Freshman year. He was a 5'8 130lb kid that struggled throwing the ball from first to the plate when we were taking infield in tryouts. He tried out at first base. In bp he could not struggled making contact and when he did he could not hit it out of the infield. He had good speed but that was about it. When I cut him I told him that he just was not strong enough to compete at the HS JV level. He looked at me and said Yes Sir. I told him to work in the off season and play in the local league. As a soph Mike was 5'10 and 145. His velocity was way up and around 73 and he was much stronger. He made the JV and was the ace on the staff. Then last AUG Mike was a regular at our off season strength and conditioning program. He was a 100% player. Meaning from Aug 1 to Feb 1 he attended all workouts. Thats right all work outs five days a week. As a JR he was 5'11 165 and was 79-81 with outstanding controll and command of three pitches. He was our #3 pitcher starting the year on our varsity program that was the #1 ranked team in the state at the end of the regular season. Mike had a great year and improved at the plate and in the field as well. His 60 has gone from a 7.4 as a freshman which is really good to a 6.8 now. Mike will be a sr this coming year and will be out in Aug for the off season program. He pitched sr legion this year and did very well. He will be a big part of our team this year and if he continues to improve at his current rate he will play at the college level after graduation. This kid did not quit when he got cut. He did not look for excuses. He found solutions. He decided to work and be the best he can be. Baseball is not a sprint its a marathon. Its not where you start the race but where you finish it. Alot of kid could learn alot from kids like Mike. He is the kind of kid that makes coaches like me glad we coach. What you do in the off season determines what you are capable of doing during the season.

Thanks a lot.