Their Ultimate Goal.....

OS8,

Not entirely sure of your entire post (the 8 part along with grapefruits) but I will try to answer the first part of your question.
My son, along with our guidance, decided to use his college experience as his preferred feeder, training, venue, etc. to play pro ball. Where he was going and who would be his coaches played a huge part in that decision.

Because of where son was going, his scholarship amount, he had serious signability issues. I do beleive he could have been drafted in rounds 5-7. And despite the scholarhsip plan available by MLB, we wanted him to have the college experience. It was not about the money.
It was about the reality that only a FEW, very few get to where all of our sons want to go. It was about growing up and being away from home in a place he could call home before he went to WORK. Because that was what he was going to do, go to work and as mature as he was, he was not ready to go to work,IMO.
My sons baseball college experience has been played out on a larger venue than some of the other folks here. I have been told that by a parent who posts regularly that I forget that sometimes. But I actually don't. I look at the difficult conference my son plays in, how hard it has been to work for his position and then wonder what it would have been like if he had gone pro. There were times that he was very frustrated, I wonder what would have been if he was not where he was. If it has been that difficult for him there, I can just imagine what it would have been like as a professional. That was the right decision for HIM.

Yes, the questionaires are designed to find out where the players head is at, so are the psychological tests. My son is going through the same process as yours, but I can tell you it is much easier three years later, for him, in fact, he handles all of it himself. We don't even talk about it much. He certainly is much more focused at 21 and ready to begin a career than he was at 18. He has been fortunate to have a great experience where he is at and I realize that doesn't happen for everyone. His college experience has been a great trainign ground for him, not just in the game, but how to handle himself as a young man, having to work under a coach who runs his team more as professionals than college players. I think that all of these things have to be taken into consideration when one is making the decision.

I think that what you have to do, as a HS senior parent, is help your son to answer as best as he can, honestly and then put it out of your mind until that day comes. It is not anything to stress over, I have learned that. Enjoy your sons last year in HS.

I do so hope that the above is not taken as being arrogant, it is not meant to be. I post so others can learn from our experience.
Each situation is different, each family has different needs to fill. That was ours, it isn't about what other kids say, what other parents say, what college coaches say, what scouts say, what advisors say, it's about what YOUR son wants to accomplish in his life and how he chooses to get there.

Good post TPM. No we don’t think you’re arrogant because we know you’re honest and your input is greatly appreciated. I think your example is a very good one of why “pro grade” players go to college. OS8, no two players are alike and this makes this question have as many answers as there are players. Just the accomplishment of being able to play of college baseball is a great accomplishment alone and happens because of many different things. There are great players, good players, and average players. There are powerhouse college programs and there are very weak college programs. But no matter how strong or weak the college program or talented the player, whenever the fit between the two is good, the results will almost always be good. Since most college baseball players do not end up playing professional ball it would be unfair to use professional baseball as a benchmark to measure a player’s success in college. While you might use the draft as a goal for your son, this is his unique situation and may not apply to his teammate or others reading this post. There is no common denominator in college baseball other than the love of the game. just about any player that has a love for the game has the desire to be a professional baseball player but only a few get the call. Players understand that. That’s not bad ----- that’s just the way it is. At first it was difficult for me to understand that some players will mature in college and become better pro candidates and some will mature in college and decide to hang up the cleats. Both of those scenarios are good.
TPM, being the mother of a pitcher you cannot appreciate the “grapefruit” reference. Pitchers love to throw “pills” or “BB’s” while hitters love to see “grapefruits” and “beach balls”. The “8”???? ---- Well, we assume the 8 in OS8 is there because of the admiration for Carl “Yaz” Yastrzemski.
Fungo

I really hope that there are truly only a few players who use college baseball as their feeder ground..........4% of professional (drafted or undrafted) players actually make it to the major leagues.

There are several thousand players across the county who continue to play college baseball because they love playing and want to play for as long as they can. That is a direct answer to your question.

Significantly more players use college baseball as preparation for careers outside of baseball than for preparation as professional baseball players.

Fungo,
Thanks for explanation on the grapefruit and 8 thing.
Good thoughts as always.
The title of the post was their ultimate goal, and that is what should be a big consideration.
Most college players don't go onto play pro ball, and IMO neither do most HS players.
Yes, and all players that have the love for the game strive to do their best to be a professional baseball player. Only a few get the chance. It is a very great thing to beleive in yourself and work as hard as you can to possibly reach that goal. My sons former team mates that were drafted are thrilled to have that opportunity, but once entering pro ball, see that it is a lot harder to obtain those goals than they ever imagined.
My thinking has changed greatly in the past years.
Bottom line, if you want to play pro ball, sign, if you want to go to college, go to college. If money factors strongly into the decision, then so be it, if not, be prepared to understand the entire process, how signability and talent factor into the drafting teams decision as to where you might be drafted or in our case, not be drafted at all.

Grateful,
Good post.

TPM

quote:

My thinking has changed greatly in the past years.

My thinking process is evolving.
But i'm not sure I would of changed anything?

Every situation has to be dealt with by the Player and his family.

To me there's a progression that you must go through.
LL,Select,HS,College,Pro's.

That's what's best for my son.
I feel he's a late Bloomer.
And need's to mature and get More involved in his life after baseball.
I don't feel the same way that OldSlugger8 feel's.
I don't feel that player's are using the College baseball as a feeder ground.
I just feel it's part of the process for a Student Athlete.

Also what about the love of the game?

The Whole Game.
Being able to play the whole game rather then specialize.
2 way player's.

How do you catorgorize them?
If a player can pitch, And play a position.
Is a good hitter, And run's well.

They may not be ready to give up that part of there game?
Not for anything if they still have option's.
EH

EH,
The progression you speak of is not for everyone.

There are players that use college as a "feeder", and have their own reasons to do so. Doesn't make it a bad thing. Maturity, college experience, excellent coaching, conference championships, national championship, get a degree, etc. are many reasons. Most of these players most likely would have been drafted high after HS. I know a player ranked 30 in his class and projected top round. His strong desire to go to college brought him into the 20 something round. That's what they told the scouts, and that's what they stuck to. He WANTED to go to college first. His talent was passed over for a player who obviously wanted to go pro after HS.

The point I was making in my first point,you can ask a lot of people their opinions, as many people as you ask you will get different opinions.

The right answer is only right for that particular player.

It is something to seriously think about, but now is not the time to do so. Draft is 6 months away, that's a lot of time between now and then. Lots of baseball to be played.

If a player and family need help answering questionaires, feel that they could be an early pick, then seek advice of an advisor.

JMO.

quote:

The “8”???? ---- Well, we assume the 8 in OS8 is there because of the admiration for Carl “Yaz” Yastrzemski.
Fungo

thats a right on !!

great posts.......TPM.......very nice...........thanks

quote:

I think, when to take your shot" is probably the most difficult decision a kid, and his family can make. Thats where the $$$$ come in to play, as well as the CSP, level bonuses, and free flights for the FAM.

Start thinking, but when you do, consider the SA farms, the $50M signing rights, and the entire global aspect of competition for the right to play, and get paid.............

An experience of one of my son's good friends/teammates impacts my views on this thread in a signficant way.
In 2004, Brian had probably the best season of any draftee in his organization. Started Spring training in 2005 with hype and expectations. Since that point, surgery for a shoulder problem, two wrist surgeries and a battle with cancer intervened.
So much can get in the way of the "ultimate goal." The competition level of professional ball can be understood if someone does their homework.
The physical impact of a 144 game schedule, plus Spring training, on an individual player is a huge and drastic change. The mental aspect of playing 144 games, having failure, sometimes prolonged failure, is unbelievably hard to contemplate until your son is involved.
Adding the vagaries of life for young men 18-22 to that process, including illness, family issues, outside personal issues would certainly be adviseable.
When you know more, have seen more and understand more, the factors listed, for me at least, don't begin to encompass those that should be in consideration when viewing the challenges to achieving the "ultimate goal". Viewed from where we sit now, the "preference" to be a 22 year old vs 26 year old rookie almost always isn't the preference of the player.

There are some very wise words in the posts in this thread.

I'm not sure I could add much to any of it other than to acknowledge all that has been said. So I won't. Good job to all!

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What he said....



Are ya ready for some Baseball?


At ease.

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