Things Parents worry about most with projectibility

Metropop,
I have one piece of advice for you.
Get a pickup truck.

quote:

Originally posted by Metropop:

I want my kid to play college ball. I hope my kid is good enough to get drafted. I dream of sitting along the 3rd base side of Wriglely telling the guy next to me that the kid hitting is my son. The dream is alive!!! Its OK to admit it parents, you want it and you want it bad for your kid because you love them unconditionally.

No problem with what you want, it's the worrying about it that is the problem.

Here's a story, some might relate.
At 13-14 my son joined a newly formed league, he was aasigned to and always remained on, what some of you may consider, the "least talented" team of the league.
One of the teams was stacked with the 13-14 dynamos, the ones who got to play the tournies and tougher teams. Also, the ones who threw harder, and hit HR's in every game. These were the local kids who were projected in HS as top D1 prospects and future pro prospects.
However, on the national level you never saw their names mentioned and it wasn't because tehy didn't attend showcases, tourneys, etc.

Did son stress about it, no way, he had a blast, he got to play wherever he was needed (played every position) and he got to face the toughest hitters in the league.
Did we stress about his future, no way, was a great learning experience for him, and that IS what it IS about at that age.
At 23 son has done better as a player than any of those players, including where he ended up in college and at the pro level.
Perhaps some will disagree, but you can't "project" a 13-14 year old. You can state all you want how "good" your son is and will be, but until he is compared to his entire graduating class within the country, you really have no idea where he will fall.

That's why I beleive these are enjoyment years, you can do all you can to help make him a better player, you can't worry about where he will project.

JMO.

quote:

I haven't been on here in a while and I read this whole thread, post by post today.

There isn't a parent out there that has a kid playing competitive or travel ball that doesn't want want or hope for a scholly from a college. You can be passive in your wording and say it means more to your son than it does to you. OK, but I'm not buying it.

I want my kid to play college ball. I hope my kid is good enough to get drafted. I dream of sitting along the 3rd base side of Wriglely telling the guy next to me that the kid hitting is my son. The dream is alive!!! Its OK to admit it parents, you want it and you want it bad for your kid because you love them unconditionally.

I have about a 99.9% chance of being disappointed in the not too distant future, but in the meantime I'll continue to cram my compact car with catchers equipment, helments bags and oh so strategically placed buckets of balls so my trunk will shut and enjoy the reality of spending time with my kid at the ballpark. We'll both keep right on dreaming too, I'm 100% sure about that.

Teach the 3 P's. Pride, Poise and Perseverance

I would tend to agree with you there. I am a dreamer, always have been and always will be. It's good to dream, after all, every major leaguer in some aspect dreamed big before they hit the big show. Dreams are the prime motivating force in our lives. Dreams drive us to push harder, have greater work ethic, and enjoy lifes twists and turns better. My son has a dream and I share that same dream with him- to play in the big show some day! Sure, I know the odds- its like 1 in 22,000 or something crazy like that but if you never gamble and play the game you never even get those odds!

But, if you work hard to back up your dreams, then slowly, every day those odds begin to shrink until eventually through hard work and dedication those odds are more like 1 in 220, work harder and it becomes 1 in 22, keep at it and suddenly its like 1 in 5 odds. You gots to keep playing the game to improve the odds. We can control our dreams and prepare a favorable outcome if we just believe!

Its funny all the naysayers and partypoopers out there just wishing to shut peoples dreams down telling them their kid dosen't have the talent or skills as if they are somehow wishinga curse upon you to not make it happen. I mean really- how many times do you run into someone who honestly regards your dreams as a possibility and supports you in them? Not very many!

Gingerbread Man,

That was very well said. I was going to post a response but LMAO I cant do better than that so qudos to you.

Hard work can make dreams a reality!!!

dreams are a wonderful thing, they can get people going in a direction. or they can leave people standing there dreaming of the day. i think maybe a goal is a more realistic word, something that can be attainable.

we all know the people that dream of winning the lottery, and know just what they'll do when it happens. but can't get ahead at the job their at.

i don't think anybody here wants to dash any dreams, in baseball and life a goal is something to work towards. when you reach it, then a new goal. before you know it your there.

i for one would love it if all your son's made it as high as they want to in this game. but don't worry if they don't, there is enough in life to worry about. support and enjoy their journey,it will be over way to soon.

I'm with you guys. I'll enjoy every pitch and every swing; it all ends - way too soon, in ANY case.

One thing though, no Wrigley for my boy. I prefer he wins; he's no lovable loser, and I'm no Bartman.

We'll be at Chávez Ravine!

quote:

Metropop,
I have one piece of advice for you.
Get a pickup truck.

I'm waiting on my son's signing bonus, he said he'd buy me one. I probably have to wait about 9 more years, 12 if turns down the money on draft day and accepts the scholly from a D1 powerhouse, but I'm pretty patient.

I'm projecting by that time he won't have to use his whole hand to grip the baseball, be able to make the the throw from 3rd to 1st without using the pitcher as a cut and will have added about 300 more feet of "pop" to his already natural homerun swing. Maybe by that time he'll actually be able to slide, instead of just "sticking". I also love the fact that he points out flaws in Joe Mauer's swing and says Pujols would be a better hitter if he would relax a little more!

Yea, I'm pretty confident the dream is going die sooner than later, but you talk about having fun and laughing, I'm there.

I hear you. We were contemplting hiring Boros but now I think I'll just take a couple of online courses and manage his career myself. That way I can work in a boat or two and maybe a ranch or something nice like that. He's 13 now so worst case scenario he's in the bigs by 19. I can wait six years standing on my head.