Once had a dad at a showcase thank me for allowing his son the "opportunity to fail".
What are you thoughts on this statement?
I found it be a different and very interesting way of looking at things
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Sometimes a players head is bigger than the body can support and until they realize that a tumble here and there may be the best medicine. Another thought is many times you have to take one step back in order to take two forward.
Glass half full: Maybe it was his son's first look at high-level competition and gave him a perspective on where he was and what he needed to do to get where he wants to be.
Glass half empty: He didn't like your umpires.
Glass half empty: He didn't like your umpires.
Baseball is a game of failure.
The oppotunity to play at a high level and test your skills. A good player wants to face the best.
The oppotunity to play at a high level and test your skills. A good player wants to face the best.
I'm with Bobble on this one...the dad knows that the game is about failure and his son was being measured by how he dealt with it...good observation TR...it is an unusual statement to hear at a showcase.
I once read an interview with some 60s icon like Tiny Tim or Wavy Gravy -- somebody like that -- who said the whole meaning of life revealed istelf in one moment to him when he got a flat tire on the highway. He pulled off and for some reason got this overwhelming feeling to thank God for that flat tire - for reminding him that things can go wrong, that sometimes we just need to stop and pull over, that we need to gather our resources and put our mind to solving a problem -- but most of all for just being alive to experience whatever comes our way; i.e., growing through the exposure to many opportunities to fail in life!
My son’s first showcase will be this summer. We have talked a few times about what to expect and I can tell you we are looking at it differently. I’m looking to see what size fish he is in that great big pond of baseball. My sons looking to sign his first major league contract. I think the “opportunity to fail “ is the meshing of the two.
Maybe your showcase allowed the son to learn a lesson the father was trying to teach, but could not get across.
Again, experience being a great teacher.
Again, experience being a great teacher.
I like to preach thats kids don't fail, but their actions can and do fail. Their actions are correctable, but the young man should never feel like a failure. A lot of that comes from the mental side of the game, if they believe they have failed, they may loose a great deal of confidence.
I am sure the Dad was trying to be grateful and as another said, may not have been good at getting his point across.
I am sure the Dad was trying to be grateful and as another said, may not have been good at getting his point across.
ONE of the best life lessons my son ever learned was as a 13 year old. He sat the bench an entire season behind the coach's son. He was equal to...but not BETTER than the coach's son. Since that season, he has constantly worked to be BETTER than the rest. College stepped up the competetion, but he still works harder than anyone.
If that man's "thank you" was not sarcastic, I'd say he was one smart Dad.
If that man's "thank you" was not sarcastic, I'd say he was one smart Dad.
This one has caused me to think alot today and my take is probably different. I see it more as a positive comment on things.
In my mind, baseball is "the" game of failure. A batter who is successful 30% of the time is still a success. I believe the gentleman's comment may have been directed at just allowing the son to play this great game without expectation of perfection.
I also believe, the more highly regarded you are as a prospect, the more opportunity or lattitude you are given before being declared a failure. IMHO, baseball is a game that needs to be played without necessarily looking over one's shoulder. By allowing one to play - without fear of failure for the most part, you may indeed be fostering the young man's growth as a player.
I am probably reading more into the comment than there really was
In my mind, baseball is "the" game of failure. A batter who is successful 30% of the time is still a success. I believe the gentleman's comment may have been directed at just allowing the son to play this great game without expectation of perfection.
I also believe, the more highly regarded you are as a prospect, the more opportunity or lattitude you are given before being declared a failure. IMHO, baseball is a game that needs to be played without necessarily looking over one's shoulder. By allowing one to play - without fear of failure for the most part, you may indeed be fostering the young man's growth as a player.
I am probably reading more into the comment than there really was