Update on your player?

Well, he seems to be working through his "baseball player's slice" and starting to concentrate on his short game. This scruffy par 3 course is helping with that.  Other than that, we're just waiting to see when his conference can play again, and if he'll still be there when it happens.

@JCG posted:

"baseball player's slice"

IKR

It is a simple enough fix really.

Baseball teaches to hit off the back foot.

You need to practice golf shots standing on left foot and right toe. Fix is pretty fast.

@Good Knight posted:

It is a simple enough fix really.

Baseball teaches to hit off the back foot.

You need to practice golf shots standing on left foot and right toe. Fix is pretty fast.

Thanks.  Yeah, that's what he's worked on and he's getting there.  For a guy who never really played before the pandemic, he's hitting the ball pretty well.

@Good Knight   Or just do what I do and play that slice......  then the most important thing to do is play it off like you faded it back on purpose

My kids are 32 and 27 now. The oldest, the softball player is a prosecutor of violent crimes. She’s been married seven years. She plays softball for the courthouse team in the county legal softball league. It amuses her to see lawyers compete as intensely as college athletes without the same ability or being in the same shape.

The youngest used five to play four to get his MBA. He works for one of the Big Four consulting firms. His girlfriend of a year recently moved in. A couple of weeks ago he told me unless he’s at a game or with me he rarely thinks about baseball anymore. He’s into a regular pickup basketball game and golf. Observing my son is like watching a movie of my life right down to at twenty-seven he realized it was time to calm down.  

My guy is still chasing the dream. He had a great first full season in the Rockies system in 2019. He made the conversion back to a starter and threw 132 innings, which is more than he threw his entire career at LSU. Covid really screwed up the development for him as it did for many, many players. It just stinks because time is NOT on your side in this game. I hope 2021 will get back to “normal” and he stays healthy as he hopefully progresses up the rungs.

Just the beginning here. HS senior who should get in some sort of a season in down in FL. He’s working hard to prepare for Mississippi State by focusing on getting stronger without losing speed and eating healthier. It’s still hard for me to wrap my brain around how big he is. He is also working on a pre game routine and has been interviewing with MLB teams. A couple of months ago he started mentoring 12 younger ball players which is outside of his comfort zone because he is shy. Our prayer is that he stays healthy and can keep having fun with the game he loves!

JCG,

it looks like Oakmont, Valley of the Moon

Bob

I can see why you would say that, Bob.  Looks kind of like Hood Mt. in the background, but those are the San Gabriel Mts. in SoCal.

Foxson graduated from ETSU December 2019.  He is now employed as a correctional officer in Sullivan County and is looking to work his way up.  He's now in booking.

He had signed up to umpire for the local leagues before covid-19 restricted everything.  So far he has only umped MS age games and only in the field.  He has yet to call balls and strikes.  At least he is keeping his hand in the game he loves.

@younggun posted:

My guy is still chasing the dream. He had a great first full season in the Rockies system in 2019. He made the conversion back to a starter and threw 132 innings, which is more than he threw his entire career at LSU. Covid really screwed up the development for him as it did for many, many players. It just stinks because time is NOT on your side in this game. I hope 2021 will get back to “normal” and he stays healthy as he hopefully progresses up the rungs.

younggun!!! Thanks for posting. I keep tabs on your player!  2021 hopefully will be better!

Haha. Thanks TPM. All these guys lost a year which is really the biggest issue. It’s a while other set of issues with the college guys. Glad my guy is not there.

CoachB25,

I remember that you said you had observed my son, Tim Melville from across the river many years ago. He is still living the dream.

The last two years have been most interesting. He began 2019 with the independent Long Island Ducks. After two strong starts, his contract was purchased by the Rockies and he was assigned to Albuquerque. In August he was called up and remained for the rest of the season. He was re-signed for 2020 on a minor league contract and an invitation to Spring Training.

While working up for the 2020 season, he noticed some rib pain and was diagnosed with a rib fracture. That limited his ST to essentially being a roving assistant. We were together the night the TVs were broadcasting that Covid had struck the NBA. The next day things began to shut down. The only good thing was that we had lots more time together than I planned for the week.

Eventually he was released to find other opportunities and he landed in Taiwan in the middle of the summer. He was one of three 'foreign' players to join the team in the second half of the season. The foreigners lifted the team and they won the Taiwan Series championship. Almost imediately afterwards, the 7-Eleven Uni-President Lions began negotiations with all 3 foreigners Brock Dykxhoorn, Teddy Stankiewicz, and Tim to return for the 2021 season.

He is awaiting work permits and another two week isolation upon arrival before he can rejoin the team. He is excited and so am I. Fortunately, most of their games are streamed live, many with English commentary by knowledgeable announcers. I would probably go for a game or two if I didn't have to do the two weeks in covid jail.

TMM

that is great story have your son keep a diary. My 22 years in Japan, China, Australia and Korea with our American teams provided a background of the future of baseball and the tools to succeed for players, coaches, scouts and parents.

Bob

@TMM_Dad posted:

CoachB25,

I remember that you said you had observed my son, Tim Melville from across the river many years ago. He is still living the dream.

The last two years have been most interesting. He began 2019 with the independent Long Island Ducks. After two strong starts, his contract was purchased by the Rockies and he was assigned to Albuquerque. In August he was called up and remained for the rest of the season. He was re-signed for 2020 on a minor league contract and an invitation to Spring Training.

Can't believe how many guys played for the Ducks.  Great organization and great fun!

Glad to hear the journey continues.

@TMM_Dad posted:

CoachB25,

I remember that you said you had observed my son, Tim Melville from across the river many years ago. He is still living the dream.

The last two years have been most interesting. He began 2019 with the independent Long Island Ducks. After two strong starts, his contract was purchased by the Rockies and he was assigned to Albuquerque. In August he was called up and remained for the rest of the season. He was re-signed for 2020 on a minor league contract and an invitation to Spring Training.

While working up for the 2020 season, he noticed some rib pain and was diagnosed with a rib fracture. That limited his ST to essentially being a roving assistant. We were together the night the TVs were broadcasting that Covid had struck the NBA. The next day things began to shut down. The only good thing was that we had lots more time together than I planned for the week.

Eventually he was released to find other opportunities and he landed in Taiwan in the middle of the summer. He was one of three 'foreign' players to join the team in the second half of the season. The foreigners lifted the team and they won the Taiwan Series championship. Almost imediately afterwards, the 7-Eleven Uni-President Lions began negotiations with all 3 foreigners Brock Dykxhoorn, Teddy Stankiewicz, and Tim to return for the 2021 season.

He is awaiting work permits and another two week isolation upon arrival before he can rejoin the team. He is excited and so am I. Fortunately, most of their games are streamed live, many with English commentary by knowledgeable announcers. I would probably go for a game or two if I didn't have to do the two weeks in covid jail.

Yes!  That is awesome.  You just made my day!  That is such a great story and a testament to both him and your family that he was raised that way.  It is such a challenge to go to a foreign country and try to play.  I wish him and your family nothing but the best!!!

From a parents perspective, baseball has been a God-send for all three of my sons.  Baseball has provided opportunities, focus,  and mindset that situations/problems can always be dealt with a positive attitude.   Years ago, my youngest son's high school coach had practice shirts made with #figureitout printed on the shirt.   By far the best best baseball swag any of my kids brought home.   I love that shirt.

Oldest son played 4 years of college baseball.  He was hurt his junior year.   Graduated from an Ivy with a engineering degree that he has put to use.   He met his engineering wife (and soccer player)  in college and married her 2019.   They recently bought a 250 year old farmhouse (that they are restoring) in a really nice part of New Jersey.  He is specializing in industrial cryogenics and gases, and recently passed his PE (Professional Engineer) on the first try.  She is a chemical engineer for an international consumer products company.  They both picked up tennis and platform tennis after college and has been playing in various leagues since graduation.   My son likes to build and fix things so he is putting his woodworking and welding skills to work on their house. 

After high school and high school baseball my middle son graduated from an ACC school in 2017 with an engineering degree.  He recently changed jobs within the same energy company going from nuclear energy to renewable energy sources.  He just got married in late Oct 2020.   Like his older brother, he also married an engineer.   He bought a house in early 2019, and has made significant improvements already.  They do a lot of hiking, play softball and he just started to pick up a tennis racket last Fall.

After high school baseball, my youngest son graduated college in 2019 and went into the Army as a specialist.   Basic training graduation in Fort Jackson was cancelled due to a hurricane.  His AIT training graduation at Fort Leonard Wood (Army Corps of Engineers) was cancelled due to the pandemic.   His Airborne training graduation didn't happen either due to Covid.   So, my wife and I are 0-3 on Army training graduations.   However, we've been fortunate that he is now stationed somewhat close (3 hours) to home and doing something he loves with the 82nd Airborne Divisional Command.  He's begun the process of going from a specialist to an officer, and it looks like he wants to make this his career.   This would require him to get his Masters degree which he is really excited about.   He just bought a new truck and has a new girlfriend who is in dental school.  Clearly, that #figureitout practice shirt applies to his case.   He didn't like high school and we kind of strong armed him to go to college.   He had to drop ROTC, but he eventually came back to the Army.  He never gave up.   The kid loves to learn now, and is clearly motivated. 

Again, I truly believe baseball had a tremendous effect on my kids lives in learning how to handle things when they were younger.  Now, they are grown men.

Awesome stories and thank you all for sharing them. It's really great to read the positive influence a fun game with a  stitched 5 oz ball can have on so many young lives.