What's your take on this?

B - approach the coach not about playing time but about our player's strengths and weaknesses as perceived by the coaching staff

 

This is clearly about playing time. I'm not fooled by it. Neither will the coach. It will be perceived as a multi-parent power play.

 

Even assuming that all your sons are actually way better hitters than the D1 pitchers, nevertheless you've just got to live with this situation. 

 

Given that assumption--that is, if an omniscient higher authority  could certify all your sons' clear superiority at the plate--then I'm sympathetic to your sons, and can see why you're dazed and confused..

 

.

 

C - Help your son become a man and talk to the coach about what he needs to work on in order to benefit the team. Then keep his head down and work tirelessly toward that end.

What's the overall record of the team right now? What is the record in conference / league?

Don't say anything to the coach!  Your kid needs to self advocate...

Message to son should be... Focus on the eight other spots.  Focus on what it takes to improve to the point where he leaves no doubt.  Focus on the positives - once he earns the starting spot, there are scouts at his HS games!  Focus on contributing in any way possible to a powerhouse team.  The accomplishments of this team could be something he remembers for the rest of his life.  It's largely up to him whether those memories will be positive or negative, starting or not.

 

If your perception is that the only way son gets in the lineup is to hit for the pitcher, he still has much work to do.  I'm sure son is a very good player to have made a roster of such a strong team.  He will only continue to face tougher competition as he moves toward a college program.  All efforts should be focused on continued improvement and best mental approach in handling these situations.

 

While Freddy is right that the coaches will know that #B is about playing time, it is still the correct respectful way of asking, assuming of course it is son asking and not parent.  Although it should be tweaked to ask what areas need improvement to earn more PT.

 

There are plenty of possible viable reasons why those pitchers are hitting.  But it doesn't do you or your son any good to speculate.  Your son will also benefit greatly if you are a positive supporter of the program and every player in it both at the games and at the dinner table. 

I'm going to let your tone slide as I was previously warned that some of y'all love to beat up on the newbies...

 

That being said, sure, it's about playing time. It's also about opportunity for the player and holding other player's accountable for their contribution or lack of it.

 

So did you have anything constructive to add or was that it?

 

 

Winning...we have GREAT pitchers remember? Just want to make sure that when we have those 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 games in May that we have our hitters at the plate when every run counts.

Yep. Check. Son encouraged to show ability all over and I am always the head jock strap, er, uh, athletic supporter??

dazed&confused -

 

cabbagedad is spot on.

 

Your son can only control his skills and attitude.  Be a team player, root for those in the line up and be ready when his chance comes.  Neither you, your son or others can control the coach.  It is HIS team.  He is the coach.

 

The only time a parent should approach the coach is over health issues or possible abuse. 

 

Freddy is correct - B will more than likely be interpreted as an issue about playing time.  Best thing for your son (not you) to do is to approach the coach and ask what he needs to do to earn playing time.

Always remember, the coach wants to win. He's doing what he thinks gives the team the best chance to be successful. He might be wrong, but he isn't looking for advice from players or parents.

 

High school seasons are short. Maybe he thinks these guys just need more ABs to get rolling. Maybe he knows they can hit, but it just hasn't happened yet. Again, maybe he's wrong, but it's his team and his decision.

 

During my son's sophomore year it seemed like "everyone" knew he was a better hitter than half the kids in the V line-up except the V coach. He kept tearing up JV and forced them to bring him up late in the season. He ended up starting and making the final PO in the state championship game, and now he has a big shiny ring.

This -- as well as your comment above about holding players accountable -- seems to imply that you feel that you have some role or should have some role in making lineups and coaching decisions.  I'd be interested to know more about that.

 

As for being rough on newbies -- not true.  But the board does tend to be rough on newbies when their first post is a complaint about playing time.

What position does your son play and how what year is he?  Is there an older player ahead of him at his position(s)?

I guess I'm wondering where you think your son fits in?   He must not be a pitcher....or he'd be pitching.   If they have started using a DH for the pitcher....and he's not the DH, then either 1) he's not the top hitter available.....or 2,3,4,etc) he's not the top hitter available.   You never mentioned the other 8 position players, so I assume you're ok with them starting...meaning your son in your mind is at best the #9 guy (who happens to be the DH).  You seem to have gotten your wish....that the team would stop letting pitchers bat.....so at this point, I'm not sure what your complaint can be....again, only because you're basically said that your biggest problem is no longer a problem. 

No offense but if the team is winning then this really makes you sound bad.  I'm not trying to be the guy who throws down on newbies coming on here but when people have very few posts and one of them is about playing time - it looks very selfish.  You may be the best person in the world raising the best kids.  You may have very valid reasons but end of the day you're not helping yourself on your image by asking about playing time, approaching the coach about players strengths / weaknesses and that stuff.  You come to me with that stuff it will be very hard to not just outright kick you out of my office.  

 

Tell your son to work to where he can't be left out of the lineup.  

That's not what I feel my role is at all. How many ABs do those kids need?

 

I'm not complaining about playing time. I'm complaining about kids who aren't hitting the baseball.

getting my popcorn ready for this one....

Sound advice. Really. Thanks.

Try not to burn it.

As many as the coach feels they should get. Until you apply, interview, get offered, and accept the job, your opinion of how many ABs they need is immaterial.

I'm going to let your tone slide as I was previously warned that some of y'all love to beat up on the newbies...

 

hmmm, just joined site 3 hrs ago.  knows the board tone about playing time complaints.

 

Long time listener, first time caller? 

Okay I can go along with that.

Haha. No seriously. Read my comment. Someone suggested I ask the question here and WARNED me I would be jumped on.

I was thinking the same thing.

Wait? What?  You have a friend that is a member of the board, or at least has been around the forums enough to recommend it to you. 

Why didn't your friend ask the question, and .... what is your friends thought on the subject? 

Okay dude. Don't believe me. I don't care. But here you go:

 

Coach's brains are a fickle and temperamental thing...have you tried posting on a board like https://community.hsbaseballweb.com/forums  which is actually geared to high school baseball and recruiting and such?  Some people on there will be prone to slap down a newbie poster but there are some VERY knowledgeable people who will actually try to give good advice, including scouts and coaches and parents of MLB players past and present that are there to share the wisdom.

I never said I didn't believe you.  I think you took my post out of context.  But I would love to know what your friends advice was other than "go ask the HSBBweb". 

Okay you guys it was me....I sent dazed&confused here because as you ALL know my kid isn't in high school yet.  When someone from another board sends me a private message asking for my advice about a high school situation I know enough to know that I don't know enough!

 

I also was clear that it was going to be a tough sell because the first conclusion is sour grapes and or kid isn't good enough to play...etc. But dazed&confused helps out a lot on another board geared for younger ages...so please attempt to look past initial thoughts on sour grapes/kid's not good enough and please give them some advice.

 

P.S. dazed&confused...lay off the people that have posted so far....they are just having fun, consider it a hazing ritual

...That it had something to do with scouts calling to see would be playing that night. Or any night. So the coach may be feeling pressure to put these kids in wherever.

 

Didn't really advise what to do about it...only that this could be the reason.

Dang we literally were posting at the same time. Lol.

 

Lay off? It's just now getting good!!

Since his playing days, my son's always had a way of saying this that I've liked. For pitchers, it goes, "You have to make the coach give you the ball."

 

When players have questions about their playing time, I'm firmly in agreement with others here. They need to approach the coach in a one-on-one, non-stressed environment and find out, specifically, what it is that they need to work on to be awarded more innings.

 

When parents have questions about playing time, see the paragraph immediately preceding this one. This should always be strictly between a player and his coach; and questions about other players' time are meaningless/unwarranted.

OK, since you seem to be a good sport, I'll take another crack.  BTW, welcome to the site!

 

You said -

"The problem? None of those recruited as pitchers have proven to be able to hit a lick this season yet they are still in the lineup hitting practically ZERO collectively..  However, having heard time and time again that if you hit they will find a spot for you isn't really coming to fruition as others aren't getting ample opportunity to prove their stuff. Contrarily, have also heard that if you don't hit on this team you sit isn't really panning out either.So, what in the world could be the reasoning behind this? We are definitely in the hunt to go all the way, but you are only as good as your weakest link. The message we are getting is that none of the other guys are worth a crap since they aren't a D1 pitcher. Something stinks.."

 

A few observations-

We have a D1 bound starting P who, prior to season, has proven to be perhaps our most capable hitter.  Wins all team contests, shows more power and consistency in cage, on-field hitting and inter-squad.  First seven games, hits were not falling and confidence dipped a bit.  To the parents watching the games, it probably looks like someone else should get a shot.  Should we pull him, knowing he can really help the team more than others once he gets it going?  Not always an easy decision.

 

You said- 

"I've always used the hard and fast rule that numbers don't lie. I will also be the first one to shut up when my kid's numbers stink. However, they don't. I know what he did last summer and fall and throughout the off season."

 

Every year, we have a bench player or two put up great numbers.  But it is usually the result of coming in late in games when the top pitching has long since been removed.  These guys, day in/day out, are clearly not the hitters our starters are despite the fact they have better numbers.  Not saying this is your son - just addressing your emphasis on numbers in general as it relates to the beginning of a short HS season.  You know what your son did last summer and fall.  Do you know what each of those pitchers did?  More importantly, do you know how they are all doing this spring in recent practices when pitted against one another?

 

You said- 

"We have noticed a little, tiny, bit of change in the last couple of games where we had a DH for whoever pitched, so that's a start."

 

If, after 7 games, they are already making adjustments to something they have been trying to solidify since last summer, that's a pretty good sign that they are aware, paying close attention and willing to make difficult changes if they are called for.  Furthermore, how is this "little, tiny"?  What more can they do regarding P's who are not hitting?

 

Regarding opportunities - Most years, our players 9-13 get plenty of chances to move up the depth chart, not only in fall, pre-season practice and inter-squads but in scrimmage and pre-league games as well.  This year, we have had the perfect storm of events (more late multi-sport kids, no scrimmage, injuries, drops, very competitive non-league games, etc.) that have minimized our ability to give those guys the game reps we normally would.  I'm sure, to many of those parents, it looks like they aren't getting a fair shake.

Your son's team is clearly a powerhouse.  Yes, it takes great players but the coaching staff usually has something to do with winning programs loaded with D1 kids.  You probably need to give them some credit that they are making decisions to the best of their abilities and that they are likely pretty darn capable. 

 

 

 

Numbers: not his numbers (which another poster says actually can lie - dying quails, ground balls with eyes and all the other stuff from Bull Durham) because I agree and what anybody hit last year is a moot point now anyway.

 

The numbers I was referring to are the lack of numbers this spring. A K is a K. An out is an out. The gray area exists when something got SMOKED right into somebody's glove...but I digress. And lord please don't get me started on QABs. It's like saying, "he may have missed the free throw, but did you see the beautiful arc on the ball?". Ugh. Just no. (Now QABs that result in hits or moving runners is another thing entirely.)

 

Anyway, the lack of hits are the numbers I'm referring to and it isn't lying right now.

 

As to any sense of control in any direction - nope. Zilch. But that never stopped me from over analyzing things to death. I am truly trying to find the best in everybody and give everybody the benefit of the doubt and for the first time have thought maybe there is more going on than meets the eye. Other parents in control? Back room deals? That's why I'm asking.

 

I have to ask though - the statement I made about the tight games later in the season...what about that makes y'all think I have a say in things? Or ever did? Sorry if it looked like I blew it off. I was kinda dazed&confused as the name says.

 

You said this: Regarding opportunities - Most years, our players 9-13 get plenty of chances to move up the depth chart, not only in fall, pre-season practice and inter-squads but in scrimmage and pre-league games as well.  This year, we have had the perfect storm of events (more late multi-sport kids, no scrimmage, injuries, drops, very competitive non-league games, etc.) that have minimized our ability to give those guys the game reps we normally would.  I'm sure, to many of those parents, it looks like they aren't getting a fair shake.

 

Hmmmmm. This sound eerily familiar. So if you are my son's coach...please don't take it out on him! LOL.

 

No seriously. I am not so sheltered nor arrogant to think that we are the ONLY people in the world who have gone through this which is why I came here to ask for some advice. I appreciate everything I've read so far. Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

While I certainly got bashed my first week or so being on here I must say I have never seen it from freddy.  So I think you may habe come in a little defensive.  Sometimes its a balancing act.  I coached at two state championship programs.  I likes to use a DH even for good hitting pitchers.  I wanted all their focus on the mound.  But there was one in particular - in fairness a decent hitter - who was just simply bummed out when he didn't hit.  I know I could draw the hard line in the sand and just say you ain't hitting and that's it.  But sometimes its better for the team all the way around if you keep your stud pitchers happy.  Sometimes I let this kid bat just for that reason.  Maybe these pitchers want to hit for any number of reasons.  Keeps them more into the game, still hoping to be a two way player, or it just makes them happy.  If they are big time pitchers mowing down the opposition and winning games for the team...  then just be thankful you have them!

That made me laugh!  Good tip for a newbie, have a good sense of humor!

..and the newbie is the one that threw out the good return!

Yeah that was an obvious bad choice of words.

 

How about:

"I would like to think..."

OR

"My hope and prayer is..."

 

dazed, what year is your son?  And I am assuming that the pitchers you are talking about are playing positions as well, not just hitting for themselves as pitchers.  Is that correct?

Interesting perspective. From what I've seen it usually keeps stud pitcher's daddy happy too. Sometimes I really do wonder what all goes on.

 

Cabbagedad talked about happy parent oblivion which is where I have chosen to be all along until I thought MAYBE it might be detrimental. I'm going to have another heart to heart with my son just to make sure his ego stays intact through all this nonsense and that he's ready when opportunity knocks. Because I have a feeling it's about to!