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46 replies

What should I do?

R RageRoolz10+ posts
I am a senior catcher and my teams first game of the year was today. I have been in the program all 4 years, last year being a backup to a senior. Oftentimes I would be on the bench and not get any playing time, but i always remained upbeat and did what the coaches asked, warming up pitchers etc. I did get some playing time, but the vast bulk was given to the senior. This year we have a freshman catcher who the coaches are very high on. He throws well and catches well etc, but the things the coaches teach as such important "little things" such as framing the ball, blocking the plate etc i do better. our arms are a wash and so is hitting, although he is faster than me. Coach started him in our first game, and i did not say one word, i just went and did my job. I got into the game in the fifth inning and proceeded to catch well, stealing a few strikes and even made a play at the plate. The coaches kept complimenting things i was doing, and when the freshman was in they were constantly critiquing him on things that i excel at. Our team lost 4-2, and the freshman catcher allowed a ball to get by with a runner on 3rd, allowing him to score. I like the freshman catcher and have no problems with him, however, it is upsetting at the utter lack of loyalty my coach has shown me. After being nothing but a positive influence and a leader of the team, my senior year i am benched. the coach even walked up to me in the 3rd inning because i was being quiet and said "don't get down, we need you to be a leader and you will get in the game later."

how can i be expect not be down after i have worked and then have it go for nothing? I just nodded my head and when he put me in, i made plays. i want to ask the coach why he made the decision he did, but i hate to ever bring up these questions. it just bothers me that i do everything the coach asks for and in the end it didn't matter. my parents want to say something to the coach, but i have firmly told them no. but what should i do? shouldnt my play be enough? he is a better athlete than me, but the position is catcher and i do all the little things they have been hammering into me for years and still they go with him over me.it discredits everything he has been teacher the team. they say shut up and play. well, i played better than him today. will it matter tomorrow?

i still can;t believe my senior year first game i was benched. not because i think im some star, but because after the extreme loyalty i have shown to him and the whole baseball program, this is a betrayal. maybe i will start next game. i sort of expect it based on how the game went today. but if i dont, then i really dont know what to do. i feel like calling a coach out is not the job of a parent or a player, but i would like a reason. i really want to know if there is a reason other than they want to get him playing time so in the future it helps the team. i really hope that isnt the case. that would sting more than anything
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CM Coach May1,000+ posts
Thanks for posting that. I feel your pain and totally understand how you are feeling. What I would do is continue to do what you have been doing. Why? Because if you dont you will be letting yourself down. You will be justifying their decision to not play you. Dont do that. Dont give in. I believe that if you continue to do it the right way for the right reasons you will be rewarded in the end. And you will be able to look in the mirror and know that you didnt quit and you didnt let anything stop you from doing it the right way. Good luck to you. Dont give in and dont ever stop doing it the right way. I believe it will work out for you if you continue to hang in there.
YoungGunDadYoungGunDadHSBaseballWeb member since 2005
Young man, I agree 100% with what Coach May has said. He is a current successful high school coach and knows exactly what you are going through.

The only thing that I could add is this:

Though you can't see it now, you are facing experiences that will help you tremendously when you get older and face similar trials.

In order to be prepared then, ask yourself, how will I handle this today?
Last edited by YoungGunDad
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
The id of the tread starter is a bit disturbing is it not???

I am guessing he is a "Rage Against the Machines" fan which is common among boys his age. The surviving members of Rage are now with Chris Cornell and Audio Slave. How do I know all this about Rage? My son has a poster of them hanging in his apartment at school and he has trained me in the nuances of the Rage Smile

Rage Coach May gives great advice.
piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
I dont have any good answers here.....But I will offer that Baseball is a tough game.......and not only to play.....but the very nature of this game from HS on up is not fair.....it is subjective...

You can be as loyal and hard working as can be and still be replaced by some who is perceived as more talented or has more potential........

Every player on a college or pro team has only the moment.......the next recruit or next draft pick may be slated to come in and fit your position....

Its hard to take, but you have been given some excellent advice by Coach May..........dont give up, dont give in..........you can only control what you do.....

This happens in all our lives..........on or off the field........best of luck....
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
Rage - here is one of the cornier posts I have ever put up on the hsbbweb but I'll post it "Anyways."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmbLXAETHf0

Listen to the words before and during this song and I believe they speak directly to what Coach May is talking about. You might not get to play as much this year as you would like but put your heart into it anyways. I have a strong hunch you will be rewarded - now and certainly in the future if you keep putting your heart and soul into it. Let go of the worry of what the coach decides for that you have no control over. You can control your positive attitude and contribution to the team however. Show that side and let the other go and you will end up the BIG winner.

One other thing... Unselfishness is usually noticed and rewarded. Help that freshman catcher learn the little tricks you know about being a better all-around catcher. It might seem counter-intuitive but I'll bet someone will notice. Also, you will be helping the team win at the same time. There are dozens of ways you can contribute to that team.
Last edited by ClevelandDad
trojan-skippertrojan-skipper1,000+ posts
Rage... (by the way Coach May that was a heckuva great post). You are feeling the pain. Now it is time to move past that when you're on that practice field or game field YOU SHOW YOUR STRENGTH...

Make it known to all: Nothing can make me what I am not. I am not going to give in, back down or quit.

Son, I know it hurts like hel) and it's tough, but I've seen some who, if they stick it out they get rewarded double portion. Many don't, because the easy thing to do here is quit... But you could have done that when you were a soph; best wishes to you man. We wish you well.
G gimages100+ posts
RageRoolz,

Yes keep working hard and hang in there. One question though. Why would a coach start a freshman over a senior that has been with the program for years if the freshman is not head and shoulders better than the senior catcher? According to RageRoolz arms and hitting are a wash. Both have weaknesses and strengths behind the plate. Different types of players. Something else is going on here. I for one may be of base here but feel that the coach owes some loyalty to his senior player until that player either proves himself not able to handle a starting spot or until the freshman plays head and shoulders above the senior and takes the spot.

Why do we ask players to be loyal under all situations and do not expect the same form coaches? Maybe there is more to the story than posted here but I feel it was horrible not to start the senior catcher in the first game of the year under the circumstances that RageRoolz has stated. Then give the freshman several innings at the end of the game. Now you have a senior that feels wronged. Many games ahead to get the freshman experience.
CM Coach May1,000+ posts
We just dont know everything that is going on. It could be the freshman is very talented and the coach just wants to see early in the season how he is going to handle the posistion and the bat. It may be a situation where he already knows what he has in the sr and wants to see what he has in the freshman. Regardless of the reasons the answer is still the same. Keep working hard and be a great team mate. Keep a great attitude and just play your game when you are in the game. Never give a coach a reason not to play you , give him reasons why he needs to play you. Good luck this season young man. Fight and battle and play your butt off. Be a leader and be a great team mate. Be ready to do whatever you have to do. You will be fine.
CADadCADad5,000+ posts
Rage,
Hang in there and let us know what happens. Given a senior and a freshman with roughly equal talent, some coaches will play the senior because the freshman has plenty of playing time in his future. Others will play the freshman because he is more likely to improve over the course of the season. In any case, you can figure that if the coach brought him onto varsity as a freshman, he is going to get playing time.

Although I agree with Coach May's advice to you as far as keeping on doing what you are doing, you can't assume that is going to get you the starting job. My recommendation is to find a way to get better, such as finding a way to get a lot more BP. Don't count on being even with a freshman in most categories to get you the starting job. Your coach has already shown which approach he prefers and maintaining the status quo is not likely to work.

gimages,
I don't know if there has to be loyalty to that degree. As long as the senior gets some reasonable playing time and starts at least a game or two then that's loyalty in my book. The only thing I get upset about is if the coach isn't honest with the player about their situation and it sounded to me like the coach was honest with rageroolz. It is still possible at this point that the coach is going to alternate them 4 and 3 each game. That isn't an approach I like as I think it is better for them each to take turns playing a full game if they are going to alternate, but it is one that a lot of coaches take.
Last edited by CADad
Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
Rage,
You are going through something that is very hard. I know--I was in your shoes just last spring. I was a senior who had been in the coach’s program since 7th grade (was around my entire life). I definitely felt betrayed when I wasn’t given what I thought was a fair shot at winning the starting spot. I did get the first start of the year and we won. That was on a Monday and we played 5 games that week I think. I started three and we won two of those three. I felt pretty good because although I didn’t do a whole lot on offense, things were pretty solid behind the dish. Well, due to a variety of mishaps I found myself off the field and I really thought that I being punished for others’ mistakes. We were bad and I felt like he had chosen to move on which as much as I hated it, I understood why he was doing it.

I wasn’t a great catcher. I sat behind a kid now at a small DI school all through my freshman, sophomore, and junior year seeing very little varsity playing time. Junior year I saw a total of like 25 innings JV and varsity combined. To say I was ****ed would be an understatement, but I had to keep positive and “happy” because we were winning. So I wasn’t a “star” but I played on two conference championship teams.

Last year I went from being (I thought) the starting catcher to being a do-all player. If the pitching chart needed to be kept, that was my job. If the scorebook needed to be kept, you betcha. I chased foul balls, caught in the bullpen. I even volunteered to play the outfield after a kid broke his hand and I hadn’t played the outfield since freshman year. I played first and third base once each because he wanted to get me on the field. I ran the bases and I was in the dugout day in and day out doing everything I could to help the team win.

So where am I going with this?

I made ONE BIG mistake and I hope you won’t make the same. We were playing a doubleheader on a week night so we could make up a conference game. The first game we played like **** and our coach was of course ticked. He said he wasn’t going to play any seniors except the pitcher in the second game. Well, I didn’t even play in the first game so I was ****ed that I was being punished due to the play of others. We went across town to a field with lights and I was expected to warm the pitcher up. And I was assigned to bullpen duties the rest of the night because one of the catchers was catching and the other was playing in the field. I sat in the dugout absolutely ****ed. I talked to no one the first 10 innings. The game ended up going into 15 innings! The top of the 15th (we were the away team this game) we get a runner on and coach tells me to go run at first base! I ended up scoring the winning run!

My dad saw me in the dugout “pouting” and he wasn’t exactly happy with me. At that point, I didn’t care. The next day we had a school assembly which I was a part of and that was also my last day of high school. I just wanted to get out.

Rage, this is likely your last season of organized baseball. It’s your last semester of high school. Go with the flow. Things might not seem like they are going your way, but find a way to enjoy yourself these last few weeks. Do everything you can to help the TEAM win. I know; not what you wanted to hear. The TEAM has to come before ME and it’s hard. Help the younger players, encourage your teammates, and come to the game everyday with energy and excitement. I know you’re going to feel down about not getting to play, but baseball is supposed to be fun and it can be fun even if you’re not getting to play as much as you’d like.

It gets noticed. Attitude, hustle, etc it all gets noticed. You may not leave your mark on the program as a “stud” but you can leave your mark as being a team player and I urge you to make the best of it. Lastly, I urge you to not let the situation destroy your relationship with the coach. My coach, as much as I hated him at times especially last year, he’s one of my best friends. Just so you know, I am on the brink of tears as I sit here typing this. That’s how much it means to me.

If you want to discuss it further, feel free to send me a PM. I hope you find something from my experience useful.

Little Eyes Upon You
There are little eyes upon you
and they're watching night and day.
There are little ears that quickly
take in every word you say.
There are little hands all eager
to do anything you do;
And a little boy who's dreaming
of the day he'll be like you.
You're the little boy's idol,
you're the wisest of the wise.
In his little mind about you
no suspicions ever rise.
He believes in you devoutly,
holds all you say and do;
He will say and do, in your way
when he's grown up just like you.
There's a wide-eyed little boy
who believes you're always right;
and his eyes are always opened,
and he watches day and night.
You are setting an example
every day in all you do;
For the little boy who's waiting
to grow up to be like you.

Whether that "little boy" is 6 and in the stands, or if he's 15 and in the dugout; he is watching as are many others.
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
quote:
Originally posted by Bulldog 19:
Rage,
You are going through something that is very hard. I know--I was in your shoes just last spring. I was a senior who had been in the coach’s program since 7th grade (was around my entire life). I definitely felt betrayed when I wasn’t given what I thought was a fair shot at winning the starting spot. I did get the first start of the year and we won. That was on a Monday and we played 5 games that week I think. I started three and we won two of those three. I felt pretty good because although I didn’t do a whole lot on offense, things were pretty solid behind the dish. Well, due to a variety of mishaps I found myself off the field and I really thought that I being punished for others’ mistakes. We were bad and I felt like he had chosen to move on which as much as I hated it, I understood why he was doing it.

I wasn’t a great catcher. I sat behind a kid now at a small DI school all through my freshman, sophomore, and junior year seeing very little varsity playing time. Junior year I saw a total of like 25 innings JV and varsity combined. To say I was ****ed would be an understatement, but I had to keep positive and “happy” because we were winning. So I wasn’t a “star” but I played on two conference championship teams.

Last year I went from being (I thought) the starting catcher to being a do-all player. If the pitching chart needed to be kept, that was my job. If the scorebook needed to be kept, you betcha. I chased foul balls, caught in the bullpen. I even volunteered to play the outfield after a kid broke his hand and I hadn’t played the outfield since freshman year. I played first and third base once each because he wanted to get me on the field. I ran the bases and I was in the dugout day in and day out doing everything I could to help the team win.

So where am I going with this?

I made ONE BIG mistake and I hope you won’t make the same. We were playing a doubleheader on a week night so we could make up a conference game. The first game we played like **** and our coach was of course ticked. He said he wasn’t going to play any seniors except the pitcher in the second game. Well, I didn’t even play in the first game so I was ****ed that I was being punished due to the play of others. We went across town to a field with lights and I was expected to warm the pitcher up. And I was assigned to bullpen duties the rest of the night because one of the catchers was catching and the other was playing in the field. I sat in the dugout absolutely ****ed. I talked to no one the first 10 innings. The game ended up going into 15 innings! The top of the 15th (we were the away team this game) we get a runner on and coach tells me to go run at first base! I ended up scoring the winning run!

My dad saw me in the dugout “pouting” and he wasn’t exactly happy with me. At that point, I didn’t care. The next day we had a school assembly which I was a part of and that was also my last day of high school. I just wanted to get out.

Rage, this is likely your last season of organized baseball. It’s your last semester of high school. Go with the flow. Things might not seem like they are going your way, but find a way to enjoy yourself these last few weeks. Do everything you can to help the TEAM win. I know; not what you wanted to hear. The TEAM has to come before ME and it’s hard. Help the younger players, encourage your teammates, and come to the game everyday with energy and excitement. I know you’re going to feel down about not getting to play, but baseball is supposed to be fun and it can be fun even if you’re not getting to play as much as you’d like.

It gets noticed. Attitude, hustle, etc it all gets noticed. You may not leave your mark on the program as a “stud” but you can leave your mark as being a team player and I urge you to make the best of it. Lastly, I urge you to not let the situation destroy your relationship with the coach. My coach, as much as I hated him at times especially last year, he’s one of my best friends. Just so you know, I am on the brink of tears as I sit here typing this. That’s how much it means to me.

If you want to discuss it further, feel free to send me a PM. I hope you find something from my experience useful.

Little Eyes Upon You
There are little eyes upon you
and they're watching night and day.
There are little ears that quickly
take in every word you say.
There are little hands all eager
to do anything you do;
And a little boy who's dreaming
of the day he'll be like you.
You're the little boy's idol,
you're the wisest of the wise.
In his little mind about you
no suspicions ever rise.
He believes in you devoutly,
holds all you say and do;
He will say and do, in your way
when he's grown up just like you.
There's a wide-eyed little boy
who believes you're always right;
and his eyes are always opened,
and he watches day and night.
You are setting an example
every day in all you do;
For the little boy who's waiting
to grow up to be like you.

Whether that "little boy" is 6 and in the stands, or if he's 15 and in the dugout; he is watching as are many others.

Bulldog19 - I assure you this is one of the greatest and most honest posts of all-time here on the hsbbweb. You are a WINNER!!! Smile
M MTS100+ posts
Here is the problem. If I am the high school coach, I must think about the success of my program. If I have a senior catcher and a freshman catcher that are close skill wise, it would only make sense that I give my freshman more playing time knowing that there may be more upside in the long term. If you want to beat the freshman, you need to show that you have the better arm and the better bat. This means working on your throwing and batting. A senior should have an advantage batting over a freshman. You need to work to reclaim that advantage that you should already have.
Last edited by MTS
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
The TEAM has to come before ME and it’s hard. Help the younger players, encourage your teammates, and come to the game everyday with energy and excitement.
Last year Dustin Pedroia was hitting under .200 heading into May. The press was on him. Some teammates were skeptical of his ability. Alex Cora took Pedroia under his wing and helped keep him emotionally up. He defended Pedroia to the press. Pedroia came around and was Rookie of the Year. Who would have played had Pedroia failed? Alex Cora. That's a teammate!
shortstopmomshortstopmom1,000+ posts
Bulldog 19,
I only know of you from this site, but I gotta say kid, you seem to have what it takes when it comes to being a great human being.
Thanks for stepping up with this post and talking from your heart. I copied it and am handing it off to my son in the morning. I hope he shares some of your inspirational words with his team.

.....extra cookies kid! You deserve it!!
Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
This is not baseball-related, but I decided I needed to share this as well.. I have laid in bed the last 40 minutes thinking about this thread and it took me back to high school and so I've been thinking about this...


People talk about enjoying high school because it's the best time of your lives. They say to enjoy your senior year because you only get one. Well, not everybody gets a senior year of high school. Not everyone gets to be a senior baseball player, or in this case, a senior football player.

I had a teammate who missed his senior football season not because of grades, or an injury. Chris was on his way to football practice that June morning like many mornings before and summers before. 7:30 weights and conditioning Monday, Wednesday, Friday every week, every summer. June 19, 2006 my teammates lives, my coach's lives, my classmates' lives, and Chris and his family's lives were changed forever. He fell asleep at the wheel on his way to practice and the minivan he was driving crossed the yellow line into the path of a tractor-trailer. The truck driver did everything he could to avoid the collision even rolling his semi, but the collision was of such force that it is believed Chris was killed on impact. Pictures of the scene showed the engine of the minivan not in its normal spot in the front of the vehicle, but in the back seat. He didn't stand a chance.

We found out 2 hours later while we were doing some drills. A school social worker showed up at the practice field and wanted to talk to our coach. After a brief discussion, our coach told us to pack it up and head back to the weight room. When we got back inside, we were told of the accident.


I share this because I don't think people realize how lucky they are each and every day. Sure, things don't go your way and you have a bad day. At least you had that day to have a bad one.

We are always looking to the future. I'm in the same boat-- I can't wait to be done with this semester. Always looking to the "next level." What about today?

The past is history
The future is a mystery
Today is a gift
That's why we call it the present

RageRoolz, I hope you enjoy your senior year. You should walk off that field at the end of the year with no regrets. Trust me, even if the season doesn't go the way you want it to, you'll remember it and you'll wish you could do it again. I know I'm feeling that way right now and it's only been a year. It might take awhile to hit you when it's over. Enjoy it because it's over fast..
A ALCO10+ posts
I read your post and I will tell you that sadly your situation is all too familiar. My son is experiencing a very similar situation at high school. He had to miss some summer high school baseball games last summer and the coach was not the least bit happy. He told my son thathe will not find any baseball better than HS baseball and that he is either at the games or off the roster. Long story short, other coaches at the school got invloved and their involvement and support of my son helped him to stay on the summer team. As a result, this year he has lost his starting spot to a sophomore and he is very, very upset. I told him to work hard,get to practice early & be the last one to leave. I told him to shag foul balls and be the first to help clean up after the games. Sadly enough, these were things that he had ALWAYS done, but now he needed to do it better and faster. He knew that his efforts would be worthless, and most importantly he knows that he did the right thing on and off the field and he can hold his head high. Doing the right thing isn't always easy, but it can make you stronger in the end. Everyone keeps asking me what happened and most already know the story from last summer. Sometimes when people are given a little authority, they can abuse it terribly. The real shame is that my son wants to play college ball and being that he is a junior and his teammate is a sophomore, his teammate will have two more years to shine and this is probably the most important year for my son. I always thought that your coach should be on your side, but like I said in the beginning, this story is all too familiar. Hang in there and keep your chin up. In the end you will grow in many ways from this experience and become stronger. It is just a shame that people in a leadership position often show the ugly side of leading and the choices they make are very shelfish
and inexcuseable. Go get them and show them your stuff every chance you get!! Good luck!!
G gotwood4sale10,000+ posts
Wwelcome to he HSBBW ALCO.

Thanks for the very good post. I've never understood why a coach would do anything to diminish a player's confidence...confident players and confident teams win games and championships. It's that simple.

It sure seems that in your son's case that his coach could have reprimanded him if he felt it was necessary without leaving him feeling low. In my opinion the coach, and coaches like him, are shooting themselves in the foot by lowering the confidence of their players. Certainly not the mark of a good coach...more the mark of a lazy or incompetent coach.

If one player's confidence is lowered then by definition, with everything else being equal, the team's average confidence is lowered. That result, in my opinion, is taking the team in the wrong direction.

I absolutely have no problem with a coach being tough and hard nosed, but along with that he must be smart and realize that most importantly, for success, he needs the highest level of confidence for his team that he can achieve through his coaching efforts.

Being a good and successful coach is a very tough and demanding task and requires attention to many, many details. The rewards are large when the job is done right. When those factors that a coach can control are managed positively then success follows. Good coaches know the effort was worth it. Successful coaches are confident. They know the power of confidence.

Perhaps your son should be getting less playing time than the sophomore ahead of him. I don't know all of the details. I do think that wherever he is...bench or field...he should be confident and at a moment's notice be ready to jump in and contribute as much as he can. What a shame that his coach evidently doesn't see it that way. The coach has an asset on the bench, your son, who is not at present able to deliver to his fullest. It appears this could have been avoided.

I am not saying that a coach is responsible for some players lowered confidence. Some players lose their confidence and they don't regain it even when a good coach is trying to restore it. This happens occasionally and a good coach, like a good player, moves on to the things that he can control. I read that advice all of he time here on the HSBBW and it is solid advice. If it works for players it ought to work for coaches as well.

Tell your son to take note of his confidence. Explain to him how valuable confidence is to being successful. Have him grow his confidence by seizing every opportunity to perform and strive to progress. He may have to do this in spite of his coach, but he must focus on the things he can control and realize that his present coach will not be his next coach. Your son must be as strong and confident as possible for the next coach awaiting him.

When searching for a college academics are first of course and a good fit is necessary for your son to flourish. Should he be fortunate enough to play baseball in college a good fit with the program and the coach is necessary as well.

Much success to your son.


Last edited by gotwood4sale
observer44observer441,000+ posts
.
Bulldog 19...Simply outstanding. Thanks.

I have stuck up a friendship with a former DI coach in one the top DI programs in the country...

..he told me that talent was available, but in his opinon...what what was rare...what set programs and players apart...what created winners in baseball and in life was a desire and ability to be a team player and buy into a team concept....you get 25 guys on the same page you have something special and something magical.

Let's look big picture...IMO...At the moment we are being culturally conditioned (particularly as youth) by the star making machine, by ESPN, by Idol....that statistics, star and celebrity are all that matter. Well, that is simply not true. For every star there is a hundred people behind the scnes who made that happen. For every winning team there are there are 90% of the guys who we do not know and will never remember...but I can assure you that their teamates and their coaches will remember, forever. I do.

There always will be, and there always has been a place in our world for team players, those who get the job done without fanfare, and for those who can Grind. The older you get the more you come to appreciate such things. As parent, as employee, as spouse, grinding out quiet success hour after hour, day after day, year after year without your 15 minutes of fame....you will find those team skills more practically valuable and more critically important than any fleeting celebrity. And you will find the respect of those who matter the most...your children, your boss, your spouse.

Ask around, look around, for most players their greatest sports thrill was the magic being part of something bigger than themselves. When guys leave the game they don't say they are going to miss the success, they say they are gong to miss what goes on in the locker room. The irony is that that magical "team thrill", is more treasured in the long run than any individual sucess.

Don't let anything taint your ability to drink in and cherish every minute.

Cool 44
.
Last edited by observer44
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
There are coaches who give the upperclassmen the job regardless and there are those who play the best player regardless---such is life---this is the way it is---just because you were a starter last year or because you are a stud on your travel team it does not mean you have the job this year---the new kid may be better than you == coaches want to win and they will play the best 9 regardless of class in most cases

All a player can do is be a team player and work harder to improve his position in the eyes of the coach---bitching and moping about it on the part of the player and or parent does not help matters


I have been there trust me--when my son was a frosh the Varsity Coach called me and told me my son was better than his senior CF but he was a cioach who played seniors--OK---my son went to junior varsity--played every inning of every game- you know what--I think it was the best thing for him not to mention that the coach was man enough to call me and explain what he was doing and why


BOTTOOM LINE: have the player keep his chin up and keep working hard--remember that he is part of a team
A ALCO10+ posts
Thank you all for your kind and encouraging words. If one thing is true, my son loves being with the guys on the team, on the field, off the field and on the bench. Is he a stud, no. But, he is stronger then the player who is playing ahead of him. My son is a very black & white kid. He will be the first to tell you where he fits on the team and the first to tell you someone has better skills and deserves the job more than himself or someone else. He is a true leader by example and he continues to do so even when things go wrong. The shame here is that his situation is payback for missing some games due to travel ball conflicts. So in the end, the coach gets to show everyone that in the end is the boss. Hey, life happens and my son will learn from this and hopefully grow because of it on & off the field. Sadly, my son will not appreciate this lesson learned just yet. He is not happy, but he will work hard and grab opportunites and show himself and the coach the in the end the coach made a poor decision.Thank you all again for your insite!!!
A ALCO10+ posts
Randy, I totally agree with you. My son is on a wonderful travel team, he has been to college showcases, etc. The real story here is about being a leader that makes good choices, not a leader that is going to say," Kid, I have the upper hand and i will show you." In the end, no one wins. It is a shame that our kids need to be victims of such short sighted people that are put in a position of leadership and yet continue to be poor examples of making the right choices. Life is about choices and I tell my kids that all the time. Enevitably, Our choices effect more people than just ourselves and this is a perfect example. Thanks again for the post!
F futurecatcher271,000+ posts
Bulldog,good advice given bud.I agree with what you said

Rage,its hard to sit when you know you are the better player.The same thing is going on with me.I missed 4 months of practice due to having 2 stress fractures on my spine.I returned in early january,with spring scrimmages only 3 weeks away.I rehabbed very hard in those 3 weeks,and was ready for the first scrimmage.I hit .285 in 12 scrimmages,and played very good defense.Our other catcher didnt have a single hit,and pitchers even began to request me as a catcher because they didnt have confidence in our others blocking.

Now,the other catcher has been playing in roughly 14 games,while I have only played in 7.I lost my job due to an injury.Some of the boosters have approached me about this,asking why Im not playing.Everytime Ive replied its a coaches decision.It stinks,but what can you do.

Try to stay positive,and do it for your teammates.Do it for the seniors who you have been playing with for probably longer then high school.A lot of the guys that are in my grade,I have been playing with since 4th grade.To them,I owe my most positive support.Even if the other catcher plays ahead of you,dont be mad at him.Hes not the one filling himself out in the lineup card.Try not to get angry,although its hard,and I hope things work out well for you.
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
For all the players who have posted in this thread, your insights have been invaluable. I hope that more players can post. You can feel the raw emotions in these posts and I can say that all of the thoughts have been honest and show maturity in how to handle things. It is nice to see these players keep grinding in spite of forces that are beyond their control. I also like the thoughts about not blaming the other kid who is merely responding to the coaches decision as well.
play baseballplay baseball1,000+ posts
I am late in coming to this thread--I am pleased that Bulldog 19 bumped it back to the top so that I could find it....Yes, Bulldog, I had tears while I read your original post. It was one of the most heartfelt and sincere posts that I ever read. I was thinking about my sons as I posted it, and my daughters, too.... I will copy and save it, I hope you don't mind. It was magnificent, as so many have said.

Sometimes we just think about what we write or what others write....I understand about just lying in bed, just thinking...and then have to post. I am glad you did that, too. My tears flowed a little more freely while reading about your teammate. My son lost a friend when he was 12--he ran between parked cars chasing after a water balloon. His parents had an "18th" birthday party for him, and invited all of his friends. They asked for and received tickets to his class' graduation. Tragedies affect the entire community. It does give one pause. You are a good friend to remember your teammate and his family.

quote:
The past is history
The future is a mystery
Today is a gift
That's why we call it the present

RageRoolz, I hope you enjoy your senior year. You should walk off that field at the end of the year with no regrets. Trust me, even if the season doesn't go the way you want it to, you'll remember it and you'll wish you could do it again. I know I'm feeling that way right now and it's only been a year. It might take awhile to hit you when it's over. Enjoy it because it's over fast..


You have always been a wonderful member of this community of ours. It has been fun "reading" you grow up. Your posts of the past week have told me that you have matured into a terrific person, one who respects others and in turn, deserves respect. I am proud of you. I hope your parents are, too.

I look forward to reading more from you.
Last edited by play baseball
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