What To Expect At The Next Level?

JLC posted:

Here is a an article regarding a D1 baseball player.  I would guess that other divisions aren't much different. This was posted on this site last year and I found it interesting. 

https://www.theodysseyonline.c...ball-the-16-hour-day

In answering the OP's question - the link JLC posted is a good indication of what to expect.  My son's experience was similar.  I've always maintained it's not just one full time job, but actually two - one as a student and one as an athlete. 

Though my son was not a pitcher (played 1B), that schedule was about what he had at JuCo and D2.  Each day started a 5 am and he did not go to bed until after 10 pm.  Spring was worse with an average of 4 games per weekend (a doubleheader each day) and at least one game during the week.  On home weekends, he was at the field by 8 am for a doubleheader starting at noon.  Field prep first, then warming up for the games.  20 minute break between each game.  Last game over around 7 pm, then an hour of "clean up" before being heading to his apartment or dorm.   Dining hall didn't open 'til 10 am on weekends  so he was on his own for breakfast - somewhere along the line no one mentioned that.  Despite all that, he really loved the game and would do it again in a heart beat.

A few comments on D3 pitching. My son finished high school last year, did summer ball with other college players -- D3, JuCo, and some D1 -- and it went well. It was not a big adjustment for him. His high school team was not particularly good, but they played against some of the top teams in the area. He faced a few pitchers who were hitting 90mph. Most were not.

Same with the summer league. Most of the pitchers were in the low to mid 80s. Control still an issue for many of them. The fall schedule at his D3 college was pretty light. They played a double header against a good community college team, and I'd say the pitching was about the same for both teams in those games. My son got a couple of hits and had pretty good at bats. As a freshman -- a good, but still developing player -- he is quite comfortable with the level of play.

Now it's winter break and he's working with his baseball  tutor three times a week and going to the gym almost every day. He wants to go into the Spring season at the top of his game and earn some decent playing time.

Good thread, but going back to this question in the OP:

Is there typically a drastic difference in the quality of pitching?

I took a look at your league's stats from last year.  The champion averaged 7.6 runs per game!  Even the 8th place team scored 6.8 runs per game.

Win your spot in the lineup and be prepared to mash!

FWIW, over Thanksgiving weekend I saw two 2017 HS grads (a PAC12 player and an Ivy player, home for the long weekend) at my son's baseball game. I asked them a version of the OP's question: "Is college baseball super intense?" The answer I got [from the PAC12 player] were that the lifting is way more intense. Not even close. The baseball work (at least in the fall) was described by both as not more intense [perhaps due to NCAA limits on fall practices?]. Maybe that will change in the spring?

College schoolwork was described [by the Ivy player] as a lot less busywork but very demanding [which makes sense given that HS students are in the classroom 30+ hours per week, whereas college students are in the classroom about 15]. And both kids said the other big bonus was no commuting time [my son's HS has quite a bit of that]. 

This is a great thread and the one thing I see missing (at least I missed it) was the importance of mental toughness. My son who just got home for Christmas and I were talking about his time playing and he said the major difference to the guys who performed well throughout the season were their mental toughness. He said one of his teams top pitchers had nowhere near the stuff of some others, but he was a mental giant. No matter the situation he would control himself mentally and he was always in the frame of mind that NO ONE was going to beat him. Conversely the "best pitcher" on the team was unhitable  in practice but could never get it done during real games.

The top players also know how to focus on baseball when it's time to play baseball and focus on school when it is time to be doing school work. Being able to switch back and forth with intensity and focus is what really separates many top players, at least according to my son.

So true BOF. While speaking to some former players the other day who are now in college they spoke about the importance of mental toughness. 

BOF posted:

This is a great thread and the one thing I see missing (at least I missed it) was the importance of mental toughness. My son who just got home for Christmas and I were talking about his time playing and he said the major difference to the guys who performed well throughout the season were their mental toughness. He said one of his teams top pitchers had nowhere near the stuff of some others, but he was a mental giant. No matter the situation he would control himself mentally and he was always in the frame of mind that NO ONE was going to beat him. Conversely the "best pitcher" on the team was unhitable  in practice but could never get it done during real games.

The top players also know how to focus on baseball when it's time to play baseball and focus on school when it is time to be doing school work. Being able to switch back and forth with intensity and focus is what really separates many top players, at least according to my son.

Couldn't agree more. Start off by understanding the game, learn the game and this is part of the building blocks for mental toughness. 

Mental toughness is always being prepared. Never shift into “Woe is me, I’m getting screwed, I’m better than him,” mode. Shift into “Stay mentally and physically prepared to deliver when you get your chance” mode. Successful spot appearances can turn into bigger opportunities.