No Adbono. Buttttt since you brought it up. Just kidding.
@3and2Fastball posted:Fair enough. Then let me ask you with all seriousness: which generation is or has been softer? Millennials perhaps, as they didn’t have to go through a pandemic during their youth?
Asking sincerely, I have an open mind
I get what you're saying, and sorry I should have probably been more nuanced in my response. I think my age group (I'm late 40s) probably have it easier than kids today. But I have friends that lost family in 9/11 and they'd likely disagree. I just don't want to pigeon hole an entire generation. It may be a cop out but I don't think I could say classify one.
@nycdad posted:I get what you're saying, and sorry I should have probably been more nuanced in my response. I think my age group (I'm late 40s) probably have it easier than kids today. But I have friends that lost family in 9/11 and they'd likely disagree. I just don't want to pigeon hole an entire generation. It may be a cop out but I don't think I could say classify one.
I'd say I was pretty lucky to be born in 1966. I was too young to be drafted into the Vietnam war and too old to consider serving in Iraqi Freedom. My generation focused on work-life balance and had enough money to buy a house and save for retirement. Overall, if I'm honest I'm pretty soft in many ways. But I worry about my kids future all the time: the risk of war; diminishing influence of religion; political divisiveness; evils of social media/porn; the biases of media outlets; the list is long. I don't think todays generation has it easy at all.
So baseball serves as a bit of a compass for them. Learn how to get along with others. Be positive and supportive. Learn how to face failure. Have goals. Learn that hard work has intrinsic value. And importantly, keep them so busy they can't get in too much trouble as teens.
That all said, my 2023 thinks Millennials are a bunch of entitled, weak sauce, man bun narcissists... He cracks me up.
@Dadbelly2023 posted:I'd say I was pretty lucky to be born in 1966. I was too young to be drafted into the Vietnam war and too old to consider serving in Iraqi Freedom. My generation focused on work-life balance and had enough money to buy a house and save for retirement. Overall, if I'm honest I'm pretty soft in many ways. But I worry about my kids future all the time: the risk of war; diminishing influence of religion; political divisiveness; evils of social media/porn; the biases of media outlets; the list is long. I don't think todays generation has it easy at all.
Interesting, I was born in 1969 same generation. I would have been comfortable arguing that ours was the last generation that wasn't coddled, was sent out to play for the day without needing to check in or be worried about it, was trained to crush the world because that is what America does, understood what the cold war was and meant and why it had to be won and so forth....the people in my generation at least that I associate with have struggled with work life balance and many have raised kids to soft to effectively compete. I guess experiences vary.
I did my best to raise 2 well rounded kids who are prepared to go crush the world because that is they are supposed to do. I also worry about today generation but that is because I believe to many of them are soft or worse....I think baseball people are typically in the upper percentiles of success the general rank and file are way way behind.
Why can’t they be like we were?
Perfect in every way.
What’s the matter with kids today?
-Bye Bye Birdie 1960
@Dadbelly2023 posted:I'd say I was pretty lucky to be born in 1966. I was too young to be drafted into the Vietnam war and too old to consider serving in Iraqi Freedom. My generation focused on work-life balance and had enough money to buy a house and save for retirement. Overall, if I'm honest I'm pretty soft in many ways. But I worry about my kids future all the time: the risk of war; diminishing influence of religion; political divisiveness; evils of social media/porn; the biases of media outlets; the list is long. I don't think todays generation has it easy at all.
1966 here too. The leading edge of Gen X.
I’ll try to get us back on topic@Francis7 posted:Anyone willing to answer some or all of the following questions?
How long ago was your son a college freshman baseball player?
Freshman this year
What level was he playing? Juco, D3, D2 or D1? Something else?
JUCO (FL)
Did he stay at that school through graduation? If not, how many different colleges did he attend?
Should have AA after 3 semesters. 2 yr commitment here, then hopefully off to somewhere he’s as happy
If he switched schools, why did he switch?
#JUCORoute
How much did your son play as a freshman? If he did not play, was he redshirted? If he was redshirted, when was he told about it?Everyday starter with a few innings on the mound here and there. Leading team in several offensive stats.
What were the biggest surprises and challenges for your son freshman year?
In the beginning of the fall season it took a little time to get used to the physical grind and the quality of the pitching day in and day out. Once he did, he starting having more success and started rapidly climbing the lineup card.
It wasn’t really a surprise, because I’ve been watching this conference for a long time, but the number of scouts/recruiters in the fall is insane.
Looking ahead at the “recruiting out of JUCO” phase, has me in a weird place mentally. I know it’s driven by his JUCO coach, and we trust him… still just seems a little strange.Overall, how was your son's experience as a freshman baseball player? Did it meet, surpass or miss his expectations? How about in regard to your expectations as a parent?
For my wife and I, it really couldn’t be going any better!
For our son, he’s really enjoyed getting to know some high caliber players from around the country. He’s playing against some great competition, which he loves. He enjoys the coaches a lot also, which has been a big plus.Based on your son's experience as a freshman baseball player and your's as the parent, what advice would you have for the freshman player and his parent?
He definitely made the right choice going JUCO! Just this spring he’s had over 100 plate appearances so far. Find a place where there is a path to playing time.
1. Control what you can control! 2.When you get the chance to grab that bull by the horns, don’t you dare let it go!Did your son complete 4 years of college baseball eligibility? If not, why?
TBD
Way to go Tug Tide! Your son definetly made a great choice!
@Francis7 posted:Anyone willing to answer some or all of the following questions?
How long ago was your son a college freshman baseball player? Spring of 2020…..infamous COVID YEAR
What level was he playing? Juco, D3, D2 or D1? Something else? D1
Did he stay at that school through graduation? If not, how many different colleges did he attend? Currently at 2nd and hopefully final school
If he switched schools, why did he switch? Not only just lack of playing time but more importantly lack of explanation of reason for this after 3 years there
How much did your son play as a freshman? If he did not play, was he redshirted? If he was redshirted, when was he told about it? Very little. Received his first start as a pitcher against a nationally ranked power and had a bad outing. Didn’t see the field much for the next 2 1/2 years
What were the biggest surprises and challenges for your son freshman year? Time management and the fact that college baseball was a lifestyle that you have to dedicate to a lot of things, not only the sport
Overall, how was your son's experience as a freshman baseball player? Did it meet, surpass or miss his expectations? How about in regard to your expectations as a parent? Son and dad’s expectations both missed the mark
Based on your son's experience as a freshman baseball player and your's as the parent, what advice would you have for the freshman player and his parent? If it looks like a duck sounds like a duck and walks like a duck, it’s a friggin duck! We all see what we want to see in a situation and a program and hear the stories but never “believe it will happen to my kid”….well it will! Son was one of 2 LHP on team. Had 9 2/3 ip in his 3rd year there when he made his team aware he would enter portal after end of season. Saw 14 more innings the final month of season. Transferred to a P5 school and after 5 starts has more innings than he had at former school in 3 years! Listen to the stories you hear….they will come true !
Did your son complete 4 years of college baseball eligibility? If not, why? Working on year 4 with Covid year still available
@Dadbelly2023 posted:But I worry about my kids future all the time: the risk of war; diminishing influence of religion; political divisiveness; evils of social media/porn; the biases of media outlets; the list is long. I don't think todays generation has it easy at all.
Emphasis mine. My understanding is even enrolled college kids can be drafted; though lower hanging fruit in say a non didactic GAP year would be more "at risk"... Food for thought to those applicable. Certainly crossed my mind.
@2019Lefty21 - nails it with: "We all see what we want to see in a situation and a program"
This is perhaps the most important warning that I would now offer to anyone in the recruiting phase.
One thing that I will never forget and kick myself now about with the coach at my son's former school:
He recruited my son hard. Texted with him a lot...almost everyday just before he verbally committed. When we had the visit with him, before committing, he said something to me, my wife and son: "I realize that you could go D1 and play with a Power 5 and I wouldn't blame anyone who makes that decision. But, at our school we can offer you...(and then he went into his sales pitch)."
And, when he said it, my first internal private thought was "Does he think I'm an idiot? There's no chance in hell that my kid is getting offered by a P5."
It just came across as very insincere and rubbed me the wrong way. But, I ignored it and focused on "what I wanted to hear" and that was a mistake. Because, in the end, despite everything that I heard about him, the coach turned out to be different than what we had heard (and wanted to hear).
Some of the best advice I got was from 9and7dad on my very first post:
I'd say the head coach that recruits him now won't be the same guy he plays for. It will be the same human being with the same name, but he'll be a different guy. He won't be nearly as friendly, and he won't make as much time or show the same kind of interest.
I don't think that has been true in our case, we've been pleased - but it was good to go in with that mindset, and I've never forgotten the way he phrased it.
I have a theory. In some cases coaches will recruit you because they don't want you to play for that "other" team. That happens a lot here in FL.
With all the things that you have posted here in the past few months, sounds like your son was not happy being far from home along with his injuries, not necessarily because the coach wasn't living up to his or your expectations. It works both ways.
Most successful HCs are tough to live with, no matter the division or conference or sport. They show you their best side during recruitment. The player has to prove he/she belongs, to get the respect that they feel that they are entitled to. The more successful the program the tougher the coach will be.
That's been like that since my son went off to play. He called many times that he wanted to come home. He managed to get through it.
I can assure you not too many have played for a HC as tough as Jack Leggett. But he stayed the course, and look what he is doing now!
Playing a sport in college and the coaches expectations that come with it is really tough. It doesn't work for everyone.
The HC is not going to be your BFF.
@anotherparent posted:Some of the best advice I got was from 9and7dad on my very first post:
I'd say the head coach that recruits him now won't be the same guy he plays for. It will be the same human being with the same name, but he'll be a different guy. He won't be nearly as friendly, and he won't make as much time or show the same kind of interest.
I don't think that has been true in our case, we've been pleased - but it was good to go in with that mindset, and I've never forgotten the way he phrased it.
Then there’s the coach who recruits the player and leaves for greener pastures after a couple of seasons. The new coach comes in and is the polar opposite as a person.
The plus side is my son learned in college, in life you will have to work for and with people you don’t like and deal with it.
How long ago was your son a college freshman baseball player? Fall, 2018
What level was he playing? Juco, D3, D2 or D1? Something else? D1
Did he stay at that school through graduation? If not, how many different colleges did he attend? He attended one school, graduated in three years and did the first year of a teaching program before he got drafted.
If he switched schools, why did he switch? NA
How much did your son play as a freshman? If he did not play, was he redshirted? If he was redshirted, when was he told about it? He pitched out of the bullpen for a the first few games, got his first win on I think his fourth game.
What were the biggest surprises and challenges for your son freshman year? HIs and mine were different. I was surprised at how well he handled academics. I'm not sure what surprised or challenged him.
Overall, how was your son's experience as a freshman baseball player? Did it meet, surpass or miss his expectations? How about in regard to your expectations as a parent? I never really talked to his high school coach, but for some reason it surprised me how little I spoke to his college coach. I think we had four conversations — the offer, after his first win when HC told me he at least didn't suck, a game where he gave up four home runs and PC sought us out to say he did a great job doing what they asked him to and he was an example to younger kids of keeping his head high and putting his team in a position to win (really????) and the field at senior night, when HC asked if he might come back next year.
Kid just was so happy to play and to work hard and I think that alleviated any surprises.
Based on your son's experience as a freshman baseball player and your's as the parent, what advice would you have for the freshman player and his parent? Go in ready to work your butt off, listen to your coaches, keep your mouth shut and be ready to learn both in class and on the field.
Did your son complete 4 years of college baseball eligibility? If not, why? Yes.
@PTWood posted:Ok. Doing this for HS:
How long ago was your son a HS freshman baseball player?
4 years agoDid he stay at that school through graduation? If not, how many different HS did he attend?
No. Changed schools in January of his Junior year so 2 schools.
If he switched schools, why did he switch?
He was told he would not be allowed to play baseball his junior year because he did not play for his HS coach’s travel organization the previous summer. He was told that the only pathway back to playing on the HS team included him playing exclusively for his HS coach’s travel organization the upcoming summer (summer between junior and senior year). Playing for the other organization was key to his college recruitment (he committed to Mississippi State fall of his junior year) and continuing to play outside of his coach’s travel team was key to his continued development as a player. Hardest part was leaving his basketball team which was ranked #8 in the nation when he left. He was fine leaving basketball behind because baseball was always his favorite but his basketball teammates and coaches were amazing.
How much did your son play as a freshman? If he did not play, was he redshirted? If he was redshirted, when was he told about it?
He was on the JV team his freshman year and played every inning, primarily in RF. Loved the JV coach and played well. His sophomore year he was on varsity. Sat at the very beginning of the year for playing basketball (basketball playoffs overlapped with one pre season baseball scrimmage). Then got some innings as DH but often had a pinch runner for him. Finally earned some innings in LF close to play offs. Switched HSs and started every inning for a nationally ranked team primarily in RF. He just finished his Rookie year in the minors for the Padres, started practically every inning in CF. Batted .372 and stole 10 bases with an OPS of 1.000. Was the Padres player of the year for the Arizona Complex league.What were the biggest surprises and challenges for your son freshman year?
Biggest surprise is that some coaches are more wedded to their system of doing things than to fostering the unique talents of each player. And that sometimes, no matter what you do, you will never be a coach’s cup a tee so listen to the cues. If you have a quiet son and the coach loves a team that yells and screams all game it might not be a good fit. If the starting outfielders are all tall and long and your son is compact (or vis-a-versa) it might not be a good fit. If the coach talks about the importance of tucking in your shirt and a clean locker and your kid has organizational issues, it might not be a good fit. We applied this to his college selection after learning this in HS.Overall, how was your son's experience as a freshman baseball player? Did it meet, surpass or miss his expectations? How about in regard to your expectations as a parent?
Major “miss” at his first school but so many lessons were learned. And mind you, he still would have stayed if he had been able to play with a different organization in the summer because he loved the school. But he wanted to play HS baseball. Ever since his first HS, major “meets”expectations. So far each level has prepared him for the next and although his journey is not over, we feel as though he is mentally prepared for the challenges baseball brings him.
Based on your son's experience as a freshman baseball player and your's as the parent, what advice would you have for the freshman player and his parent?
Work hard, stay true to yourself and drown out the noise (rankings, comparisons, etc). Your journey is uniquely yours so learn what you can from other people’s experiences but do not be afraid to forge your own path.
Did your son complete 4 years of college baseball eligibility? If not, why?
N/A currently chasing his professional dream and no longer has college eligibility
I just wanted to say that my son is a high school player in the same city, and we avoided this school because of what happened to your son and the others. I've always been grateful that the truth about how the coach there operates came out. So thanks!
I'm thrilled for your son's successes and hope he has a long and wonderful career.
@SunnyMom Thanks for reaching out. It was a tough thing to go through but there are lessons in everything. He is in a better place for having gone through it all! Wishing your son tons of success!!
@Francis7 posted:Anyone willing to answer some or all of the following questions?
How long ago was your son a college freshman baseball player? 2016 Baseball season
What level was he playing? Juco, D3, D2 or D1? Something else? D1
Did he stay at that school through graduation? If not, how many different colleges did he attend? YES ALL 4 YEARS
If he switched schools, why did he switch? N/A
How much did your son play as a freshman? If he did not play, was he redshirted? If he was redshirted, when was he told about it? HE WAS A STARTER FROM GAME 1
What were the biggest surprises and challenges for your son freshman year? Pitchers especially P5 relievers threw hard
Overall, how was your son's experience as a freshman baseball player? Did it meet, surpass or miss his expectations? How about in regard to your expectations as a parent? Surpassed his expectations to start every game. I was happy to attend most games knowing he would be in the lineup.
Based on your son's experience as a freshman baseball player and your's as the parent, what advice would you have for the freshman player and his parent? Parent: Enjoy the ride and let the coaches coach. Attend as many games possible . Player: Make sure you get schoolwork done to player. Time management is key.
Did your son complete 4 years of college baseball eligibility? If not, why? Yes His graduation year was the season before Covid. He was fortunate
I just had a (now) funny recollection of something my son learned freshman year. My son always had a “don’t need no stink’n protection” attitude about padding. He called it “old school cool.”
Then Nick Burdi hit him in the arm with a 100 mph fastball. Burdi would come out of the pen throwing one inning of smoke. He came out of the game after an inning. He couldn’t lift his arm for three days. When he returned he wore an arm guard from that day forward. He figured since he caved he also went with a stride leg shin guard.
Freshman UTL L/R was playing in 2/3 weekend series and some midweeks. Went 3/5 against one of the best New England programs and promptly broke hamate in the 9th inning of Sunday's game. After surgery yesterday, is eligible for a medical redshirt by one game, and now will focus on being 100% for summer in the PGCBL. Was playing unfamiliar positions to get bat in the lineup and was doing decent (.225) for a freshman.
This one story is something to share regarding freshman year experiences. This was my son's former school.
He gets there and he's one of only 3 catchers on the roster. Great opportunity as a freshman not to get redshirted. But, probably not the greatest roster management decision to deploy - especially in the fall.
Team has 5 AM lifts every weekday. Most of the time, the trainer is blasting their legs.
In the afternoon, it's team workouts. The other 2 catchers, who are juniors, come up with "injuries" (aches and pains, bumps and bruises) when it's time to catch bullpens. There's 22 pitchers on the roster and my son has to catch all the bullpens because there's no one else. It really sucks...but a freshman has to take his lumps. He's spending 3 hours every afternoon catching bullpens after blasting his legs all morning.
Now they start intrasquad scrimmages. And, anytime someone does something stupid, after the games, they have to run suicides on the hill until they puke. (Usually punishment because someone didn't run out a fly ball.) Coach tells my son: You're a catcher, when the team runs, you have to run in full gear including the helmet.
This isn't just once, it goes on for a couple of weeks. Blasting legs in the morning, bullpens all afternoon, running suicides in full gear. Groundhog day. Over and over.
Now, the kid's legs are shredded. Jello has more strength than his legs. And, finally, he says to the coach: With everything we're doing, my legs are shot. I'm not building anything. I'm just tearing apart what I got.
The coach's answer was "You'll be a better man for it when it's all over."
So, the kid keeps grinding and dragging himself through it. And, then he comes up with a shoulder injury.
To this day, I'm convinced the shoulder was the result of all that throwing on legs that were shot. I have no proof but I know he went to school with a shoulder that was 100% sound and 100% rested.
It's stuff like this that you might want to anticipate when your son is a freshman.
@camb3232 posted:Freshman UTL L/R was playing in 2/3 weekend series and some midweeks. Went 3/5 against one of the best New England programs and promptly broke hamate in the 9th inning of Sunday's game. After surgery yesterday, is eligible for a medical redshirt by one game, and now will focus on being 100% for summer in the PGCBL. Was playing unfamiliar positions to get bat in the lineup and was doing decent (.225) for a freshman.
Stupid question but I have to ask...what make and model bat was he using when he broke his hamate?
@Francis7 posted:This one story is something to share regarding freshman year experiences. This was my son's former school.
He gets there and he's one of only 3 catchers on the roster. Great opportunity as a freshman not to get redshirted. But, probably not the greatest roster management decision to deploy - especially in the fall.
Team has 5 AM lifts every weekday. Most of the time, the trainer is blasting their legs.
In the afternoon, it's team workouts. The other 2 catchers, who are juniors, come up with "injuries" (aches and pains, bumps and bruises) when it's time to catch bullpens. There's 22 pitchers on the roster and my son has to catch all the bullpens because there's no one else. It really sucks...but a freshman has to take his lumps. He's spending 3 hours every afternoon catching bullpens after blasting his legs all morning.
Now they start intrasquad scrimmages. And, anytime someone does something stupid, after the games, they have to run suicides on the hill until they puke. (Usually punishment because someone didn't run out a fly ball.) Coach tells my son: You're a catcher, when the team runs, you have to run in full gear including the helmet.
This isn't just once, it goes on for a couple of weeks. Blasting legs in the morning, bullpens all afternoon, running suicides in full gear. Groundhog day. Over and over.
Now, the kid's legs are shredded. Jello has more strength than his legs. And, finally, he says to the coach: With everything we're doing, my legs are shot. I'm not building anything. I'm just tearing apart what I got.
The coach's answer was "You'll be a better man for it when it's all over."
So, the kid keeps grinding and dragging himself through it. And, then he comes up with a shoulder injury.
To this day, I'm convinced the shoulder was the result of all that throwing on legs that were shot. I have no proof but I know he went to school with a shoulder that was 100% sound and 100% rested.
It's stuff like this that you might want to anticipate when your son is a freshman.
It’s stuff like this that you should already know about before your kid commits to a school. I bet that there is not one player that was on the roster the year before that wouldn’t have talked about it had they been asked about what fall practice sessions/training regimen was like. A lot of college HCs run their programs like this. But it’s not that hard to find out which ones do and don’t. 5 am lifts is a red flag and where there is one red flag there are often many others.
@Francis7 posted:This one story is something to share regarding freshman year experiences. This was my son's former school....It's stuff like this that you might want to anticipate when your son is a freshman.
I know it's too late to do anything about this but I imagine your son will be going thru the process again.
When it came down to decision time our travel coaches set up calls with their former players that were currently in the programs it had been narrowed down to. It was an honest no holds barred discussion that covered the ugly side of it.
For the programs we didn't really have any player connections to he typically just DM'd a current player and asked some questions.
There were two schools that weren't #1s but were definitely in consideration that were crossed off because of some of the petty nonsense that went on at in the program.
Some may not like this subject. But, it can be a problem for softball players. When my daughter was a freshman she dealt with serious sexual harassment … from her teammates. They were trying to determine which “team” she was on. 40% of D1 female athletes are lesbians.
She went to the coach. The coach told her to deal with it. It turned out the coach was a lesbian. I advised my daughter if she pursued it any further she would have to quit the team. She chose the school because it was D1, major conference, competitive and one of the top schools in the country for her major. She was going to stay at the school.
She got a guy friend to be an occasional faux boyfriend, watch parts of practice and wait for her outside the locker room.
@Francis7 posted:Stupid question but I have to ask...what make and model bat was he using when he broke his hamate?
Rawlings Velo 33/30 2019 and also the 2021 Version.
@adbono posted:It’s stuff like this that you should already know about before your kid commits to a school. I bet that there is not one player that was on the roster the year before that wouldn’t have talked about it had they been asked about what fall practice sessions/training regimen was like. A lot of college HCs run their programs like this. But it’s not that hard to find out which ones do and don’t. 5 am lifts is a red flag and where there is one red flag there are often many others.
The weird part is that, no matter who you ask, current player, former player, parents of players, travel coaches, former colleagues, opposing coaches, they all never have a negative comment about the coach. My guess is because he wins, he wins a lot, and it's consistent every season. More than a dozen years on the job, lifetime winning percentage better than .667, almost always wins the conference.
@Francis7 posted:The weird part is that, no matter who you ask, current player, former player, parents of players, travel coaches, former colleagues, opposing coaches, they all never have a negative comment about the coach. My guess is because he wins, he wins a lot, and it's consistent every season. More than a dozen years on the job, lifetime winning percentage better than .667, almost always wins the conference.
I have not found this to be true. You have to ask the right people and you have to ask the right questions. It's easier said than done. There were two P5 schools that had offered that were immediately crossed off the final list because of concerns other people had talked about when asked.
In our program over recruiting is a problem. Opportunities for those towards the end of the depth chart are an issue. Coaching/Dev is lacking. Our coach's ego is concerning. When people ask about our coaching staff and I don't know them well enough to get into details I tell them this:
Since I've been part of this program - 4 players have been cut, transferred out and have been drafted since. Make of that what you will
Adbono,
It is similar to Ft Campbell basic training. If you desire info on a team ask the umpires and Sports Writers
Bob
When my son was fourteen I started attending college games and chatting up parents. I was told a lot of negative stuff without asking.
@Francis7 posted:The weird part is that, no matter who you ask, current player, former player, parents of players, travel coaches, former colleagues, opposing coaches, they all never have a negative comment about the coach. My guess is because he wins, he wins a lot, and it's consistent every season. More than a dozen years on the job, lifetime winning percentage better than .667, almost always wins the conference.
I have not found this to be true either.
@adbono posted:It’s stuff like this that you should already know about before your kid commits to a school. I bet that there is not one player that was on the roster the year before that wouldn’t have talked about it had they been asked about what fall practice sessions/training regimen was like. A lot of college HCs run their programs like this. But it’s not that hard to find out which ones do and don’t. 5 am lifts is a red flag and where there is one red flag there are often many others.
100% true in my experience as well
College Baseball is really hard. With the roster logjams post pandemic it’s even tougher to get on the field. Lots of 5th year Seniors starting, and lots of Seniors this year planning on coming back for a 5th year next year
Thats just the reality of things. Gotta work while you wait and be mentally tough
My Soph son hasn’t started a game yet but has appeared in 11 of the team’s first 16 games so far. And he’s fortunate for that. He has Soph teammates who just got their first career at bat this weekend
Our sons travel coaches were heavily involved in sons decision. Narrowed down to two programs, coaches gave son names of players that were at both programs. He got the scoop on them both, but didn't commit until he got to know staff from both programs.
I don't know, is it just me but it seems that your son has had multiple injuries over the years so is it fair to say it was last years activities that caused an arm injury?
@TPM - when he hurt his shoulder, the pain happened while throwing. I just figured that it was hurt throwing. Then, describing the whole situation to someone else, they said to me "Don't you think that having his legs ripped up caused him to throw less with his legs and put more stress on his shoulder?" Until then, I never thought about it.
Again, it's possible that maybe it's not related? But, I do know when he went to college that his arm was 100% sound. Something happened there that caused the pain. (And, it went away on it's own after he was shut down for the rest of the fall.)
@Francis7 posted:@TPM - when he hurt his shoulder, the pain happened while throwing. I just figured that it was hurt throwing. Then, describing the whole situation to someone else, they said to me "Don't you think that having his legs ripped up caused him to throw less with his legs and put more stress on his shoulder?" Until then, I never thought about it.
Again, it's possible that maybe it's not related? But, I do know when he went to college that his arm was 100% sound. Something happened there that caused the pain. (And, it went away on it's own after he was shut down for the rest of the fall.)
Wasn’t he also injured in high school?
@Francis7 posted:Can the argument be made that kids have changed because parents have changed and parents have changed because the world has changed and the world has changed because the kids who changed grew up and became adults who changed the world....never mind...my head hurts.
“Children; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. They no longer rise when elders enter the room, they contradict their parents and tyrannize their teachers. Children are now tyrants.” Socrates, circa 470BC.
Same as it ever was, or at least same as it was 500 years before Christ...
I wonder if any of the players that you spoke to about the program were catchers. I could image that pitchers and position players might have a different impression.
Also it would be tough to catch so many bull pens on top of everything else. Lots of throwing even if it is a lower intensity. My catcher son is much younger but some coaches seem to forget how hard catching can be on the body.
Coach was a catcher. So, he knows.
In many programs you might find that there are students that will do bullpens.
Good question to ask during recruitment.