High School Baseball

[iambrutus]

HS season starts tomorrow - son is considered a tweener and SHOULD get some varsity time, but starting on JV. The coaching staff has done a great job of telling each boy what they expect from each of them, very clear with where they see them, and expected progress, ect. He can play any position, not a strong pitcher, but can do it if needed. He'll start at 2nd and be the backup catcher, but also get some reps in the OF from what he was told. Excited to see how this year goes. He was 2-3 with a double and 3 RBI's in the scrimmage last week, also threw out a runner trying to steal 3rd, so pretty solid day

 

[brodybuck21]

HS season starts tomorrow - son is considered a tweener and SHOULD get some varsity time, but starting on JV. The coaching staff has done a great job of telling each boy what they expect from each of them, very clear with where they see them, and expected progress, ect. He can play any position, not a strong pitcher, but can do it if needed. He'll start at 2nd and be the backup catcher, but also get some reps in the OF from what he was told. Excited to see how this year goes. He was 2-3 with a double and 3 RBI's in the scrimmage last week, also threw out a runner trying to steal 3rd, so pretty solid day

good luck this season!!

 

[calibuck]

Echo the good luck, and popcorn in the bleachers. Would recommend he beef up a bit and play catcher. More opportunities there. Sounds like he's got a good stick, and the arm to gun down runners. Enjoy these times brutus, they go by oh so quickly. Another Johnny Bench?

 

[iambrutus]

Echo the good luck, and popcorn in the bleachers. Would recommend he beef up a bit and play catcher. More opportunities there. Sounds like he's got a good stick, and the arm to gun down runners. Enjoy these times brutus, they go by oh so quickly. Another Johnny Bench?

He is an OK catcher, but its a stop gap this season, there is another boy in his class that is a STUD catcher, but got hurt this spring and is not playing. His real shot will come at 2nd or left. My earlier statement about the coaching staff has proved to be wrong, they brought in a new JV coach, who is HORRIBLE. we're 8 games into the season and my son only has 10AB's - in those 10 AB's, he has 2 doubles, a triple, a single, and 2 walks, and 1 HBP, do the math... he's made 4 outs this season... there are kids on the team that have 30ab's and only 1 or 2 hits - my son has caught 2 games - played 2nd one inning, and left in inning. this coach doesn't agree with the varsity coaches thoughts on sending kids that are varsity backups (like my son), down to JV to get playing time - he thinks if they are good enough to backups at varsity, they shouldn't get any time on JV - its been a long 8 games.

this new coach also told me I'm not allowed to be inside the fence taking pictures because i'm "just a parent' - even though I have permission from the AD, and the Varsity coach - kept saying its "his policy" - he's a clown

 

[calibuck]

Don't know how is in Ohio etc, but in California, teacher's contract includes stipends for 'extra duty', also known as coaching. The irony is that if a teacher wants the position/stipend, they are given preference over any 'walk-on' coach (non-teacher). Sometimes, they are discouraged from taking. However if they are insistent, they get the position/stipend, regardless of their qualification. Which may be what your son is experiencing. With his BA, extra-base hits, seems reasonable that they'd find a spot for him in the line-up. All the HS coaching positions are that of being a teacher to these kids, and JVs are especially for getting experience and showing them how to do it. Feel for ya, and believe it or not, the varsity coaches have little or no impact on how the JV does things. Being a helicopter parent myself, I might corner a varsity coach, and lay out your case. Probably PO the JV coach when he finds out, so that's the risk. They can always call up your kid to varsity and teach him, give him a chance. Good luck with this, and keep this group informed.....

 

[TonnorScalions]

Don't know how is in Ohio etc, but in California, teacher's contract includes stipends for 'extra duty', also known as coaching. The irony is that if a teacher wants the position/stipend, they are given preference over any 'walk-on' coach (non-teacher). Sometimes, they are discouraged from taking. However if they are insistent, they get the position/stipend, regardless of their qualification. Which may be what your son is experiencing. With his BA, extra-base hits, seems reasonable that they'd find a spot for him in the line-up. All the HS coaching positions are that of being a teacher to these kids, and JVs are especially for getting experience and showing them how to do it. Feel for ya, and believe it or not, the varsity coaches have little or no impact on how the JV does things. Being a helicopter parent myself, I might corner a varsity coach, and lay out your case. Probably PO the JV coach when he finds out, so that's the risk. They can always call up your kid to varsity and teach him, give him a chance. Good luck with this, and keep this group informed.....

Its the Varsity Coach's program. He has plenty of say of what happens on the JV. A JV coach's whole job is to get kids ready to play Varsity. If there is a guy the Varsity coach sees having a future in his program, he absolutely would/should speak up and make the call on getting that kid more reps. I would have your son ask for a meeting with both JV and Varsity Coaches and see what more he needs to do to get more playing time. If he does everything he should be doing and nothing changes, then its time for you to have a meeting with the coaches.

 

[calibuck]

Your approach is far more PC than mine. Don't actually remember if varsity teams are limited in numbers, but once more, would be better playing at a lower level than sitting on the pine on varsity. An upfront meet with both coaches might benefit all parties. Could be the varsity is 'stacked' and making a run for league title, so no room for development. PS, if meeting is unsatisfactory, always able to transfer HS (if town is big enough for multiple), make it for 'academic' reasons, not athletic. Good luck.

 

[iambrutus]

so my son talked to the JV coach about getting more playing time, he was told to be patient (at the time we had 8 games left in the season - we have 5 now) - next game, one AB as a DH, no time in the field. So he came home and asked if he could start being a smartass, like agree with everything the coach says with fake enthusiasm - I was all on board because fuck this coach. so he had a practice and said something like "coach watch, its all in the hips" then hits four barrels, coach says "where has this been all year" - my son replies with "its been here all year, you just dont see it"

next game (Tuesday) he plays the whole game, goes 3/4 with 2 doubles, 3 steals (4th was a deep flyball that was caught) - coach tells him after the game "i knew you were due" - my son says yup coach, due to get time. Turns out this coach has an ego so big, he doesn't seem realize the boys are being smartasses to him he thinks they are all agreeing and believing him . Game tonight, so we'll see how much he plays, he might be on the good side now.

as for transferring schools, that wont be happening, baseball is a filler sport for him as much as he loves the game. Our school has the best alumni association in the area, they give away a TON of scholarships, he knows that and wont miss out on that. My daughter graduated from the same school a few years ago and got over 10k in scholarships, so he's not leaving that on the table.

 

[brodybuck21]

so my son talked to the JV coach about getting more playing time, he was told to be patient (at the time we had 8 games left in the season - we have 5 now) - next game, one AB as a DH, no time in the field. So he came home and asked if he could start being a smartass, like agree with everything the coach says with fake enthusiasm - I was all on board because fuck this coach. so he had a practice and said something like "coach watch, its all in the hips" then hits four barrels, coach says "where has this been all year" - my son replies with "its been here all year, you just dont see it"

next game (Tuesday) he plays the whole game, goes 3/4 with 2 doubles, 3 steals (4th was a deep flyball that was caught) - coach tells him after the game "i knew you were due" - my son says yup coach, due to get time. Turns out this coach has an ego so big, he doesn't seem realize the boys are being smartasses to him he thinks they are all agreeing and believing him . Game tonight, so we'll see how much he plays, he might be on the good side now.

as for transferring schools, that wont be happening, baseball is a filler sport for him as much as he loves the game. Our school has the best alumni association in the area, they give away a TON of scholarships, he knows that and wont miss out on that. My daughter graduated from the same school a few years ago and got over 10k in scholarships, so he's not leaving that on the table.

Your son, the cut of his jib, i like it