|
Post by crash23 on Oct 31, 2006 11:17:35 GMT -8
Objects in Your Rearview Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear We’ve all seen this warning. It’s designed to give us perspective. In that light I wanted to throw something out there. Accomplishments in Little League Are Smaller Than They Appear. In other words don’t gauge your son’s baseball talent by (only) his success in Little League. The program is made up of kids from 9 – 12 years old. It’s relatively easy to succeed in a league that has such a disparity of talent. 200-foot fences cause routine fly balls to become home runs. 60-foot bases make players of average speed look fast and players of above average speed look like world-class sprinters. Younger players often hit weak grounders and routine fly balls that make the defense look great. And the 46-foot mound makes kids with above average arms look like Randy Johnson.
I don’t say these things to belittle anyone or Little League. It's an awesome experience. Enjoy your son’s successes. I hope it encourages him and gives him the self-confidence he needs to work at his game. But he, and more importantly you, need to keep it all in perspective. Doing so may just be the thing that enables him to fully blossom as a baseball player. As his Little League career unfolds gauge how he does against the most dominant pitcher (not the blasts he hits off average ones). A large number of our players make the all-star team (close to 50%). I’ve seen many all-stars struggle in travel ball, where, often for the first time, they are facing teams of peers. I’ve also watched players dominate Little League like Babe Ruth only to struggle to hit .250 in high school. In Little League players who peak early physically are able to man handle the “competition” - even with poor mechanics. Often coaches and parents don’t change things because they are having success… Unfortunately these mechanics become engrained and are extremely hard (impossible?) to correct later. Players and parents often don’t see the need to change… “I was a star" so he continues floundering at higher levels because they don’t see the need to change.
This is in no way mean-spirited. On the contrary, I want players to succeed - but in order to do so at the higher levels parents need to be aware of the realities. As your son begins and progresses in his baseball career keep these things in mind. Teach him proper throwing, hitting and fielding mechanics. The sooner the better. Old habits are hard to break – and the time to do it is not his freshmen year of high school when he’s trying to make the team. By then, for most, it will be too late and players with better mechanics will probably make the team ahead of, or start over, kids that grew up with bad habits. Just because he is having success at a young age does not mean he is fundamentally sound. Educate yourself. Take him to camps (the more the better) and to professional coaches that truly know the game. Hopefully they will reinforce what you or your Little League coach has taught him. You might learn something too. Don’t rely on just one coach, have several tutor him. Sometimes hearing it a different way may make it click for him. And realize there are contradicting theories out there… Tall and fall or push-off mechanics for pitchers? Charlie Lau or Ted Williams approach to hitting? And some professional coaches are like a lot of salesmen, so be wary of their gimmicks. Tried and true approaches, I think, work better than gimmicks.
Also realize the proportion of Little Leaguers that make high school teams is small. Turlock and Pitman carry (maybe) 20 on their varsity teams. Each year there are perhaps ten spots open (junior returners take the other 10). What percentage of all of Turlock’s Little Leaguers is that? And for kids thinking of college ball? They say about 10 percent of high school players make it. In all of California there’s generally 150 Division 1 scholarships open each year for baseball (so I’m told). And how many college players make pro ball (minor leagues) - and what percentage of those make it to the Majors? There's only 780 jobs. And the competition for those is now worldwide!
That brings me to my final thought. Don’t put so much pressure on the kid. This should be a fun time for him and a chance for you and he to connect and share life experiences that he will remember long after you’re gone. Making the high school team is a realistic goal. Help him achieve that. Also realize that if he’s not the starting shortstop now he may not be in high school… so find a position he can excel at, even if it’s outfield! Teach him the right things – and make memories in the process. These should be the times of your life… enjoy them before they’re gone!
|
|
|
Post by Mark on Oct 31, 2006 13:41:04 GMT -8
Objects in Your Rearview Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear Also realize the proportion of Little Leaguers that make high school teams is small. Turlock and Pitman carry (maybe) 20 on their varsity teams. Each year there are perhaps ten spots open (junior returners take the other 10). And for kids thinking of college ball? They say about 10 percent of high school players make it. [/size][/quote] THS has carried about 20 the past 2 years. and probly only 12 of them actually play with about 8 kids never getting an inning of play in the entire season The past 2 years has seen THS pass one kid to the next level (Tom Mendonca/Fresno State). and Pitman has also only sent off one (Spencer Snodgrass/San Jose State), although Colin Kaepernck would have had he not chosen to pursue football. so far this year THS has 1 kid with an outside shot at a D1 (Jeremy Hibbs), and Pitman also has 1 in Braden Hagens, although neither has recieved serious interest yet that i have heard of. but we shalll know by November. last year snodgrass and mendonca were signed by November this year all of the CCC D1 HS League which incudes Merced HS, Golden Valley HS, Los Banos HS, Turlock HS, Pitman HS, Atwater HS, and Buhach Colony the only kids with a legit shot at a D1 for baseball are 1. Logan Todd--LHP Merced HS 2. Dominic Hernandez--RHP Los Banos HS 3. Treavor Cesar--RHP Golden Valley HS, Special Circumstances 4.30 GPA, 1950 SAT, USC wants him to get GED and skip senior season of HS to be a Trojan 4. Joe Buckley--Atwater HS Catcher Longshots Vinnie LaMattina--Golden Valley Jason Hague--Golden Valley Jeremy Hibbs--Turlock Braden Hagens--Pitman 08' class should be loaded with the following kids getting consideration 1. Treavor Cesar--RHP Golden Valley HS 2. Chris Bianci--LHP Golden Valley HS 3. Julio Cortez--MIF Los Banos HS 4. Michael Wyrick--LHP Los Banos HS 5. Brett Mooneyham--LHP Buhach Colony 6. Markus Melgosa--MIF Buhach Colony 7. Justin Koelher--RHP Buhach Colony 8. Austin Keaton--MIF Pitman 9. Nathan Gonzalez--RHP Pitman
|
|
|
Post by scrapper on Oct 31, 2006 16:50:00 GMT -8
Crash you must be having parent problems. I look at my sons, who are decent players and with little bit of practice and hard work they will be able to extend their playing days into high school or college in a number of sports.
What is sports. It is a way to communicate and problem solve, develop talent. By learning fundamentals and mastering them give you a since of accomplishment. Only the select few make it to the bigs, But all of these quality help the children succeed in life. My kids are playing sports so that they learn life lessons. Not to make the high school or college team. And if they succeed, making all-stars, making a travel ball team, making the high school team whatever, that is the because they put in the work needed to move on to the next level and I will be very proud of them.
I want my kids to be a part of the competition, that you can play your best and lose and play your worst and win. That you can play the best in practice, but you don't see an inning, because the coaches kid pitches and plays shortstop. Those are the important lessons that sport teaches. It teaches you how to deal with adversity. You look at the best players in any little league even travel ball. They are not going anywhere when they are older, except to the job that pays the bills and then they become stud softball players and maybe travel on some pretty good teams. The sports then becomes the hobby.
Look at all of us. Probably most of us play little league, made all-stars, play high school ball. And look at us now, we are over the hill living in our past talking about the local talent.
I know you love the game. But it is just that for many people. A game and only the top 10% from Single A to the Pros get to play the game and go to the yard everyday. The rest of us dream about it and cry about an injury, or a coach that had it in for us. I bet there are some player that you have think that they should be playing ahead of other players. They and their parents curse you, saying you are ruining their kids chances to make it to the bigs.
I guess the bottom line is. Enjoy your kids and teach them well because as Benny the Jet says, it is about being part of the game.
I probably just rambled, but I think there needs some perspective in all of this madness. I just hope all the kids are playing because they want to and not living their parents or grandparents dreams.
|
|
|
Post by crash23 on Nov 1, 2006 0:36:19 GMT -8
I was not pointing fingers at anyone, just offering insight, hopefully helpful, that was not designed to denigrate anyone. Kinda the point of a forum, don't you think??? You, however, jumped at the opportunity to take pot shots.
Parent problems? Naw...
I'll assume you weren't talking about my (oldest) son, who pitches and plays shortstop. I couldn't imagine you'd be the type to throw a low blow. He's earned he right to do what he does - the coaches last name had nothing to do wth it.
I don't live in the past, nor would I want to - the here and now is too much fun.
I'm proud of my sons, whether they move on to the next level or not...
Your post was (often) venomous and mean spirited... Easy to do, Scrapper, when you hide behind a nickname. At least I own up to all my posts.
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Nov 1, 2006 7:42:03 GMT -8
Scrapper?? DUDE!!
|
|
|
Post by Randy Edwards on Nov 1, 2006 7:46:34 GMT -8
Craig, I know from my view point Dakota started playing travel ball with a 12u team and he really enjoyed it but the baseline and pitching distance was not the big of change from little league now he has been playing with 13u and that is a huge step up from little league 54/80 is just setting him up for highschool and juniors, and like you say its better now then later. Its been on eye opener for me and my son because at these distances, good and bad basic shine threw and now is the time to polish the good and fix the bad habits.
|
|
|
Post by tmurphy on Nov 1, 2006 8:48:08 GMT -8
Knowing Craig as long as I have there is only one thing he would like to see out of all this and that is the same thing that I want and that is one day to see these kidswhich have played on a team we have coached make it to that next level no matter where it is our kid or not and to maybe one day say you know coach Craig or Coach Tony told me this along time ago and he was right then we know that we had a positive influence on this kids success and life even though he was not our own. As far as the shots Scrapper took at Craig it sounds like he is one of those parents that maybe his kid is a good little league player but no able to make a travel team roster or to the next level it is sad people like Scrapper can take shots at people like Craig which has donated as much time as he has to little league trying to make every kid he coaches as good as his own and not a stage for his own I just wish parents would grow up and start working more on making their kid better instead of taking pop shots at certain coaches because their kid is not on the same level at some of the others you know in the long run the more time you spend working on your kids skills at what ever sport he is involved in will pay off in the long run no matter who his coach is. A couple of rules that I try to live by and being involved in travel ball and little league as long as I have seem to work for me is in Little league your team is only as strong as the weakest link so go ahead and spend all your time working with your studs but remember this that weakest link will need to get that big hit or make that great defensive play before the year is over. Now travel ball which everybody think it is win at no cost which everybody thinks that is what my motto is you are absolutely wrong if you check BYB has been dominate at 11's and for the last few weeks have been playing 12's even though we still have a couple of 10's and the rest are 11's but the reason I am making this staement is for the people that say I am all about winning and nothing else. BYB has not won any of these 12's tournaments we have been in but you know what I have not lost one single player for it and my kids are still having fun and I have not had one parent upset about us not winning now at this age Craig is absolutely right lets start getting them ready for that next level and not worring about winning a piece of plastic but that makes my travel ball statement even more true and that is we as coaches can only give the kids the opportunity they are the ones that have to take advantage of the opportunity to be successful or get that extra work they need to get to the next level. I will end with this as far as travel ball the parents are the ones that cause players to leave not players themselves so all I can say is please let your kid have a say and not make that decision for him as far as if he can make it to that next level wheather it is high school or college. Craig you have done an outstanding job with your boys and they deserve all the accolades they get if I could not coach anymore you would be the first for little Murf to go to keep up the great work no matter what other people think.
|
|
|
Post by Greenie on Nov 1, 2006 9:15:25 GMT -8
Wow... I thought I was on the football forum for a second. Some very good points however Scrapper the personal barbs were over the line. Crash~ You are spot on with you comment about correct mechanics at a young age. I let Patrick slide with a little hitch in his throwing when he was starting out but because he was throwing so hard I figured it would correct it self. It didn't. He was working with Mark Mead last year and he improved his mechanics 100% but still has a long way to go.
|
|
|
Post by scrapper on Nov 1, 2006 11:20:15 GMT -8
After reading the comments and taking a second look at the post, Crash, I am man enough to say that was pretty bad and apoligize for that.
I do have things to say about what you wrote. Because the themes are consistent with what you have talked about in the past and sometimes people get tired of hearing about belittling of there kids accomplishments in little league and that if they are not playing on 80 foot bases and 54 foot mounds, they are not going to be able to cut it at the higher levels. Your first paragraph does belittle little league and kids accomplishments in the league, it may not be intentional, but you are. Because the first sentence of the second paragraph confirms it. Believe me, I am very proud of both of my sons for there accomplishments and for the improvement they have showed this past year. As they get bigger, hopefully, they will continue to improve and become better players in all of the sports that they play. I know I will work with them to help them do that.
I can agree with most of the things you are talking about in terms of keeping it perspective and that fundamental are building blocks to become a better player. But, You know as well as I do, that the attrition rates of players rise as they get older and it is the kids who have the drive and the determination to continue to be better athletes continue to move forward towards high school and college.
Little League is a great organization, but like all organizations, they are dinosaurs. It will only be if coaches and parents keep pushing for the changes that you have subscribed to that it will happen.
Here are my final thoughts, first to you Crash, I again want to apoligize for the first post. The intent was not to attack you or your sons in any way. Just by watching the things that you do with your teams and the whole Ranger Organzation, it shows that you have a real committment to the game as well as the baseball community as a whole. Second, the only way rules are going to change, is if parents, coaches and BOD's push hard to get those changes to be put in place.
Second to Mr. Murphy, If my sons turn out to be great little leaguers and decide not to play anymore baseball or they don't make the team and move on to other sports that is fine with me. If they want to move forward and continue to improve their skills, than that is great too, I think if the kids put their mind to it, they will do just fine.
By the way, does anybody know how to get a kid from using a basketball follow thorough with the wrist to a baseball follow through. I have heard of using a wrist guard.
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Nov 1, 2006 12:01:47 GMT -8
Scapper & Craig ~
Hey lets go for wings/beer some time. While I understand the push back from Crash on his post I also know Scrapper. I know that he would NEVER direct something at a Crash's kid. I love our chats about baseball which are often really more about youth development.
Scrapper - I can honstly say you and Crash would come from the same place about 95% of the time when discussing youth sports. Crash has probably done more to help Jens develop as a player/person than any of his other coaches (including me). I think Jens would rather ride the pine with the 13U Rangers than play every inning with the 12U Rangers if it meant he could play for Craig.
I think the Ranger focus is just right . Every kid has the "opportunity" to play and hard work is rewarded. More importantly, every kid is given the "opportunity" to learn the game.
For most kids (especially before transitioning to 60/90), fundamentals should be taught for the here and now. Teach them, hold them responsible for their behavior and make it fun because few of them will ever advance beyond Little League and that's OK. Its the here and now in which our kids build their memories.
BTW, I am also a proponent of more Voc Ed training as well.
You guys are on the sam page & I'm relatively certain that no personal affront was intended. Now if we can just get Tony to use some freakin periods and paragraphs. Doh!
|
|
|
Post by tmurphy on Nov 1, 2006 12:02:06 GMT -8
Tony Gwynn has a set of disk that have come out that works with the follow through on the swing as far as rolling the wrist and when it should happen the kids throw these disk with both hands and if it flies right like a frisbee should then the have the right follow through with the wrist if not the disk will just fall to the ground it has worked great for some of our kids with their follow through but as the old saying goes what works for one kid may not work for others but who can argue with Tony Gwynn as far as hitting but as for me it has improved some of our kids hitting. Just a little thought I feel we as a whole should help every kid we can in the Turlock community whether it be travel ball or little league if there is anything I can do to help feel free to give me a call 209-345-7946 I will work with the kids when I can by no means do I know everything about baseball but I am willing to share what has worked for me and some of the kids that have played for me.
|
|
|
Post by crash23 on Nov 1, 2006 12:37:14 GMT -8
Scrapper, 1. Thank you 2. I'm sorry you think I'm belittling Little League. My oldest son had a ball, accomplished alot. My youngest son, too - and he has two more years left of Little League. I don't think what I said demans what they did - or anyone else's accomplishments. All I was suggesting was that it needs to be kept in perspective. I've always said that Little League is a valueable experience and never put the program down. I believe, for kids that have a passion for baseball AND a desire to play high school ball, that the combination of the two is best. I've never said, or insinuated, that players can't make a high school team if all they play is Little League. That'd would be a stupid comment. Plenty of high school players only played Little League. I believe, now that travel ball is in our area, that will become less of the norm and that most kids that make up the varisty squads will have been travel ball players.
Again, I'm sorry if you've ever felt I've put Little League, or its players, down. If you read thru my posts I always say it's a valueable experience. My original post (that started this thread) was degined to be constrcutive insight. As with any type of constructive criticism there is a small degree of negativity (it's the nature of the beast) - but the vast majority of what I said was meant to be positive - and helpful.
I do think there are many parents - and folks on this forum - that have knee jerk reactions to those of us that are proponents of travel ball. Why I don't know. It's all baseball and it's all good!
|
|
|
Post by Mark on Nov 1, 2006 12:41:31 GMT -8
i believe my team is about 7 games over .500. but the important thing is that they are facing quality competition. that will only make them better.
last weekend up in sacramento was the first weekend we didnt make the championship game in a tourny this year, we actually got spanked and only won 1 game.
This Saturday we face NorCal Baseball, but win or lose we can only get better from it.
travel ball for my age group is more about preping kids and getting them ready for the upcoming High School Season
|
|
|
Post by scrapper on Nov 1, 2006 12:50:49 GMT -8
My whole thing about travel ball is that is give kids more experiences and game situations that will allow for them to keep improving. I guess the way that I see it is that LL is the league and travel ball is a off-shoot. Kind of what McClean is doing with his travel ball team. Making sure that the player are in mid-season form prior to league, so that they can go to the Sections.
I think some parents are seeing it as an either/or scenario instead of one benefiting the other.
I agree if they are all playing the game than that is the positive.
|
|
|
Post by crash23 on Nov 1, 2006 12:52:44 GMT -8
Almost forgot Chris... Beer & wings? Anytime!
|
|