First road series finished

The cardinals lost tonight but had a pretty good road series with a record of 3-3 and won one of the series they played while away. Tonight after the game they will shower, pack up, eat and drive 14 hours back to Springfield for their first home series on Thursday, then leave again in another week for another road trip.
That's just the way it will be for the rest of the summer.

Ugh!

DK has always had a rough start out of the box, no excuses but a lot of it has to do with a lot of adrenaline pumping and a live arm that is sometimes hard to control but last night was THE worst I can ever remember. He's been working on it through breathing excercises and mental preparation, but I guess last night was just one of those nights. He was missing by a hair, and that becomes frustrating, and he is one of those that needs to have complete control and forgets there are 8 other players behind him.
But the good part was he settled down nicely, after teh firs tinning, he adjusted, unfortunetly at the end of the 4th inning his team was ahead, but he had almost reached his max pitch count, so he had to be replaced and he didn't get the win. Something he will have to learn to work on, and I am hoping with the first start done and over, he's over it. He's a pitch hit groundout pitcher, all he has to do is let them hit it, who cares about how many you strike out! Let your defense do the work!

He didn't get ragged on because he did make the adjustment, and that is what this game is all about, making adjustments, if you can't do that, learn from your bad days, you will never move forward, and this is why most don't move forward. Luckily he's got a lot of velocity, so sometimes that makes it forgiving. Even at the AA level there is lots ot learn.

The good thing is that we haven't heard one thing about the arm, so that in itself is a plus. :)

Springfield has a young team, they seem to be coming together, which is good because it's a looooooong season ahead.

milb levels

I realized last night while chatting with someone on facebook, not everyone is familiar with the different levels found in milb.
That's ok, I didn't know either at one time. :)
So here ya go.
Instructional league, that is also known as complex league, found at each (most)teams spring training facilities. Most HS players getting drafted head to instructional league. For most teams, this is where they also bring in their young dominican and venezualan players for the summer.

Single low A, this might include a rookie level, short season (where most 4 year college players go when drafted) and full season. Every team is different as to where they send their newly drafted players and in some cases their college guys. Some teams have rookie level, some don't, some have short season and others don't. Then there is high A.

Then comes AA and last but not least AAA also known as the parking lot. Here is where you wait to be called up, and sometimes it takes years before that happens (as in the case of Dirk, the non prospect). Most of the players in AAA become organizational guys or reserves. They can get called up and optioned out (sent back) numerous times in a year but after 3 years must be placed on the 40 man or given free agency.

As you move up there becomes a difference, the hitters are more patient and the pitchers are more polished and throw more pitches in the game. For most teams, you have to master a level before you are moved, which means a year. Most levels are age appropriate, except at the AAA level. In other words an 18 year old out of HS will not be playing with 23-30 year olds, unless he's a Rick Porcello. :)

Springfield won 2 in a row, now 2-2.

Bits and Pieces

While watching the AAA Memphis Redbirds last night (they won in 19 innings) I figured out ( I think correctly) not including my son, 16 former CU teammates are playing pro ball, that's pretty amazing. Two are ML players. Many in AA or above. Most were recruited by Kevin O'Sullivan (Florida Gators Head Coach). There have been other teammates, but they have either been released or moved on. One is a college coach, and another the baseball trainer at UT. Pretty talented group of players. Most of them had no pro interest before college or went undrafted. Things can change in a few years. And for what it's worth, probably the most successful pitcher in the program could never get past low A. That just goes to show that successful college players don't always make successful pro pitchers.

Son's team is 0-2 but have not gone without a fight, so I am hoping for a win soon. The Texas League is pretty tough, parks are hitters park, huge. The hitters are now patient at this point, they don't swing away at just anything. According to what my player says, for most pitchers if they can make it past that league to AAA they are almost there. That's encouraging.

Tyler Colvin

Just for the record, I am not negative about the pro game or pro experience.

It does have it's rewards.

Tonight we watched son's Clemson teammate, Tyler Colvin, on TV. Tyler was drafted by the Cubs in 2006, as their #1 pick. This spring, he lead all major league players in hits. He hit a HR on Thursday.

As far as I know, Tyler wasn't a draft consideration out of HS. Some how when no one was looking, he managed to move up the ladder. He didn't even play in the best leagues in summer ball. In the beginning of his junior year, he wasn't even ranked as high as a first round, first pick would be expected. But he had a monster year, and was a tremedous force in helping the team win our regional, super regional to get to Omaha. He quietly accepted what most first picks of a team probably wouldn't accept without further negotiation. But with 3 years of college under his belt, the money really didn't matter, what did matter was to sign quickly and get to work, which he did. Unfortunetly, he hit his elbow by accident his second year in pro ball and tore his UCL, had TJ surgery, so that set him back a while, then had some back issues and struggled, before going upto AAA. Last year he got a cll up for a few games. But this spring, now healthy, he ripped it up. We got a kick hearing about him sunday night pregame on ESPN.

Tyler was raised by his grandparents, two of the nicest, sweetest people you have ever met. A few weeks before spring training, his grandmother passed away. I am so sorry she was not able to be here to see her grandson (who she called her son) begin the 2010 season on the 25 man roster.


So how rewarding is that, watching your sons friend on TV?

Going pro after High School

Ok, so your players dream and goal is to play proball. The reality of this happening becomes quite real when you get those questionares in the mail, when the scouts begin to show up at games, begin calling home asking for home visits, etc., etc. The anxiety sets in when you think that this could possibly happen, the talk becomes serious, and for those coming out of HS it can become a big dilemma of what should he do or not do.

This is a very personal decision between the player and his family and his particular circumstances. Although I strongly believe that for most players, going to college first is the better option, it is and always should be a personal choice, not what someone else did or recommends. Everyone's situation is different.

For those that don't know, my son signed to go to school for a 90% scholarship, that right there put up a big concern for scouts, called signability. My son was a bit behind the 8 ball with that much in scholarship money, they knew that it would take a lot for him to give up going to Clemson, playing in the ACC under an A+ pitching coach and a successful head coach. Although he told most scouts he would consider going pro, I don't think that most really beleived him. They also knew that his parents were college educated and strongly believed that education is very important, so that was a negative also. We also were pretty honest, and probably pretty unrealistic (as most are) as to what it would take to sign out of HS (lots of money). Reality is, my son wasn't worth what he felt he wanted, and that is what it is all about. He had one offer to go pro, from the yankees, 125-150K and school, but not 90% of 3 years at Clemson. That amount for a projectible pitcher, throwing 90+ with more in the tank wasn't going to cut it for him. When he said no thank you, the scout said, good choice. He also was told that from quite a few other scouts, go to school, grow up, get bigger, get stronger, get faster, get most of your education and see what happens in 3 years. Most of them said, if you have it now, you will have it later. Just hope and pray you remain healthy. But we beleived that one has to move forward NOT being fearful but with positive thoughts, what will be will be.

Coming out of HS, son was ranked among the top 50 players in the country from his grad year, that changed weekly according to what publication you read or what scout talked to another. His projection was 5,6-10th round (the 125-150K was about 7th round money at that time). As much as I love Sully, I realize now with his contacts, he was most likely telling scouts, don't draft him. I asked him about that once, he just smiled his Sully smile and chuckled. Although we sought the advice of an advisor, the one person my son really liked said that he would NOT advise him out of HS. I didn't realize until later than he was a Clemson graduate, former player and drafted out of the program, and a very good friend of the Clemson coaches. But when all was said and done, when son was not drafted and showed up on campus, so did the advisor, who advised him through college and now his agent. For my son, going to school was a very good option, winning an ACC shampionship, playing in Omaha, playing at the cape, plus experiencing college life made saying no all worthwhile. He managed to stay healthy throughout college, and got drafted much higher than he would have out of HS. So for us, coming out of college with no debt, for him a second round recognition, and a nest egg was worth waiting 3 years, but I do realize, not all players have the win win situation he had.

As you go through this process, as a parent there are a few things I strongly suggest. First ask a lot of questions, all teams do things differently with young players. For example, the cards have an actual "rookie" team in the appalachian league that the player can go to, that is why so many from HS sign, some don't play in these types of leagues, so the player remains in their complex league. Complex ball is not a lot of fun. Up early, games within the league played early with long afternoons and evenings ahead of you. No one comes to watch.

Ask where each league is located, is sending your HS son across the country with no family close by going to make him happy, they all get homesick. Very homesick, even my college player going to the Penn League was homesick (not for home but for his coaches, friends at Clemson).

Is your player mature enough to go to work, because as great as it sounds, it's your job, you have to show up everyday, there's no calling in sick. Realize that baseball is an opportunity, but all opportunities are based upon your worth to the team and how they do business. And remember if you don't like your employer, you are not afforded the opportunity to go looking for another (employer).

Someone told my son something once, think about what might happen later on, if you are unhappy with the choice you made, would you rather be unhappy in school or unhappy stuck in the middle of nowhere. Of course my son's answer was that money would make him less unhappy, but he wasn't going to get what he wanted to make him happy. Money out of HS was the only motivation for him to sign. Some may say he really didn't want to play pro ball, but it is just that he took a different path.

Familiarize yourself with draft slotting, if there is talk he may fall in one round, understand that the bonus money can drop significantly after a certain round. Of course there are some players drafted low, who do end up getting what they want, but they should have been an early pick to begin with, they just fell in the draft, most likely for signabilty reasons.

Use an advisor only if your son needs one. That sounds strange but true, most do not need one to advise on the process, and make sure you trust that person. Too many stories of advisors talking to teams (which is actual representation), too many changes in the NCAA's stronger stance of what one can and can't do. Understand that for the advice given, your son will pay 4% (maybe less) if he agrees to use his services as an agent and sign. Is that advice going to be worth giving up some of his bonus money, he will need to depend on. I do suggest if anyone signs to make sure that agent is qualified to do business with MLB, that means at least ONE player on the 40 man roster. Some of these agents, have a stable of young ponies, but no real race horse (if you get what I mean), therefore, they cannot talk to anyone about your son. And a time may come when someone needs to talk to someone. The great part about having an agent you trust and knows his stuff is the he will be there for you asap when you call him, and that you can go about your job and he can take care of the baseball business. Priceless, IMO.

So I guess by now, you have figured out that I am for going to college first, but there are exceptions (nice bonus money) and sometimes position.

Let the games begin

Tonight is fan appreciation night in Springfield at Hammonds Field, season ticket holders get to come out and watch the team practice, get autographs, pictures, free food, etc.
I found that out on the Springfield Cardinals site, when I talked to Dave last night, he had no clue. I guess they don't get told much, just show up when you are supposed to and play ball. That's the way it will be for the next 5 months. In one way, life is simple, people are doing things for you, you only have to worry about being where you are supposed to be when told, other than that you don't have to think much about anything else.
In the case of tomorrow, be at the field at 12 for a 7-8 bus hour ride to your first season game. That's a short trip, the longer ones to Texas run about 14-15 hours to the farthest desination, which is traveled at night, but in AA you get sleeper buses, last man who joins the team has to sleep on the floor, if there is more than 25, but I hear they share this, pitchers who have to pitch the next day get beds. I guess it's a team effort.
I spoke to son last night, he felt comfortable and actually felt like he never left (he was there for two months last season). He is looking forward to the fan support not found in Jupiter, better clubhouse food and not having to carry his own bags. :) That probably will be the last nice chat we will have for awhile once games begin, different time zone. We wait for him to call. But I get lots of info from Lauren. :0 And the coverage is pretty good, being very close to the big team, there's an excitement for many fans about seeing future redbirds play in Missouri. The cards farm system in general was ranked pretty low this year, so it should be interesting to see how they all do in comparison to other teams.

As expected, some players are showing up on the DL after spring training. That's how they manipulate the roster #'s, very interesting.