Rad - For the Record....Some Rhetoric....And a Great Baseball Story (That's being in Teddy's Ballgames Hometown, have already hear !)

Hey Rad,

I don't think it is a "Do as I say not as I do???"

KC, at 10, did not play at the 12U,
Kids at 10 must play baseball, not sit. Herego: BIG MISTAKE was made.

KC, at 13, did not play at the 15U.
Kids at 13 must play baseball, not sit. Herego: 2nd BIG MISTAKE was made.

My recommendation stands:
" I recommend having most youngsters play with their own age group."

It's the 'special' kid that can try to play up. And, there is a tremendous amount of information & protection required to do this between the coaching staff, the player and the kid. This is the part that everyone falls down on. Some get up. Other's don't.

Not to be rhetoric or patronizing here, Rad, but

Bear: 1) Sometimes the kid must learn to do
the things he has never done before.

Bear: 2) Failure is not fatal, but the failure to change may be.

Thru KC's own admission......
"Dad, at 10 & 13, I did not play on those
teams, but I got better, cause I worked harder, and saw the results."

Bear: 3) The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.

KC (@ 14 turning) attended the 18U tryouts over the past two days for a 'wooden bat' league. His comment at McDonalds over
a MacFleury was: 'Dad, I can play here.'

Bear: "Yes, I know that son, but when did you come to learn this".

KC: "Do you remember grand-dad telling the story about when Jimmy Foxx (muscular guy with Steve Garvey type gunboats) while in the clubhouse at the All-Star Game walked up
to Ted Williams and asked: "Gee, I just don't know where your pop comes from with those skinny arms and legs (Teddy's bod at 19.)"

Bear: "I loved those stories, didn't you."

KC: "Yes, tat older boy, who checked swing struck out on my change away, but got another
swing from the coaches, & then drilled a FB
under the 2nd baseman."

Bear: "Yes, he is a good player. His name is (withheld). He is real emotional (defeatist kind). The coaches 'felt sorry' for him. He did strike out. On his second chance, did he hit the fastball?"

KC: "Yes, hit it hard too. He was the one
who game up to me after I hit, and asked"
"Gee KC, where does your skinny arms and legs get all that pop ?"

Bear: "KC, it's rare for a older boy to
talk address a 'rookie'. He must like
you. I saw the Coach (Daddy Head Coach)
chat with you after tryouts?"

KC: "He said I will probably make the 16-18 yr old team. And that I wouldn't play much, and only in the OF, maybe pitch a little.
He said the 15 y/o team needs me. I should
play there."

Bear: "Congratulations, tough call for you,
Sound like Coach (Daddy) really went out on a limb 'protecting' his own butt. What do you want to do ?"

KC: "I want to play"

Bear: "I enjoy watching you play, and seeing
your confidence grow."

KC: "I love you. Dad"

Bear: "I love you, KC"

cheers, (& Stay tuned to the politics)
Bear

ps. Karan & I entertained the Univ of Maryland Associate Head Coach and family last night with steaks on the barbecue.
Mr. Kelly Kulina is one the classiest
young baseball coaches I have had the pleasure of meeting, and chatting with.
If you happen to ever meet Kelly on the road,
at the ball park, and he should happen to
call to chat with your son, consider yourself the luckiest man in the world. Your
son is being recruited to play big College Baseball.