Starting Bencher
E is part of two baseball teams this year.
He is playing on a summer team and he played on the High School JV team.
He isn't on two different teams because he is such an amazing baseball player, he is on two different teams because he just loves playing baseball.
Baseball started off with fall training sessions once a week, moved on to winter work-outs early Sunday mornings, he wrapped up off-season training with the summer team in February, and launched in to practice and games with the high school team in March. There were two months of High School ball and a week after that ended he was back at it with his summer team. We are looking at another 3 months of baseball and about 40 more games plus practices. It is a very good thing I actually enjoy watching baseball!
He might be good, but he is swimming in a tank of fish that are performing better. Matt hates it when I say that but quite frankly it is the truth. Overall, there are kids on the field that are throwing up numbers that he isn't attaining. E played in maybe 3 innings over the course of the entire High School season. In case you need some perspective, each game is 7 innings and there were about 20 of them. So, there was a lot of time that he wasn't playing. During that time he was either in the dugout cheering on his team or warming up pitchers in the bullpen. He never complained. There wasn't a single time in the entire season that he got in the car frustrated because coach didn't put him in.
I can teach life lessons, but that doesn't mean the kids learn them. Baseball is an opportunity for kids to live those lessons.
Lesson 1: Everyone on a team has a role, some people will be out front, others holding down the bench, but it takes every member of the team to be successful.
Lesson 2: Attitude is key. You can be the best hitter, or the worse, but the attitude you bring to the team determines if people want you there or not.
Lesson 3: You are never too important to do the dirty work. Sometimes you have to rebuild the mound in the rain, run after foul balls, and pick up the bases. It is the crap work, but it is necessary and everyone does it.
Lesson 4: You need to keep your personal stuff in check so you don't let your team down. This is homework and behavior related right now, but later in life it is your family business and finances. You can't do your part on the team if you are disqualified for grades or in trouble for stealing your mom's car.
The first game of the summer season was this past Sunday. E started on the bench again. I found myself sitting on the bleachers praying, like actually praying that he would get a chance and that he would do well.
E thinks this will be his last season playing ball due to his skill level. I support E's decision to focus on things that will move him ahead more and admire the maturity it takes to realize that some things have to be pushed to the side if they are not moving you forward toward a goal. That being said, I really, really want him to enjoy this summer PLAYING ball. So, I have been praying for the least holy thing ever, and that is for my boy to get some time off the bench and on the field.
If this is the end of his run, then I hope he has the best summer ever.
He is playing on a summer team and he played on the High School JV team.
He isn't on two different teams because he is such an amazing baseball player, he is on two different teams because he just loves playing baseball.
Baseball started off with fall training sessions once a week, moved on to winter work-outs early Sunday mornings, he wrapped up off-season training with the summer team in February, and launched in to practice and games with the high school team in March. There were two months of High School ball and a week after that ended he was back at it with his summer team. We are looking at another 3 months of baseball and about 40 more games plus practices. It is a very good thing I actually enjoy watching baseball!
He might be good, but he is swimming in a tank of fish that are performing better. Matt hates it when I say that but quite frankly it is the truth. Overall, there are kids on the field that are throwing up numbers that he isn't attaining. E played in maybe 3 innings over the course of the entire High School season. In case you need some perspective, each game is 7 innings and there were about 20 of them. So, there was a lot of time that he wasn't playing. During that time he was either in the dugout cheering on his team or warming up pitchers in the bullpen. He never complained. There wasn't a single time in the entire season that he got in the car frustrated because coach didn't put him in.
I can teach life lessons, but that doesn't mean the kids learn them. Baseball is an opportunity for kids to live those lessons.
Lesson 1: Everyone on a team has a role, some people will be out front, others holding down the bench, but it takes every member of the team to be successful.
Lesson 2: Attitude is key. You can be the best hitter, or the worse, but the attitude you bring to the team determines if people want you there or not.
Lesson 3: You are never too important to do the dirty work. Sometimes you have to rebuild the mound in the rain, run after foul balls, and pick up the bases. It is the crap work, but it is necessary and everyone does it.
Lesson 4: You need to keep your personal stuff in check so you don't let your team down. This is homework and behavior related right now, but later in life it is your family business and finances. You can't do your part on the team if you are disqualified for grades or in trouble for stealing your mom's car.
The first game of the summer season was this past Sunday. E started on the bench again. I found myself sitting on the bleachers praying, like actually praying that he would get a chance and that he would do well.
E thinks this will be his last season playing ball due to his skill level. I support E's decision to focus on things that will move him ahead more and admire the maturity it takes to realize that some things have to be pushed to the side if they are not moving you forward toward a goal. That being said, I really, really want him to enjoy this summer PLAYING ball. So, I have been praying for the least holy thing ever, and that is for my boy to get some time off the bench and on the field.
If this is the end of his run, then I hope he has the best summer ever.
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