catching fly balls

[Seattle1]

If there's one thing I like to do, it's run as fast as I can to track down and catch fly balls in the outfield.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Me too. There's nothing like grabbing a ball thats almost out of reach and then tumbling to the ground.

[Baseball gLove]

I love watching my son chase down flies. At F7, he has caught a couple of over-the-shoulder 300 foot outs in the gap. During a JV game over the summer at F6, he chased down and caught a dying quail that was hit about 200 ft down the third baseline and doubled off a BR at 2nd. That was a thing of beauty.

[Padday]

Best thing to do, ignore the hard ones and make a big deal out of the easy ones. For ones that you're right under jump up as high as possible to catch it and fall on your back. Everybody will think your great and want to be your friend. But then again, if you mess it up, everybody will think your a complete idiot.

[Gashouse6]

Best thing to do, ignore the hard ones and make a big deal out of the easy ones. For ones that you're right under jump up as high as possible to catch it and fall on your back. Everybody will think your great and want to be your friend. But then again, if you mess it up, everybody will think your a complete idiot.
Exactly.:laugh
I love it coming in to the dugout after making a great running catch and the coach saying, "I thought that was down for sure."
I usually play Center, and one time this other kid was playing center and I was sitting for the inning. There was a ball in the gap and he full out sprinted and dove and caught it. It was an amazing catch. I told my coach right after that, "I would have caught that standing up."

[SluggerCF91]

Exactly.:laugh
I love it coming in to the dugout after making a great running catch and the coach saying, "I thought that was down for sure."
I usually play Center, and one time this other kid was playing center and I was sitting for the inning. There was a ball in the gap and he full out sprinted and dove and caught it. It was an amazing catch. I told my coach right after that, "I would have caught that standing up."
wow you people are funny. You disguise your catches to make yourself look good. How about try to do your best so you help your team win?

[Baseball gLove]

wow you people are funny. You disguise your catches to make yourself look good. How about try to do your best so you help your team win?

Exactly. If you're not going to try your best, go play recreational soccer instead.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

I'm pretty sure that was sarcasm guys... :laugh

[Baseball gLove]

I'm pretty sure that was sarcasm guys... :laugh

My son is a pitcher and, like most pitchers, nothing pisses him off more than a player that doesn't try has hard as he would.

[Padday]

Exactly. If you're not going to try your best, go play recreational soccer instead.
I do actually.:laugh

[Baseball gLove]

I do actually.:laugh


That figures. Recreational soccer is where kids are not allowed to do their best. One is not allowed to score too many goals, because someone's feelings might get hurt.

My son plays club and high school soccer. Nothing pisses him off more than when a teammate doesn't try his best in those games either.

[SluggerCF91]

be fair to your team and try your best even if you suck. The one thing you can always do right is hustle.

[Padday]

That figures. Recreational soccer is where kids are not allowed to do their best. One is not allowed to score too many goals, because someone's feelings might get hurt.

My son plays club and high school soccer. Nothing pisses him off more than when a teammate doesn't try his best in those games either.
Maybe receational soccer is different over there but I try my hardest when I play and most people who I play with try their hardest and pretty much the object of the game is to hurt people's feelings.:D

[EdmondsFan#1]

I can't catch a fly ball worth my life, but my coach still put me in left field :grouchy .

The only fly ball i caught was the final out of the championship game, if i was a rightie i would be a shortstop most likely because i'm a great fielder.

Just not a great pop up catcher :o , i don't have problems with line drives at all though

[-Kyle-]

I can't catch a fly ball worth my life, but my coach still put me in left field :grouchy .

The only fly ball i caught was the final out of the championship game, if i was a rightie i would be a shortstop most likely because i'm a great fielder.

Just not a great pop up catcher :o , i don't have problems with line drives at all though
Yeah fly balls are overrated, grounders and one hoppers are much more fun. (Not sarcasm)

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Yeah fly balls are overrated, grounders and one hoppers are much more fun. (Not sarcasm)

I enjoy it all the same. Taking ground balls is a blast, as is shagging flies. I love it all!

[EvanAparra]

wow you people are funny. You disguise your catches to make yourself look good. How about try to do your best so you help your team win?
Learn how to take a joke

[Baseball gLove]

be fair to your team and try your best even if you suck. The one thing you can always do right is hustle.

Thank you.

[SluggerCF91]

Learn how to take a joke
Where did you come from? Why don't you learn to mind your own business. This site is for serious ballplayers, not for a bunch of clowns.

Best thing to do, ignore the hard ones and make a big deal out of the easy ones. For ones that you're right under jump up as high as possible to catch it and fall on your back. Everybody will think your great and want to be your friend. But then again, if you mess it up, everybody will think your a complete idiot.
What the hell is that?

Well... There are two people here with an once of intelligence... Me And Baseball love

[Baseball gLove]

Well... There are two people here with an once of intelligence... Me And Baseball love

I wouldn't say it's about intelligence. It's more about having desire and some guts. I know a few kids with talent, but they have no desire. That is why they get beat by teams that have less skill, but have more desire.

[XFactor]

Well... There are two people here with an once of intelligence... Me And Baseball love

You do mean ounce, do you not? *hands you a big red nose* Have fun.

[Seattle1]

Hey we're all intelligent here, and we all love shagging flies.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Hey we're all intelligent here, and we all love shagging flies.

Amen to that. Why all the sniping back and forth?

If I'm not mistaken, this all started because of one misunderstood comment:

Best thing to do, ignore the hard ones and make a big deal out of the easy ones. For ones that you're right under jump up as high as possible to catch it and fall on your back. Everybody will think your great and want to be your friend. But then again, if you mess it up, everybody will think your a complete idiot.

[Padday]

Okay this has gotten a bit wierd so let me set the record straight. What I said was just a bit of fun and I don't actually do it in competitive situations. I really don't think that what I said should have this kind of effect as it was just a joke. How about we just forget this ever happened.

There now, important business of fly balls...

[EdmondsFan#1]

Gunning people down is the best of all.

Or striking them out.

Or throwing them out at short.

Really it's all fun.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Being a catcher when there's a tag-up, and you know that the outfielder's got a cannon is the best. You know it's gonna be close. I love it.

[PJ-34]

When i started playing ball i started in the catcher role, after about a year of that i got bored and didnt think the position was right for me, so i moved to first i liked that but once again it got boring so i finalyl moved out to the out field(left, right, center)and i have finally found my postion i played al of this season in the outfield for my towns baseball team, i love catching fly balls and i know the outfield is my best position i need to work on my throwing arm thogh but i love diving for balls, ive made some spectacular catches in the season my hitting is another story though the only time i hit the ball in the ari is either a pop up or a foul backwards, but getting back on track i think whoever created this thread im sorry i forget who is was haha, i know excatly what you mean when you say you love tracking down balls i love it, im old fasioned i still have my old glove from grade 6 my easton black widow haha i love that glove its nicelly broken in and i almost never drop a ball in that glove.

[EvanAparra]

Where did you come from? Why don't you learn to mind your own business. This site is for serious ballplayers, not for a bunch of clowns.


What the hell is that?

Well... There are two people here with an once of intelligence... Me And Baseball love

Mind my own business? You are in a FORUM, where everyone responds to things you write. This site is for anyone who wants to talk about anything baseball related. Get a clue.

[Seattle1]

When i started playing ball i started in the catcher role, after about a year of that i got bored and didnt think the position was right for me, so i moved to first i liked that but once again it got boring so i finalyl moved out to the out field(left, right, center)and i have finally found my postion i played al of this season in the outfield for my towns baseball team, i love catching fly balls and i know the outfield is my best position i need to work on my throwing arm thogh but i love diving for balls, ive made some spectacular catches in the season my hitting is another story though the only time i hit the ball in the ari is either a pop up or a foul backwards, but getting back on track i think whoever created this thread im sorry i forget who is was haha, i know excatly what you mean when you say you love tracking down balls i love it, im old fasioned i still have my old glove from grade 6 my easton black widow haha i love that glove its nicelly broken in and i almost never drop a ball in that glove.

Sounds great Skychief! Looks like you've found your niche there in the outfield.

[SluggerCF91]

Mind my own business? You are in a FORUM, where everyone responds to things you write. This site is for anyone who wants to talk about anything baseball related. Get a clue.
Okay whatever pal. Dont tell me how to take a joke; escpecially if u werent involved in the thread before the incident. And also,THAT WASNT A JOKE FYI, HE WAS BEING SERIOUS, THATS WHAT HE DOES IN THE GAME. IS THAT FAIR TO HIS TEAM? People who arent willing to give 110% for the game arent worth my time.

[XFactor]

Well, what he does should be a concern for his team... I don't see how it affects you... I'd suggest that you shouldn't worry about it. Just forget about it kiddo.
I'd hate to see what would happen if one of your teammates didn't hustle for the ball ;\

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

And also,THAT WASNT A JOKE FYI, HE WAS BEING SERIOUS, THATS WHAT HE DOES IN THE GAME.

Let's just see about that...

What I said was just a bit of fun and I don't actually do it in competitive situations. I really don't think that what I said should have this kind of effect as it was just a joke.

Well then. That just about solves it.

[hellborn]

... I know a few kids with talent, but they have no desire. ...
Any chance that these kids are being forced to play by their parents, or only play because they have siblings who also play?

[hellborn]

wow you people are funny. You disguise your catches to make yourself look good. How about try to do your best so you help your team win?
Gee, seems to be that Edmonds in StL does this quite often and still wins Gold Gloves and makes it to the postseason. You going to tell him how to play the game, say he's not serious?
An innocent thread was hijacked by a couple of guys with problems and delusions of grandeur...

[SluggerCF91]

Are you kidding me. I think some of you should re-read your posts before post it. I highly doubt that a major league supertstar such as Jim Edmonds would disguise his catches, or "ignore the hard ones". Im obviously in the wrong forum.

[-Kyle-]

Hey we're all intelligent here, and we all love shagging flies.
Ugh...looked dirty for a second. :p

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Are you kidding me. I think some of you should re-read your posts before post it. I highly doubt that a major league supertstar such as Jim Edmonds would disguise his catches, or "ignore the hard ones". Im obviously in the wrong forum.

It is almost common knowledge that Edmonds often makes a simple catch look not-so-simple. He tends to add an extra flair to things. But hey, he wins gold gloves. And you can't argue with results.

PS: I don't respect people who come into a discussion and make extravagant (and angry) claims with no basis in fact, and then choose not to reply when they're proven wrong. In my opinion, it really shows something about their character.

[hellborn]

I think some of you should re-read your posts before post it.
Yeah, it would be nice to correct grammar and syntax before finalizing a post, wouldn't it?

I highly doubt that a major league supertstar such as Jim Edmonds would disguise his catches, or "ignore the hard ones". Im obviously in the wrong forum.
I don't think that Edmonds ignores anything, but it is incredibly obvious to me that he does like to make catches look harder than they really are, as well as use extra stylistic flourishes that look somewhat like showboating. I have heard many comments from many people on these tendencies. I wonder if you have actually seen the man play.
Despite his style of OF play, Edmonds seems to me to get the job done, and many other people think that he is a fantastic center fielder. Players used to be admired for their "color" in fielding...Rabbit Maranville used to let pop flies roll down his chest into his glove, and sit on baserunners after tagging them out. These actions were not essential to his fielding task, but they amused the spectators and gave an air of fun to the game that must have been refreshing. And, Maranville is reputed to be one of the top defensive players of all time...
I just don't see why people can't say that they have some fun while playing, especially in practice, without being vilified.

[SluggerCF91]

That proves my point for you two. Im going to keep my cool so the moderator doesnt delete my posts. JIM EDMONDS DOES NOT IGNORE THE HARD ONES. I could'nt care less if he did a back flip before he caught the ball. IF JIM EDMONDS IGNORED THE HARD ONES, JIM EDMONDS WOULDNT BE "JIM EDMONDS". HE WOULDNT BE PLAYING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. Thank you.

PS- The reason I choose not to reply to posts isnt because I feel ive been proven wrong, its just, who wants to go back and forth over something as silly as this?

[Padday]

That proves my point for you two. Im going to keep my cool so the moderator doesnt delete my posts. JIM EDMONDS DOES NOT IGNORE THE HARD ONES. I could'nt care less if he did a back flip before he caught the ball. IF JIM EDMONDS IGNORED THE HARD ONES, JIM EDMONDS WOULDNT BE "JIM EDMONDS". HE WOULDNT BE PLAYING MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. Thank you.

PS- The reason I choose not to reply to posts isnt because I feel ive been proven wrong, its just, who wants to go back and forth over something as silly as this?
Then why have you brought it up again. It was a meaningless comment. If I knew it would cause this much commotion I wouldn't have posted it. I'm pretty sure most people try hard to catch the difficult ones. I am one of them.

[Baseball gLove]

Any chance that these kids are being forced to play by their parents, or only play because they have siblings who also play?

I think they are spoiled kids that always got what they want, because daddy was there. When the real competition comes out instead of stepping up, they make excuses and look for daddy to bail them. Sorry, it doesn't work that way in high school. My son had to earn his position even when I was the manager. My son steps it up another notch when the competition does. That is why he is leading his freshman team in hits, on base percentage, stolen bases and runs scored (not to be confused with RBI's, I'm pretty sure someone else has that) .

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

What baseball-loving person doesn't love running full steam for a fly-ball? Why wouldn't anyone try as hard as they can? It's not like you look bad if you run as hard as you can and simply can't make it there. I'm sure that everyone here loves baseball enough to love running for the hard ones.:clapping

[hellborn]

Are you kidding me. I think some of you should re-read your posts before post it. I highly doubt that a major league supertstar such as Jim Edmonds would disguise his catches, or "ignore the hard ones". Im obviously in the wrong forum.
OK, I think that I understand the controversy here. My comment on Edmonds was in reply to your "disguise your catches" post, which said nothing about ignoring balls that are hard to reach. To be able to disguise a catch, you are obviously making a catch, not ignoring the ball. But, you apparently thought that I was tying in Edmonds to the much earlier comment about "ignoring the hard ones", which was not in the post I replied to. So, in addition to my intended comment about Edmond being a bit of a showboat (which does not bother me at all), you thought that I was saying that he would ignore flies that were hard to reach.
I can't imagine that there is any player in the majors, other than perhaps a complete non-glove man like Giambi who really appears to be scared of the ball at times, who would just ignore a ball because he might end up having a tough play. Of course, you might have infielders not dive for a ball that they have a 1% chance to reach when they won't be able to throw the runner out anyway, or an outfielder who won't dive for a ball when it would be disastrous for the ball to get by him and there is little chance that he will make the catch, but that's not being lazy...that's just playing smart baseball.

So, I agree that Edmonds does not ignore the hard ones...and, in fact, I can't say how anybody would say that I claimed that in the first place. That is a stretch well beyond what I said in my post.

BTW, anybody remember Rickey Henderson's little circular "swoosh" he would do on easy flies? I'm sure the pitchers loved that one...but, scoring 2500 runs will let players get away with such flourishes. ;)

[Padday]

One thing to do is catch a fly ball in the outfield with your bare hand. Might hurt a bit though. Maybe if it was a situation where there was no way you could reach with your glove hand then it might be necessary. Any thoughts?

[Jake Patterson]

One thing to do is catch a fly ball in the outfield with your bare hand. Might hurt a bit though. Maybe if it was a situation where there was no way you could reach with your glove hand then it might be necessary. Any thoughts?

In 40 years of the game I don't think I ever saw an outfielder do this...

[Padday]

I have actually. Don't remember who, when , why, where or how, nut i do remember seeing it once before. I remember that the outfielder was running towards the fence and reached with his bare left hand over his right shoulder and grabbed the ball. Was pretty cool.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Might you be talking about David Wright? He did it last year (I know he's not an outfielder, but it was still awesome).

[hellborn]

I have actually. Don't remember who, when , why, where or how, nut i do remember seeing it once before. I remember that the outfielder was running towards the fence and reached with his bare left hand over his right shoulder and grabbed the ball. Was pretty cool.

Kevin Mitchell did this when he was with the Giants. You'd see it on highlight reels for several years afterwards. I think that he was running at an angle across the LF foul line and was a little out of position when he looked up to pick up the ball and it was just more convenient for him to grab it with his bare hand. Very odd play, but it looked natural...wasn't an awkward desperation thing.

[Baseball gLove]

I have actually. Don't remember who, when , why, where or how, nut i do remember seeing it once before. I remember that the outfielder was running towards the fence and reached with his bare left hand over his right shoulder and grabbed the ball. Was pretty cool.


I second that. I remember a left fielder bare-handing a liner. I have seen several 3rd baseman bare-hand linedrives. They include Blaylock, Burroughs and Rolen. I am sure there are others.

[Seattle1]

One thing to do is catch a fly ball in the outfield with your bare hand. Might hurt a bit though. Maybe if it was a situation where there was no way you could reach with your glove hand then it might be necessary. Any thoughts?

I've played in spur-of-the-moment pickup softball games before where there weren't enough gloves to go around. I can remember playing the outfield with no glove and catching fly balls left and right. It was kind of fun. I was a reciever in high school football, so I kind of naturally drew on that expereince I think. Just be extra carefull to watch the ball into your hands.

[PJ-34]

Sounds great Skychief! Looks like you've found your niche there in the outfield.

Oh foresure I can't waite until next season to do it all again, my coach says im starting out there again in the outfield next season and I can't waite.

[Padday]

Kevin Mitchell did this when he was with the Giants. You'd see it on highlight reels for several years afterwards. I think that he was running at an angle across the LF foul line and was a little out of position when he looked up to pick up the ball and it was just more convenient for him to grab it with his bare hand. Very odd play, but it looked natural...wasn't an awkward desperation thing.
Pretty sure that's the one. Thanks for that. Was a very odd play indeed.

[PJ-34]

Yes it was, I saw it on best damn sports show period, I thought Wrights play was awsome but this is a ball on the warning track and he bare handed it, do you know how much that would hurt the hand?

[Padday]

I think I saw it on some best web jems ever thing (although technically it wasn't really a "web jem" unless he has webbed fingers of something). He said it was just instinct from when he was a child and he didn't have a glove.

[hellborn]

Yes it was, I saw it on best damn sports show period, I thought Wrights play was awsome but this is a ball on the warning track and he bare handed it, do you know how much that would hurt the hand?
Mitchell had an extremely thick, muscular build, so maybe his hands were strong enough to take the impact. Legend has it that catcher Ernie Lombardi, who was very large and strong but immobile, would reach out and catch stray pitches to his right with his throwing hand rather than try to shift for them. That amazes me even more than Mitchell, but I don't know that anybody has film of this happening. Lombardi was such an odd character that you wonder if people liked to exaggerate the stories about him a little. Bill James has a wonderful extended article about him in the Historical Abstract, even covering his post-baseball life and attempted suicide.

[SluggerCF91]

Best thing to do, ignore the hard ones and make a big deal out of the easy ones. For ones that you're right under jump up as high as possible to catch it and fall on your back. Everybody will think your great and want to be your friend. But then again, if you mess it up, everybody will think your a complete idiot. .
Maybe if you wrote a simply "I'am just kidding" none of this would be happening. Unless you arent kidding... Which you claim you are.
Okay this has gotten a bit wierd so let me set the record straight. What I said was just a bit of fun and I don't actually do it in competitive situations. I really don't think that what I said should have this kind of effect as it was just a joke. How about we just forget this ever happened.

There now, important business of fly balls... .
Okay, I agree. Im going to forget about this once I set a few things straight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SluggerCF91
And also,THAT WASNT A JOKE FYI, HE WAS BEING SERIOUS, THATS WHAT HE DOES IN THE GAME.

Let's just see about that...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Padday
What I said was just a bit of fun and I don't actually do it in competitive situations. I really don't think that what I said should have this kind of effect as it was just a joke.

Well then. That just about solves it.
Thx for the update.
Then why have you brought it up again. It was a meaningless comment. If I knew it would cause this much commotion I wouldn't have posted it. I'm pretty sure most people try hard to catch the difficult ones. I am one of them.
So why did you say to "ignore the hard ones". Confusing...
One thing to do is catch a fly ball in the outfield with your bare hand. Might hurt a bit though. Maybe if it was a situation where there was no way you could reach with your glove hand then it might be necessary. Any thoughts?
You either have absolutely no common sense, or your being a real smartie and your testing me.In 40 years of the game I don't think I ever saw an outfielder do this...
I agree 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000%. Im pretty sure that makes 3 people with at least a half of a brain.

I just want to apologize for my assumtion that a person actually meant what they wrote. If I wrote, "I have 15 dollars in my pocket", that usually means that I have 15 dollars in my pocket. If I wrote, "I have 15 dollars in my pocket, JUST KIDDING :p!!!" then that means Im just kidding.

Ps- I would also like to thank everybody out that there contributed to making me feel like a real ******* by ganging up on me. I appreciate it a whole lot, and God Bless.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

One thing to do is catch a fly ball in the outfield with your bare hand. Might hurt a bit though. Maybe if it was a situation where there was no way you could reach with your glove hand then it might be necessary. Any thoughts?

In 40 years of the game I don't think I ever saw an outfielder do this...


That is what Jake was responding to. I don't like it when people manipulate quotes to mean something that they don't. Especially when it's trying to manipulate into being in your favour.

[SluggerCF91]

What was Jake's point? I believe that it was to show the it is very unusual to see an outfielder catch a fly ball with his bare hands. That may very well not have been jake's point, if you want to find out his point your going to have to ask him. I was agreeing with what I beleieved was his point.

[TonyK]

As a kid I loved to try and catch every fly ball hit to the OF that I could. Now watching my son play CF in HS ball, I sit and watch him make diving catches and it always makes me nervous.

In the last inning of a playoff game last year, the other team had the bases loaded with two out and down by one run. The batter got all of the pitch and hit a rocket out to deep CF. I didn't want to look because if my son didn't catch the ball his team was eliminated. It was either going into the trees for a game winning home run, or he would run back and drop it to be the goat, or he would make the catch. It was dark so I had trouble following the flight of the ball.

The next thing I saw was him settling under it to make the catch and his team had won the game! I stood up with the other parents and applauded him as he came back in. It is rare that a HS outfielder gets recognition for his fielding ability so that was a moment I hope he always remembers. His team won the league playoffs BTW.

[SluggerCF91]

Congratulations

[TonyK]

Congratulations

I see you play HS ball too and are about the same height and weight as my son. What are you currently doing to get ready for next season?

[SluggerCF91]

I see you play HS ball too and are about the same height and weight as my son. What are you currently doing to get ready for next season?
Currently, I'am lifting weights 3 times a week, running/jogging 2 times a week, saturday is my day of hitting/pitching instruction and/or batting cages, and sunday is my rest day. I was cut from my JV team due to politics and a whole bunch of other things that happened in the past, so I use that as motivation. The most important thing I say to myself, is to stay CONSISTENT, because thats what you need to build. Traning also depends on what position/style of player you are.

[TonyK]

Currently, I'am lifting weights 3 times a week, running/jogging 2 times a week, saturday is my day of hitting/pitching instruction and/or batting cages, and sunday is my rest day. I was cut from my JV team due to politics and a whole bunch of other things that happened in the past, so I use that as motivation. The most important thing I say to myself, is to stay CONSISTENT, because thats what you need to build. Traning also depends on what position/style of player you are.

It sounds as if you have something to prove both to yourself and to some of the so-called experts at your school. I understand how politics comes into play, but all you can control is yourself. The training you do now will pay off either in JV ball or summer ball.

My son didn't even try out for Jr High ball as a 7th grader because of politics. It hasn't affected him, and he has to earn his playing time in JV's. Good Luck to you!

[Baseball gLove]

Don't get me started with Jr. High Politics. My son's Jr High had tryouts for their first school sport team, basketball. My son is an all around athlete. He was one of the taller kids, definitely one of the quickest and had one of the highest vertical jumps. All his friends thought he would easily make the team. He didn't make the team. There was no rhyme or reason to the selection, other than the teacher's nephew, a slow, short, fat kid made the team. My son's younger cousin an underclassman and not quite the athlete, didn't make the team either. By the end of the day, my nephew makes the team. My sister-in-law had used her influence as a board member to accomplish this. My son later entered a speech competition; included in the competition was his cousin. My son wins and is slated to go to a regional competition. Three weeks go by and suddenly there was a question on the scores. Suddenly, he is stripped of the championship and his cousin wins. The explanation was extremely fishy. We asked for the scores but our requests were politely ignored. The final explanation was that my son won with two of the three judges, but the score from the third judge weighed in favor of my son's cousin. Smells like my sister-in-law was involved in the decision making process again. This BS would not have happened in a baseball game. The school wants my son for volleyball and baseball and another speech competition. They approached me recently with smiles on their faces asking if my son would want to participate in the speech competition again. I answered them that a single judge should not have been able to override the other two, 3 weeks after the competition was over. I told them that my son has no interest in participating in one of their programs again. Club ball is better baseball anyway.

[Padday]

Maybe if you wrote a simply "I'am just kidding" none of this would be happening. Unless you arent kidding... Which you claim you are.

Okay, I agree. Im going to forget about this once I set a few things straight.

Thx for the update.

So why did you say to "ignore the hard ones". Confusing...

You either have absolutely no common sense, or your being a real smartie and your testing me.
I agree 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000%. Im pretty sure that makes 3 people with at least a half of a brain.

I just want to apologize for my assumtion that a person actually meant what they wrote. If I wrote, "I have 15 dollars in my pocket", that usually means that I have 15 dollars in my pocket. If I wrote, "I have 15 dollars in my pocket, JUST KIDDING :p!!!" then that means Im just kidding.

Ps- I would also like to thank everybody out that there contributed to making me feel like a real ******* by ganging up on me. I appreciate it a whole lot, and God Bless.
Does it really matter that much.

By the way, if I offended you in any way, please realise that anything i posted was just to get my point across and not to make you look dum.

We still cool?:)

[Jake Patterson]

What was Jake's point? I believe that it was to show the it is very unusual to see an outfielder catch a fly ball with his bare hands. That may very well not have been jake's point, if you want to find out his point your going to have to ask him. I was agreeing with what I beleieved was his point.

I was stating that in 40 years of baseball I have not seen an outfielder catch a fly ball with a bare hand. I have seen them catch one hops, ground balls, and balls off the walls, but not a fly ball.

[SluggerCF91]

It sounds as if you have something to prove both to yourself and to some of the so-called experts at your school. I understand how politics comes into play, but all you can control is yourself. The training you do now will pay off either in JV ball or summer ball.

My son didn't even try out for Jr High ball as a 7th grader because of politics. It hasn't affected him, and he has to earn his playing time in JV's. Good Luck to you!
Thank you very much

Does it really matter that much.

By the way, if I offended you in any way, please realise that anything i posted was just to get my point across and not to make you look dum.

We still cool?:)
No problem, Yes we are still cool =)

I was stating that in 40 years of baseball I have not seen an outfielder catch a fly ball with a bare hand. I have seen them catch one hops, ground balls, and balls off the walls, but not a fly ball.
I havent seen an outfielder use his bare hand much either

[R_MIOK]

It sounds as if you have something to prove both to yourself and to some of the so-called experts at your school. I understand how politics comes into play, but all you can control is yourself. The training you do now will pay off either in JV ball or summer ball.

My son didn't even try out for Jr High ball as a 7th grader because of politics. It hasn't affected him, and he has to earn his playing time in JV's. Good Luck to you!Im gonna be trying out for JV baseball at my high school in january..hopefully its not like last year because like you said about politics...we had this kid at SS start every single game and in 22 games he made 18 errors. Really ticked me off as a pitcher too. Im gonna have a different coach tho so hopefully its different.

[TonyK]

Im gonna be trying out for JV baseball at my high school in january..hopefully its not like last year because like you said about politics...we had this kid at SS start every single game and in 22 games he made 18 errors. Really ticked me off as a pitcher too. Im gonna have a different coach tho so hopefully its different.

It seems to me that the SS position becomes a lot more difficult at the JV level than in Jr High. Ground balls are hit harder and a lot more fielding errors are made. Batters run faster causing shortstops to have to throw harder, and that leads to throwing errors. Our best SS made a dozen errors and was moved to the OF. He did not take it well and his attitude was noticed by all of the coaches. Good Luck in tryouts and I hope you make the team!

[TonyK]

Don't get me started with Jr. High Politics. My son's Jr High had tryouts for their first school sport team, basketball. My son is an all around athlete. He was one of the taller kids, definitely one of the quickest and had one of the highest vertical jumps. All his friends thought he would easily make the team. He didn't make the team. There was no rhyme or reason to the selection, other than the teacher's nephew, a slow, short, fat kid made the team. My son's younger cousin an underclassman and not quite the athlete, didn't make the team either. By the end of the day, my nephew makes the team. My sister-in-law had used her influence as a board member to accomplish this. My son later entered a speech competition; included in the competition was his cousin. My son wins and is slated to go to a regional competition. Three weeks go by and suddenly there was a question on the scores. Suddenly, he is stripped of the championship and his cousin wins. The explanation was extremely fishy. We asked for the scores but our requests were politely ignored. The final explanation was that my son won with two of the three judges, but the score from the third judge weighed in favor of my son's cousin. Smells like my sister-in-law was involved in the decision making process again. This BS would not have happened in a baseball game. The school wants my son for volleyball and baseball and another speech competition. They approached me recently with smiles on their faces asking if my son would want to participate in the speech competition again. I answered them that a single judge should not have been able to override the other two, 3 weeks after the competition was over. I told them that my son has no interest in participating in one of their programs again. Club ball is better baseball anyway.

Slow, short fat kids usually make the BB team if their parents are on the School Board, Athletic Boosters, teach, or are friends with the coach. Your son could not control that pick so he had to stand out above some of the other kids. My son grew tired of riding the bench watching the slower fatter kids get scored on time after time.

It used to be the HS coach was a dictator and noone dared approach him or speak to him about cuts or playing time. Now, I watch the moms smooze the coaches and the dads volunteer to help them out so their Little Johnny gets to start every game.