A Week Away

From the opening of the Spring Season. We scrimmage our 11U team today for prep. Should be interesting as my team has legitimate 9 year olds in the mix.

So one of the concepts I am trying to instill is that pitchers need to throw strikes, not strikeouts. A strikeout is a bonus, but pitchers (especially at young ages) have to realize there are 7 players behind them and one in front who are there to make the plays. Throw strikes- if the ball is hit, depend on your fielders to get the outs.

Spent most of the day Saturday with town league evaluations - and when this rolls around, you sincerely appreciate the talent level and commitment your travel players have. I understand that everybody develops at a different rate, but when you see boys 9 and 10, and 11 and 12 who have difficulty catching a fly ball or throw a ball it is kind of depressing. Everybody can't be a stud, I got that. It's definitely a different world out there, where ballfields are empty unless an organized practice or game is held. Maybe if kids today could just get out, play some ball (without parental supervision/interference) we'd have more kids playing ball. What a perfect world.

And five days later, I still haven't talked to 90% of the coaches of teams I'll be facing in Spring League. I'm getting anxious.

Play Ball!