Sophomores Pulled Up to Sit on Bench

My reply was based on this question (no role on team). We can all find exceptions for this reason, but in general, if the kid is sittin', he ain't getting better.

You may find that at the poor programs; and I define poor as a school that has trouble fielding a jv squad. The schools that have developed a baseball program will not have a bad jv coach

Most of the better programs have their JV and Varsity practice together. That way the younger guys get exposed to the system and the expectations of the varsity coaches earlier. This is also when your senior leadership pays dividends.

I can understand keeping a junior up on Varsity with little chance of playing, but a sophomore? Unless, as Coach 27 said, he has a role on the team, it's all about getting better to help your Varsity. To be honest, I don't know many sophomores that are going to be brought up to the varsity unless the coach believes he is going to help

 

NO, it is about making the varsity team better and in the long run, the player. You have to balance the 2 and look at whats best for the kid and program in the ong run. Games played against subpar competition is not as good as staying up and getting better.

 

the jv team is about getting players ready for the varsity level. If a kid gets playing time as a soph. that means he has three yrs of experience instead of only two, and we all know the difference between jv and varsity pitching/hitting. Moving to varsity is just as much a mental growing time as a physical growing time. Practice is where the reps are- get the kid consistent in every aspect of the game and he will produce in either jv or varsity. I think the decision cant solely be based on one thing. Like many of you have said there are alot of factors that weigh in and i think its different for each player depending on what that player brings to the team.

 

My son is a soph. and has significant playing time on varsity level this year. He played JV last year and those 23 games on JV against that level pitching were a step back from what he's used to seeing. We geared ours up growing up to compete against the highest level comp. there is, and basically those 23 games on JV where we're from would have been another step back. My son got to hit against Pratt Maynard, Michael Dimmock, Jason Groce, Josh Darroch,ect. and teams like Orange, East Chapel Hill, Riverside, ect. and although it didn't always work out, having seen that, he is in awe of not much. There were times I questioned should he be on varsity, but then I watch a JV game, those 23 would not make or break him in the least if he only had 10 at bats with the varsity. You have to ask yourself would it be a step back to see that type of competition (JV level) or sit back and not play as much on varsity. The answer for my son would be sit back on varsity, because a better day at varsity practice to me is better than a JV game, in our area. Some of you are blessed with great JV teams in your area, so it differs for some I know. Most of our JV players do not play in summer or fall, so they know no different, are very happy doing what they do, but are in for a rude awakening come there time to play varsity. I tried to get some to go out for 15 Dirtbag team yesterday, but either fear of failure or there fondest memory of year is a JV game they want to savour, is beyond me why that wouldn't take a chance. We have 4 soph. on varsity team, and PT has been scarce for 2, but they had rather fail at highest level, than to suceed at mediocre stuff. I'm behind them 100%. At least now, you know what to work on to compete at and get better at highest level. We have some after going 3-4 against terrible pitching that honestly think they're there and work on nothing on JV.

 

Guys, I understand a player knowing and fulfilling his role on the team, I understand you coaches (and at least 2 of you are great ones at that) are more concerned about the well-being of the entire TEAM, got that too,,, and I also understand that the better players will work year round to get better,,, got all that, Lord knows we traveled the AAU circuit and did many batting cages before Thanksgiving dinner around my house for many years.

But if I may, because I don't post many things personally because I just try to remain objective, but those of you who know me, know that I had 2 sons who were fortunate enough to start and play on varsity as sophs, and both my boys went on to have excellent 3 year varsity careers (each). Yep, dad is proud of them both.

But with that said, I can remember when each one of them came home and told me "they made varsity as a soph", and my first thought was "would they be playing or sitting". Honestly guys, it wouldn't have mattered to me if they had played JV another year or not, I would've enjoyed going to watch them, and would've been just as proud of them. As a dad, my way of thinking was always, I just wanted them to play and have fun. Thats the reason I answered the way I did above.

 

{applaudin'}

 

Kewl

AWESOME....

 

Dominating JV is better than playing V...IMHO

The player should be selfish and play where they are going to excel. It is the coach’s job to think about the team. That doesn’t mean you don’t bring your lunch pail to every practice and game. If you desire to play at the next level, you had better worry about you. Last year, my son was a no name starter on the varsity, playing out of position for the TEAM as a sophomore. He was tied for the team lead in HRs and had the highest fielding percentage only to take a back seat this year to last year’s JV’s that shined bright and created a great deal of buzz. He went from supreme confidence, promise and potential to hating the game that he once loved. I’ve read self-help book after self-help book and have considered therapy just to keep my sanity. As you can tell from this post, it hasn’t worked. As for my son, he tries to take advantage of his chances and he puts up a good front in the name of TEAM. He is a far better man than I. To wrap up, unless you are some pitching phenomenon, physically mature beyond your years, or on a very bad Varsity team, I would suggest staying on the JV team as a Fr. and So. and dominate. If given the opportunity, 2 years is enough to excel at the varsity level. The TEAM will be around long after you are gone. Oh... I too would have loved to see my kid play and have fun. I'm still very proud of him. I'm out...forever.

 

again...

small focuse is the quality playing time and the big one is it going to improve the "overall" team of the Varsity!

 

Your not watching!

I know this is not where to post this message. It probably should be a PM but I think it needs to be said since every player on the team knows who Indy, his son and I am. The young man we are all talking about is a stud and will continue to get opportunities to perform - Unlike others! He has not played as much as some this year but has played much much more than others. He has been making the best of the situation and has really stepped up when needed lately. The Hero of our last conference game! I am proud of the way he has carried himself and the way he has earned the respect of his teammates this year. As parents we sometimes need to take lessons from our kids and just enjoy this brief moment in time and stop walking around kicking dirt all pissed off. We can suck the fun out of it for our guys. I know what I am talking about because I was the guy that wasted two years kicking dirt while my guy was having more fun than I could see. Life may not be what we plan, it may not be fair but it does not have to be miserable. The young man will go further in sports than anyone on his team if he is not taught to hate the journey!! Indy can’t get too pissed off at me because he knows I love the family. If you need to air frustrations, I will be more than happy to listen over at the flag pole away from the view and ears of the team. Not on an open forum.

Back to topic, I could not agree more about staying in JV as long as possible but we do have a very competitive JV conference.