How Good Is Johnny?

How do your expectations and assessment of a high school player change based on their year in school???????

I always hear from parents that "Johnny is a good ballplayer." I always ask the same question when I hear it.

What year is Johnny?

If Johnny is a Freshman then yeah Johnny is a good ballplayer.
If Johnny is a Sophmore he's a pretty good player.
If Johnny is a Junior he's ok.
If Johnny is a Senior he's so-so and I realize I am talking to his Dad or his Dad is probably standing next to me.

This is why I usually sit alone at games.

 

All I know is, apparently Johnny isn't hitting .500

 

On a Roll!

I'm on a roll today. I'm 5 for 4. That's a 1250 Batting Average if you're keeping score (incorrectly).

 

MPH is a similar conversation...

When I hear how fast a pitcher throws I always deduct about 5%

90 MPH = 85 MPH
88 MPH = 84 MPH
86 MPH = 82 MPH

Having attended a lot of college games this year, I always find my way to the team guns recording data behind home plate and my perception is most always confirmed. Also see a lot more off speed pitching in college than a fast ball dominated approach like you often see in HS.

 

College Beat Writer

One of the college beat writers told me that the players all shrink 2 inches and lose 15 pounds when they show up for their first day of college ball!

I love it.

 

You ARE on a roll today.

I was at a HS game last year when the opposing pitcher was throwing "good", heck I will even say "very good", maybe mid to upper 80's. When all of a sudden this man standing near us was on his cellphone telling someone the kid "had to be hitting 100".


Again no lie.

 

Why I prefer HS baseball to Showcase baseball....

After watching Mallard Creek play North MECK last night, I realized another reason why I so enjoy watching High School games over Showcase games:

No matter which player was at bat, all the parents were cheering for him by name. At showcase there are so, so many parents who only watch the game and cheer for Johnny when their son, Johnny, is at bat. They cheer for no other player. Now, that can't be much fun.
...

 

You didn't finish the sentence as he was speaking to his wife on the other end of the phone and she wanted to know how Johnny was doing......."kid had to be hitting 100, but Johnny still crushed a double between the legs of the 3rd baseman."

 

It's called "DADAR".....

 

Of course the man on the phone turned out to be pitcher's dad.