Have I lost perspective?

Your son was an insurance policy for injured catcher. The coach isn't going to play three catchers equally and have three upset players and dads. He wants your son to quit so he can play the first two catchers 50/50 as he promised them. Is this fair to your son? Absolutely not if it was not communicated that his situation would change when the injured catcher returned. Chalk it up to experience and move on.

 

I addition to agreeing with the advice you're getting here, I'd commend you and your son for the mature, civil way you've approached this entire set of circumstances. We've all seen occasions when the anger and resentment such a situation can prompt causes a player and/or a parent to go off the deep end. In my opinion, that just worsens an already bad situation.

You don't mention the extent to which you and your son talked with players and parents who had played for this coach in the past. Generally speaking, I think this is one of the most important things that can be done before making this sort of decision. This is especially true when it comes time to pick a college program.

Let's face it, coaches know what players and parents want to hear; and they naturally gravitate to that position when describing their program to prospective players/families. It's always advisable to talk individually with returning players and their parents about what it's really like to be a member of the team. While not foolproof, it's one of the best ways I can think of to gauge the accuracy of what you're hearing from the coach.

 

Very true Prepster

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Very true Prepster

Excellent point!...and NO I did not seek out comments from others until it became an issue. This is a coach that I'd been aware of peripherally (heard his name, tried out for one of his teams a couple years ago but accepted another Jr. Legion's offer) but neither my son nor I knew much about him. Perhaps that in itself should have been a tip-off - no one spoke of him good or bad. Thanks again.

 

excellent post

 

Bunting

Braves, we were recently playing at an event at the USA Complex and the team we were playing tried a suicide squeeze in the early innings. LOL. The scoreboard was off, no lineup cards, I batted all my players, etc. I wondered out loud what they were doing. I do think the guys should play hard, play as a team, and play the right way. But that was probably not the right moment to be showcasing their squeeze ability. I wonder if the scouts were impressed?

 

bunting

I dunno guys, seems to me bunting is often overlooked or ignored. I realize hitting is more important and I'm not suggesting the bunting instance at USA was the appropriate time to showcase such a talent but I'm often surprised at how poorly players are at bunting when it's needed. That's a sad statement about coaching IMO.

 

Proper bunting is not taught at the youth level; by the time a kid arrives at the HS level the HS coach assumes they know the fundamentals. If you watch BP it's always the same thing---drop 2 and swing away. There's an art to bunting, but that art is lost. Chicks don't dig the bunt!!!! and neither do the players.

If you watch players bunt...99% of the time they are moving their feet right before the ball arrives.

 

All reasons I hate show case. It ain't baseball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1