Your Son Won't Make It In Travel Ball or The Coach's Kid is Playing Short Stop!

A wise friend of mine once stole a quote and told me, "We all leave baseball at some point. Some of us leave when we're 13 and some when we're 40...but we all leave." I don't know where he heard this, but it is 100% true.  

No one wanted Mariano Rivera to retire at the age of 43. However, I have known a few parents who would have liked a kid, or two, to retire at the end of a 10 year old tournament. Too much standing around thinking about Snow Cones to be interested in playing baseball.

Snow Cone! Cherry & Grape Both Favorites

Don't Exit, Sandman!

                                                                          








Maybe Johnny's parents shouldn't have pushed their son into baseball. Maybe the coach didn't know what else to do so he stuck the kid in Right Field and hoped the ball wouldn't find him. (The ball ALWAYS finds him.)  What about those kids who are really talented but end up sitting the bench or in the wrong position? How does this happen? The answer is more frightening than an 99 mph fastball coming at your head... The dreaded, Daddy/Coach! 

Before you say, "Not all Daddy's are Dreaded," I will admit there are exceptions to every rule. There are great dads who assess their player's skills, treat them fairly and choose positions based on what is best for the team...As long as their son plays Short Stop!

Forget that CK (Coaches Kid) can't catch the ball, run the bases and has the lowest batting average on the team.  SHORT STOP?  REALLY? KILL ME!!

SAFE!

Dreaded Daddy Coaches, or DDC's, try their best to be objective.  All parents view their son through 'love' colored glasses, including me, but I hate to say it, some of us need a new prescription.  The DDC wants his son to be the best, be the leader and carry the team on his shoulders.  What do the rest of the parents want? For the RIGHT kid to play SHORT STOP!  

Don't think for one second my kid was immune to all of this.  When we started in this crazy game called baseball, DDC's wouldn't let him play Short Stop or Pitch. We heard things like...

1. He's not fast enough.

2. He should stick to 2nd base, his arm will never be strong enough to play short stop.

3. His pitching motion is all wrong.

In addition, Friends of mine have heard...

1. He's too small

2. He's got bad body language

3. He's too quiet

4. He doesn't look good in yellow.... just making sure you're paying attention.

Daddy Coaches have a hard time properly assessing the skill set of their sons. This is true whether the kids are nine or fourteen.  The sad thing is, everyone else can see it, can't or won't say anything about it and it continues to be problematic.  Maybe that's why so many travel baseball teams split up.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, there is hope! As the boys get older, if you're lucky, a new, spirit lifting, baseball miracle comes along....The Paid Coach!!

Here I come to Save the Day! Or is That Mighty Mouse?

The Paid Coach or PC, is objective, assess his player's skills, treats them fairly and chooses positions based on what is best for the team.  And, if the parents never offer advice and pay the man on time....Then, Glory, Glory!! Our kid may get out of Right Field and have a shot at...wait for it...Short Stop!  

Sheri Super is a Realtor at RE/MAX Preferred Properties in Knoxville, TN, Ryder's Mom and

 an avid baseball fan!

www.knoxsuperagent.com   865-215-1118  knoxsuperagent@gmail.com

                                                         

BATS! They're not just in the Belfry! Travel Baseball Part III

      

  

The Fall baseball season is drawing to a close and I am  feeling a little...

Batty

1.

crazy; insane.

 Those who know me personally will be asking themselves, "So, what's different?"  I will simple chuckle and remind myself to 'un-friend' them on Facebook. 

Why am I feeling 'battier' than usual?  I have been over run with Bats. 

 No, that's not what I mean....Baseball Bats!

Bat 

    1.

    an implement with a handle and a solid surface, usually of wood, used for hitting the ball in games such as baseball.

Bats are a collectors item around my house.  If I had a dollar for every bat I've bought, I'd have like... $50.  

Not impressive, I know, but when each bat costs, on average, $200...Now you see where I'm going?

This gem was one of the very first bats I ever bought.  He was 5...why is it still here?

Circa 2005

   This next bat was used in Cooperstown 2011 .. It's legendary...Also dented and a paperweight!

6 Home Runs 1 Grand Slam

I got nothing for this one...

Or This one....

These bats I found in the garage...Maybe he used them, maybe he didn't. REALLY???

"I don't like the way it sounds, looks, feels..."

Brace yourself for this next Picture.  I think it defines my life as a Baseball Mom and why I often feel like a ....

BAT

 1. a woman regarded as unattractive or unpleasant.

"some deranged old woman"

1. 
   

   
   

My Trunk ! The HORROR! 

I see a bat bag, 2 bats, 2 chairs, a flip-flop, pair of cleats, blanket, cooler, Jimmy Hoffa and my self esteem slipping away...

I was relieved to hear this morning from a friend of mine, that his son has "more bats than a Haunted House."  He followed it up by telling me he just bought 3 more bats... online...at a good price...Super Cheap!  I wonder what his trunk looks like?




Sheri Super is a Realtor for REMAX Preferred Properties in Knoxville, TN and an Avid Baseball Fan.  www.KnoxSuperAgent.com   865-218-1115

Might As Well Face It...You're Addicted to Baseball! Travel Baseball Part II

 2005-2013 or 56 Dog Years

You might be addicted to Baseball when...

Searching for cleaning products to get stains out of baseball 

pants becomes your personal search for the Holy Grail.

 'Family Vacation' really means, the beach and a baseball tournament.

That's a lot of Shoes!

There are more cleats in the house than Imelda Marcos has shoes.

Or maybe the measure of baseball addiction is putting together your own baseball team. If so, I need Baseball Anonymous.

We have been at this a long time.  Ryder has been playing baseball since he was 5 years old. Let me just say, it feels a lot longer than 8 years.  That's because baseball never stops. It's a lot like 'Dog' years, every year of baseball equals 7 dog years.  With Summer travel ball, Middle School baseball, Fall ball, off season, indoor workouts, pitching and hitting lessons, our life revolves around America's Pastime. I'm tired just thinking about it.

So why did I decide to put a travel baseball team together?  Clearly, I am not playing with a full deck. I must have thought I didn't have enough to do.  However, George Steinbrenner himself would have given me a 'Thumbs Up' for effort.

Thanks George!

With a little help from my friend, who's kid happens to be an Ace pitcher, we embarked on this journey together.  We  secured the coach we wanted, grabbed a few of the best players we could find and made most of the baseball community furious along the way.  I think the Zombie Apocalypse will be easier to go through than facing the wrath of angry baseball parents.

Zombies...Not Baseball Parents, but close!

We pushed forward, scouted talent, called parents, lost sleep and finally came up with the team roster.

Let me just say, we had high hopes and were full of enthusiasm as we took the field for the first time. By the end of the weekend, our pitcher's sent 2 kids to the hospital and the police were almost called to ensure a fight didn't break out between the parents. Oh, the joy of sport!

We had a good season, won the State Tournament, and a few others. Our team had great parents and the boys enjoyed being teammates.  The season ended one sunny, Sunday afternoon and we all said we'd see each other in the Fall.  I swore I would NEVER do it again! Never, Ever, Ever, Never!

Hot Dog of a Coach

My new team is coming along nicely. We have a 'Hot Dog' of a coach, a few new players, new name and some really great parents!  I am checking into Baseball Rehab any day now.

Sheri Super is a Realtor at RE/MAX Preferred Properties in Knoxville, TN and an avid baseball fan.     www.knoxsuperagent.com   865-218-1115

Travel Baseball or This is Worse Than Dance Mom's ! Part 1

As a successful Realtor in Knoxville, I am not immune to running into, and working with some nutty people. However nothing could have prepared me for TRAVEL BASEBALL!  The sport where 14 year old's become the 'Boy's of Summer' and embark on a magical journey of baseball fields, hot apple pie and Mom! Well, not exactly.

Exactly what happens when mom and dad take little Johnny to the ball field is a phenomenon we may never truly understand.  Parents setting up their lawn chairs against the fence to 'cheer' on their son, sounds innocent enough, but in reality, there's nothing innocent about it.

Parents become coaches, announcers and baseball experts with each pitch, strike, ground ball and home run. Screaming at umpires for bad calls or screaming at kids for missed balls.  Faces red from the sun or disgust for the opponent.  What Fun! 

I have to admit, Xanax and duct tape can be found in my baseball bag.  Sometimes it's duct tape across the mouth for me and Xanax for my friends. Other times both the duct tape and Xanax are all mine!

Each game holds the promise of victory or agony. Each game becomes the 7th game of a World Series. Each parent like a dog after a bone, relentless in their pursuit of the Baseball Hall Of Fame!  

Each season begins with blooming friendships and team spirit. Each season ends with friends moving on and new teams forming.  Parents barely speaking and coaches running for their cars. There's nothing like it!

I make a New Year's resolution of sorts at the start of each season.  I promise not to yell at my or anyone else's son. I promise not to express my opinion to the coach, even if I believe myself to be an expert on the sport.  I promise to play nice with others around me. And I promise to encourage my son no matter what happens.    

I proceed with a smile to the first game, prepared to live up to my resolution.  I sit next to my favorite baseball friend, set my baseball bag down and open my Diet Coke.  "Strike One!" I reach into my bag for the duct tape....It's going to be a long season!

Sheri Super is a Realtor with REMAX Preferred Properties in Knoxville, TN and an avid baseball fan!