r/Homeplate

From maybe 4 years old T-ball to 18U… it’s been our thing. Now he’s off to uni; next stop for ball will probably be rec softball.

I loved almost every minute of it. Except the politics. Cared about every kid I coached — every one. And I think I changed some of their lives.

But it’s really hard to watch the videos of kids asking for hitting feedback, etc. I will miss this whole world. May be back with grandkids in 15.

Cheers, you’re a great sub with kind people.

Moved to west Texas over the summer and learned that the schools in the area do middle school baseball and softball (something foreign to me growing up in Michigan and moving from east Texas). The school my 7th grade son goes to has a baseball field that both the softball and baseball team uses and they use it at the same time so I watch both teams practice.

The level of ability and knowledge I’ve seen from both teams is almost beginner level, T-Ball/Coach pitch level. Like many of the players seen like they are playing for the first time, or haven’t played in a while, yet they made the team, because there are few quality players.

We came from CenTex, where even rec teams were pretty competitive and it was hard to find a player that didn’t either have talent, or IQ, or both.

So are all the good players not even doing school ball and just doing travel/select ball?

For context as well, we haven’t started that yet because I don’t want the politics of travel/select to poison my son’s love for the game. But I understand it’s something to probably start soon because of the quality of play is better and it exposes them more for the higher level.

Edit for context: The local schools moved their baseball season to the fall (Aug-Sep) instead of spring to allow football to be in the cooler months.

Feels silly writing this but torn up inside and looking for advice. Have a 7 year old with a late birthday (Oct). He’s always played up in that respect because we put him with his classmates in tee ball onwards.

The tee ball team turned into the same team for coach pitch and then kid pitch. We made our own local travel team. Same kids, same coaches (I assisted) all throughout. They have fun together. Now it’s travel ball only snd getting more serious.

Team is moving up to 9U this Fall season. We show up to EVERY practice / training etc. Perhaps the best attendance and dedication. But he’s clearly the weak link now.

Solid arm but the other kids on the bottom half are accumulating hits and contact and our guy is walking or SO - but he does swing. He hits in practice well enough. In the field he’s in the outfield and seeming kicks daisies and isn’t always baseball ready. Needs to be told what to do when ball in play.

Yes we’ve had talks with him and he says he wants to play with his teammates. But then also questions why kids who don’t show up to everything play more.

We love our teammates. There’s a social aspect. But my wife and I are hurting to see him fall behind. We’re stuck with the decision of pulling him and doing rec for now and losing the friends and opportunity for travel ball or sticking through it with the hit to confidence and investing time and emotion in a “punch up” situation.

Thoughts? What would you do?

Curious at the youth level if parents/teams are focusing more on development vs. loading up on games and tournaments. Fall always goes by so quickly, and I think a true offseason in the winter is important before ramping back up in the spring. Youth baseball has become a 12-month sport in a lot of regions and I feel like kids need to rest their arms - and play other sports too!

I often think about this advice a friend gave me regarding maximizing playing time for my son. He asked, "What does he do that forces the coach to keep him on the field? Whatever it is, invest more time in that. Too many kids spend all of their time trying to fix their weaknesses. But the kids that play are usually the ones with a loud skill."

I ask myself this question often, especially during the offseason. I'm sharing it here in case someone else finds it as useful as I have.

(The hard part for my high schooler is that the true answer to the question is that almost never makes mistakes. He's always where he's supposed to be. He's basically an on-field coach. But it takes a long time to demonstrate that skill.)

My son tried a bunch of new bats out and as expected, after about 10 bats and 70+ swings he tries out the new Hype Fire and gets the highest average and max EV, even when tired. Maybe there is something to those bats after all.

I need a dicks coupon now. Sigh.

Hey everyone,

Like many of you I have a son whose life revolves around baseball. He's 8 and almost every day we're playing catch in the yard or I'm hitting him grounders or doing side toss. Not really any kind of specific training just playing and tossing the ball around. He has only played coach pitch so far and we've messed around with pitching at home but he has thrown maybe 25 "pitches" in his entire life.

Lately hes been complaining that his elbow and/or shoulder are sore after throwing in the yard. My first thought was growth spirt or something but he has mentioned it a few times. He still wants to play every day but I don't want him to damage anything.

This ended up being long winded but I'm going someone with more knowledge than me can give me some things to look for to know when I should be not lettinghim throw or if I should ice his arm or what.

Two days ago I posted this! https://www.reddit.com/r/Homeplate/s/mUsmiRbsOJ

For context he just turned 9 and it’s his first szn of kid pitch fall ball.

I love a good update post, and I got such great feedback. Felt like I owed everyone an update. He is a major nerd with severe ADHD and a very adult-affected way of speaking but ball is life.

He struck out the side on 10 pitches the first inning. The next inning the opposing coach told his boys “we aren’t hitting this kid” and to stop swinging completely. He then walked a bunch, got in his head, had a verbal altercation with the ball on the mound, cried. Lots of 3-2 counts and his mechanics fell apart. He hit his pitch count and skipped the 3rd inning.

He then told his coach “I will show them how to swing”, and lined one well into the grass and to the wall in left and ran the bases for a little league home run. One of like 4 kids who made contact.

He still wants to pitch. His coach wants to try some other kids Saturday which I am very much in favor of for arm health, personal growth and we love the team. He hopes to have a better outing next time and to be seen as “more than just a batter”.

With runners on first and third and under 2 outs what is your defensive strategy for the runner stealing second?

I hate giving up the free base and I am usually willing to trade the out for the run. I know some like to run plays with the short stop cutting off the throw but I find the percentages are higher with just getting the out at second. At very least, it makes the other team aware that second isn't just a free base in that situation and they have to decide what to do.

Sometimes I'll have the catcher pump fake and throw to third to mix it up. Depending on the score and situation I will have the catcher hold the ball and focus on getting the batter out. I find myself, though, taking the out at second more often than not.

Edit: I am talking little league. No leads. Sixty foot bases. With leads the odds change drastically and the focus will shift. I only have take the out when I am reasonably sure my catcher will make the play.

My son is looking for strength, speed, and agility conditioning recommendations in the offseason. He does weight lifting as a class in high school but needs to focus more on the explosive conditioning to improve his athleticism to play in college.

I'm thinking a program that is digital where he can track his progress while working out at a local gym may be a good match. Open to any recommendations. Located in St. Louis.

Hi everyone, hoping to get some advice on setting up a home batting cage in our yard for my 11 year old son. Ideally, I want something that is robust enough to last him a few years but also won’t break my bank. We would be doing both hitting and pitching inside the cage. So far, I’m looking at a 40’ Vevor batting paired with a Blaze combo pitching machine. Any feedback on this setup and/or alternative cages/machines would be greatly appreciated. Budget would be in the $1000 - $1200 range.

We are putting together our team for next year and I don’t want to leave anyone out, so how many is an ok number to take?

13, 14?

We went with 12 2 years ago and I thought we needed an extra arm, so I was planning on taking 13, but would anyone think about taking 15?

I don't even know where to post about this, 14 year old has been busting his ass and found out he made an "elite" team he had previously been cut from, this is 2 full years of effort. Mostly a pitching spot but that's where he wants to do. Great coach, 3 of his friends from previous teams are already there including his favourite catcher and fall ball and a great winter program coming up. He's still 14 just over 6 foot and throwing 72 in game with 5 pitches he uses, he was only throwing 60 last season but he's been commited and feels like he could work towards 80+ for the spring at least with the arm program they will have him on. I've been assistant coaching his teams for 4 years now and watching this happen has blown my mind.

I'm doing fall ball and i will probably be playing 1B/RF and while i have played RF i haven't played 1B, i am 16 5'8 269 pounds, while i am a little short i do hope my height won't matter much

Hi everyone,

Any suggestions on quality, durable, leather practice balls?

I need to replace our bucket of balls and looking for any suggestions.

I've looked on Epic Sports, just not sure what the better quality ones on there from experience.

Thanks!