Which direction to go?

[brian920]

Hi guys. I'm an 18 year old baseball player. I had an average high school career, with no real prospects of playing college ball. I love this game, and can't picture myself doing anything else, so I'm going to keep playing until they tell me I can't. I attended a 4 year university this past Fall as a freshman, but disliked it and have decided to take this semester off. I probably won't go back to a 4 year school until next Spring, which gives me a year. In the meantime, I'll be taking courses at a nearby county college. I'm taking this next year as a positive. With no distractions, I am going to practice and work out to the highest degree I can (and study too, of course), and at the end of the year if I think I've improved enough to walk onto a college baseball team of any sort, I will keep playing and attempt to do so. Recently, I have been given the opportunity to play on the county college's baseball team. Though this would be good experience, It would take away from the time I could spend on practicing and getting stronger. I am also not sure I would be physically ready to handle the demands of the season. My goal is to become the best player I can be LONG-TERM. Though this would be nice right now, I can't help but think I would be better off in a year If I spent this time improving as a player, as opposed to just playing.

Well, I've rambled enough. What do you guys think is the best option for my long-term baseball career?

[Jake Patterson]

Hi guys. I'm an 18 year old baseball player. I had an average high school career, with no real prospects of playing college ball. I love this game, and can't picture myself doing anything else, so I'm going to keep playing until they tell me I can't. I attended a 4 year university this past Fall as a freshman, but disliked it and have decided to take this semester off. I probably won't go back to a 4 year school until next Spring, which gives me a year. In the meantime, I'll be taking courses at a nearby county college. I'm taking this next year as a positive. With no distractions, I am going to practice and work out to the highest degree I can (and study too, of course), and at the end of the year if I think I've improved enough to walk onto a college baseball team of any sort, I will keep playing and attempt to do so. Recently, I have been given the opportunity to play on the county college's baseball team. Though this would be good experience, It would take away from the time I could spend on practicing and getting stronger. I am also not sure I would be physically ready to handle the demands of the season. My goal is to become the best player I can be LONG-TERM. Though this would be nice right now, I can't help but think I would be better off in a year If I spent this time improving as a player, as opposed to just playing.

Well, I've rambled enough. What do you guys think is the best option for my long-term baseball career?

Brian,
I have seen a number of players in your shoes... If you weren't a standout in HS then I would suggest you play they game as long as you can and concentrate on your studies. If you have a CC wanting you to play.... then play.

[songtitle]

The answer will be different for pitchers vs. hitters.

[brian920]

Songtitle, I'm a hitter.

[tradosaurus]

There are adult men leagues (non-pro of course) that you could participate if you, at some point, have to work to make a living.

When I was 25 I was married with one kid so I played men rec softball to stoke the fire.

[Baseball gLove]

College and pro ball is a grind. If you can't handle it at the county college then you have already made the decision. My son is taking 15 units and he is either practicing or playing 6 days a week. He has 4 games this week and he is doing his class work or he won't be eligible.

[Rufus67]

Have you considered either getting into coaching or officiating? Both offer much longer-term involvement in the game and provide their own levels of satisfaction. From personal experience I can tell you that I enjoyed playing pick-up basketball for years and had a chance to play an NFL team in a fund-raiser game. I figured that would be the highlight of my playing career and decided to start officiating basketball instead. 20 years later I can honestly say I have a greater appreciation and understanding of the game than ever before. Baseball's the same way in that I never played beyond Little League. Years later I started reading a ton, visiting sites like this, and got into coaching. Some of the best discussions I have are with my sons about the game and enjoying having former players come up and tell me about their lives (that never gets old).

That's not everyone's story, and you may have no interest yet in either coaching or officiating, but wanted you to at least think about them.

[shake-n-bake]

I was a college walk-on football player. I was a little older, was away from the game for a few years, military, marriage, bills, etc., etc.

In one sense my "career" wasn't what you'd call long term, but it's lasted my entire life. From a practical sense it made no sense. Heck, I wasn't even that great a player in HS. I was mostly overlooked in recruiting for a reason - my game blew!

Just going for it and knowing in my heart that there's not one more thing that I could have done - and believe me there wasn't - is a source of pride for me. The minimal stats I achieved TO ME feel like Heisman numbers because of what I invested.

Invest more - expect more - don't listen to anyone but you - and if you go for it, go all in - live without regrets.

[Jake Patterson]

I was a college walk-on football player. I was a little older, was away from the game for a few years, military, marriage, bills, etc., etc.

In one sense my "career" wasn't what you'd call long term, but it's lasted my entire life. From a practical sense it made no sense. Heck, I wasn't even that great a player in HS. I was mostly overlooked in recruiting for a reason - my game blew!

Just going for it and knowing in my heart that there's not one more thing that I could have done - and believe me there wasn't - is a source of pride for me. The minimal stats I achieved TO ME feel like Heisman numbers because of what I invested.

Invest more - expect more - don't listen to anyone but you - and if you go for it, go all in - live without regrets.

Song,
How does this help with his dilema?? As stated here?

Recently, I have been given the opportunity to play on the county college's baseball team. Though this would be good experience, It would take away from the time I could spend on practicing and getting stronger. I am also not sure I would be physically ready to handle the demands of the season. My goal is to become the best player I can be LONG-TERM. Though this would be nice right now, I can't help but think I would be better off in a year If I spent this time improving as a player, as opposed to just playing.

[mudvnine]

I love this game, and can't picture myself doing anything else, so I'm going to keep playing until they tell me I can't.

Recently, I have been given the opportunity to play on the county college's baseball team. Though this would be good experience, It would take away from the time I could spend on practicing and getting stronger.

I am also not sure I would be physically ready to handle the demands of the season.

I don't know, but these sentences just seem to be quite contradictory.

Seems to me that some one is telling you that, "you can", yet right now, you're the one saying, "I can't".

My goal is to become the best player I can be LONG-TERM. Though this would be nice right now, I can't help but think I would be better off in a year If I spent this time improving as a player, as opposed to just playing.

How do you propose "improving as a player" and the becoming the "best player" you can be in the "LONG-TERM"......unless you're actually playing somewhere?

Well, I've rambled enough. What do you guys think is the best option for my long-term baseball career?

"PLAY BALL!!""

[shake-n-bake]

Song,
How does this help with his dilema?? As stated here?

Mind if I take this one Jake?

I see what Mud is seeing. There's some confusion in Brian's mind. Just saying that I can relate - I've been there.

What I would add is that there's a difference between thinking about walking on and walking on. If Brian is an eventual successful walk-on, things will have eventually become very, very clear before he took that plunge. All the "if I do this" or "maybe I should go this route" is secondary to getting the lid off the damn can and get started painting.

It's difficult. There's bumps in the road. There will be doubts. You probably will not attain the level of success that you dream of. People will sometimes see you as a dreamer, as foolish, and as thinking that it's weird that you have this to prove to yourself. It's all worth it. 25 years later it will still be part of what defines you.

[tg643]

College and pro ball is a grind. If you can't handle it at the county college then you have already made the decision. My son is taking 15 units and he is either practicing or playing 6 days a week. He has 4 games this week and he is doing his class work or he won't be eligible.

My son was very unhappy he got a 3.3 the first semester. He told me with baseball he didn't have any more time or energy for the calculus and programming classes he got B-'s. The fall is worse than the spring. The fall is intense training and practice everyday. The spring is just practice and games everyday. But, travel means they miss classes and/or return tired for Monday classes every other week.

[dominik]

you need to practice and play if you want to get better. just practice won't make you much better because you need to see real game at bats.

[Hargrave]

Take two years off from playing. Work and save money and don't take enough credit hours to start your eligibility clock ticking.

Complete Dr. Mike Marshall's 724-Day interval throwing program. Complete Dr. Mike Marshall's 143-Day interval batting program four times. Perform Dr. Marshall's interval base-running program daily. Perform no other training exercises or routines.

In two years, you will have added many pounds of muscle and perfected the force application techniques of throwing, baserunning and batting that will allow you to dominate most amateur competition, and you will never be out of the line-up with a sore or injured arm.

After the two years of training, enroll in the best college that will you have you. Choosing a warm weather state might be nice. Unless your starting point is extremely low, you will be good enough to start and do very well at most Division III and NAIA programs, maybe even some those with national rankings if your innate talent is sufficient. Most importantly, you will have mined every ounce of your potential.

You may PM me if you want additional details.

[JCincy]

Recently, I have been given the opportunity to play on the county college's baseball team. Though this would be good experience, It would take away from the time I could spend on practicing and getting stronger.

How will you measure the success of your practice without playing? Why can't you do both? Too much of a time commitment? I am sure I do not understand the entire situation.