Pitching and Pitchers Discussion God Bless Pitcher's Parents

[default]

Pitcher's Parents are a special breed. They live and die on every pitch. Will the umpire make the right call?....Will the SS make the play?.....Will the offense score enough runs?.......Will the 1st baseman scoop that bad throw?........Will the right name for the win or loss go in the newspaper?.....Is the coach calling the right pitches?......Will the college coach be at the right game on Saturday when their dd pitches?.....Will the travel ball coach get them in the right tournaments?......Will the CF get to the gap to catch the ball to protect the 'No Hitter"?.........So much to manage. There's all kinds of medical studies. What's the life expectancy of a pitcher's parent.
You know, you never hear about a Right Fielder's Parent, or Short Stop's Parent. What's up with that!!! LOL

 

[default]

Good post. But you forgot will the catcher hold on to that 3rd strike? Nothing more frustrating than a dropped 3rd strike (even worse with two outs), and then not getting the ball to 1st in time for the out.
Catchers parents are in the same boat with us. My daughter use to do both before she decided to give up catching due to knee problems.

 

[default]

Ill go one worse. I have one of each oldest is a pitcher, and her little sis (14 mos) is the catcher. Not to mention they are in the same grade. You wouldnt believe the fights that a drop ball can cause. When the work together they are a strong pair, but heaven help us when the claws come out. Thank god they are on different summer teams.

 

[default]

Wow Viper, I don't invy you at all!!!! I can only imagine the fights over dinner!!!!

 

[default]

Try vice-versa. Though they play at different levels, they had a chance to play with each other for the first time. They were unstoppable. However, when they practice together and my youngest asks for the sign again, CAT-FIGHT!

 

[default]

I'll stick with my catcher - entirely too much work/stress on pitchers and their parents. And I love the fact that most of her body is protected!

 

[default]

I hate having my dd pitch!!!! I can never enjoy the game when whe is on the mound, too much stress. It gets easier and easier as she gets older, but still nerve-wracking.

Now my little one wants to pitch too!!

 

[default]

Catchers parents are in the same boat with us.

Appreciate the kind words for the Catcher. My dd has been catching since she was 8. In that time I think I have only heard and seen one set of parents thank my DD for her contribution to the game and helping to make their daughter succeed. Also Kudo to their daughter who often would lug my DD's bag to the parking lot after a hot - double header day.
:yahoo:

 

[default]

Appreciate the kind words for the Catcher. My dd has been catching since she was 8. In that time I think I have only heard and seen one set of parents thank my DD for her contribution to the game and helping to make their daughter succeed. Also Kudo to their daughter who often would lug my DD's bag to the parking lot after a hot - double header day.
:yahoo:

My DD is in her 3rd year catching now. I dont think some realize how much work these girls put into it also.....takes alot of work to sit in that crouch through these games.

 

[default]

DD wanted to take up pitching. Scared the heck out of me. Steered her to catching and we are both happy so Thank You Lord!!

 

[default]

Pitcher's Parents are a special breed. They live and die on every pitch. Will the umpire make the right call?....Will the SS make the play?.....Will the offense score enough runs?.......Will the 1st baseman scoop that bad throw?........Will the right name for the win or loss go in the newspaper?.....Is the coach calling the right pitches?......Will the college coach be at the right game on Saturday when their dd pitches?.....Will the travel ball coach get them in the right tournaments?......Will the CF get to the gap to catch the ball to protect the 'No Hitter"?.........So much to manage. There's all kinds of medical studies. What's the life expectancy of a pitcher's parent.
You know, you never hear about a Right Fielder's Parent, or Short Stop's Parent. What's up with that!!! LOL

Great post!! Those are exactly the things I think about!!

 

[default]

We played a game in school ball this year that was a nailbiter to the end. We pulled off the win. After the game I was standing there with DD (pitcher) and her catcher. Some parents come up and told dd what a nice game she pitched. I was so proud when she said "Thanks, but really, the credit goes to my catcher, she called the pitches, I just threw them". While it may not be expressed much, take it from a pitcher's mom...catchers are appreciated more than words can say...

Appreciate the kind words for the Catcher. My dd has been catching since she was 8. In that time I think I have only heard and seen one set of parents thank my DD for her contribution to the game and helping to make their daughter succeed. Also Kudo to their daughter who often would lug my DD's bag to the parking lot after a hot - double header day.
:yahoo:

 

[default]

I've been associated with this game for 16 years in all forms of coaching rolls and levels of play. This post was intended to point out the stresses, fears, or worries I've experienced as a coach and parent of 2 players who are NOT pitchers. I think after all those years I've experienced many different views and concerns from this particular group of people. Simply said, I understand where they're coming from. Like all of us, they simply want the best for their daughters. I think when every single play is started with their daughter delivering the ball, I think that creates a special level of stress. Good luck to all the pitchers,....and their nervous parents !!

 

[default]

I've been associated with this game for 16 years in all forms of coaching rolls and levels of play. This post was intended to point out the stresses, fears, or worries I've experienced as a coach and parent of 2 players who are NOT pitchers. I think after all those years I've experienced many different views and concerns from this particular group of people. Simply said, I understand where their coming from. Like all of us, they simply want the best for their daughters. I think when every single play is started with their daughter delivering the ball, I think that creates a special level of stress. Good luck to all the pitchers,....and their nervous parents !!

Agree with you whole heartedly Thunder Road...........I don't think any of us parents are ever not nervous for our DD when they are playing. Really doesnt matter what position they play........but some are more stressfull as pointed out by others in this post. GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE PARENTS this season.

 

[default]

"Pitcher's Parents are a special breed. They live and die on every pitch"

Thunder...I think as a parent of a pitcher (whom you adore lol) most of the team lives and die on every pitch. Lets face it, most teams (not all) rest heavy weight on their shoulders. In saying that, I reinforce that they win as a team and lose as a team. A missed opportunity at the plate, an error in the field, a fatty change-up, an untimely walk, etc...can all be a reason for the game to go one way or the other. You gotta support them in ALL aspects of the game. I get SICK in clutch situations, not because I do not trust my DD abilities, but I can hear the comments coming from all around me. They all make mistakes, if they didn't we would have a whole lot of 0-0 games!
My DD has been blessed to have Sumner catch for her for many years! Believe me, I appreciate the job she does behind the plate and emphatically tell her to make my DD look good . They are a great team as you know first hand (as well as Sumner stealing signs LOL). You having a catcher and knowing the game as you do appreciate the dynamics between them.

 

[default]

Pitcher's Parents are a special breed. They live and die on every pitch. Will the umpire make the right call?....Will the SS make the play?.....Will the offense score enough runs?.......Will the 1st baseman scoop that bad throw?........Will the right name for the win or loss go in the newspaper?.....Is the coach calling the right pitches?......Will the college coach be at the right game on Saturday when their dd pitches?.....Will the travel ball coach get them in the right tournaments?......Will the CF get to the gap to catch the ball to protect the 'No Hitter"?.........So much to manage. There's all kinds of medical studies. What's the life expectancy of a pitcher's parent.
You know, you never hear about a Right Fielder's Parent, or Short Stop's Parent. What's up with that!!! LOL

I totally agree,, its even worse when you are the coach....lol

 

[default]

I think most parents get nervous for their kids and want them to play well and have fun. The difference is that pitchers and catchers have the opportunity to make a mistake on every PITCH in a game. The other position players get a much more limited # of chances to make the play or make a mistake.

 

[default]

I have a softball pitcher and a baseball pitcher. 16U and brother is almost 13. I get nervous as heck for both of them. As for the catchers...that's a job I wouldn't want at all! On our summer team last year DD pitched 8 games in 2 days(yes we know that's a lot)and the catcher did the same. She did an awesome job as did DD. It was nice to see people give her credit too.

 

[default]

If I had it all to do over again I would tell my darling daughter to stay off the mound, run as fast as you can to anywhere but the mound. Tonight, 8 unearned runs in the first inning alone, should have been a 1 2 3 inning but 6 errors later, no where to hide. She spent most of the year in PT she spent the rest of the year watching what I described above, 0 and 10 with a 2.3 ERA. Young lady choose anything but the mound, run as fast as you can to the outfield or the closest base and don't look back life is too short to be a pitcher.

 

[default]

One thing that drove my wife crazy last year was all the free advice from well-meaning parents as our dd went through her first year in the circle. People who never saw, or imagined, all the months of work that goes into learning to be a pitcher or a catcher.