Expert: John Madden - 5/12/2010

Question
My 12 yr old son just completed his middle school season with a 2.44 era. He is a left handed pitcher-5ft 9in tall, weighs about 125 lbs. He throws maybe 63mph. Granted, he has a lot of work and dedication ahead of him.... I was just curious how his current era stands as a predictor for his future ? ... barring any injuries or other deterrents. Thank you.

Answer
Well the good news is that a 2.44 ERA is great!  The bad news is that it can't predict the future.  There are way too many things that are going to determine your sons future.  What school he goes to, the level of competition he is playing against, how big he grows, how well he handles set backs, etc.  There are millions of variables in the game of baseball and at 12 there is no way to determine where he will be when he is 18 or older.  The only thing I can say is great job this season and keep it up!  The good thing is your son got a taste of what it feels like to have a pretty good season, therefore he should be able to repeat that in the future or at least understand what got him there this time.  http://www.yougoprobaseball.com you can visit me here and keep me updated on your sons progression throughout his career.  I would to hear that he lowered his ERA every year from now until he graduates!!!!