AboutTom O`Leary Expertise I am am best suited to answer questions regarding minor league baseball prospects. This includes all levels.
Experience Originally, i started doing this because i became engrossed researching prospects for a fantasy league. Back then all i really wanted to do was answer questions about baseball prospects.
Funny how time flies but ten years later i have been asked questions regarding the negro leagues, what minor leaguers get paid, why players don't rub their injury when they get hurt, and how players can tryout for the minor leagues to name only a few. i was recently in correspondence with a father of a marine who lost several fingers while in Iraq; he was later drafted by the padres and is playing in their minor league system. additionally, i get a lot of questions from guys asking me if i think they can be successful at these tryouts or if they should tryout at all.
I do my best to answer every one's question without overstepping my bounds of knowledge. *sometimes i have to tell people that i just can't answer their question.*
most recently i have received two negative feedbacks from people who didn't like my response. one 30 year old guy who hadn't played since he was a teenager asked me if he really had a shot at making the tryouts. realistically, i said no. i guess he didn't appreciate my bluntness but what would you have wanted me to say?
i am not really an 'expert' in anything. i just answer peoples' inquires or research their questions, give some conservative advise or tell them 'i don't know.' after ten years i have realized that i do fulfill most most questioners satisfactorily which keeps me doing this.
Expert: Tom O`Leary Date: 7/19/2008 Subject: Finding tryouts
Question Hi, I am a 20 year old who has been training to hopefully play professional baseball for the past 6 months. I feel as though my speed and other attributes are close to the level of being capable of playing somewhere at some level and I was wondering if you might know where I could find some sort of tryout? I live about an hour south of Buffalo, NY. I was a standout both on my team in high school and in the area that I played but had already committed to play both soccer and basketball in college before baseball season had started. After the season had finished and I had been recruited by 4 colleges to play baseball...I began to have second thoughts about my college choice. Needless to say I dropped out and began to workout and focus on baseball with the hope of making a team somewhere at some level. Many have told me I have a great shot and now I'm just looking to try to make it happen. Can you help? Thanks
Answer Adam,
as winter is around the corner you have lost your opportunity to play this year. unless you move to a warmer climate this winter, i would suggest you join a baseball club or independent team in your area. you can develop your skills and see where you stand against older competition. good luck.
