AboutTom O`Leary Expertise I am am best suited to answer questions regarding minor league baseball prospects.
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 twelve 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.* And sometimes i have to tell people that they just aren't good enough to be a professional ball player.*
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 people's inquires, give some conservative advise or tell them 'i don't know.' after twelve years i have realized that i do fulfill most most questioners satisfactorily which keeps me doing this.
Question I have two questions.
Q1 - What is a good pitcher workout schedule for my 13 year old son? My son plays for his middle school team and also for the high team. They are both very small schools. He wants more of a pitcher workout since they don't workout the pitchers very much. I can work him out but I don't want to cause him any harm.
Q2 - What can be done for a sore pitching shoulder and how can it be prevented? My son started and pitched two of the four innings for the high school team. The next day he started and pitched three of the four innings for the middle school team. He complained of a sore shoulder so he iced it down and he said it felt better. Is there anything more he can do?
Thanks,
Jerry
Answer Jerry,
Q1- i would suggest going to a large book store like Barnes and Noble where you live. they should have have several books on exactly what you're looking for.
Q2- how can a sore shoulder be prevented? stop throwing so much! you're son is 13YO, he hasn't gone through puberty (his body isn't adult yet) and he's throwing on consecutive days. I'll bet he's throwing curve balls, too. there's definitely a problem if a 13YO needs to ice down his shoulder. no more pitching two days in a row and check out the books i suggested.
