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 hi,tom our son josh is interested in trying out for one of the minor league teams next year he is going to be 19 this year he,s played varsity baseball for bishop hendricken in rhode island he,s currently the starter for new england college and he plays amateur baseball in the summer we have been told that because he is only 5'11 and he weighs 170 and just started to throw 90 miles an hour that the possibility of him making it is very slim my son doesn,t agree what do you think
Answer nansi,
height and weight are an issue but not a determining factor. growing up, my favorite player was ron guidry. i think he was 5' 11" 160 lbs. then there's roy oswalt of the astros. scott kazmir of the rays. all are/were excellent major league pitchers. i could go on and on and on.
