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Expert: Tom O`Leary - 8/23/2004


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Followup To
Question -
Tom thaks for taking the time to answer this question.  I know that your the expert in pitching, however i am interested in knowing if 30 years of age is too old for trying out for any minor/major basebll teams?
Answer -
mike,

thanks for the question.

you're never too old! if you've got the talent you're in. that simple. how much you desire to be in the bigs is another question. that's for you to answer to yourself.

good luck. let me know what you're thinking.

tom

tom, i appreciate your honesty.  this is what i am thinking.  when i was younger i had attended a couple of tryouts.  both had the same results...arm strength and bat speed both scored a 5+.  However, my running was a different story.  at the 60 yd. "dash" the time we needed to beat was 7 secs., i posted 7.1 and a 7.3.  i still have great arm strenght and bat speed and i still do regular drills, but what can i do about my running.  do i lack leg strength or what else could it be.  what can i do to increase speed and decrease times.  

thanks again,
mike

Answer
mike,

honestly, what i'd do is go to the biggest bookstore you know of (i live in nyc; you may not). look in the running section. you should find there dozens of books on running and how to run fast, faster.

my wife used to bowl. i would tell her the best way to get better at bowling is not lifting weights or doing doing yoga or wrist curls...the best way to get better at bowling is to bowl. run, man, run! everyday. fast, slow. medium. both. day, night. run 'til you can catch a chicken like rocky.

before you buy a chicken, go to a bookstore. good luck.

tom o'leary

Minor League Baseball

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Tom 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 eleven 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 eleven years I have realized that i do fulfill most most questioners satisfactorily which keeps me doing this.

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