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.
Ben wrote at 2008-04-17 02:21:22
i had a friend who 2 years ago went to a MLB tryout. He was 26 at the time, had a good college career but was never drafted. Anyway, at the camp he absolutly tore it up. he was the standout hitter and hustled his butt off all day. Tommy Lasorda called him over and asked him to take a walk with him. Tommy told him he and the scouts were very impressed and asked him simple questions about where he went to school, and ect. Then Tommy asked him how old he was, my friend told his honest age of 26. Tommy put his arm around him, paused, and then said "son...I'm really sorry to hear that." and walked away. Age means A LOT!
