Junior College Good Place to Recover from a Baseball Injury
From Ask the Baseball Pro:
Jeff wrote:
Hey, I was wondering if it was possible to start my baseball career after missing my senior year because of injury and not being able to play at the college of my choice because of their recruiting policy. I’m a good player and could easily play at other colleges, but I would
rather graduate from the school I am at now. Is it possible if I am still in top shape and on top of my game playing in different leagues in the summer spring and fall that I would be able to get noticed at tryouts for perhaps a Minor League team either during or after college? I’m almost 21 and I feel like it’s not too late to start, but at the same time I really got screwed in my situation missing getting scouted senior year in high school… Baseball has always been my passion, and I know I am good enough to compete at higher levels. What should I do from here?
From the Baseball Pro:
If I were in your shoes, I would look into attending a junior college around your school. I am not an expert on the rules of athletes and transfers but I think that a junior college would be your best bet because the classes would transfer back to your current school. Also you would be still able to take a few classes at your school as long as you were enrolled in the minimum at the junior college. This would be my suggestion to you to start the process. See if this would be feasible or even allowable.
Your baseball pro, Steve Holm
Filed By: Jean Bedord | April 25, 2007 | Add Comments »
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Lots of Little League Players, Not So Many in High School
From Ask the Baseball Pro:
Ben wrote:
I am working on getting some statistics on how many kids playing little league actually make it to high school, college, and professional teams. I was just wondering if you had any of this information. Thanks and any information would be of a great help.
From Host Mom:
For this type of information, I suggest you contact Little League itself at http://www.littleleague.org/ to see if they have the statistics. There is also Pony League at http://www.pony.org which is active in our area. You may be able to find some information doing a Google search and searching for statistics. The numbers do get smaller as the player moves up the chain. We had 300 Little League players, ages 5-15, but there are under 20 players on the high school baseball team.
Host mom, Jean
Filed By: Jean Bedord | April 24, 2007 | Add Comments »
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Pitchout Advice…the Coach’s Call!
From Ask the Baseball Pro:
Juan wrote:
My question is: Pitch Out.
Is there a situation when a pitcher is REQUIRED to place the ball down the pike when the coach give the sign for a pitch out? If a Pitch Out is called, the coach on defence is holding a runner on first base or intentional walk. The coach on offence has options:
#1 hit and run.
#2 bunt to advance the runner.
From the Baseball Pro:
If the coach ever calls a pitchout you must do it. There are very few things that a coach can control once the players are on the field. Calling things like a pitchout is one of them. So if you were to disregard it and the runner were to steal upon that play, you might be on for a little talk once the inning is over.
Your baseball pro, Steve Holm
Filed By: Jean Bedord | April 1, 2007 | Add Comments »
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Play All Positions in Youth Baseball….
From Ask the Baseball Pro:
Stacey wrote:
My son plays 10 year old competitive baseball. During any tournament, he can be found at any position except 1st base. Is being a utility player ok at this age or should he ask his coach to put him in a particular position and leave him there? His team is really good and he is just very versatile and can play any position well. Thanks for any advice you can give me.
From the Baseball Pro:
It is very good for you son to play all the positions he can. I was a short stop all the way through college. In fact I was a Division I baseball All-American in 2000 as a short stop. Yet when I signed my first pro contract the first thing I did was put on catcher’s gear. So no matter what position you play today you might not be playing that position tomorrow.
Your baseball pro, Steve Holm
Filed By: Jean Bedord | April 1, 2007 | Add Comments »
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Down from Big League Camp at Spring Training
My stay in big league camp is over. I was sent down the other day after the game. It is kind of weird because you find out when they are making cuts and you are aware of your position. Yet even knowing this it is still not a good feeling when they call you into the office and tell you that it is time for you to go down to minor league camp and get ready for your season.
Nevertheless I had a great time while I was there. I learned a lot from the veterans and I picked their brain while I could. I am very greatful for the opportunity to have been able to participate. Now I just have to keep working to get myself back there. Only this time when it counts, during the season! Your baseball pro, Steve Holm
P.S. End of spring training is always difficult, with cuts and team assignments. Host mom, Jean
Filed By: Jean Bedord | March 26, 2007 | Add Comments »
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Cactus League Spring Training for Baseball
Our baseball pro, Steve Holm is now in Scottsdale, Arizona, for spring training. The catchers and pitchers check in earlier than the rest of the team, and begin the marathon of games. It’s the beginning of the season, and the hopes for minor league ball players to move up to the major leagues. Here big leaguers and minor leaguers work out and play side by side. For players, there are a lot of unknowns…..many times, they don’t know where they’ll start the season until the day they actually leave the spring training facilities.
The Sunday editions of the San Jose Mercury News and the San Francisco Chronicle highight the annual ritual of spring training in Arizona for the Bay area major league teams. Many fans from the Bay area fly down to Phoenix to enjoy the games which are in smaller stadiums, with lower ticket prices than the regular season. Games between the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants are quite popular! We went one year, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, though the sun was intense……lots of sunscreen!
Host mom, Jean
Filed By: Jean Bedord | February 20, 2007 | Add Comments »
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Playing Baseball in College is a Step to the Pros!
From Ask the Baseball Pro:
tj wrote:
Hi, I just have a few questions about how you made it to where you are. I am a 17 yr old male from Manitoba and I live for baseball. I think I have the potential to play a high caliber ball, but it is so hard trying to make it here in Manitoba because no Pro scouts come out so I was wondering how I could get my name out there and hopefully my dreams come true. If you have anyquestions about me or anything please email me back.
Thank you for your time and take care.
From the Baseball Pro
As for getting your name out there, the best way would be to play in tournaments and summer ball. I am assuming you do not have much spring baseball due to the fact you live in Canada. If the draft does not workout you should pursue your dreams via college. Many big league players went to some sort of college whether it be junior college or a major university.
As long as you are still playing you are getting better and as long as that is happening you have a chance!
Your baseball pro, Steve Holm
Filed By: Jean Bedord | February 19, 2007 | Add Comments »
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Getting Ready for Baseball Spring Training
Spring training is not always as anticipated as many would think. It is always fun once you are there but getting there is not as fun. The reason being is once you leave for your spring destination you will likely not return home until September. Almost 8 months away from your so called home.
The hard part about leaving is packing. You can only take 2 bags on the plane so you better economize your stuff. Remember you also have baseball stuff that needs to be packed in those 2 bags. Showing up to spring training without a glove or cleats would not be wise. So actually packing 8 months of clothes along with enough clothes to keep you warm in the month of April in the Northeast, but also clothes to keep you from dying in the California sun during July can be overwelming. See, we have no idea of where we will be during the summer so you have to be prepared for either climate,.Oh yes, all of this in 2 bags.
Lastly the other hard part of leaving is saying bye to your family and loved ones. Some of these people you will not see until you return home, while others will visit throughout the season. It is easy to see why there are mixed emotions when it comes to Spring Training, I guess that is why it takes a special breed to play the game. Because once you get off that plane, everyone is hungry and excited for what the upcoming season may bring.
Your basebal pro, Steve Holm
P.S. Flying to Phoenix, Arizona, for spring training games is popular in the Bay Area. Steve will be in Scottsdale where the SF Giants train and have a lovely ballpark. Host mom, Jean
Filed By: Jean Bedord | February 12, 2007 | Add Comments »
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Tulsa OK for Winter Baseball
I played my college baseball at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa Oklahoma. So come January 1st, aka the first day for professional baseball players to start baseball activities, I head to Tulsa. I do this because I have other players who are still playing to workout with. I also come out here to take advantage of the indoor facilities which are not available to me in my hometown of Sacramento.
Usually every year while I am in Tulsa the weather is off and on. Some days are 60 and sunny while the others may be 25. But like I said above the indoor facility comes in handy on those 25 degree days. This year although has been different. The horrendous ice storms that hit the mid-west have wreaked havoc with our outdoor activities.
The ice was so thick on the baseball field that the clubhouse guy from Minnesota actually brought his ice skates and skated on the field. He was able to skate wherever he wanted, centerfield to the infield dirt. It just did not matter the ice was 3-5 inches thick covering the entire field. I am sure it is something that i will not see anytime soon again.
Your baseball pro, Steve Holm
P.S. California is wet, but not cold! Host Mom, Jean
Filed By: Jean Bedord | February 9, 2007 | Add Comments »
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Getting Scouted by University Baseball Coaches
From Ask the Baseball Pro:
I am a young hopefull of becoming a professional softball player. I currently play catcher for the southern ontario team as well as a few house league teams on the side. My southern ontario team is going to a tournament in march where there will be university scouts. Our team is not very good and will be playing against university level teams. Is there any way i can make myself stand out from the other players and give myself more of a chance to get scouted?
From the Pro:
The most important thing to remember when trying to impress people is to control the things that you can control. For example you can not control if your team is not good but you can control how hard you play. Coaches are looking for someone who will always give it their best and play hard. So remember to run everything out and hustle. Things like that are what really impress coaches. When it comes to ability you either have it or you don’t. But it is your heart that really counts and any coach that is worth playing for looks for players who play hard and love to play. So that is my suggestion, don’t try to impress them with
homeruns just impress them with how hard you play. But more importantly don’t forget to have fun!!
Your baseball pro, Steve Holm
Filed By: Jean Bedord | February 8, 2007 | Add Comments »