When I was a kid, I had a friend named Carl. His parents made his do some acting class and he asked me if I would do it with him. My parents said it was fine and I did.
I cannot lie, I am a ham. I love being on stage and making people laugh in general. So when I did the class, I really got into it when others were not. But it was enough for the teacher to tell my dad that I had a lot of talent and I should do some plays at the Children’s Theater he was directing.
My parents have always been very supportive of things I wanted to pursue. My mom is a realist. She would have rather me focus on accounting than acting. My dad is a dreamer. I could do anything I want to if I work hard. Both are right. And both are needed.
So I did acting until I was a teenager. My goal in life was to be an actor and comedian until a drama teacher told me I was not that great of an actor and a shitty comedian. Yes, those were her words. Ms. Dial. Those were the 90’s.
It is hard to truly describe my son. he has so many qualities I have, and then some my dad, his grandfather, possess. He has others his mom has and some his grandmother have. But what it does is it makes him an amazing kid.
He is a straigh A student, he is compassionate, but what he does more than anything, what drives him every single day, is baseball.
My brother knows the most about baseball than anyone I know. My son is second. My son does not collect baseball cards. He studies prospects. He researches how Jackie Robinson and Curt Flood changed the game. Players who are underrated. he can tell you every Class of 2024 prospect that will be drafted. He knows what bat someone is using in a high school game by the sound. Baseball is his life.
Like every kid, he wants to be an MLB player. Or go to a Power 5 school. He has a list of schools already. And growing up, he was the smallest kid for his age. You can blame me for that I guess, I am short.
Coaches have been pretty ruthless with him. In Little League, the rule is to have one at bat. Some games he did not. I had my battles. I also learned it is never good to argue with a coach in general lol.
But the last two years something happened. He grew. A lot. And by growing, he gained a lot of muscle. It is kind of crazy to see a 5 foot 9 180 pound kid when he was just a tot before.
The coach the last two years he had was a bad person. i cannot go into it any more. His boss, who has a famous beloved MLB brother, was even worse. And they brought him down every day to the point where he doubted himself.
You know how parents always will say their kid is the best in general. I am not like that. I can honestly tell you, my son is good at baseball. I have seen wnough of other kids and mine to know. I bought a radar gun or pocket radar things to test is exit velocity because he was doubting himself. If it was used in a Perfect Game showcase, he would have the highest exit velo for the class of 2028.
But I am a dreamer. And I will always fight for my kids to have their dreams come true. I give up time for my son for training and practices and always will. Do I think he is good enough to play at the next level? Yes, not a doubt. Do I think he has the drive. More than anyone I know.
So fast forward. Last year’s coach is gone. There is a new one. One that is no nonsense, tough, and will have no issue shooting you straight. He lets every kid know where they stand. And does not have any tolerance for people who are not passionate.
Yesterday was the first game of the season. it was played at the minor league field Jackie Robinson played at. My son and I have a system when I see him, he gives me a thumbs up when he starts, and a thumbs down when he does not. In the last two years, he has been a DH once. he never started. I never saw a thumbs up.
I saw one yesterday.
He hit fifth in the batting order. Fifth.
He went 1-4. Reached on an error (Some might say it was a double but I respect Gamechanger), single, two runs and a stolen base. Also no errors in right field.
But after years of people not named Posnanski doubting him, he put that to rest for some and will continue to do so. And I am excited for it.
I am going to keep talking about my son’s season, but after this, it will be for paid subscribers only and that will include my weight loss. And as always, if you do enjoy what you see, I will make sure being a paid subscriber is worth it, or you can always throw a tip here.
Congratulations on your son’s progress. I greet up in a very sports oriented family, only I wasn’t interested in any of the major sports. I really would have liked to pursue drama and acting, but my father discouraged it. He meant well. So, I understand how important sports can be to a kid. He’s lucky to have your support.