Who is this guy???

  • Posted by jadarm
  • March 4, 2008

A few years back he led all Georgia middle schools in 8th grade with 57 stolen bases without ever having been thrown out in his entire career…his name is up on the gymnasium wall!!

Every year, with one exception, he led his team in HR’s, RBI, runs scored, hits, BB, OB%, and average …with the exception being was 2nd and 3rd respectively, …while still leading in fielding percentage, assists, and stolen bases.

In his 8th grade year he hit .871 with one “over the fence” in a game winning situation, 34 RBI, 50+ hits, and an OB% of .964.

From then he was selected into the All-Star, All-Select, All-State teams and played against the best players in GA and still managed to hit .396 with another over the fence HR in a game-winning situation, 39 RBI, 36 stolen bases and a .600 OB% clip.

…And have I mentioned that he has never been caught stealing in his entire career???…even among the best in the state?…a BASEBALL state?

He can also pitch…as well as playing 2B, SS, and any OF postion …as well as 1B (he’s a lefty!)

8th grade ((on a team that never won a game)) He was never credited with a loss as a LHP.

He had 64 strikeouts in 41 innings with an ERA around 2.50.

On the Norh GA Select All-Star team he was 5-1 with a 2.69 ERA with 68 K’s in 55 IP. No left handed hitter got a hit off of him.

He is 6′1 165 pounds. His fastball averaged 86MPH in 8th grade all stars, with a 79 mph diving slider, and a slow 12-6 curve.

He has scored from first to home on a single to centerfield and he can bunt for a base hit.

He has only been charged with two defensive errors in his career and he has played 1b, 2b, SS, C, and the OF… although he is mainly a starting pitcher.

Answer:
:)
He is my son!

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March 4th, 2008
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Buck
Posted on:
March 5, 2008 at 8:15 am

Impressive stats. No wonder you love baseball.

6-1 and 165 in the 8th grade. More evidence of some kind of evolutionary uptick.

Does he play football and basketball or is baseball his one and only love?

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
davey
Posted on:
March 5, 2008 at 9:55 am

…so you must have had a huge part in teaching him the apsects of the game, right??

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
jadarm
Posted on:
March 5, 2008 at 10:51 am

6-1 and 165 in the 8th grade. More evidence of some kind of evolutionary uptick.

Not really, …he’s an ugly kid too! …j/k :)…btw, his name is also on the gymnasium wall for either pushups or situps…something like that.

…I know, that is superficial but I remember how I felt when I was in school…seeing those names up on the wall and wishing mine was there with them…I am kinda like Al Bundy…I live my life through the HS years…except I prefer to view them thru my sons’ eyes instead of my own.

Not quite fair to him I know. Tragic.

He has got so much going for him, looks, intelligence, atheleticism, charisma, …and the ability to “con” people when needed…but he also has heart! That just might be his best quality!

Looks like his mother too, …thank God!

He was an all-district wrestler a few years ago until a freak accident in practice pulled a groin muscle that repeatedly became aggravated everytime he tried to do something strenuous.

He was going to be a walk-on QB with the Ridgeland Panthers his freshman year until that happened. I know, the football team was a running team…but still.

One other thing concerns me though. He is complaining of an injury that sounds like it might be the rotator cuff.

The kid has talent…I just wished that, …whether or not he even tries to further his atheletic career, …I wished he would spend as much energy into his academics and learning “people”.

The world is at his feet and he just doesnt realize it.

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
Buck
Posted on:
March 5, 2008 at 10:56 am

In school the only list my name was ever on was the shit list.

And of all his abilities it is the ability to con people that will be the most important.

He will just need to hone the ability not be be conned.

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
jadarm
Posted on:
March 5, 2008 at 10:59 am

“Heart” will serve him well also.

…thanks Buck! :)

Comment Number:
6
Written by:
RW
Posted on:
March 5, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Sounds like a “signing bonus” is in his future! Congrats.

One other thing concerns me though. He is complaining of an injury that sounds like it might be the rotator cuff.

One small piece of advice: keep a handle on that curve ball. It’s atrocious on the arm of a growing youngster (God did not make the human body to withstand the mechanics of a curve ball….ask any physician) and I know one guy who had a 92 MPH heater in high school where he often performed before MLB scouts, until overuse destroyed his shoulder & put a kink in his elbow, to the point of him having surgery as a teenager, which ruined a professional career & landed him not in the majors, but toiling on a small college baseball team, often wondering “what could have been”.

Seriously, watch that arm. Curveballs aren’t for youngsters. Put that thing in his back pocket until he turns 16, no matter how important some game seems - it’s not as important as his shoulder/elbow.

-

So, are you going to serve as his agent? :)

Comment Number:
7
Written by:
jadarm
Posted on:
March 5, 2008 at 3:45 pm

No, I’m too stupid to be an agent. Smijer can be his agent.

I have coached him since was a tot…he has been switch hitting since he was 3 yrs old…he should have an early release for time served after growing up with me.

I know about the curveball thing..trust me. I am all about pitching mechanics. The one thing I tried to instill in him was to throw the fastball…and LOCATE the fastball. Every pitch you throw comes in relation and contrast to the fastball…and how well you can locate.

Just like real-estate…location, location…and I forget the 3rd word.

When I was coaching I always had my boys loosen’ up with regular exercises to actually help the rotator cuff. They are simple exercises…but as a coach you also need to keep kids at pitch counts relative to their age.

What happened with Dave was a freak thing. I didnt even know he was throwing and he came in and described what he felt and it terrified me.

…if he was a horse, I would just take him out back and shoot him….but since he is my son…damn, I’ll just have to think about it some more.

:)

Comment Number:
8
Written by:
RW
Posted on:
March 6, 2008 at 8:32 am

Lots of things to do that can rehab a rotator cuff. I’m currently rehabbing a strained forearm, so I can attest that I’m not only reading this stuff, but following and implementing. Hopefully, there’s no tear in his shoulder. Since he’s young, it’s probably just a strain….rest, ibuprofen, rest and rest, then rehab should take care of things. If not, time for a trip to the specialist (ka-ching!) so you can get it out of the way before he fully matures.

Sounds like he could be a track star, as well. Or a defensive back, with that speed.

Comment Number:
9
Written by:
Kim
Posted on:
March 6, 2008 at 8:56 am

On top of his athletic ablilities, he is also a talented musician who plays several different instruments, writes his own songs, and sings as well. His potential is through the roof. (and did I mention he is drop-dead gorgeous?!?)

Comment Number:
10
Written by:
jadarm
Posted on:
March 6, 2008 at 9:11 am

Damn…everyone making him out to be Barack Obama…

He did screw up….once… :)

Thanks for the link on the rotator cuff…I need that myself.

Comment Number:
11
Written by:
davey
Posted on:
March 6, 2008 at 12:04 pm

So whats this kids name ?

:D

Comment Number:
12
Written by:
jadarm
Posted on:
March 6, 2008 at 12:12 pm

His name? Grass!

My name? The lawnmower!

:)

…I already mentioned it sir.

What happened with Dave was a freak thing.

Comment Number:
13
Written by:
jadarm
Posted on:
March 17, 2008 at 6:43 pm

Man…folks, …

I shit you not…my son has never played on a professional basketball team but he went up against Vito (2 yrs at Syracuse)…an Itallian white kid who is an adept ball handler and an even better shot maker…even from the perimiter…

David held his own…it was a push…this Vito, who I assume is a good kid, is 24 and spent 2 years under Syracuse’ jurisprudence….David still held him at a push….and he is merely 16!!!

Me being the father that I am, I am like…”Stick his ass Vito!!”…but it didnt happen.

My son never ceases to amaze me…