The Starting Lineup Dilemma

Ever wonder why your son isn't in the starting lineup? The truth might surprise you. 

Baseball isn't just about who can hit the ball farthest or throw the fastest pitch. High school coaches make tough decisions every single day about who plays and who sits – decisions that go far beyond raw talent. From academic performance and classroom behavior to practice effort and being a supportive teammate, the factors that determine playing time are complex and often invisible to parents watching from the stands.

I'll never forget the parent who approached me during a team cookout at IMG Academy in Florida to boldly declare that I was "what's keeping us from winning a state championship." That uncomfortable moment sparked an important reflection on the relationship between coaches, players, and parents. While that particular season ended in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in the 10th inning of the district finals, the lessons remain relevant for baseball families everywhere.

Here's the uncomfortable truth many parents don't want to hear: sometimes the best way to support your child isn't by fighting their battles, but by stepping back. When parents rush to protect their sons from difficulty – whether it's limited playing time, batting lower in the lineup, or facing criticism – they rob them of the opportunity to develop resilience. In baseball, a game where even elite hitters fail seven out of ten times, learning from setbacks isn't just helpful; it's essential.

Whether you're a coach navigating lineup decisions or a parent supporting a player through ups and downs, remember that success in baseball and in life is earned through facing challenges head-on. The players who become leaders are those who learn to handle adversity without breaking. Trust the process, back the coaching staff, and let failure be the powerful teacher it's meant to be.

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Chapters

• 0:00 The Starting Lineup Dilemma
• 2:36 IMG Academy Parent Story
• 4:01 Coaches Making Tough Decisions
• 5:12 Parents, Trust the Process
• 7:34 Embracing Failure as Growth
• 8:14 Episode Closing and Sponsors

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Today on Baseball, coaches Unplugged the starting lineup. Who gets to play and who doesn't? More goes into it than you think, and a high school coach has to make tough decisions every single day.

Speaker 2: 0:16

Welcome to Baseball Coaches Unplugged with Coach Ken Carpenter, presented by AthleteOne. Baseball Coaches Unplugged is a podcast for baseball coaches, with 27 years of high school baseball coaching under his belt, here to bring you the inside scoop on all things baseball, from game winning strategies and pitching secrets to hitting drills and defensive drills. We're covering it all. Whether you're a high school coach, college coach or just a baseball enthusiast, we'll dive into the tactics and techniques that make the difference on and off the field. Discover how to build a winning mentality. Inspire your players and get them truly bought into your game philosophy Plus, get the latest insights on recruiting, coaching, leadership and crafting a team culture that champions productivity and success. Join Coach every week as he breaks down the game and shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories. Your competitive edge starts here, so check out the show weekly and hear from the best coaches in the game. On Baseball Coaches Unplugged.

Speaker 1: 1:12

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Speaker 1: 2:30

I'm going to start off today's show with a story To start the season. One year, we took our team to IMG Academy in Florida. Being from Ohio, we were looking for great weather, fantastic facilities and excellent competition, and that is what IMG Academy was able to do for us. We decided to have a cookout at the beach with the players and parents before the season got started and just get everybody together. While sitting down at a table with my coaching staff, a very outspoken parent walked up to me and while we were eating a burger fresh off the grill and made the following statement Well, I'm looking at what's keeping us from winning a state championship this year. His son was a two-year starter and had high expectations for the team. We had a very good team and we also, as a coaching staff and team, wanted to make a deep run in the tournament at the end of the season. I still look back at that day and appreciate the honesty. Was he right? Depends on who you talk to, I guess. Well, we lost in the district finals to a tough opponent on a throwing error in the 10th inning. One to nothing. So that brings me to today's topic.

Speaker 1: 4:01

Is the high school baseball coach doing what's best for the team and his players? High school baseball coaches is full go across the country. Tough decisions are being made daily by coaches which players will get playing time, which players are going to sit the bench. Before the season, everyone is excited. But once that regular season begins, a starting lineup has to be announced and it's tough for players, their parents and the coaches who have to make those decisions. Parents, I get it. If you want what's best for your son, you want him to succeed, to thrive, to feel confident in his abilities. That's why you invest in training, you attend his games and support his journey in baseball. But sometimes the best thing you can do for him isn't stepping in, it's stepping back.

Speaker 1: 5:04

Let's talk about the coaching staff and the importance of letting failure be a teacher, not a roadblock. A baseball team functions best when players, parents and coaches work together. Coaches dedicate years to the game, developing strategies, teaching fundamentals and making decisions that serve the team as a whole. When players and parents second guess those decisions, it creates division instead of unity. Trust the process, trust the leadership and do your best to back the coaches.

Speaker 1: 5:48

I'll be the first to tell you coaches make mistakes and they're not perfect. They're human. Your son might not always like the coaches decisions. Coaches make mistakes and they're not perfect. They're human. Your son might not always like the coach's decisions. Maybe he's batting lower in the lineup than he expected. Maybe he's not seeing as much playing time as he hoped for. That's tough, but instead of running to the coach or the administration to demand answers, use it as a teaching moment. Encourage him to put in the extra work, to have a mature conversation with the coach, to seek feedback and to control what he can control and failure. It's essential.

Speaker 1: 6:33

Baseball is a game of imperfection. If a player gets a hit three out of ten times, he's considered to be a pretty good player. That means failure happens more often than success, and the players who rise above are the ones who learn not to fear it but to embrace it. Striking out teaches a hitter what adjustments need to be made. A tough loss teaches a team where they need to improve. Getting benched teaches a player about effort, attitude and perseverance. Failure is a lesson, not a punishment. When parents interfere, when they rush to protect their son from difficulty, they rob them of the opportunity to grow, to face adversity, to become resilient and to learn. Success is earned, not given. So it might be tough at times, but the best thing you can do is back the coaching staff. Unlike travel baseball, high school baseball coaches have to consider the players' grades, behavior in school, are they on time, how they perform in practice and are they good teammates, to name a few. Teach your son that respect, hard work, accountability matter. Let him fail, let him struggle, let him figure it out, because that's how he becomes a competitor, a leader and a man who doesn't break at the first sign of adversity and, trust me, he'll be much better for it.

Speaker 1: 8:14

That's all for today's show. Please be sure to tune in every Wednesday for a new episode here on Baseball Coaches Unplugged, where I sit down with some of the best coaches around the country. Baseball Coaches Unplugged is proud to be partnered with the netting professionals, improving programs. One facility at a time, one facility at a time. Contact them today at 844-620-2707, or visit them online at wwwnettingproscom. As always, I'm your host Coach Ken Carpenter. Thanks for joining me and thanks for listening to Baseball Coaches Unplugged.