Jon Hickey

Some unsolicited guidance when it comes to finding the right fit for your offseason and summer baseball program. 1) If the coach guarantees you a starting spot, RUN. Who in their right mind would guarantee a kid a starting spot that’s over 8-10 months away? They’ve earned exactly nothing. They’re after one thing, your money. If you ever guarantee something, you guarantee regression. 2) If the program says “they value development” and went 60-4 last year, RUN. How are you going to learn to deal with adversity if the program is only trophy hunting? And all 64 games were more than likely against the bottom of the local barrel. Yuck 3) If you have to pay a “tryout fee”, RUN. Why? This money goes directly into the director’s vacation bucket. The fact that someone pays tryout is INSANE. Don’t believe me? Ask to see their budgets. Guarantee there’s a section called “Director’s cut”. 4) If you’re truly looking for development, the coaches should be spending time trying to develop themselves just as much. ASK QUESTIONS!! Don’t be afraid to ask “what are you doing to insure my son stays focused and understands what it takes.” 5) If the program doesn’t have a proven track record getting kids opportunities to play college baseball, why would you waste your time? Run!! 6) Last but not least, if the program has 6 teams at your level, RUN. You’re the fundraiser for the top team. It is what it is, you can deflect and lie to yourself all you want, but this is factual. You’re going to put your best coach on the D team? Nope, you’re getting the guy that’s not getting paid and he’s doing it so his left handed son can play SS.

Since when is it ever acceptable to allow your baseball/softball team (at any level) walk out on to the field in between innings? This is an absolute epidemic. The majority of teams we play REFUSE to show any effort. Who’s coaching this? Get control

This field. This field was where I learned what it took to be a professional. This is the field where I fell in love with “the work”. Forever grateful for SMC Baseball and everything this program taught me. Great to see it again & take a trip down memory lane!! @OldCoachTW11

If you think you’re a good person and tip servers less than 20%, you’re a bad person. Just a heads up!!

The level of “energy” on the Browns is almost hard to watch. At 2-6, let’s see who mails it in. My guess is 51 out of 53 guys (excluding Mack Wilson and Nick Chubb). There’s no true leader that will crack some skulls in that locker room.

How is it acceptable that the 1st base umpire has a fat wad of chew in his mouth? Seems like the @NCAACWS umpires don’t have to adhere to the same “high class” of rules given to the players. #gotheeem

Dark day for college baseball. Not passing legislation for a paid 3rd assistant is a reflection of the lack of leadership in the NCAA. Being a former volunteer assistant, I failed miserably at life. I knew what I signed up for, but it’s easier said than done. Sad!!

Great message about Christian consistency. Right on point. @FCA_Akron

I would’ve hit the house three straight times trying this haha @ryanmcgraw25