|
Post by chargerfreak on Mar 25, 2019 1:58:20 GMT -7
I have a cousin that played MLB. He called me one day and I said what the hell is going on with your batting average. He told me "Freak", I can't hit them." "The pitching in the majors is levels above minor league and the mexican league I played in." Is this what happened to you ? Yes, and no. The straight across from your example would be stopping the puck, which I could do, but reading the play quick enough to put myself in the correct position to stop the puck was lacking. I was fine at the Jr. levels, but the NHL decision making was very fast, and we are talking over 30 years ago. The speed of decisions in today's game makes back then look like slow motion. Clubs recognized this deficiency in goalies, and soon you saw very few goalies that were under 6ft, and many that where 6' 4' or bigger. (consider a 6'7' goalie in the butterfly is only a couple inches shy of post to post) Add in they are much better athletes, with great coaching, and the NHL saw a scoring drop that they are still addressing in the game today. I loved my playing career, and have zero regrets.....it was a blast. Oh have no doubt. Just MAKING the NHL is huge. Sounds a lot like football. There are plenty of college guys that just couldn't match the speed of the NFL game. MAybe you had 6=10 true All Stars in the Juniors. Well they are ALL All-Stars in the NHL, or they wouldn't be there !!!
|
|
|
Post by chargerfreak on Mar 25, 2019 2:28:06 GMT -7
I have a cousin that played MLB. He called me one day and I said what the hell is going on with your batting average. He told me "Freak", I can't hit them." "The pitching in the majors is levels above minor league and the mexican league I played in." Is this what happened to you ? The sad part is that every H.S. baseball dad looks ahead 2 or even 3 levels like it's nothing. Dad Q: "How do you think he'll do in the Pac12?" Coach A: "Ummm, let's see him do well here, first, eh? See if he can start on Varsity one day?" (MLB pitchers make less "mistakes". Balls in the zone that you like. (Which they know from the reports). Gotta hole in your swing? A weak spot? They will LIVE there.) Yeah, it's crazy. My cousin stole home in the college world series, my memory is that won the trophy. Basestealing fool. Solid enough second baseman. Pinch runner. His low batting average ended his career, but we forget how good these guys are. Today he is a batting coach for young guys, and he is fantastic at it. Extremely knowledgeable and sought after. Just goes to show you, you can be an expert but when Dwight Gooden is bringing the rock at you, well that's something else again. He has great memories to last a lifetime. The Mets big league stars took him out on the town for a weekend because they wanted him to sign. The Angels timed him in the 40 yard dash and offered him a contract on the field ! He wanted the Mets, but his advisors told him the Mets had good second basemen, and he wouldn't see the field. Cleveland did not have good second basemen, so he ended up there to get the playing time.
|
|
|
Post by frozendisc on Mar 25, 2019 7:32:56 GMT -7
Yes, and no. The straight across from your example would be stopping the puck, which I could do, but reading the play quick enough to put myself in the correct position to stop the puck was lacking. I was fine at the Jr. levels, but the NHL decision making was very fast, and we are talking over 30 years ago. The speed of decisions in today's game makes back then look like slow motion. Clubs recognized this deficiency in goalies, and soon you saw very few goalies that were under 6ft, and many that where 6' 4' or bigger. (consider a 6'7' goalie in the butterfly is only a couple inches shy of post to post) Add in they are much better athletes, with great coaching, and the NHL saw a scoring drop that they are still addressing in the game today. I loved my playing career, and have zero regrets.....it was a blast. Thanks for sharing that. It sure gives a little more perspective on draft picks. I've always heard the speed of the game is a hurdle for players. This puts it better perspective. Trust me, the clubs want the drafted player to succeed, and truly believe they will or they would not have invested the pick in them. A player having the physical skills to compete at the top level is easy to scout or see, but that player having the ability to process the game action at a pace that is required at the top level is difficult to recognize. The hope is always there initially, but after given time to develop, hard decisions are coming. No GM, or coach, wants to end a players opportunity until they feel a fair chance has been given to that players development.
|
|
|
Post by frozendisc on Mar 25, 2019 7:41:10 GMT -7
Yes, and no. The straight across from your example would be stopping the puck, which I could do, but reading the play quick enough to put myself in the correct position to stop the puck was lacking. I was fine at the Jr. levels, but the NHL decision making was very fast, and we are talking over 30 years ago. The speed of decisions in today's game makes back then look like slow motion. Clubs recognized this deficiency in goalies, and soon you saw very few goalies that were under 6ft, and many that where 6' 4' or bigger. (consider a 6'7' goalie in the butterfly is only a couple inches shy of post to post) Add in they are much better athletes, with great coaching, and the NHL saw a scoring drop that they are still addressing in the game today. I loved my playing career, and have zero regrets.....it was a blast. Different level of play, but I had a somewhat similar experience as you did: From 1983-2000, SoCal was filled with many teammates and opponents who represented the USA in multiple World Cups, but I mostly played against them during my career other than club teammates who were on the national team. I regularly played hooker with and against many international rugby players over the course of my career that was mostly based in Long Beach (Cornell & Long Beach State in college, Belmont Shore RFC in club side). OMBAC-Belmont was the biggest rivalry in the US for more than a decade, and my stomach still instinctively tightens up when I head south on the I-5 as I remember the wars that we battled several times a year. I played with the Southern California and Pacific Coast select squads (just below national team) for about a half-dozen years, but never ascended to the international level mainly due to one profound limitation: I simply didn't have enough explosive pace to compete at that level. I had a motor where I could keep churning all game long, was strong in set pieces (lineouts and scrums), could read the game very well and was not hesitant whatsoever about throwing my body around without any concern about my well-being. However, as the modern game evolved a hooker needs to be an extra back row forward in loose play (similar to LB in a football sense), and my slow twitch body did not have the gas that was necessary to play international rugby. I'm now paying the price as my body is slowly starting to break down at age 58 (both knees, both shoulders and my nose / septum are not in good shape, but surprisingly the concussions that I suffered don't appear to be a problem). And like you, I have zero regrets about playing what was for most of my career an amateur sport. Awesome memories and awesome friendships from all around the globe more than make up for the physical residue of my playing career!! Rugby sounds brutal....... I hear the after game (or are they called matches) parties are as robust as the games......
|
|
|
Post by frozendisc on Mar 25, 2019 7:49:53 GMT -7
Yes, and no. The straight across from your example would be stopping the puck, which I could do, but reading the play quick enough to put myself in the correct position to stop the puck was lacking. I was fine at the Jr. levels, but the NHL decision making was very fast, and we are talking over 30 years ago. The speed of decisions in today's game makes back then look like slow motion. Clubs recognized this deficiency in goalies, and soon you saw very few goalies that were under 6ft, and many that where 6' 4' or bigger. (consider a 6'7' goalie in the butterfly is only a couple inches shy of post to post) Add in they are much better athletes, with great coaching, and the NHL saw a scoring drop that they are still addressing in the game today. I loved my playing career, and have zero regrets..... it was a blast.Just a great, great post. Honest and insightful. Entertaining. Thank you. Now frozen, I got you ! Neutral zone trap. Two minutes for embellishment. Was your whole career really, really a blast ? Isn't there something that haunts you ? Why did you take it out on Forrest ? C'mon frozen. I have personal experience and knowledge that you have anger issues. I can testify to that. There is scar tissue. And there is no way you would be employed by Mr. Molson, if you did not have a great deal of vision. You see things. You know things. You are playing us all, aren't you ? There is nothing that 'haunts' me about anything in my life. Loved my playing days, loved scouting, enjoy the opportunity to talk Ice Hockey with Mr. Molson. Anger issues...ha...put the pipe away. Do not know Lamp, not taking anything 'out' on him.
|
|
|
Post by woodeye on Mar 25, 2019 7:53:09 GMT -7
I made aaaall the way to JUCO baseball.
There are nuances to hitting a baseball that qualify it as one of the most difficult things in all of sport to do.
For example, you must be able to pick up the bead on a slider almost as soon as it leaves the pitcher's hand, or you will look helpless and foolish.
One time, while at the plate, my teammate and personal friend, asapbaserunnerponpsecondpbasep, picked up the catcher's signals, and signalled to me on the fly what type of pitch was coming.The problem was that the catcher caught on and quickly changed his signs to the pitcher re what to throw. I was expecting a curveball on the outside part of the plate, only to get a fastball, kinda in on the hands. Damn near broke my hand as I tried to swing and got all jammed up.
|
|
|
Post by chargerfreak on Mar 25, 2019 9:53:43 GMT -7
I made aaaall the way to JUCO baseball. There are nuances to hitting a baseball that qualify it as one of the most difficult things in all of sport to do. For example, you must be able to pick up the bead on a slider almost as soon as it leaves the pitcher's hand, or you will look helpless and foolish. One time, while at the plate, my teammate and personal friend, asapbaserunnerponpsecondpbasep, picked up the catcher's signals, and signalled to me on the fly what type of pitch was coming.The problem was that the catcher caught on and quickly changed his signs to the pitcher re what to throw. I was expecting a curveball on the outside part of the plate, only to get a fastball, kinda in on the hands. Damn near broke my hand as I tried to swing and got all jammed up. That'll teach ya for stealing signs !
|
|
|
Post by woodeye on Mar 25, 2019 9:57:37 GMT -7
I made aaaall the way to JUCO baseball. There are nuances to hitting a baseball that qualify it as one of the most difficult things in all of sport to do. For example, you must be able to pick up the bead on a slider almost as soon as it leaves the pitcher's hand, or you will look helpless and foolish. One time, while at the plate, my teammate and personal friend, asapbaserunnerponpsecondpbasep, picked up the catcher's signals, and signalled to me on the fly what type of pitch was coming.The problem was that the catcher caught on and quickly changed his signs to the pitcher re what to throw. I was expecting a curveball on the outside part of the plate, only to get a fastball, kinda in on the hands. Damn near broke my hand as I tried to swing and got all jammed up. That'll teach ya for stealing signs ! What my post getting all screwed up because of chopper's software ?
|
|
|
Post by woodeye on Mar 25, 2019 11:13:01 GMT -7
Did you ever compete for the William M. Jennings Trophy ?
|
|
|
Post by joemcrugby on Mar 26, 2019 10:41:27 GMT -7
|
|
|
Post by chargerfreak on Mar 26, 2019 11:09:57 GMT -7
Lamp would become very valuable if he could play either spot. Very valuable................
|
|
|
Post by sonorajim on Mar 26, 2019 11:17:12 GMT -7
Apparently Lynn isn't committing to changes at starting OL in March. Shocking!
|
|
|
Post by moekid on Mar 26, 2019 11:20:06 GMT -7
Lamp would become very valuable if he could play either spot. Very valuable................ Lamp wants to play or be traded. Period. Chance to compete? LOL
|
|
|
Post by ltocbolts on Mar 26, 2019 11:26:39 GMT -7
I have a cousin that played MLB. He called me one day and I said what the hell is going on with your batting average. He told me "Freak", I can't hit them." "The pitching in the majors is levels above minor league and the mexican league I played in." Is this what happened to you ? Yes, and no. The straight across from your example would be stopping the puck, which I could do, but reading the play quick enough to put myself in the correct position to stop the puck was lacking. I was fine at the Jr. levels, but the NHL decision making was very fast, and we are talking over 30 years ago. The speed of decisions in today's game makes back then look like slow motion. Clubs recognized this deficiency in goalies, and soon you saw very few goalies that were under 6ft, and many that where 6' 4' or bigger. (consider a 6'7' goalie in the butterfly is only a couple inches shy of post to post) Add in they are much better athletes, with great coaching, and the NHL saw a scoring drop that they are still addressing in the game today. I loved my playing career, and have zero regrets.....it was a blast. Did you get to play at the NHL level?
|
|
|
Post by LIGHTS OUT on Mar 26, 2019 12:22:44 GMT -7
The Chargers plan to give third-year OG Forrest Lamp reps at tackle in 2019.
The No. 38 overall pick of the 2017 draft, Lamp missed his entire rookie year with a torn ACL before making only two appearances last season. He will supposedly get the chance to compete for a starting job at guard in 2019, but the tackle reps/increased versatility will probably be a must if he's to keep his spot on the 53-man roster. Lamp is already 25 years old.
|
|