Monday, June 22, 2009

Who cares if a 16 year old is drafted?



























Bryce Harper graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as the next big thing in baseball. You know… like Jon Peters!

While Sports Illustrated’s psychic abilities might be lacking, the interest in Harper is sky high and now he is thinking of dropping out of high school and to make himself eligible for the draft.

And a lot of people have been wringing their hands over it.

Ooo… he’s leaving high school to play baseball.
Ooo… the life experiences he’s losing are just terrible.
Ooo… he’s going to miss the prom! That’s horrible!
Ooo… he should be spending the next two years not paying attention in class.

Articles were written about it.
People waxing about how he’ll miss the joys of being a normal teenager.

(‘Duk from Big League Stew as usual has a level headed analysis of the Harper situation.)

Yeah, that’s everyone’s memory of high school. Or maybe its zits, social awkwardness, intense sexual confusion and that terrifying and unlikely moment where you actually DID get a girl to fool around with struggling with the bra to the point where you start wondering if you should get some scissors. (OK, maybe that was just me.)

Like this kid is going to have a normal high school experience. He’s on the cover of S.I. for crying out loud!

Start playing baseball and get your game working.

I remember people thinking Kevin Garnett skipping college was going to be equivalent of the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse. That turned out OK.

But then I read something interesting this weekend in the New York Post.

The Yankees just signed Gary Sanchez, a 16 year old catcher, to a $2.5 million contract.

I don’t see a lot of articles wondering how bad it is for him.
I don’t see people debating that signing.

But he’s from the Domincan Republic and not from the suburbs of Las Vegas.

Hmm… wouldn’t staying in school be MORE critical for a kid coming to a new country and a new culture?

It’s OK for one 16 year old and not the other?

BS.

If they are ready they are ready… and they are better off getting a 2 year head start on learning how to play professional ball.

I’d gladly trade in my prom experience for the millions of guaranteed dollars. (No offense, Melissa Reeve, my senior prom date.)

3 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree more. Worry about your own kids "life experience" if it's that important to you, but this kid doesn't need your stinkin high school diploma. I think it stinks of jealousy.

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  2. I agree...any person can always go back and finish HS/College, you don't always have the opportunity to do what millions of others dream of. I don't see people bashing the "child actors" that miss out on these same experiences.
    He might not have the same experiences as a "normal" 16 year old, but he will have others that will be just as good or better.
    Good luck to him.

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