Entry #51 - July 2, 2005

Wow! Summer is flying by. Only fifty four days until our team arrives on campus. The summer for college baseball coaches is anything but a vacation. There is always something going on or something which needs to be done. I can’t speak for other coaches but for me it is just tough to get away from my office/work/job. I know it drives my wife crazy, but there just aren’t many times of the day that I can go without thinking about our baseball program and how to continue to improve it.

Immediately after the season ended the evaluation process continued as our staff tried to figure what we needed to do better for next season. Once we came to an agreement on this, we then try to prepare on how we are going to work this plan. Many of our days in the summer are spent developing a plan to have in place once our players return from their summer vacation. Sometimes it seems futile because every year no matter how well prepared it always seems like we are two weeks behind once they step on campus.

Of course the summer is a huge recruiting time, where if it was feasible you could almost be at a ballpark every single night watching players. College baseball is following the path of college basketball as it seems you have to start evaluating kids at a younger age every summer. This spring I actually found myself at a few junior high baseball games. During the summer there are so many games, tournaments, showcases, etc. I always feel that if we are not in attendance at one of these events that we may miss something or someone. For the 2007 season we will probably only bring in five or six new players, but we really want those five or six to be special, so we try to see as many kids as possible. Recruiting is a process that never ends.

Draft Day was a special day for ETSU as Caleb Moore was taken in the fourth round by the Minnesota Twins. Everyone associated with our program and university is very proud and excited for Caleb as he begins his career as a professional ball player. Caleb has had a “hall-of-fame” career at ETSU and him being a fourth round pick was very deserving. Seeing Caleb grow and develop as a player and a person has been very gratifying. It took Caleb a while but once he figured out how to “honestly” work hard, he exploded. What I mean by “honestly” working hard is sometimes we simply do just what is asked of us and everyone around us will be content with what we are doing. We just do what is required and then move on. Inside we know we could do more, but because nobody will think any less of us, because we are at least doing the required work, we don’t do anything extra. For Caleb he took his work ethic to another level. When he did this, he became such a physical player and everything seemed to slow down for him. When Caleb first came to ETSU I stressed the importance of him staying healthy. This was something he had struggled with throughout his career. Through his work ethic he became not just physically strong, but extremely mentally strong and I believe this is what enabled him to avoid injury and play through many aches and pains, which in earlier years would have maybe shut him down. A great example of this was the morning of the draft, not sure of where he would be drafted, Caleb was in the Dome, working out and hitting off a tee all by himself. He didn’t have to be in here working out, but inside him, the drive to “honestly” work hard was what brought him in here that morning. The last two years have been amazing to watch him play at such a high level of success. It sure will be fun watching him pursue his dream.

Speaking of pursuing dreams. The evening of the draft I was in Atlanta visiting my family. The Anaheim Angels were in town and I was taking my sons to their first major league baseball game. A former player of mine, Scot Shields pitches for the Angels. Scot was a 38th round pick out of Lincoln Memorial and parlayed his opportunity into a tremendous career. Scot is one of the top relief pitchers in the American League and is having the best year of his career. I have seen Scot pitch on television many times, but never in person, so needless to say I was excited to see him. Speaking with him prior to the game and introducing him to my sons was simply amazing. I can’t describe the feeling inside as a coach when you see one of your former players trot to the mound or come to bat in the big leagues. It was exhilarating. I was fortunate to see Scot pitch in two of the three games and dominate the Braves. After the second game of the series we met at the lobby of his hotel and I got to spend a few hours with him and his wife. Scot comes from a great family and is still the same person he was before his fame and fortune. It is very special to see him and a moment I will never forget.

Speaking of moments I will never forget. Seeing Tilo’s face as we walked into Turner Field was priceless. I tried to prepare him for what he was going to see but I don’t think he could quite grasp it. When he saw the grass, the seats, the scoreboard, etc., his jaw dropped wide-open. At the game we walked around the entire stadium and took in all the sites. I had made an agreement with Tilo that he and Jack could have anything to eat they wanted at the stadium, as long as Tilo did not fall asleep. It was a night game and I knew Jack would probably fall asleep and if Tilo fell asleep as well, I would have my hands full carrying both of them out of the stadium. So we ate hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, m & m’s, drank cokes and just had a blast. As the later innings approached Jack and Tilo were wide awake, but my stomach was hurting and I was the one running out of gas. In the end they both made it through the entire game and five minutes into the trip back to my parent’s house they were sound asleep.

I’ll also never forget the first time my Dad took me to my first professional baseball game. It was in Atlanta at the old Fulton County Stadium. The Braves were playing the Dodgers and it was a Sunday afternoon game. I could not get over how green the grass was. I don’t remember saying too much, but Dad taught me how to read the scoreboard, follow scores from other games and watch specific players at each position. We even filled out an all-star ballot. Steve Garvey hit a homerun and the Braves lost, but it was a day I will always cherish. My father instilled my love for baseball inside me. He taught me the game and how to respect and love the game. His “old school” approach to how the game should be played is very evident in my own coaching and teaching. Baseball is something that will always be special between my father and I and it should be that way for all sons and fathers. Until Next Time...

Coach Skole