Limited environment of professional baseball

Laguna Hills, CA - Being the family of a professional baseball player brings tremendous excitement the days leading up to games. If it’s a text or phone call leading up to another pitching start they are usually brief in nature and reassuring that everything is okay. There are a limited number of families that have the experiences associated with the Double-A or higher level of this great game and the Lamb family is simply one of about 2,250 that currently have the opportunity to physically and emotionally experience game day events of their son, grandson, uncle, cousin or brother. Pretty cool stuff most of the time during these unique journeys of minor league baseball, but one thing is certain, whenever a player reaches Double-A level they are in a very limited environment of professional baseball. There are only 30 Double-A, 30 Triple-A and obviously only 30 Major League Baseball clubs currently in the United States of America. We know where the show is and players throughout the world strive to get on one of these 90 rosters involved in professional baseball here in North America.

The physical demand of being a Dad of a professional baseball prospect is really nothing worth noting. Sure I currently have plenty of issues to discuss regarding my physical limitations due to my injury, disability from work on December, 2009 but I’m likely to get a tongue lashing from one of many attorneys helping me navigate the legal maze with being injured on the job by a large corporate entity in the state of California. Ridiculous is an understatement with the speed of the legal process when dealing with denial of accountability. The weather has more of an impact on my spinal disability than my son John Lamb starting in his 6^Th game of the season for his fellow Northwest Arkansas Naturals team in the Texas League. The normal anticipation of another professional start for my son can add to the usual insomnia symptoms while taking my pain relief medicine, but he only throws every 5-7 days, so it is well worth the lack of winks. Special territory for few families to experience and the Lamb’s take every one in stride with gratitude.

The emotional activity is very diverse throughout the family of John Lamb (0-2, 3.22). I spend more time with weather concerns in the Midwest than I do over his baseball starts. I express my feelings about his performances with reserve based on my continued involvement with the Florida Marlins as a scout in the Southern California area. I firmly believe that every Father of a pitcher deals with similar emotions while watching their son’s action during a game and most of it is plain anxiety. The obvious desire to grin is the joy of watching your son control the game from the mound, but the blank stare can be triggered by a tight strike zone to an error recorded following the ball being placed in play off a bat. The game of baseball can be referenced by some as a roller coaster of emotions and those same feelings are just magnified as a proud Dad of a professional baseball player. Strike outs are highs and leaving base runners on base during an exit from the game is definitely one of the low points of a game. Making every attempt to control emotions during a game can be challenging every time my son pitches, but it has gotten much easier over the years and I’m sure will continue to progress with every professional start.

The physical and emotional paths of professional baseball are very personal on many levels during a career. It is much easier to address questions about these experiences rather than provide content rich material for readers. My wife is much more intense than I within the household during John Lamb performances and today she finally gets a chance to listen to the broadcast of the Naturals game against the Tulsa Drillers, Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies at 7:00 CT from Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, AR.

A quick pinch of reality can return a smile to my face regarding the opportunity my son has had with the Kansas City Royals organization since his 5^Th round draft selection back in 2008 no matter how bad the game may evolve.

A limited number of families will experience professional baseball above the Double-A level and statistically more stories can be shared over failure during their journeys. Everyday my son continues to play the game he loves, I am literally excited knowing that he is still living out his dreams and remain happy with his progress and development.

* Little side note from the last start by John Lamb on May 4th against the Springfield Cardinals affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals organization:

Innings pitched - 6.0 (longest of the season)

Batters faced - 22

First pitch strikes - 13

Total pitches - 81

Strikes thrown - 45

Ground ball outs - 5

Fly ball outs - 9

Pick offs - 0

Stolen bases - 2

Strike outs - 3

Walks - 3

Hit by pitch - 0

Earned runs - 1

Hits - 2

Home runs - 0

Lowered ERA - 3.22

Today will offer another start of my son’s young professional baseball career and no matter how high, or low, the experiences may germinate we realize the limited number of people that get to personally attach themselves to the results of a Texas League game. The Lamb family is raring to go with the 48^Th start of the John Lamb professional baseball story. Don’t hesitate to offer comments or ask any questions you might have about our experiences associated with being a family of a professional baseball prospect.

Counting down the minutes

Laguna Hills, CA - My son John Lamb will start today for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, against the Corpus Christi Hooks, Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, at 7:05PM CT from Whataburger Field in Texas. This marks the third start of the 2011 season for my son in the Texas League. Some of those close to John, like the household, are counting down the minutes for the first pitch.

Today I will take a break from my Development Baseball instruction and scouting responsibility with the Florida Marlins to be a nervous Dad of a professional baseball prospect. Nervous only in the sense that my son is better than the early season statistics expose with the Naturals. The number of walks and hits allowed during his first two starts have some concerned with his overall health, but John insists he feels great and ready to take the ball every 5 days to try and help his team win.

Last outing had a lopsided number of walks for the 3.2 innings of work and an untypical low percentage of strikes thrown during the game. Baseball is a continuous effort of adjustments to succeed and much more evident through the professional levels. John Lamb (0-0, 4.05) is fully aware of the necessity to make adjustments during games and between starts. While his first two appearances have been less than dominating, we are eager to see what today will bring for this young professional baseball player.

Our recent subscription to MiLB was initiated over the televised game schedule and the fact that John Lamb will be on the mound for the Naturals (7-4) against the Hooks (3-8) in the coastal town of Corpus Christi, TX. Seeing him play has always been a challenge during his career and getting the opportunity to watch the game today has merely added to this Dad’s excitement for this Texas League game. Now we simply stare at the clock and continue to count down the minutes leading up to the broadcast.

Just another professional baseball start

Laguna Hills, CA - The Lamb family and friends that have a connection to John Lamb and his professional baseball career typically know when the lefty gets the ball. This is really just another professional baseball start for John while he continues to develop but the only difference is the fact that today he will have the pitch count which gives him the opportunity to pitch into the fifth inning.



The radio broadcast during his first game, last Friday, addressed the slight strain John suffered during Spring training. The strain obviously set him back a few days and limited the number of pitches for this early portion of the season. John managed to throw only 3 innings during his first outing of the year of which ended up being the first win for the Naturals in the opening series of the Double-A season. A relatively uneventful start for the 20 year-old left-handed pitcher for his 2011 season but today could bring another type of jaunt in professional baseball.



Today the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (5-1), Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, will have their first game on the road versus the San Antonio Missions, Texas League affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Game time is set for 8:05 pm ET in San Antonio, TX. With less than an hour before first pitch this dad of a professional baseball prospect will simply pace around the house in a queasy anticipation for the results.



Despite the nervous moments leading up to my son’s pitching performances we plan to turn on the radio broadcast and listen to every pitch during the sashay. John Lamb has not missed a professional baseball start since the 2009 season assignment at the Rookie level with the Burlington Royals in the Appalachian League. John will embark on his 44th start in professional baseball with his fellow teammates on the Naturals roster. Just another start for the young baseball prospect trying to live out his childhood dreams while his dad’s stomach is doing somersaults.

Time to start the 2011 baseball season

Laguna Hills, CA - The Lamb family has been patiently waiting for the next professional baseball season for sometime now. My direct attachment started as has many others by simply being a fan of the game when I was very young. My adherence has grown over the years as a player, coach, scout and now a Dad of a professional baseball prospect. The affection to the game of baseball comes from within and is merely exemplified thru the personal experiences our family has been blessed with. Today our family will get the opportunity to assume the position since it is time to start the 2011 season for John Lamb and his fellow teammates on the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.

Opening Night for the Naturals ended with the defending Texas League Champions taking their first lost of the season. The game had ceremonies to celebrate the 2010 Championship for the returning players and fans of the Springdale, AR affiliate of the Royals. The game ended as a pitching duel between the Naturals and visiting San Antonio Missions, Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The Naturals fell short by a final of 3-2 with Christopher Dwyer talking his first loss as the opening day starter.

Following the Naturals Opening Day game we received a rather unusual call from John Lamb about baseball, cars, apartment and general stuff. Not uncommon in content but duration only. It’s not every time we get more than just a few minutes based on time zones and work schedules. Professional baseball has some strange work hours, both on and off the field, for all involved in the game. Late night calls during the season are common place within the Lamb household with my continued scouting position with the Florida Marlins and coaching with the Orange County Giants. Last night’s call was satisfying while discussing baseball with my son and I’m happy to hear that he feels good and he’s ready for his first start of another season in professional baseball. He has a tremendous awareness about his abilities and typically stays within his strengths to get outs for his team.



Last night was what has been a normal occurrence for many years the night before my son’s games as a pitcher. Not the case during his amateur days of playing baseball as a position player also. Surely due in part by the frequency of games John Lamb played during his youth because he really does love the game. I firmly hold on to the hope that I’m no different than any other dad that suffers from a little anxiety when their kids play. The fact I continue to experience some additional insomnia the night before his professional baseball starts simply confirms my personal passion for the game.



My anxiety over my son’s career will continue until the day he stops playing or I stop breathing. Playing in Major League Baseball is not an easy task and staying in the big leagues is even tougher. Every game has an important role in the development of a professional baseball pitcher or position player based on the player’s preparation, work and ability to execute. Careers can end in an instant as history has shown, so there lies the basis for the added stress by this professional baseball prospect dad.



Today marks another special day for the Lamb family out on the West coast as my son takes the ball to start game 2 of the season’s first series against the San Antonio Missions in a Texas League game. The Naturals schedule indicates a 8:00PM E.T. first pitch from the beautiful Arvest Ballpark. Game can be heard on the web at ESPN 92.1 The Ticket for anyone unable to pass thru the ballpark gate. My wife Colleen, my mother Judith and a couple of Yorkshire Terriers will be listening with heartfelt attention. In reality I’m sure the dogs have no clue about the radio stuff or John playing baseball. That wasn’t the case when he was young and dressing up in his various baseball uniforms before leaving the house to play. The computer will be connected to external speakers to officially anoint the 2011 professional baseball season for John Lamb and his fellow farm-hands with the Royals organization. The Lamb’s are very close to notching up another professional baseball start by our dearest John Lamb living out his dream.

First flight of the season

Laguna Hills, CA - An earlier conversation with my son John Lamb confirmed he will be throwing for the Double A Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium against the Triple A Omaha Storm Chasers during an exhibition game for the Kansas City Royals fans. John indicated, “I feel good and I’m looking forward to it, ” which is really a good example of a typical answer for most games during my son’s pro baseball career. Game is set to begin following the regularly scheduled Royals game 3 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim season opening series. John and many other fellow teammates will be boarding their first flights of the season and for most I’m sure their first time playing in front of a Kansas City crowd that is anxious to win again and return a championship to the city.

There has been a large media buzz about the Royals prospects and their farm system throughout the baseball community. I have seen local, regional, national and even worldly reports about the players within the Royals development system and it brings me tremendous satisfaction over the acknowledgement. However, I’m confident most, if not all, of these talented young men realize the true value of these articles, lists and opinions soaring about the world of communication. I know of one for sure that will not be satisfied by the words of the media until he is in the show helping his team win another championship ring. Saturday’s minor league assignment and game in front of the watchful eyes of an eager crowd will be exciting for players, coaches, staff, families and fans alike.



Plans to break down my son’s performance through heavy evaluation and opinion are not for this media platform, but for those of you that may have never seen my son in person throw a ballgame I would like to make a few suggestions. He works at a smooth but fast pace, so hit the concessions and bathrooms early unless your fully satisfied with the left-center field view of pitching on the monitors throughout the stadium. John’s typical strike throwing performances seen in the past can quickly expedite an already quick pace of work for the 20 year-old from the South Orange County area of Laguna Hills, CA. John said he was up first for the Naturals but offered no indication to his restricted pitch count numbers this early in a full-season schedule. John is merely one of many other prospects within the Royals system on display Saturday.



Enduring any form of long travel right now is an ongoing challenge and will need to be delayed until a little later on during this second full-season of my son‘s career. Hope to catch a glimpse of the game and John pitching on the television but not holding my breathe of finding a feed. I plan to simply listen to the radio broadcast just like I did when I was a little boy sitting in my Grandmas’ kitchen and grin during the game. While John Lamb takes another first step in his professional baseball career playing in front of the Royals fans, I may have a slightly bigger grin than when I was 6.



The Lamb family extends well wishes to all professional baseball players, coaches, staff, families and friends during the grind of another season trying to live out a dream.

Time for ring

Laguna Hills, CA - The 2011 Spring training work for the Kansas City Royals took pause today to acknowledge their Double-A affiliate Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The Naturals captured the Texas League Championship last year by defeating the Midland Rockhounds, affiliate of the Oakland A’s organization, in the best of a five game series. Players and staff will celebrate during a ceremony at the Surprise complex this morning to collect their hardware for a successful professional baseball season. This special time for ring presentation should serve as proof to the Royals fan that winning ways are brewing though the farm system.

Photo credit - Dina Wathan Blevins

John Lamb continues his third Spring training assignment in the Cactus League, while having just recently been sent to the minor league portion of camp. Although we have had limited communication, I’m confident he is filled with excitement to collect another ring for his contributions on the baseball field. I share the joy from the West coast, during this celebration, as these young men take pause and continue to prepare for the next step in their professional baseball careers.



Unfortunately, my scouting schedule and ongoing health issues prevent me from being in the desert today to see my son and his fellow Naturals teammates receive their well deserved hardware. I’ll simply wait for the next ring ceremony with confidence that additional rings are in the future for the Kansas City Royals organization much sooner than most have predicted. Maybe it is parental optimism but only time will tell.

Lamb and Naturals nearly get no-hitter

Springfield, MO - Last night the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, John Lamb and Rowdy Hardy took a combined no-hit bid into the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and a 3-2 count on Andrew Brown. The pitch was deposited over the home run fence by Brown to spoil what would have been the first no-hitter in Naturals history. That record is safe for another game now.

John Lamb (1-1, 5.79, 9-7, 2.22) did exceptionally well last night over his six and one-third innings of work. Not uncommon for young pitchers to come out of the game whenever they reach their pitch count, no matter what is currently happening. Lamb handed the ball over the Rowdy Hardy without having allowed a single hit, striking out five and walking three during his 86 pitch performance. Hardy took the special evening into the 9th before his focus shifted into maintaining the 6-1 win.

Photo credit - Tony Piazza

Lamb picked up his first win since being called up to the Double-A level Naturals. His first four starts in the Texas League were far form the same type of result, but he insisted through phone calls home that he was making the necessary adjustments to improve his starts. That became very clear on Thursday night against the Springfield Cardinals, Texas League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Clint Robinson may have been overshadowed slightly by the no-hit bid, but surely shouldn't have based on his franchise record performance at the plate. Robinson provided nearly all the run support for the Naturals by driving in 5 runs off of his two home-runs and a triple. Robinson now holds the record for the Naturals single season mark of 27 homers with a few more games left to the regular season schedule.

The exhale from the Lamb family is the result of holding our breath during the past few starts in the Double-A level for my son. He's young but adamant that he knows he can compete at this level and last night he clearly proved to a few skeptics he belongs in the Texas League at this early stage of his professional baseball career. Thanks again to the Kansas City Royals for the continued support and opportunity they have provided my son, John Lamb.

Three days home from Arkansas trip to see Lamb

Orange, CO - With three days having gone by since our return home from seeing my son, John Lamb, in Springdale, AR it is time to add some content to the site. Our trip was somewhat spontaneous in the sense that we needed to work around my scouting responsibilities and John's anticipated starts to make the journey worth while.

Photo credit - Colleen Lamb

We simply hoped for the best to see John get his first Texas League win with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals game against the Frisco RoughRiders, Texas Rangers affiliate. Our two games worth of experiences at the beautiful Arvest Ballpark, were more than accommodating thanks to the Naturals staff and facility. We were very happy to arrive the day before his set start and spend a little time with John and his girl-friend, Paige.

Game went relatively well for four of the five innings of work, but not enough for the Naturals, Kansas City Royals affiliate, to secure the win. Issues not really worth mentioning, based on my professional baseball opinion, continue to impact his current statistics at the Double-A level of his young baseball career. I have complete confidence that John will make the necessary adjustments for improvement and look forward and not dwell on the past results and challenges during his third move in the season.

We were eager to hear tonight's game of the Naturals last road trip for the regular season based on the anticipated start of Lamb, but last night John fell victim to some food poisoning during the game at Arvest Ballpark. The team's doctor confirmed the diagnosis and Lamb was promptly removed from tonight's start on the road versus the Springfield Cardinals, Texas League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Photo credit - Colleen Lamb

John Lamb should still get another start in the Springfield series, but for now the West coast side of his family and friends will patiently have to wait for some confirmation of his next Texas League appearance.

Naturals loss sweep on short start by Lamb

Frisco, TX - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals plated six runs with the first seven players to start the game before recording the first out Friday night against the Frisco RoughRiders. A shocking way for John Lamb to take the ball wearing his shortened sleeves to start the game attempting to stay cool during the Texas evening heat. Lamb promptly walked the lead off hitter on four consecutive balls out of the zone. Yet another first of his career but I'm sure will not be the last of his career.




The text message earlier on Friday indicated John’s upbeat attitude about the game and honestly came at a shock to us out here on the West coast. More than likely it was the surprise he had received from the Naturals staff about the opportunity to wear shorter sleeves and expose his arms filled with tattoos at an attempt to stay cool.
 
 

 

 
 
 
The night for the Naturals continued to shock the 10,207 Frisco fans at Dr. Pepper Ballpark with the less than average performance during the third Double-A start for John Lamb. The Naturals could not collect another run throughout the game and Lamb was tagged with his shortest professional appearance of his young career. Lamb faced four batters in the 3rd inning without recording an out. Rowdy Hardy inherited 3 runners whom all scored tying the game at 6-6.




Lamb finished his shortest evening ever in professional baseball with 2 plus innings. He faced a total of 15 batters, threw 56 pitches, 29 strikes, 3 ground-ball outs, 2 fly outs, allowed 7 hits, 6 runs (6 earned runs), 3 walks and 1 strike-out before handing the ball to the Naturals bull-pen.



Rowdy Hardy did a great job for 5.0 innings after allowing the 3 inherited runs to cross in the 3rd. The recently returned Naturals pitcher, Barry Bowden, took the loss following the 8th inning earned run by the RoughRiders who went on to win 7-6. The Naturals did however win the series as they head out of town to Midland, TX to take on the Rockhounds, Texas League affiliate of the Oakland A’s, Saturday evening.

Photo credit - Keith Lovett

 
 
The following paragraphs are going to be extremely difficult to write because it will be filled with some gut instincts about the three Double-A appearances from my son.





The first batter he faced in this recent promotion to the Texas League he struck out, yet he hasn’t had more than a handful since. The first three innings, in that same debut, Lamb didn’t allow a run and than the wheel seemed to be reinvented. Why?




I have heard enough accounts of his performances from scouts and professional baseball minds to know something is wrong. The last time I checked a box score, the pitcher’s name is listed for the win, or loss, and there lies the basis for the active opinion with how to get outs for his team.




I am convinced that the recent results are not due to any changes in his mechanics, but rather the approach at attacking professional minor league hitters. Some guys can get outs by working off of a fast-ball, while others work backwards, as some might say. Both ways get outs and that is the ultimate goal for a pitcher. Right?





If you can’t tell I am losing my mind over the recent results of John Lamb, than you aren’t very perceptive. The sad thing is I know exactly what is happening and there is nothing I can do about the ongoing problem in the Texas League. All I can do is watch an unbelievable second professional minor league season turn to _ _ _ _ over changes in a pitching approach.





I believe with all my heart the Kansas City Royals management and John Lamb will determine the problems…I can only hope sooner, rather than later.