Sunday, January 5, 2014

Parenting advice 101: teach them to throw left handed

I have made a few mistakes as a parent and still have time to make many more, but I already know what my biggest one is: not forcing my sons to throw left handed. 
A left handed pitcher can earn a seven figure salary well into his forties. What other skill promises that type of economic return? We send our children to school with promises of a better future with an education. We gear up to spend hundreds of thousands on college and graduate educations, but it all could be taken care with more time in the yard developing the ability to throw strikes from the left side.
And you don't even have to throw that hard. Sure, it's fun to see Aroldis Chapman hit 105 mph. on the radar gun. I love watching Clayton Kershaw throw a curve ball that looks like it will cross the plate at eye level and ends up being a called strike at the knees.  Yet, Jamie Moyer was able to pitch until he was 49 years old with a fastball that might have been respectable at my son's Little League field.
Even if you can't make it as a starting pitcher, MLB will have jobs for lefthanders requiring them to only face one batter. The Dodgers just signed J.P. Howell, an effective but somewhat nondescript left handed reliever, to a two year $11 million contract.  Jesse Orosco was a one out specialist until he was 47.
Do you still think baseball is not in love with lefthanders? Take the case of Mark Mulder. 
Mulder is a relatively young 36 years old. He just signed a one year contract with the Los Angeles Angels (I still have trouble calling them that).  When I first read the story, I remembered Mulder had some pretty good years with the Oakland A's and the St. Louis Cardinals.  I also had not heard his name in a bit.
Why? He has not pitched in the major leagues since 2008!  He has not won a game since 2006.  For the last several years he has been working as a TV analyst.  He apparently decided this winter that he still wanted to play and auditioned for two or three teams. Presumably when those teams realized he was throwing the ball with his left arm, offers materialized.  He could make up to $6 million this season.
Little League seasons are starting up all over the country. Moms and Dads will head to the backyard or the local park to play catch and get their kids ready. For me, my sons seem stuck throwing right handed. However, for many parents it is not too late: put the ball in their left hand and fabulous riches will come your way.

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