imagine her shock when her little prince doesn't get a major league contract right out of HS.... or if he doesn't get a full ride to a top division college. 

He'll need a case of kleenex from costco for that. 

I learned from the years I spent watching my son play baseball:

Some kids just aren't coach able. If they can't take what the coach is telling them do and apply it on the field there's going to be a lot money spent for something that is basically a waste of time.

And probably more to the point - when a kid goes up to bat, knowing the coach is going to bench him if he strikes out, that's an incredible amount of pressure to have to suppress. Batting requires the ability to make split second reactions and you can't do that if your head is full of tension.

Sometimes younger baseball players, like in the 11-13 age range, look really good and the expectation is they will continue on this trajectory. But the truth is a lot of players just don't. They already peaked back when the field was smaller and they just can't keep up. I wonder if this is going on with your stepson.

I actually feel kinda sorry for the kid. It sounds like the parents can't give up on a dream of past glory and that expectation is driving all the special coaching. His desire to please them when he can't - or even if he could - has got to feel like a lot of pressure. 

I’m shocked they are allowing him on the team, usually travel ball only takes the best of the best and at that age range they are looking for the kids with natural talent and who are above average.  Where I live travel sports are super competitive and you have to try out, they don’t care if you have the money, they won’t chose your kid if they are mediocre. 

BM and Dad are shocked that what they agreed to is actually happening! So now we know why SS never expects consequences.

New batting coach. No way this should be an addition. One off team batting coach is more than enough. I hope it's on BM's time.

Is there the possibility of making it to a college on a pitching scholarship? (ie/no batting...)

Anyhow these bio parents seem to be putting a lot of pressure (and money and time) into this kid for all of this baseball stuff. It seems like too much in my opinion although they all don't seem to mind. I would be annoyed by it all but mostly by the entitled way he is treated and the child's attitude he's developed from the coddling. When kids are raised that way unfortunately that creates an entitled child. It's ok to not be the best at a sport. They are pushing the batting thing too far. 

Really good teams to begin new teams what are not good.  Teams whant to play other teams in there clarifications..  a really good team gets nothing out of destroying a bad team. Nothing is learn. They don't get better.  SS unfortunately must understand he's not good,  the team feels bad for him, coach is human most likely has kids.  So they are letting SS pitch.  Also traveling teams need x number of player to make the financial of the team work. 

not having skids in sports when I came along, I cant imagine how frustrating this can be. Well I can try.

I remember Husband saying Feral Forger SD25 was going to go far in life because she had a specialness...ahem.

BM and DH (to a lesser extent) had great expectations for their kids and paid out loads of money, effort and time supporting them.  Even though the skids put in minimal effort into anything and normally quit if things got tough or a coach/teacher criticized them, the kids continued to think they were very superior at everything.  This attitude was supported by the bio-parents under the guise of being supportive in spite of the obvious lack of ability. So where are they today....SD34 (future star of the stage and screen according to BM) is a single parent, hasn't worked in 5 years, living in a condo owned by us and living on money from the government and BM.  SS30 (man of science according to DH), Hasn't held a job in 6 years, bailed out of university and technical school, living in BM basement and finally SD29 (sweet girl) spent the last 10 years as a full time student getting her first degree and is heading off to start her next degree.  Lives on her own, Works a part time job, spends her money on vacations, still supported financially by BM.

I've been with DH for 24 years and witnessed this behavior from the bio-parents and the stepkids over decades.  All I can say, is there seems to be a huge disconnect between behaviors and subsequent results by all those involved and there is little that a stepparent can say or do to affect any change to those attitudes.

"There is no crying in baseball!!!"

The unintended consequences of this broad familially overwhelming coddle fest with this shit bucket of an entitled pawn will be life long for anyone within the splatter zone of the colonic emissions this kid spreads.

This kid is 16yo FF sake.  "Mommmyyyyyyy! The mean coach won't let me bat."  Of course leaving out the "Because I SUCK!" This is not participation trophy baseball. This is a competitive travel league for kids with actual tallent and commitment.  This kid has neither in enough concentration to even be on the team.

And here comes daddy to facilitate the shit storm.

Use the travel games as party time.  Hotel.. drinks... fun...drinks... then drinks and a ballgame.   It's about there good time. 

Unfortunately.. they would be asking the same question on a parent group.. why can't YOU understand their POV.

And.. I'm not saying that the right thing to do is coddle a kid necessarily but as parents.. I think they are trying to do what they think the right thing is.

For them.. they probably see his participation in sports as a positive thing for him.  They want him to be happy.  They want him to be involved.  They want him to have an interest in something.  Perhaps they also think that participation in sports will keep him out of the kind of trouble they feel could harm him.. drugs.. pregnancy etc?  It also may be somewhat of a "brag" thing for both of them.. and he doesn't have to BE the best to do that.  And.. teams have different levels of players... so again.. being best or good at every skill doesn't have to be the be all end all result.  Their son may have some delusions of grandeur.. my YSD also did about her cheer.. she was "ok".. and was on HS and a comp team.. but they weren't very good.. neither team.. small school.. small county.. not competitive.. but she took pride in participating.. and perhaps it taught her somethings about teamwork..   They are trying to help him be the best he can be.. the fact that he isn't able to apply everything he learns.. well.. it's complicated.  As a competitive rider.. I can tell you that your coach can tell you over and over how to do something... but when you get in the ring.. it can all fall apart.. very easily.. and it can be a hair difference between the actual instructions and what you do and the result can be very different.. and the stress and pressure of performing.. it is hard.. and not everyone handles this well.. but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be given a chance to try.

I don't agree with parents bankrupting themselves for their kids activities.. but that is a bit of a difference in whether a kid should be allowed to participate if they aren't Alist competent. 

I think the bottom line is that you think he shouldn't be on this team.  Unfortunately.. the team disagrees.. because he is on it.  His parents disagree because they are willling to pay for it.. and the Boy is doing it because he wants to and is being supported by his parents. 

At this point, the ONLY thing you can really do is ensure that the financially this is not impacting YOUR money.. that your household financial goals are not being compromised.  you don't have to attend the games.. you can have your opinion on his relative lack of talent and motivation.. but you know that keeping it to yourself is best.

This is something you need to disengage from.  In the end.. what the heck does it matter whether he gets to play ball or not?  How is this impacting you.. if it is negatively impacting you in some way.. approach THAT.. if it's just annoying.. either ignore.. or get out of the relationship so you don't have a front row seat.

I mean.. you see that life is a teacher... the kid is getting some lessons that your parents can't fix everything for you.. good he is learning them at 16 not 60.

So, is this kid even on his HS team?  HS sports may be the impetus for him learning that his shit does stink and that he will not be tolerated. If mommy and daddy cannot pay to get him playing time, the lessons may be just the right ones.  HS coaches are paid to coach and for results. Club teams are far more often than not coached by volunteers.

Is he poised for the tuff lessons of actual accountability for his performance via professional coaching and actual dedicated team mates?

Also SS has lost his core group of friends because they don't want to be around him any longer.

This kid has earned what he is experiencing.  Hopefully he is capable of learning from his mistakes and capable of not repeating this consequence by repeating the idiocy. Though the odds of that are not strong.

IMHO, he needs to start hearing the message that he is the cause and there will be no tolerance for tears and anyone tolerating his  crying over the hurt fee fees that he is the cause of. Man up butter cup!

How are DH's retirement accounts?  Is he and both of you planning for retirement?  Is the lack of a pleasant future retirement a part of your frustration with this issue?  It would be with me if that's the case.