At the VBL all star game last Sunday, my league vice president title (which means I pray daily for the health of the league president) got me the job of being host to the five inductees into the VBL Hall of Fame-former players, former pros, and officials now retired , and in hanging with the VIP's I heard 3 hours of wonderful baseball stories. There were 30-40 scouts present and it was enlightening to talk with them about what I can pass on to our players. We provide our players 2 month 24/7 health club memberships and every morning (well, late morning), the coaches are at the field for "early work"-BP, ground balls, fly balls, bullpens, whatever a player needs. Some guys really take advantage of the opportunities and work their rears off. Others don't. We have some players that might have lifted weights once or twice all summer, and some that sleep through early work every day. Those guys are wasting their time if their goal is pro ball. To the players out there, it takes work, lots and lots of hard work. And it's not occasional hard work, it's committing to a lifestyle of dedication to becoming the best athlete and ballplayer that you can be. Nothing less will get you there. We have a speedy outfielder that is the epitome of effort-he sprints everything. Everything. He had an infield hit in the all star game but what 2 scouts told me impressed them more was his come-backer to the pitcher that he absolutely sprinted out and came within an eyelash of beating the pitcher's throw, on a ball that many players would jog out at best. Our guy attracted attention not just because he has speed, but more importantly he works hard every minute, and would have never even considered not going all out on a simple come-backer. Effort is free-everyone can give max effort, if they have the desire. And scouts do notice effort. One told me that there are so many talented kids, they don't need to waste time on those that aren't max effort because they have lots of prospects that are. Dog a ground ball and a line gets drawn through your name. Really. And scouts do ask about work habits. Bottom line: if a player is going to spend two months playing summer ball, don't just go to play-go with the goal of getting better and better and better. Lift, run, stretch, throw, take all the BP you can, pitchers have a myriad of drills they can do that don't tax their arms, take the extra ground balls-work so hard that you make the coaches tell you to back off so you don't wear down (we've done that a few times). It's all about opportunity and effort. Summer ball is a great opportunity, but the effort is up to the players, and only max effort AND opportunity will get these guys where they want to go.
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