I'll go on record saying I have and always will love American Legion baseball. Purest form of amateur baseball around. Requires excellent coaching and team play to be successful.
I have noticed over the past few years a movement toward "showcase" or "tournament only" teams. This is somewhat discouraging to an "old schooler" like me. While it makes sense in the Baltimore/Washington Metro area (traffic congestion, work schedules, etc...), it is still disheartening to see teams playing fewer nights and consuming entire weekends away from home.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it provides some great experiences...but what about the training regimen that is so part of teaching/learning baseball? Repetition, night in and night out...that was the way I could measure a player's development throughout the season. Are these "showcase" or "tournament only" teams practicing during the week? Are pitchers throwing bullpens and running polls, or is that left up for them to do on their own?
Remember, this is not a criticism...simply a message from a discouraged former coach.
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