@d-mac posted:Summer ball is on its last legs and will be dead soon. Even the Cape is a shell of what it once was. Summer ball is for guys who didn't get any reps, are coming off injury or guys who just love the game and want to play as much as possible before the clock runs out. The top pro prospects and starters from the top teams are not playing, or they are playing a very abbreviated schedule. The good pitchers are staying home and If you aren't facing quality pitching, what is the point? Turn on a Northwoods game and watch how many sub 90 arms are throwing. Odds are you will see a few sub 85 arms as well. As word spreads on how bad the leagues were this year, I am not sure how many of these leagues will survive.
Summer leagues aren't going anywhere. The whole point of summer league is to provide reps for players. Reps mean many things for many players. Some players didn't get any innings on their college team during the season; they need to play so they'll be more ready to compete the following fall. Some players need to work their way back from injury; they need reps to get make sure they're healed and can play. Some players want to prove they can compete against players in a different NCAA tier so they can transfer; they need reps to prove they can. Some players want to be seen in front of professional scouts; they need reps in a league where professional scouts are present. And those are just some of the reasons that there will always be plenty of players willing to play.
On the flip side there are many teams and communities who don't have easy access to what they consider quality baseball. Or perhaps they just enjoy baseball and want to spend their summer evening watching the sport they love. They are even willing to pay money to watch!
As long as there are players willing to play, communities who want to watch and local businesses who want to turn a small profit or want to provide an outlet for their community, summer ball will continue to exist.
As far as those players who throw sub-85? Guess what?, They play college baseball somewhere at some level.
Heck, we may as well get rid of minor league baseball since the vast majority of those players will never make it to the Show!