'07 Jupiter Wood Bat Tourney

Playball2-

Thanks for the comments. I think my oldest got noticed and was put on the radar because of the State tournament but I did not see many people coming to watch him play summer ball. We got more phone calls from his performance in East Cobb than any other showcase and it probably has to do with playing against better competition there than high school summer ball. I do not mean anything bad by that either - these guys go where they can see the most people at one time. I make those comments based on what happened on our home phone but you are right to the extent that it probably takes more than 1 event. As for the game against you last spring - I missed it. He is trying to teach son #2 that same pitch too.

Grandstand - no offense taken here at all. I just think it is a great format and you can probably get the drift from many of the parents who have gone, that it was really a great experience. Our coaches really understand how it fits into the recruiting mix. I have two sons and they both played for Cangelosi - this year and last. If I remember, last year we lost to one of those Perfect Game teams and we had a really good team too. You know, when you bring all these kids from all over the place to play together it is not the greatest "team" situation when the kids don't know each other. That might be a small part of why their records are weaker. As for what our team pays as an entry fee, I have absolutely no idea. I kind of look at the big picture when I pay these team fees - I know where my kid is, what he is doing and who is watching him & they are all positive!!!

yes, I would agree that the mixing of kids from all over makes for an interesting situation at times. But I think a large percentage of the teams represented at Jupiter dealt with that very situation. Difference is (in my opinion), any player can have a bad or off day and if that is the case he is not going to be left in the game for X number of innings--he will be replaced pretty quickly, at least for that game, by someone who can deliver. Take a pitcher, for example, being whaled on by the batters. In that type of fierce competion (Jupiter) are you going to leave him in for a full 4 innings when 10 runs have been given up in the first 2(just a scenario)? Don't you feel that would affect the whole teams morale? How many scouts do you think stand around and watch that level of competition, or are they more likely to move on to where the real action is happening? I don't think some of the parents understand that when they go in as a PG player. I'd be curious to hear how they feel.

oh, and I guess where my point is coming from as far as the money. I believe the regular team entry fee for Jupiter is $1,500 (I think a little less). The team entry fee for a PG Team, at say average 20 players(based on PG's list)would come out to $11,000. Now, all other things being equal; great baseball, great players, opportunity to be noticed which is what PG seems to promote--It doesn't seem equitable. Now if PG team players/parents know that going in they are not going to be playing on a "competitive" team, and they want to take the chance hoping that they will get noticed, of course that is totally their choice. My question is...how many of the PG team players understand this going in? I don't think it is presented very wellby PG.
BTW, I also don't mind paying the expenses incurred such as airfare, lodging, and everything else to see quality baseball. But if all I'm going to do is watch it and not play it, I don't really want to pay the exhorbitant entry fee. Best to all

quote:

Go ahead, fire away...bullet proof armour is strapped on.

Grandstand,

I can smell an agenda from a long ways away!

I’m glad you have that bullet proof armour on. But then, what do you have to lose? No one knows who you are and I’m betting you don’t have the fortitude to allow everyone that knowledge.

Truth is… You have no idea what you’re talking about here! Look at the list of players on those PG teams from this year and past years and see what happens and has happened to many of those players! We have had individual teams offer much more to get in this tournament, but they still can’t get in.

Listen… I have no problem with people throwing rocks, but have the guts to stand up and tell people who it is that is spouting off. Otherwise you are just another person with an agenda and you’re too frightened to get out from behind your computer. Only a competitor would have an interest in saying what you’ve said here. “Agenda”

Let’s see…

Looking at the profile you filled out.

You are a NEW MEMBER
Your location is the DEEPs SOUTH
Your occupation is KAJLKJLJJ
Your interests are ANYTHING
Biography: LITTLE OF THIS
And you found this site by SURFING

Can I add… You’re full of it and a coward?

Every post you have made is about only this one topic! So it’s reasonable to assume you have a definite purpose here. An AGENDA!!!!

Everyone knows who I am… Now why not STAND UP and be counted if you have any guts what-so-ever. And then get your facts straight! While you’re at it, investigate how much some of the players pay to the teams playing in Jupiter. We once had a team charging players $2,000 each to play in Jupiter. They haven’t been invited back since.

BTW, it cost over $20,000 just to dry those fields last week, but you wouldn't care about that. Also, all but three of those PG teams were a combination of other teams. And only one of those teams included any players from Iowa. Those teams won 8 games and tied 4 games against the best competition in the country. That is without ever playing together before. That can't happen with no talent!

quote:

I am have trouble reconciling:
quote:
Think about it this way. The WWBA in Jupiter features the best players in the country. I will say it again, THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE COUNTRY.


with:
The pg teams in Iowa are just assembled teams to help fill that tournament

tralpaz,

Once again... There were only a few players in the entire tournament from the state of Iowa. Look at the rosters!

You know there has to be a good reason why more scouts and college coaches attend this tournament than any other event in the country. Every year!!!

I am not sure of everyone's point here, but I will speak about my son's experience at last weeekend's Jupiter tournament. And, he played on a PG team. They went 2-2, including the consolation game. He knew nobody on his team before the first game, and this 'put together' team nearly beat the highly touted Ohio Warhawks, before losing 3-2 on a terrific 3 run home run.

It was a great weekend and my son did not want it to end. Maybe one of the best baseball weekends he's had. As for the exposure to colleges....they certainly were there...even at the PG team games. Whether it will help my son...we will see. But, I DO know this - he loved it and I think we both felt we got our money's worth. Even on a PG team!

N4C2Dad, Maybe I miss understood you, I don't believe that you had clarified that you were speaking about summer league, if you did than I apologize.

PGStaff you are not obligated to expose your financial records. There is money to be made in this business and it safe to say that you are making it. Overwhemingly the responses on this blog have been favorable toward the jupiter showcase. Some of my former players still speak exclusively about their fall world series experiences in the late 90's and early 2000. The showcase has become far more exclusive than it once was and you have every right select those teams/players that may reap the benefits of your event.

Playball2,

I'm in agreement that Kyle had a great State tourny and it most indeed contributed to where he ended. But , when he faced the team that won Jupiter who was loaded with high round talent last yr, he not only showed (Scott) Marlins former midwest guy,he showed his boss, and his bosses boss ,the fact that he was dealing that day didnt hurt either.

Getting back to the original post, IMO, its still the absolute best thing going..Hands down..No matter how, no matter why, I am grateful to have gone and look forward to going again.

Blazer, thanks for a great Fall. Look forward to it next year too.

Pg staff, thanks for a great tournament.

Not a love fest boys, just the truth.

PG
You are certainly correct, I do have an agenda, just not the one you think. You told me to get my facts straight. Exactly wich "fact" did I post that was incorrect? I don't think there was one. Other than a few items, the majority of my post involved some opinion, scenarios, and posed questions. I believe any "facts" (ie $) I posted were correct.
Everyone who has said so is absolutely correct--this is your organization, your tournament, and making money is the "American Way", you have no need to disclose or explain your financial doings here. I agree 100%. So if everyone knows the cost involved and the scenario, going in, what is the problem? Why is it so hush, hush and off limits? The cost of entering just about any other showcase and tournament and what people think of them and if it is worth it is discussed freely here on other forums, without backlash. Why is it any different regarding PG?
Perfect Game has become a very powerful entity in the world of baseball. Absolutely no denying that. I think that may have something to do with the above. No one wants to butcher the Sacred Cow. I have to wonder if there are a few out there who agree, even in part, with what I've said or asked, and do not say anything for that exact reason.

For those PG players who felt that they got their money's worth--excellent--that is truly all that matters!
Yes, I am anonomous, as are 3/4 of the posters on this board. Call me gutless and a coward, that is okay--as I said my armour is bulletproof. Fact is, I felt I needed to be anonomous to say what I needed to say. Go figure. I'll post no more on this subject. Peace and best wishes to all.

Baseball guy-

Great to hear your son enjoyed the experience. Because most of are associated with a pre-set team, how do you get your son on one of the PG teams? What was the process? It might help people who would like to go but might not have the chance with a team. Please don't mention the money(not the intent of this post)because it will open up the nay sayers.

quote:

BY Grandstand... Now if PG team players/parents know that going in they are not going to be playing on a "competitive" team, and they want to take the chance hoping that they will get noticed, of course that is totally their choice. My question is...how many of the PG team players understand this going in? I don't think it is presented very wellby PG.

I think it's presented very accurately. It's all about individual players not about winning the championship. That is why the scouts and college coaches attend. The PG teams are playing to win, but we are more interested in all the players getting their chance to be seen. That is more important than winning the game, yet they still compete against most anyone. Obviously the teams that play together and will set players in order to win have a huge advantage in winning games. There's nothing wrong with that either. (There was one of each type in the Championship game)

While there were a few lop sided games (not many) involving PG teams and the overall record wasn’t great… Here is an example of how those teams competed at this level. Also there were games where PG teams were tied or one run behind late into the game before losing by 3 runs or more.

When it’s all said and done, people will see just how much talent there was on these PG teams.

Atlanta Blue Jays 3 PG Maroon 3
PG Crimson 7 Austin Baseball Club 3
PG Purple 1 Knoxville Yard 0
Mid Atlantic All Stars 1 PG Black 0
Team Adidas 3 PG Orange 3
Dallas Panthers 3 PG White 3
PG Black 6 Dallas Tigers 5
NJ Twins 2 PG Gold 0
FL Bombers 2 PG Kelly Green 1
Orioles Scout Team 3 PG White 1
International Select 5 PG Maroon 4
On Deck O’s 1 PG Navy 0
San Gabriel Valley 2 PG White 1
Indiana Yankees 5 PG Dark Green 3
PG Gold 3 South Troy 1
PG Orange 10 Alabama Stars 2
PG Teal 1 East Cobb Shamrocks 0
South FL Bandits 1 PG Gold 0
St Louis Cardinals Scout Team 5 PG Steel 5
Richmond Braves 2 PG Crimson 0
PG Red 4 Team Louisiana 0
Ohio Warhawks 3 PG Purple 2
PG Dark Green 3 Houston Heat 1

You will notice several of the top teams in the tournament above and others who are traditional strong teams. How could anyone say that the PG teams don’t compete. In fact, an argument could be made that they might have as much if not more individual talent than most teams in the tournament because they’ve never played together before this tournament. Yet for the most part they played equal to many of the top teams. While everyone cares about their team winning games… The reason 600-700 scouts and colleges show up is to see INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS.

tralpaz,

Once again... There were only a few players in the entire tournament from the state of Iowa. Look at the rosters!

You know there has to be a good reason why more scouts and college coaches attend this tournament than any other event in the country. Every year!!!

I am not referring to the number of Iowa kids, frankly i dont care if they come from Mars. The original point of this was in relation to Il kids and can an ad hoc team from play the qualifers and enter as an IL team? Plain and simple, i did not mean to infer that McHenry "disguised" itself. The question why did they not get to enter as McHenry, i am pretty sure they could have mustered enough quality Il players to be competitve. Also for the rest of the class-myself included- please tell me who you are as you referred about cowards on this post.

Thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by Grandstand:
Fact is, I felt I needed to be anonomous to say what I needed to say.

There are plenty of scenarios in life where I believe I have a valid and worthy opinion. The only way I can voice some of them without incurring some form of retribution is anonomously. IMHO, if I cannot stand up and voice it with full disclosure, my opinion must not be that important, therefore it remains unsaid. There is nothing noble in hiding, and equating it with cowardice would seem an accurate characterization.

I noticed a lot of the top teams had players from all over. Were the players recruited by these teams or did the players solicit these teams during the summer to get on their rosters?
What I hear some people saying, which I think is true, is that if the team you play for is not going to Jupiter for whatever reason, that it would be better to be on a top invited team than a PG team. Agree?

quote:

Originally posted by igball:
What I hear some people saying, which I think is true, is that if the team you play for is not going to Jupiter for whatever reason, that it would be better to be on a top invited team than a PG team. Agree?

Ig,
I would concur wholeheartedly with that statement. I would even go so far as to say, "any" invited team, would be better. That's not to say the PG assembled teams have no value, but having been there and seen with my own two eyes, it would seem to me that the PG teams do not draw the attention of recruiters and scouts to the same level that other teams do.

With that said, the way to handle it for a potential recruit would be to try and get on a qualifed team first. If that were to fail, then go as a PG assembled team member and contact all the schools you were interested in and give them full details of where and when you play to get them out to see you.

I don't have the depth of experience that many of our HSBBW members have with these events, but in my mind, Jupiter is the single best event a potential recruit could attend to be noticed and scouted, light years ahead of anything else I have personally seen.

Duece, I would have love to seen that game and if you are the one who showed him the slider kudos to you, but you owe me one in the W column.

Playball-

2006 Reds Scout team that we faced in Jupiter last year.

16 players drafted

Every 2007 grad on the team was drafted

4 of them drafted in the 1st/1 supplemental round
1 was drafted in the 2nd round
2 of them were drafted in the 3rd round
1 was drafted in the 4th round

You will NEVER face a team like that around here. NEVER. That is why/where you get noticed.

Coach,

wherever he learned his stuff, and I'm thinking it was from many people, before he's done there's going to be a lot of people missing a W on his start day.
And the special thing about him is he was smart enough to feel what was right and not right for him. And then he would just work his butt off until he got it. That, ultimatly will be why he has a chance.

That's an amazing line-up. Pretty sure you wouldn't find that anywhere besides jupiter.

Jerry,

What the heck are you doing "apologizing" to this mope by responding to him/her.

You and PG and the PG family are the BEST in the world!!!

Hugs and kisses,

jp

John,

Do you consider that an apology?

Thanks for the kind words. Always means a lot coming from you.

Hugs and kisses??????????? LOL
That's a good one!
Maybe we could just hold hands.

quote:

2006 Reds Scout team that we faced in Jupiter last year.

16 players drafted

Every 2007 grad on the team was drafted

4 of them drafted in the 1st/1 supplemental round
1 was drafted in the 2nd round
2 of them were drafted in the 3rd round
1 was drafted in the 4th round

You will NEVER face a team like that around here. NEVER. That is why/where you get noticed.

Pretty stout ain't it nc42dad.

And, hard to understand unless you've BeentherIL, right?

I've been looking for a kid that wants to go just so I can go back.

Former Observer-

I knew they were good but I was shocked when I looked it up. The 48th rounder who pitched against us was popping 94 so it could argued that he was not interested in signing or he would have went higher in the draft too. Unreal talent.

Next summer I will check & see how many of the 08's got drafted from that team as well. Hopefully my youngest will get asked back again next year because it is such a great event to see. That will be my last hurrah.

The Texas Scout team we played was supposedly stacked this year. Will check that one out next June too. It is simply a lot of fun following these young kids. I prefer it to listening to A-Rod and Boras & how much money they deserve. Give me a break!

Botton Line:

When you do the right thing and do it well there will always be naysayers--- it happens all the time--
I do find it interesting that all of a sudden a poster comes on and gets into this thread with all his initial posts

Jerry--you and your people just keep doing what you are doing--- no other event gets kids seen like Jupiter