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Fastball, Say hello to Da Bad Guy....You need people like me to point your fingers at..but you know what.... I tell the truth even when I lie (TM)
I feel I owe the parents that view this site my honest feelings after being called to the mat by fastball.
 
The truth is good and bad...Bill and the Sparorioles - Bill is a great guy goes to bat for the kids, Bill is highly respected, not by everyone, but he is by all accounts a good guy.  The problem is, his program never took off always in the shadow of big brother Top Tier.  Top Tier is better known and they always beat up on the Orioles.  Bill made an interesting choice folding up the Orioles name, that decision has some of us baffled.  The Sparks are a well know and respected travel club.. Dave Payton is one of the good guys, doesn't seek the limelight and just teaches the game..He is one of the guys everybody likes.  Back to Bill, the question that pops up is why isn't this guy coaching a major HS contender or better yet a big D1 school, this guy would fit in...Now we have his good friend Mike Palmer jumping at a coaching position out of state, rapidly rising the baseball corporate ladder.  What's Bill doing now that HS started?... hitting fungo fly's to ten year old Sparks Travelers?  We hear he doesn't take a dime to do this...why not? That is also very suspect look at what they charge and do the math, if you can't do the math one of the sharper knives in the drawer could do it, like yours truly or CPLZ  just ask.  .. Bill, not sure where you hang your hat in the real world, but why not get paid for that expertise.    Top Tier..Great program that has seen better days, not talked about with such glowing praise...They have three teams at each age..???After the (A) team is selected no one cares about the other teams that's the truth  Question, why do the area's top players end up at East Cobb (Bowden) for the biggest and best tournaments..oh TT and Bill will jump up and down on that comment, but if you look closely the very top players may grace their presence for a tune up with one of these teams, then you will see a beaming coach gladly slip a jersey on the kid and send him out there, what comes next...yeah the kid, his college & draft selection show up on the Team Web Site!! Even TT that has a pretty solid name can't compete with the East Cobb's, they think they can, truth is they can't, why, because you don't see kids (top national talent) flying in from out of state to play for them  The top area talent will flee to the big name teams at the important events.....Seminoles...No coaching, The guy running it is not a coach, but he did build a nice program, not too long ago everybody wanted their kid on the Seminoles, other teams have raided his talent Diamondbacks, Bergen Beach and Sparks have all the best players now, the head of that organization must win this summer to stop the bleeding or he will be closed down for good. Bergen Beach #1 offender with regard to taking credit for developing players when all they do is hand pick All-Stars from across the country, what bothers me about them as that they don't even hide it, they take credit when the kid gets drafted and never mention the other teams the kid played for.  Bergen has no coaching either, they just recruit well...Bill you better sign contracts with your players because teams like Bergen and East Cobb can pretty much just call your Ace up and the guy from New York gets one of his former players who happens to be an MLB Superstar on a three way call with your guy, you can pretty much assume you will look like Tom Cruise in (Jerry Maguire) when Cush's dad says "I don't do contracts but my word is stronger than Oak,  fast forward to that phone call (sniff if Copps in the room....sniff sniff)
Yeah you know the look...as the kid slips on a Bergen or East Cobb jersey for size.  Top 96 if that's Downey in Elgin, good guy small market, his event is a little too expensive for what they offer, but a good guy from what I hear.  PG is untouchable because the product is untouchable, very well run showcases, everybody who is anybody attends their major events.  The finish product is professionally produced.  I hear the guys there really try to help kids find the right school.  TBS..baseball guys... no, do they care about your kid no, do they provide accurate ratings yes, at times interesting, at times overly self indulgent yes CPLZ would fit in great there. Unles they manipulated the graphics they have appeared in Baseball America and some other publications, so the argument for false pretense seems to end there.  I don't think you can reach that level without clearing the fact finders.  The guy that started it is long gone, but I think it is actually getting better, and they do have some good guys helping.   Are they motivated by what's good and pure in baseball probably not. The motivation is the almighty dollar.  
PBR, just can't help get by the issues surrounding the well documented affiliation with TT and some other companies that appear to have influence.  I believe the idea for that publication was hatched by members of same, say what you will but I have talked with people that have absolutely no reason to have an opinion either way and they say it's not good.  Good for area baseball? that depends who you ask and who is reaping the benefits of being "close" to the founding fathers.   

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