2007 & 2008 Prospects

why do you ask

Armor,

He asks because he wants to know? Since when does someone have to state their motivations for asking a question...especially one as direct as this?

Alumni23

I haven't seen any players the calibre of some of the 05's like Upton and Snyder etc. That was truly an outstanding group.

Like you I'd be interested in some names as well

mrmom, exactly! I want to know. If he is looking for players what age etc. Swithing to decaf may help.

Watch for Patrick Dorney, Lafayette. He is a sophomore. He has huge hands and feet and throws the ball with monster movement. Once he learns some mechanics and adds velocity, he will be a player.

Just a fan of high school baseball.

Watch for Jacob Mays out of Loudoun Valley he was the 2003 State Mvp and was rated in the top 20 of the top players in Loudoun County in 2005 he throws in the mid to low 80s with great command and has a plus curveball his potential could be great if he has coaching to take him the way

Jdub-
I agree with you about the tools/abilities of Jacob Mays (I have seen him play), but I have a couple of questions for you:
1) I read on another message board that Mays injured his ankle in a game last week. You have any info on that? Serious injury or not?
2) As far as Mays being the 2003 State MVP, what was he the MVP of? If he was a State MVP in something it had to have been before he was in HS.....
And what rating service has him in the top 20 of Loudoun County? I would like to know so I can read who else is in the top 20........

08 to keep an eye on....Alfred Rodriguez, SS at Oakton. Outstanding bat, ++ arm strength.

Definitely agree with JB as to "A-Rod", also a top-notch kid as well as a fine ballplayer.

I won't comment on kids I'm really close to -- too much bias to be objective -- but here are a few others:

Taylor Perkins, 2008, Dinwiddie, first-team all Central District (AAA) 3B as a freshman, also pitches. Great hitter, solid fielder, can steal at will. Great kid, too.

Tyler Wilson, 2007, Midlothian High School in Dominion District (AAA), upper 80's RHP with nasty curve.

Not sure if he's 2007 or 2008, but Clover Hill's Ronnie Shaban (Dominion District) is a darned good lefty hitter. He has a younger brother who's no slouch, either.

Josh and Jacob Karr, 2008, twins at L.C. Bird (Dominion again), both pretty solid hitters, both pitch -- one is better pitcher than the other but I can never keep straight which one's which!

I'm sure I'm forgetting someone, but that's a good start.

JB, you know a few others down here, I'll bet.

Here are the most recent PG National Underclass Showcase attendees--Dec, 2005--(in alphabetical order with their most recent PG rating):

Barber, Jr William [7.5 PG rating]
Fredericksburg VA Colonial Forge 2007

Black, Tim [7 PG rating]
Chesapeake VA Hickory 2007

Cox, Jonathan [7 PG rating]
Martinsville VA Magna Vista 2008

Curtis, Eric [7.5 PG rating]
Chester VA Mataoca 2007

Grenier, Brandon [7 PG rating]
Rocky Mount VA Franklin County 2007

Hackworth, Joshua [6 PG rating]
Danville VA George Washington 2009

Hodges, Michael [6 PG rating]
Rocky Mount VA Franklin County 2008

Martin, Jonathan [6 PG rating]
Martinsville VA Martinsville 2007

Morris, Zach [6.5 PG rating]
Ridgeway VA Magna Vista 2007

Morrison, Jesse [6 PG rating]
Stuart VA Patrick County 2007

Sias, Kevin [7 PG rating]
Midlothian VA Midlothian 2008

Stancik, Michael [8 PG rating]
Ashburn VA Stone Bridge 2008

Stoneback, Kenny [8 PG rating]
Colonial Heights VA Colonial Heights 2008

Wilson, Tyler [9 PG rating]
Midlothian VA Midlothian 2007

R/S

what about Neil Rameriz??

quote:

Originally posted by strike zone:
what about Neil Rameriz??

Yeah you can't forget him. Hopefully he will get to face Kellam, I can't wait to see that match-up

I wouldn't "diss" the PG ratings, but bear in mind that you have to pay the fare to a PG showcase event to get one. They rate those they see, but not those they don't see, and not even those who attend WWBA events over the summer.

I am told the 2008 class will be RANKED soon and some of the highest boys you'll see will have those high rankings despite not having been rated, based on WWBA and other events where they've been scouted.

I will say that I recognize some of the boys you list and they are truly elite players, though some suffer from being stuck behind other stud players at their high schools and may have to wait to get to play in their high school games. You'd have to follow summer play to really see them.

va-
sounds like a little bit of sour grapes to me...do you ever think that players that go to a PG event MAY get some feedback on what they need to work on...focus....get instruction and get better?
Of the 07s and 08s attending the National Underclass. approx 1/2 the players received a rating of 7 OR LESS. 7 means a POTENTIAL DI prospect, nothing more nothing less. Please note that the PG rating does not take into account the ACADEMIC abilities of the player. I am confident that are quite a few 7+ players who are unfortunately academically ineligible.

quote:

Originally posted by va:
Those perfect game ratings are...well...overrated. There are many average high school players who go and get a rating of 7+. The more events you go to, the higher the rating. I wonder why that is?

JB, I agree with your assessment of the situation, but I have to admit that I once looked at things from Va's perspective too. However, after spending time doing the research myself and after attending some of the events as a spectator first I can honestly say that my mind was changed. Yes, these organizations are making money, most good businesses do, but they are providing something that will in the end assist truly assist players that may not have the audience a 5A or 6A division garners. That said, I do not feel that it is within Va's authority to question other peoples motives for participating in such a program. However negative his point may be, it does and probably should give pause to some people that might be thinking of sacrificing more than they can afford.

Personally, with the year we @ RISE Baseball Club have planned after this High School season playing in WWBA/PG/AAU Nationals/and a fall college circuit to close out the season, my son and his teammates will no doubt be stronger, faster and a more skilled baseball players for it. You can bet that if I've got any extra money lying around somewhere we will certainly be looking for more chances to showcase "his" efforts again. We will hopefully be seeing you around the ball parks this summer.


Now to Mr. Va,

My story about PG Showcases:

I "paid" for my son to attend a PG event 15 hours away in Fort Myers looking for one thing...well two things if you count getting out of the cold of Virginia for awhile as one...which was a fair and objective assessment done by competent professionals that I trusted. I wanted them to rate not only his current skill level, but his "projected" potential past the HS level. It was a scary proposition putting him out there in what was essentially our off season, but we felt he was ready for the challenge. After being exposed to some WWBA and PG events in the past, and seeing the talented players there, I can honestly say that I feel my son was given a fair shake. Will he be in the top 2008's looking for a spot on some college roster? I don't know, but I can tell you that baseball has been in his blood ever since he was able to pick-up a plastic bat and hit a plastic ball....over, and over, and over, and... Well you get the picture.

Was this event worth the $$$ spent attending?

Leading up to the event he was certainly nervous and preparing hard because of it. He shunned basketball season in order to have more time to devote to baseball practice. He dedicated himself to the sport like it was the only thing in the world. He has maintained his grades on the Honor Roll and only hangs with friends he knows has his best interest at heart. Since Fort Myers, his confidence level has been bolstered 2 fold, and he has remained focused on his development throughout the winter all because he feels validated somehow by this event. You might say that his motivation is due to his "earning" an above average rating, but knowing my son I feel that given his character and demeanor he would have found a way to turn it into a motivational tool to get better even if his rating had been a "2".

I'll end with this, as food for thought....

Bottom line, You shouldn't rain on someone’s dreams Mr. Va, regardless of your quasi good intentions or your propensity to distrust a system I dare say you have zero internal knowledge of, or for whatever personal reasons you might be harboring. Looking at your previous posts I'd say that you can only apologize so many times as being misinterpreted, before some kid gets on this message board and tells you that you can stick the negativity you so vehemently peddle in the dirt.

nuff said....

JB, Let's do lunch sometime....