PM back atcha, Mr. Batter. We were not talking about the same school, btw, sorry for any confusion. But I would guess that my point might be valid anyway: that the schools may recruit different players differently. Anyone with more experience could comment....
No one wants to burst anyone's bubble here, but I think hearing from parents who have been through the process is something to listen to and take advice from.
As far as LSU, I agree with most who have given advice regarding their recruiting. Here is another one. My son never returned any of the questionaires from them. Both coaches saw him play in June and they called on a weekly basis starting on July 1. We set up an official visit, but along with that did our homework and decided that this would not be a good fit for him, some for reasons stated in these posts. My son decided not to waste one of their alloted visits, and they appreciated his honesty. Some can't believe he turned the visit down, it just was not right for my son. We know of two players they took from our county, I doubt whether those players will see any real playing time for awhile, my son wanted to go where he would be an impact player starting in his freshman year. The coaches are some of the finest in the country, the program is excellent, no one can take that away from them. It just didn't sends screams out of our mouths, because you have to be realistic.
Schools send out hundreds of questionaires. It is a preliminary screening, IMHO the word recruited means being pursued after July 1. Be realistic in your expectations, be excited for your son, but don't go overboard. We kept it all low key and mom just filed all of the letters so that someday he could look back on this time and show his kids or grandkids.
What worked for the decision was that my son established a very nice relationship (with the school he ended up signing), early in his Junior year. This was done after he researched his top choices, a very necessary process for you to do. The academic program should be scutinized as well as the baseball program. Those letters are great to get, it does improve the players desire to do better and is most flattering. Reality is the day you get the offer (I have said this before).
You can take all posts for what they are worth, but I think a lot is said here by those of us that have been through it. There are a lot of really good players out there, unfortunetly there are more than top D1 schools have a spot for, so be realistic in where your son stands in his class before you think a letter means you will get a call, visit, offer. Every once in a while you hear of a story of a kid who was unknown and got a great offer. However with more and more coaches relying on the scouting services, this doesn't happen too often.
As far as LSU, I agree with most who have given advice regarding their recruiting. Here is another one. My son never returned any of the questionaires from them. Both coaches saw him play in June and they called on a weekly basis starting on July 1. We set up an official visit, but along with that did our homework and decided that this would not be a good fit for him, some for reasons stated in these posts. My son decided not to waste one of their alloted visits, and they appreciated his honesty. Some can't believe he turned the visit down, it just was not right for my son. We know of two players they took from our county, I doubt whether those players will see any real playing time for awhile, my son wanted to go where he would be an impact player starting in his freshman year. The coaches are some of the finest in the country, the program is excellent, no one can take that away from them. It just didn't sends screams out of our mouths, because you have to be realistic.
Schools send out hundreds of questionaires. It is a preliminary screening, IMHO the word recruited means being pursued after July 1. Be realistic in your expectations, be excited for your son, but don't go overboard. We kept it all low key and mom just filed all of the letters so that someday he could look back on this time and show his kids or grandkids.
What worked for the decision was that my son established a very nice relationship (with the school he ended up signing), early in his Junior year. This was done after he researched his top choices, a very necessary process for you to do. The academic program should be scutinized as well as the baseball program. Those letters are great to get, it does improve the players desire to do better and is most flattering. Reality is the day you get the offer (I have said this before).
You can take all posts for what they are worth, but I think a lot is said here by those of us that have been through it. There are a lot of really good players out there, unfortunetly there are more than top D1 schools have a spot for, so be realistic in where your son stands in his class before you think a letter means you will get a call, visit, offer. Every once in a while you hear of a story of a kid who was unknown and got a great offer. However with more and more coaches relying on the scouting services, this doesn't happen too often.
Baseballs50
Nice post but I do not agree about your thoughts on "more and more coaches relying on the scouting services" --they still want to see the player in person---
TRhit
Nice post but I do not agree about your thoughts on "more and more coaches relying on the scouting services" --they still want to see the player in person---
TRhit
TR,
Stand corrected, they want to see the player in person after they have done their homework, eg, my son's experience with LSU, they heard about him, then saw him play before the phone calls were made.
Stand corrected, they want to see the player in person after they have done their homework, eg, my son's experience with LSU, they heard about him, then saw him play before the phone calls were made.
Baseball50]s -
It was our experience that none of the D1 schools that actively recruited our son used a recruiting service, all but one school saw him in person play, the other school contacted us thru a Regional Scout.
Recruiting services have not yet become a proven way to be recruited (based on many reports here and interviews with coaches (also posted on this site) and I would hate to see a new poster think they are the best way to be recuited and spend all the money the cost when there are better ways.
_______________
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole."
"JustMom"
It was our experience that none of the D1 schools that actively recruited our son used a recruiting service, all but one school saw him in person play, the other school contacted us thru a Regional Scout.
Recruiting services have not yet become a proven way to be recruited (based on many reports here and interviews with coaches (also posted on this site) and I would hate to see a new poster think they are the best way to be recuited and spend all the money the cost when there are better ways.
_______________
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole."
"JustMom"
I guess LSU having a successful program puts a bulls-eye on their back - as many seem to be taking shots at it
- it seems it must be a "good fit" for some players -
the proof? their roster is full of fresh, soph, jr, & srs from all over the south and a canadian & kaliforian -
some freshman and sophs got significant playing time last yr and I see they are preseason top 10 -
I can see why some might not consider it a good fit but where's the sense in bad-rapping someone else who does -
much has been made of the view that a player should go where he can have an impact as a freshman - I couldn't dissagree more, some are looking for a challenge to rise to
lefties? - - - they just aint right!
- it seems it must be a "good fit" for some players -
the proof? their roster is full of fresh, soph, jr, & srs from all over the south and a canadian & kaliforian -
some freshman and sophs got significant playing time last yr and I see they are preseason top 10 -
I can see why some might not consider it a good fit but where's the sense in bad-rapping someone else who does -
much has been made of the view that a player should go where he can have an impact as a freshman - I couldn't dissagree more, some are looking for a challenge to rise to
lefties? - - - they just aint right!
quote:
Originally posted by Bee:
much has been made of the view that a player should go where he can have an impact as a freshman - I couldn't dissagree more, some are looking for a challenge to rise to
Bee,
Agree with FNG (and you). That is a fantastic comment IMO. You wont hear that too much - but for some fellas - it is very true.
It would make a great topic IMO.
A local Orlando pitcher, Justin Meier, had a great freshman year for LSU...and a nice summer on the Cape this all this past year. He's got a "wicked hahd slidah".
Geaux Cajuns!!
Geaux Cajuns!!
FNG, I agree with Bee's statement about kids looking for a challenge. Any player that is interested in a tough D1 school like LSU and is thinking about making an impact as a Freshman, is setting himself up for disappointment.
Along with many on this site, I have always encouraged a player to check out who is ahead of him at the college he likes. If you are a middle infielder and there are two sophs ahead of you who had good years, the chances are not very good that you will get much playing time as a Frosh.
Along with many on this site, I have always encouraged a player to check out who is ahead of him at the college he likes. If you are a middle infielder and there are two sophs ahead of you who had good years, the chances are not very good that you will get much playing time as a Frosh.
FNG,
With all due respect, being LSU is interested in your son.
Please call LSU and ask them if they use PG as a recruiting tool. If not, they sure are wasting a lot of money following us all across the country. Most all LSU recruits have played in PG events.
With all due respect, being LSU is interested in your son.
Please call LSU and ask them if they use PG as a recruiting tool. If not, they sure are wasting a lot of money following us all across the country. Most all LSU recruits have played in PG events.
FNG,
Was wondering how LSU got your son's name.................
Was wondering how LSU got your son's name.................
Agree with PGStaff. Letters son has received from LSU specifically mention seeing him pitch at PerfectGame events. I'd watch out for any coach that says, "they do not recruit players they have not seen in their camp" ... unless they are truly a small school with no recruiting travel budget, this is a sales pitch for camp $$'s.
PG Staff 
LSU was at the AZ Fall Showcase a couple years ago.
Maybe LSU wasn't one of the two schools FNG was talking about.
PASSION - "There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart...pursue those."
LSU was at the AZ Fall Showcase a couple years ago.Maybe LSU wasn't one of the two schools FNG was talking about.
PASSION - "There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart...pursue those."
FNG - I saw several of those types of letters last year (son is 04). Funny how he got recruited by those same schools that said they wouldn't if he didn't attend their camp. And he didn't attend their camp.
Having said that, there are some college camps that are well worth it. Those are the ones who invite other colleges in to participate and help coach/run the camp (Stanford camp is one example). But I'd pick one but no more than two of those.
As for the PG comment - I cannot tell you how helpful attending PG events were to our son. That was the single best thing he did. It led to all sorts of other things that will be unforgettable for a lifetime. And I can tell you also that when the school that eventually signed our son came into our living room, the FIRST thing they said was about how well he performed at a PG event.
Having said that, there are some college camps that are well worth it. Those are the ones who invite other colleges in to participate and help coach/run the camp (Stanford camp is one example). But I'd pick one but no more than two of those.
As for the PG comment - I cannot tell you how helpful attending PG events were to our son. That was the single best thing he did. It led to all sorts of other things that will be unforgettable for a lifetime. And I can tell you also that when the school that eventually signed our son came into our living room, the FIRST thing they said was about how well he performed at a PG event.
Get your knickers unbunched, PG. 
I read that as 'they wouldn't use only a showcase performance to recruit'....hence the "one time performance" mention. That does not suggest that they don't use showcases to identify guys for more attention.
With the FL & AZ October Wood Bat tournaments, however, I would be willing to bet the majority of quality players have played in a PG event, wherever they might be playing now.
---------------------------------
From 'Nice Guys Finish Last' by Leo Durocher:
Baseball lives at the center of a never-flagging whirl of irreconcilable opinions.
I read that as 'they wouldn't use only a showcase performance to recruit'....hence the "one time performance" mention. That does not suggest that they don't use showcases to identify guys for more attention.
With the FL & AZ October Wood Bat tournaments, however, I would be willing to bet the majority of quality players have played in a PG event, wherever they might be playing now.
---------------------------------
From 'Nice Guys Finish Last' by Leo Durocher:
Baseball lives at the center of a never-flagging whirl of irreconcilable opinions.
FNG, Your nickname is interesting 
......did you serve in Vietnam?
......did you serve in Vietnam?
FNG,
I apologize for the snappy remark.
I only meant to say that I know many schools have offered scholarships based on one showcase performance, including LSU.
Orlando, I should add, LSU first got interested in Justin Meier at (you guessed it). We had many discussions with LSU recruiters about that outstanding pitcher.
Not thin skinned at all, just always interested in getting to the truth.
Best of luck to your son FNG.
I apologize for the snappy remark.
I only meant to say that I know many schools have offered scholarships based on one showcase performance, including LSU.
Orlando, I should add, LSU first got interested in Justin Meier at (you guessed it). We had many discussions with LSU recruiters about that outstanding pitcher.
Not thin skinned at all, just always interested in getting to the truth.
Best of luck to your son FNG.
Not rushing to anyones defense, as I didn't see that FNG mentioned LSU specifically, but my son attended a top 10 in-state ACC school's camp as a freshman and the recruiting coordinator repeated the same thing, "We only recruit from our camp."
I have since seen him at every showcase and a bunch of tournaments we have been to, still working there. Maybe he was following up on his campers, or looking for new players to invite to camp.
Geaux Cajuns!!
I have since seen him at every showcase and a bunch of tournaments we have been to, still working there. Maybe he was following up on his campers, or looking for new players to invite to camp.
Geaux Cajuns!!
I have no doubt that "We only recruit from out camp" gets said.
But how many kids go to the camps? Come up with any number you can that's reasonable.
Wouldn't that put a pretty severe limit on their recruiting from even a regional recruiting base point of view?
But how many kids go to the camps? Come up with any number you can that's reasonable.
Wouldn't that put a pretty severe limit on their recruiting from even a regional recruiting base point of view?
FO
A good point which makes the statement less than credible. Maybe 300 Jrs. a year at a top 10 program with multiple camps, hardly a recruiting base.
Geaux Cajuns!!
A good point which makes the statement less than credible. Maybe 300 Jrs. a year at a top 10 program with multiple camps, hardly a recruiting base.
Geaux Cajuns!!