Are Showcase Events Good for Position Players?

Bobby Tewks,

Good stuff! Not sure I totally agree with everything written in that link, but you sure have nailed it fairly well.

PG, I'm curious about what you disagree with.

Guess I believe there is more than one event that is worthwhile to get an invitation to. I was just at one of them.

Overall, as I said, you nailed it. Very well done!

The Area Code tryouts are obviously top tier and invitation only. But the AC in a much different category than most showcases out there though. And aren't the AC workouts free?

There is a somewhat new pitchers showcase here in NH that was started by the coach at Londonderry High School and is invite only as well. Outside of that, there isn't anything in this part of the country that I'm aware of.

times have changed in the showcase world. most were invite only and free, or less than a hundred. those days are over.

there are also many levels of talent that should have a bearing on ones decision to showcase. as well as the results of the showcase, how many kids get an offer from these events.

PG has the dibs on the top baseball events, i think AC was better when bob still owned it. just my opinion though.

very thought provoking stuff though Tewks. nice post.

I agree with your link Bobby. That is why I started the pitching showcase (which no money is exchanged on any level). I just want to get the top players in front of colleges, that is it. Thank God for Shawn Manfredo, he has really helped take it to the next level.
That being said, I would love to collaborate with others on this forum with the knowledge to create a "perfect" positional showcase. I wonder if it could be pulled off...
I'd be willing to work on it. Anyone else?

I'm with Tewks and disagree with you. I was at the Area Code tryouts at Bentley...free...attended by over 20 pro scouts and about 50-60 schools. Blue Grey specifically has stalked my kid via phone, email, even mailing to his school, never dropping their registration fee.
If you are playing Lynn or were invited to Area Code, the rest are a waste of time up here. Same people should have seen you twice for less than two bills (Lynn's fee.) If you are on a good summer team, you will be in East Cobb and all the rest will see you multiple times over the course of two weeks.
Also agree that what Shawn and Coach Demas are doing in Londonderry is exceptional and a labor of love....no charge. This thing will only attract more coaches year over year. Moral of the story is that if your only option is to drop 200 to 300 a pop to be seen, it's a bad investment.

Good stuff Bobby - I especially like the inference of if you're a junior and you haven't already been contacted by a D1 school, then it's time to be more realistic... The point about finding something academically challenging and interesting is so important. One other thing for anyone looking - the broken leg or torn rotator-cuff test. Once you narrow your choices, have taken a "normal" campus visit, communicated with the coach - try to stay overnight. Can you envision yourself at the school *not* playing baseball if something does happen. Invest your time - if you go there and find you don't like the kids you'll be playing with or the school & community, then it's better to not waste your time, not to mention the $30-50K in tuition...

The one thing a showcase *is* good for - getting a guage on where your abilities are compared to others just like you. I believe most schools that go to a showcase have a set list of players to look at and if they do find a standout, they'll be in contact. But you better stand out in their eyes, not in mom or dad's eyes. If a school you've been in contact with, but haven't visited says they'll be at a showcase, there's no harm in making that contact and letting them know you'll be at a showcase.

I noted that your article just briefly touched on pitchers... If you're a pitcher and the showcase involves some sort of simulated game - throw strikes, will you? Nothing worse than sitting there watching one of those fabricated games and some pitcher is out there trying to be cute. If your infielders get bored when you walk batter after batter - what do you think the college coaches are doing? The batters want to hit and show their stuff too. The infielders want to prove their abilities - so unless you're throwing 92+ anyway, pitch to contact... Like Bobby notes - in the end, all the coaches care about are your numbers. Not your ERA, but what's your speed on the fastball, curve, and change-up. If you cannot go out there and throw strikes at a showcase, then how can they believe you're going to throw strikes at their school.

quote:

Originally posted by Ironwill:
I agree with your link Bobby. That is why I started the pitching showcase (which no money is exchanged on any level). I just want to get the top players in front of colleges, that is it. Thank God for Shawn Manfredo, he has really helped take it to the next level.
That being said, I would love to collaborate with others on this forum with the knowledge to create a "perfect" positional showcase. I wonder if it could be pulled off...
I'd be willing to work on it. Anyone else?

I'm changing my email signature to "Thank God for Shawn Manfredo"- Brent Demas, 2 time NHIAA Div 1 State Champion Baseball Coach

Tewks and I were talking about a positional showcase on Monday night. Maybe we should all get together and brainstorm.

I would love to be involved. In fact, I would love to lead any effort. Good things are happening up here. Momentum needs to keep going. Kids need to continue getting better.

Shawn- I was even thinking of putting that on a t-shirt!!
I wasn't kidding about a positional showcase. We could make it work- I found keeping it simple as a goal has been the saving grace for the LHS showcase. Let me know, I would gladly jump on this.

Great link. Thanks.

IT IS NOT THE ENTRY FEE THAT MATTERS---IT IS HOW GOOD THE EVENT IS AND DOES IT MEET THE PLAYERS NEEDS

Here is my take: (the quality of a showcase is not determined by cost but by the number of recruiters that show up drawn in by the talent of the players on the field)
For years the best event held in the New England area was the Perfect Game Northeast Top Prospect Showcase that was held in Wareham, MA every August. Annually over 100-150 schools and major league scouts attended. It was by invite only but PG always allowed players to request an invite and it was substantiated by referral and cross checked to some extent. This was a must event for players. I believe it is now held at Muzzy Field in Bristol, CT and much effort is being put in to put it back on the map.

There are so many showcases as well as recruiting services pooping up all over encouraging parents to pay fees for information that they can obtain themselves very easily (HS Baseball web). I've seen many showcase advertised or have gotten calls to send my players, whenever I ask what schools will be there a pause comes over... Most people spend more time reading labels in a grocery store then they do researching showcases or recruiting services. Research who from your area went last year, what coaches were there, how many? Is it worth it to pay $300-500 for a showcase with 50-100 coaches as compared to free or $100 for an event that has 3-5 coaches attend?

Just my opinion and this is the information relayed to the players and parents in my program