Are the height and weight accurate in the Perfect Game Player profiles?

It wouldn't surprise me that the numbers aren't accurate. Some intentionally, some unintentional.

I guess PG would have to decide if they felt it worth the time to haul a scale out to the field, or secure access to one.

With so many people in baseball now placing so much emphasis on height, I find that many players are rounding up and some measure their height while wearing their spikes (e.g., add an inch or two).

I know for a fact my son is 6'4"/208. Weight may fluctuate 2 or 3 pounds. We were never one of those who had to add "a few inches/pounds" here or there. Doesn't work when you say your son is 6' tall, and when he shows up to the showcase he is 5'8.

As per height, I've heard players say that "They don't play barefooted". I would not be surprised if a lot of height measurements were with shoes on. It adds about an inch. There isn't any point to fudging really. The coach at some point in time is going to walk up to you, and look you in the eye. He's probably going to notice right then how tall you really are.

As per weight, I think these are more accurate. There isn't a reason to fudge this as much. If you are still light, then you have the ability to physically mature and fill out, increasing your present day power. This would ADD to your projectability.

If anything, I believe that players who's weight tends to fluctuate and they are a bit on the heavy side tend to report their lighter "playing" weight.

I have looked at profiles on players over the course of 2 or 3 years and noticed that a few have even shrunk an inch.

I wonder if the player forgot what they listed the year before, or maybe their conscience kicked in or was it simply because they bought new shoes with shorter spikes.

Serious though, I am also curious as to if the height listed is on the honor system.

And are they asked to put down their barefoot height or add an inch for shoes.

One example is Derrick McPhearson who is listed on PG at 6’ 1”.

I saw him listed at a couple of football recruiting sites at only being 5’ 11”.

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=168&p=8&c=1&nid=1634766

Thanks

Many times players are a certain height when they fill out their profile. They then leave to go to a showcase and due to the amount of time they are sitting in the car, they shrink. Thus the accurate height and weight is skewed.

Best advise is to stop and stretch along the way to avoid contoversy.

Good one RZ! My son is 6'1. He has a friend who spends some time at our house. They swim in the backyard, so it's easy to tell that they are eye to eye in height. But his friends roster height is listed at 6'4"- don't really know how he expects anyone to buy that- in fact it seems to be blatantly stretching it. Would others infer that things such as velocity and running speed would also be stretched? I'll stick to the facts!

Ive always told my guys to list themselves exactly what they are. Measure yourself in your barefeet and weight yourself and then send in the facts. In my opinion if a kid sends in a form saying he is 5'9 165 and he shows up 5'9 165 that says he has no problem with who he is and is confident in his ability to let his game speak for itself. On the other hand if one of my guys sends in a form at 6'0 190 and he shows up 5'10 170 what message could that send? I feel like I have to lie because Im not comfortable with who I am. What else have you "fudged on son" that might not be said by someone out loud but they could think that in the back of their mind. Hey this is just my opinion. Also there could be a let down factor by the person that is there to see them. They are expecting one thing but get another. On the other hand when you show up 5'9 and you listed yourself 5'9 the person could be expecting a 5'7 or 5'8 kid to show up and they will be pleasantly surprised to see that you are what you say you are. Whenever I get a player profile for a player to send into a showcase or a college I send in exactly what they are. If I tell a college coach a kid is 6'2 and they show up 5'11 I dont want that coach to doubt that what else I told them about the player is true either. ie character, work ethic etc.

Please understand that my previous post is not to be taken in anyway as a slam on anyone. If I was conducting a showcase I wouldnt be out there with scales and a tape. College coaches can see for themselves what they need to see. Also it was not intended to slam anyone that has fudged on the height weight issue. It is just my opinion and I thought I would try and add it here.

I think that some of you are too worried about what a player puts down for height/weight. If it was that important they would do the measurements themselves. Bottom line would be can he play the game or position that he is there to showcase. If you are good and show it they will not care what your listed at. It's not like you have to be at a certain size to get in to the fraternity. The average height for MLB players is 6' which would mean they exist on both sides of the spectrum.

Here are the heights of (LHPs) D1 - SEC and ACC

5'09" 6 9.52%
5'10' 8 12.70%
5'11" 3 4.76%
6'0" 10 15.87%
6'01" 9 14.29%
6'02" 12 19.05%
6'03" 11 17.46%
6'4" 2 3.17%
6'6" 2 3.17%

63 100.00%

If you haven't guessed by my post one of my boys is a LHP.

After a few years of going to showcase’s I can tell you, you are 100% right.
Every kid seems to be 6’2” and weights 185, on paper.
Once you see their actual height and weight your like, give me a break.
Last year at the PG under classmen showcase in Fort Myers,
I was so freaked out about how many kids had falsified their height and weight that I
Had to ask one of the program directors if they were aware of this? I was told that
It really doesn’t bother them because in the long run the only one that’s going to be hurt is the kid.
He’s right. Just think how scouts must feel when they travel to see a
6’2” 185 stud, and when they finally see him the kid is actually 5’10”. 145.
Randall

My son is about 1/2" taller in the morning than in the evening. Can we in good conscience list his morning height, when and if he ever showcases?

Coach May,

I totaly agree. The only problem is when the college goes to see the kid listed at 6'1" and is 6' and not my son who is 6'. If they are rated the same my son dosen't get the look and the coach will not be dissapointed in the 6 footer.

At the Area Code Games this past year, all players were measured and weighed.They ran the 60, did the vertical jump, medicine ball throw,glove to glove, 20 yard shuttle and were tested for grip strength with both hands. All scouts and coaches were given a copy of the sheet. They were measured and weighed with no shoes on.

Chicks,

That's is a good point. We are first and foremost interested in how good someone is. They all list their height and weight, and that is what we list.

If someone lists 6'4/200 it sounds good, but really doesn't matter if he can't play the game. 5'4/120 or 6'4/200 are equal if they can't play!

Now if someone lists themselves at 6'2/180 and they're really good, we look at them carefully if they don't look like they're 6'2/180. Usually done by getting someone to stand next to them. Often we see players standing right next to each other being equal height. One might be listed as 5'11 the other 6'2. We're pretty stupid, but we're not that dumb.

A few years ago everyone was arguing about Scott Kazmir being shorter than the 6'0 we listed him at. We actually (standing next to him) thought he was very close to if not 6'0. If he were 5'10 we would have liked him just as much because of his obvious talent. Because of his talent, he looked 10 feet tall on the mound.

The ht/wt listed is only important after you've determined how good the player is. It's fairly easy to figure it out (ht/wt) at that point. The best players will always be figured out. You just can't fool people forever, especially those who recruit or draft players for a living.

Jerry,

Just keep a tape measure behind the boys when you photo them...like a mugshot.

Redbird,

Believe it or not we used to have players stand in front of a wall listing inches while taking their picture. (Kind of like a lineup)

However, we never got consistent angles on the photos. Sometimes from a lower angle the 6'0 guy would appear to be 6'5 in his photo. We have noticed that the best prospects are the least likely to "fudge" on their height, no matter if they were tall or short.

It's the same with catchers pop times or running the 60. It's usually not the best prospects who do the most cheating. They just don't need to, I guess.

Jerry,

I am 6'4" and still throw 1.7's to 2B.

PGStaff-

Everything you say sounds...what's the word?? Wonderful, that's it!! It sounds like poetry...

LATEBLOOMER-

How dare you agree with Coach May? Dog house for you.

bbscout,
Shoes off! So much for elevator shoes. Shoot! Those heel implants are expensive.

redbird,
1.7 to 2B from where?

Okay...I have a confession to make....here goes...I measured my son in his bare feet a few months ago and he was 6'3 1/2 and I listed him as 6'4". I blame it all on that elementary school teacher who taught me how to round up.

We,too, do not worry about the info concerning weight and height--- the scout/college coaches see quickly enough the real player and it matters not if a kid is 6 ft and 6ft 2 inch if the kid can "play"

There are more important things for us to worry about at a showcase than the info given us on an info sheet from the player and/or his coach.

As the Beatles said "Let It BE !!!"

College freshman son who is now nearing 6'3" was 6'2" while he attended a workout last winter.

Parents came up to me and said "wow, he's got to be 6'4" or 6'5"...I said "no".

Then I realized that virtually ALL in attendance, from the 5'4" guy who was listed at 5'9" to the 5'10" guy who was listed at 6'1" to the 5'11" guy who was listed at 6'2"...had "adjusted" their height.

It was truly laughable when I talked with a kid who was listed at 6'1" (I'm 6') and he was 3-4 inches shorter than I was.

As I get older, these things don't really matter. As TR and others have said, what matters is how you play the game.

TRhit,

A while back I asked the question "How many inches should I add to my sons Height" and I got hammered. Since colleges can't see all players I would think they would look at their profiles and reports to determine who to see. Why sould a kid be given an unfair advantage because he added an inch to his height.

I keep hearing that if a player can play his height dosen't matter. If that is the case then the players height should not be listed. It may not be important to those making money off these showcases, but it matters most to those trying to attain scholorship money.

LATEBLOOMER

I have to respectfully disagree with your thinking---the scholarship money will not be affected by your sons height-- if he can play he will find a place--not all coaches are overly concerned with a players height-- just visit a few of the mahjor programs rosters--ASU had the Predroia boy , he was drafted this past June by the Red Sox and he is progressing nicely and if I recall he was under 6 ft--I saw him in person and the kid is nothing but a flat out winner


I have been on the phone with a number of college coaches this week regarding players and I cannot recall the question of height and weight come up--- they were more concerned with the type of player the kid was-- they were more interested in the pitchers stuff, the catchers pop times , what did we think of him as a player and person etc

I look at it this way--if the height and weight are "dummied" up what else is also erroneous in the kids info--

One tip: player should never get a haircut for a month before tryouts. Take kid to shop that did hair for the B-52s.

Also considering a silicone implant on top of head...conehead sort of thing. Just afraid the other boys will want to fondle it.

--
Wonder about the baseball distribution of heights just below 6 feet. Probably tons of 5-10s and 6-0s and virtually no 5-11s.

micdsguy

Did they get measured with their cleats on or off????

Yes, indeed. Notice this list has only three 5-11s versus eight 5-10s and ten 6-0s. Any kid who's 5-11 and puts that down should be in divinity school.
-------------------------------------
"Here are the heights of (LHPs) D1 - SEC and ACC

5'09" 6 9.52%
5'10' 8 12.70%
5'11" 3 4.76%
6'0" 10 15.87%
6'01" 9 14.29%
6'02" 12 19.05%
6'03" 11 17.46%
6'4" 2 3.17%
6'6" 2 3.17%

63 100.00% total of above"

If you are citing college conferences--don't blame the player-- talk to the school they do the measuring and posting

TRhit,

I don't blame the players for what they put in their profiles but rather the SHOWCASE. If you are willing to allow this to happen then what stops your conversations with college coaches to be exagerated just a little. Maybe I should bring my kid to your event.

I have both the program and the testing sheet from the Area Code Games, and the difference in hgt and wgt on many of the players is huge.

LATEBLOOMER

Why would I exaggerate anything to a college coach--- that is my integrity involved

They see for themselves at a showcase who and wehat the players AND THERE PARENTS are.

We really don't have time to measure every kid at a showcase--it is tough enough getting everything else into the time frame-- we can certainly, by seeing the boy in person next to ourselves or players we know , tell whether he "overstated" his height and weight

Trust me the coaches and scouts know when a kid/parent is exaggerating

Would very much like to see your son in action

Players can get very sensitive about their heights, had one player embarrassed about his height, claimed he was 6-0 ( really 5-10) and did not want people to know he went Shorter College. He looked even shorter when all the other pitchers were 6'4- 6'5 on the team.

TRhit,

If a kid is 5'10" and lists himself at 6" or 6'1" will you change his profile or let him make a fool of himself.

LATEBLOOMER

We change the profile-- in fact this is done many times during the showcase--similarly we update the GPA and SAT scores as they occur

Latebloomer,
It is the player's responsibility to provide correct information, don't blame it on showcase directors.
Any college coach or scout who is truly interested in a player's height will check it out, if not by him by someone else. One of the reasons I suppose when recruiting, they like to get close to the player. Height is one factor, body type another, more importantly for college, GPA.
Ultimately in the end it is how you play, not whether you were an inch or two off.

TRhit,

Thats great! We wil surely consider your showcase this year.

Tiger Paw Mom,

It should be the showcase's responsibility as they are reporting this info to interested recruiters. As TRhit indicates they will change the profile when necessary.

The way weight fluctuates in a growing teenage kid, you have to know it's +/- 5lbs depending upon how many hamburgers he ate that day.

Probably the funniest thing I encountered: my son is usually listed at 6'4" and 205 ... which is accurate given the scary fact he can now look me straight in the eyes and pin me to the floor . But at the WWBA Thanksgiving tournament, he somehow temporarily got listed in their system (and the program) as 5'4' and 210 lbs. The mental image of what that might look like was pretty funny ... hopefully no scouts took that seriously ... or they came out wondering how that 5'4" kid sprung up so suddenly to 6'4" .