Cape Cod Options

quote:

Is there any down side to the temporary offer?

My understanding is he can be cut for any reason in the Cape Cod league with a temporary offer. If he is cut, he is free to find another team. That may require some effort to find another team, but from what I've seen and heard, it is not to difficult to find a pitching spot "somewhere". The difficult part is wlll it be somewhere that your son wants to go, and will it be a situation that fits him well.

A LOT of guys with 10 day offers have no chance of a full time contract. Some teams use these to fill holes until a player in the NCAA tourny gets free. We were called by a college coach last spring who had a player get a 10 day contract, never played, and was released after 5 days when a player became available because his team fell earlier than expected in the NCAA's. Spots open in all leagues for various reasons, especially for pitchers. If I were a position player, I'd be reluctant as it's harder to place them. If he has a good offer in a good league elsewhere, and isn't a junior, I'd think long and hard as it probably is truly a 10 day or less deal, but as Fenway correctly says, good pitchers can find spots. Heck, PM me, we are always looking for arms for our team in the VBL!

My son played the Cape this last summer and so I watched him and his teammates and well as others I tood some interest in and I did learn a few things about the Cape myself.

So, yes. . .I'd say there's a "down side" to a temporary offer and it's one where you just don't really know how long you're going to be with the team a temp should probably have a Plan B and even a Plan C. As was mentioned by hokieone, temp players are typically used to fill in until a long term player becomes available. That's not to say a temp player can't become a long term player. . .particularly if the performance has been outstanding during the temps tenure.

If you go to the Cape's web site and look on the roster's of the various teams you can see that teams each had quite a few temp. and very often for a period of about a month's time. And those who were pitchers, many didn't get a lot of playing time due to the rotations.

Some players become full time at the Cape either with the current team or may be picked up by another of the Cape's teams. A player on my son's team was pick up after be release from another of the Cape's team and BOY my son's team was really glad they got him as he turned out to be one of the best players in the league. The player didn't do all that well for the other team as a temp player for some reason. But when he got to my son's team he was awesome and stayed with the team the rest of the summer.

For a player that is a Frosh or Soph, I feel signing on as a temp (if that's all that's available for the time being)would be the best thing to do as it could likely lead to an offer for a permanent contract the following year, not to mention that even as temp, it's a great experience to play at that level. And if released, then have a Plan B or C in place if there's a desire to play the rest of the summer.

Thanks everyone for your input and sharing your experience as it's been very helpful.

It all depends on the situation-team, how many guys on full, injuries, etc. Heard of temps who go down there and don't make it to the first game, while others have earned full contracts and made the all-star game. I'd look into seeing if your son knows someone who knows someone who played there. The coach might have some insight into what might be a better situation.

As fenway south mentioned, it might be a numbers game with one team, but if you pitch well against someone you might possibly get picked up by someone else. Noticed a couple players from this past summer who were listed on multiple rosters.