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Amen!
My son attended a showcase for the first time in August 2007. I was one of those parents who said "He is my oldest and we've never done this before". I paid hard-earned money for him to attend, making us one of the "fundraisers" or "suckers", in your estimation, NYYANKS.
No one pushed us to attend, no one made us any promises, and we didn't show up feeling like we were "entitled" to anything! My son wanted to go for three reasons: (1) because he has a dream of playing baseball after high school, (2) he wanted to know how he stacked up against other athletes from different places, and (3) he thought it would be fun.
We knew what we were buying, and we got what we paid for. There were scouts and recruiters there, he got to play baseball, and he made new friends.
How is offering a product in the marketplace "criminal"? Promoting and conducting a player showcase is not illegal. Why is it "criminal" for a business to pursue a profit? I, like many, work for a company who pursues profit every day. Since when, in this country, should an individual or organization have to apologize for competing in the market and pursuing profit? I was under the impression that this is consistent with our very system of government.
As consumers, we get to choose what products and services we buy. If you don't like the product, don't buy it! To compare showcase organizers to Al Capone or John Gotti is ridiculous.
No one pushed us to attend, no one made us any promises, and we didn't show up feeling like we were "entitled" to anything! My son wanted to go for three reasons: (1) because he has a dream of playing baseball after high school, (2) he wanted to know how he stacked up against other athletes from different places, and (3) he thought it would be fun.
We knew what we were buying, and we got what we paid for. There were scouts and recruiters there, he got to play baseball, and he made new friends.
How is offering a product in the marketplace "criminal"? Promoting and conducting a player showcase is not illegal. Why is it "criminal" for a business to pursue a profit? I, like many, work for a company who pursues profit every day. Since when, in this country, should an individual or organization have to apologize for competing in the market and pursuing profit? I was under the impression that this is consistent with our very system of government.
As consumers, we get to choose what products and services we buy. If you don't like the product, don't buy it! To compare showcase organizers to Al Capone or John Gotti is ridiculous.
Okay-let me get this straight. Let's say I have a son that is a mid-average player. He pays to go to one of these showcases, does well, is seen by a college that probably wouldn't have seen him before (we live out in the sticks, small farming community), we strike up a relationship, my son gets an offer, he gets an education from this, partially paid for, and it's all a waste of money?
I don't get it.
I don't get it.
If you read that carefully - you will see there is a lot of emotion in those words.
When you take the emotion out - and look at the facts - I think you will also see that
1) The basic premise is misguided. Most parents I know want to help their son get exposure - so he can continue playing. Money - especially in college baseball - is a secondary factor at best.
2) It doesnt seem to be consistent with reality. Showcase after showcase - you watch players get noticed and wind up playing at a college because of that exposure. Sure - there a few bogus ones out there - but anyone that spends anytime doing a little research will very quickly be able to find out which ones are solid and which ones arent.
3) When I read it - it seems almost insulting - as if only the author knows about baseball - and the recruiting process - and the rest of us are just dumb suckers.
I know why this diatribe was written - or at least I think I do. But I will leave that one alone.
IMO - it isnt worth the paper it was written on.
When you take the emotion out - and look at the facts - I think you will also see that
1) The basic premise is misguided. Most parents I know want to help their son get exposure - so he can continue playing. Money - especially in college baseball - is a secondary factor at best.
2) It doesnt seem to be consistent with reality. Showcase after showcase - you watch players get noticed and wind up playing at a college because of that exposure. Sure - there a few bogus ones out there - but anyone that spends anytime doing a little research will very quickly be able to find out which ones are solid and which ones arent.
3) When I read it - it seems almost insulting - as if only the author knows about baseball - and the recruiting process - and the rest of us are just dumb suckers.
I know why this diatribe was written - or at least I think I do. But I will leave that one alone.
IMO - it isnt worth the paper it was written on.
Nice post, K Graham.
your restraint is admirable ..quote:by it's: I know why this diatribe was written - or at least I think I do. But I will leave that one alone
but whenever I find a hornet's nest I'll also look for a stick to poke it
ouch!established high level travel programs were once essentially the "only exposure game in town"
for the most part they controlled who got the exposure & how much
the showcase format dimishes their power
the showcase format disrupts their season
the showcase format makes them grumpy
I happen to agree with SOME of the information in the “letter” by Marc Cuseta. I think his comments are healthy and explain just more than the “showcase mania”. It also explains some of the elite teams’ mentality. I consider the source and do understand there is competition between strong elite baseball programs and showcases. They are both competing for the same players, their talent, their time, and their money. This is nothing new. Every player that succeeds has baseball people that want to take credit for their success and they don’t want to dilute that credit by sharing it with other baseball people. Few want to credit the real reason for their success ---- THEIR talent. Showcases AND elite teams both NEED the talented players to validate their organizations. If a player HAD to choose between an elite summer team and a showcase I would suggest the summer team. I have always said -- “Showcases don’t make great ball players --- great ball players make showcases”.
But on to reality…… The player that plays for the “average” summer team may need more exposure than just playing other “average” teams. Most coaches don’t want to spend a lot of time and money watching average players playing average teams. This player should showcase and he of course would want to go where the best players go (or have gone in the past). Those are the players that play for the elite teams. These are the same players that are heavily recruited by showcases. This starts the attack and counter attack. There are some elite programs that don’t allow their player to showcase. Obviously from the content of the letter the Bayside Yankees at least discourage players from showcasing other than the East Coast Pro and Area Code. One East Cobb parent told me their players were prohibited from showcasing.
This attack and counter attack (soon to come) is capitalism at its best. Competition is good and the parents stand to gain --- read both sides of this argument you will be better informed.
Best of Luck,
Fungo
But on to reality…… The player that plays for the “average” summer team may need more exposure than just playing other “average” teams. Most coaches don’t want to spend a lot of time and money watching average players playing average teams. This player should showcase and he of course would want to go where the best players go (or have gone in the past). Those are the players that play for the elite teams. These are the same players that are heavily recruited by showcases. This starts the attack and counter attack. There are some elite programs that don’t allow their player to showcase. Obviously from the content of the letter the Bayside Yankees at least discourage players from showcasing other than the East Coast Pro and Area Code. One East Cobb parent told me their players were prohibited from showcasing.
This attack and counter attack (soon to come) is capitalism at its best. Competition is good and the parents stand to gain --- read both sides of this argument you will be better informed.
Best of Luck,
Fungo
It is amazing to me that a article written at the beginning of September and discussed recently here, is rearing its head again.
Marc, just so you know he and I go back few years, and I had a great phone conversation regarding all of this right after it was noted here on this site the first time- in fact the conversation was at 6:30 on a Saturday morning while he was on the road.
Marc will tell you, as I will also,that we have had our differences over the years, but we co-exist in the Northeast Region. We regularly see each other in events around the region.
He, Marc, is what he is just as I am what I am---I am still curious why NYYANKS is so involved in this at this time after we have already had discussions on the posting at a previous time
Marc, just so you know he and I go back few years, and I had a great phone conversation regarding all of this right after it was noted here on this site the first time- in fact the conversation was at 6:30 on a Saturday morning while he was on the road.
Marc will tell you, as I will also,that we have had our differences over the years, but we co-exist in the Northeast Region. We regularly see each other in events around the region.
He, Marc, is what he is just as I am what I am---I am still curious why NYYANKS is so involved in this at this time after we have already had discussions on the posting at a previous time
Bee,
Now you have gone and done it. LOL
I think you are dead on.
They went from being the biggest baddest fish in the pond - to being a guppy.
And that doesnt go down real well. Hence - all the rest of the garbage in the post.
IMO
Now you have gone and done it. LOL
I think you are dead on.
They went from being the biggest baddest fish in the pond - to being a guppy.
And that doesnt go down real well. Hence - all the rest of the garbage in the post.
IMO
Yes there are alot of con-jobs out there but as was stated, you decide on what to buy. As fr as the northeast, Im with bbfan. We are also from a small community and H.S. Baseball is early in the year and short. Travel ball and showcase baseball are better than doing nothing and waiting for someone to knock on your door.
Is there a personal problem that factors into this from the yanks???
Is there a personal problem that factors into this from the yanks???
It's funny, they are a member of Premier Baseball. A lot of those other Premier Baseball teams have a great working relationship with the "daddy" of showcase orgs.
K Graham, did you go to Spring HS?
K Graham, did you go to Spring HS?
PM for you Glove Man
