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Hard to find much to argue about there
Josh,
I like the idea, and the format, but honestly I can't agree with all your points and I think you are missing a few major points. My lens is different as I compare top level high school/travel teams to mid or high level D1. I honestly don't think there are many similarities except the ones you've already mentioned. I've got 3 Ms off the top of my head for differences:
Metrics - the college game is just faster and requires more athleticism. Many more quicker and bigger athletes at the plate and on the field. Also, more of a variety of pitchers and pitches. In your ACC starter example, you only mention velocity. I'm fairly certain that ACC starting pitcher has at least 3 pitches and can spot locate all them with significant movement otherwise he wouldn't be starting in an ACC championship. Most high school pitchers are not at that level yet. Most college pitchers are better at fielding their position and holding runners because they practice it all the time. Again, most high schoolers are not at that level.
Mistakes - College baseball has significantly less mistakes because college players were the cream of the crop when they were in high school and they practice fielding just about every day in college. They are bigger and faster and can get to more balls than their high school counterparts.
Mental - I think this is the major separator between high school players and college players. College players are compartmentalizing the mental thing they need to execute at that moment and aren't nearly as distracted. Again, they've practiced what they are going to execute many, many times. In most cases they have a plan when they are hitting, running, pitching or fielding because if they don't their teammates and coaches will be asking a lot of questions. There is more team pressure to not make mental errors and college coaches emphasize it. Also, I think high school coaches are more forgiving with mental errors than college coaches.
JMO.
Josh I thought that was a good read. Fenway made some good additions. I hope this doesn’t come across as a “snobby” remark. I can only speak for the collegiate level my son played and I spent 3 years watching. It only resembles HS in the fact that they are playing on almost identical fields with the same number of positions. Outside that, the game is as different as HS was to rec ball. The top defensive teams field at a clip close to 98% for the season. That just isn’t very many errors o we an entire season. The pitchers are truly ridiculous. This, in turn, means the hitters are very special. Most people just don’t realize how difficult it is to hit 92-95mph fastball. Like you said in the blog, it’s not the same. I realize the number on the readout is the same, but the gutter isn’t gonna see that over the 5-7 innings. Most of those guys have that velocity with movement. Then, as Fenway pointed out, they throw sliders and changeups that look almost identical out of their hand.
Very early in son’s throwing program, I will squat down to give him a “target”. Mind you he is only at about 60% according to him. The amount of movement at that speed is almost difficult to catch when I KNOW it’s coming, much less try to hit. Then, if you do barrel the ball, the defenders are absolute athletic freaks that get leather on almost anything that stays in the park. Then there are batters that are so fast, I’ve seen what I thought was a routine Sunday hopper right at an infielder almost beat out. I’ve just witnessed things at P5 D1 level that were almost impossible to believe I saw.
I’m not discounting your blog AT ALL. Just over the years, I’ve read so many things on this site that I kept my opinion to myself but just sort of shook my head at. I’m truly not trying to “talk down” to anyone. I feel beyond fortunate that my son had the ability and opportunity to play baseball to the levels he has reached. There are SO MANY player that are much, much better than my player. But unless you have watched your son play against these athletes, it’s truly hard to explain to other people how special the talent is at that level. I’m certain it is the same in all other sports. But I’m in that boat of people who haven’t seen it so I really don’t understand it.
Love the feedback and discussion! It's a blog, so by definition it's personal opinion. Just entertainment and education from my perspective. I know a lot of people here follow my YouTube and Twitter stuff, so I always try to throw the links on this page somewhere, too. Thanks for participating and checking it out.
