Decision to be drafted or go to college

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A ery select few will really follow though and get their education. Besides that these kids by and Large are not ready to be lving on their own without any supervision at such a young age.

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If they don't have the mental make-up that it takes to follow up on an education, then they don't have the mental make-up to make it in the pros. You are right if they are not mature enough and have not been prepared to handle life on their own, then they should go to college. We all know how safe, drug and alcohol free those environments are.

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I have seen way to many lives and careers lost to off the field problems caused by kids being to young to handle the pro life style.

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I have seen the same thing happen in college and in other careers. Isn't it about being able to make the right choices?

JMO

TBross,
As I said, takes a very special young man to be in that situation at such an early age. I don't think we are giving enough credit to these young men though, they ALL do not get carried away when living on their own.
You are right about the parents thinking their kids can handle it. I have a very responsible, smart, mature 18 year old. I often wonder if he could be on his own so early. Believe it or not, many organizations will make a decision based on the fact that they feel the individual is ready or not for that experience. That may be why there are surprises in the draft.
I think that Green's success was also due to the fact that his career was managed very well from early on. He had parents, advisor and coaches all on the same page. This is an important element to the success of the player, no matter what stage of his development he is in, college or not.

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How many players never get re-drafted that wish they had gone to the minors.

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Not going down that road....................

It takes a very special young man to get drafted where he is in a position to get serious money no matter what year he is in school. Many sign out of HS......many sign out of college. Some make it and many fail to make it. One thing is for sure, if you want to be a major league player, you will have to put your signature on the contract or it won't happen. Many College grads are failures in the business world and many that did not graduate are successful. Bill Gates did not graduate from college. George Medich is a Dr. Jim Lonborg is a dentist, Steve Arlin is a dentist. They all pitched in the big leagues and then went back to school. Good makeups are what makes the difference in most ballplayers and businessmen.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by baseonballs50:
Now, for the other side. I just read that Khalil Greene has won position for starting SS for the Padres this spring. Greene graduated with honors from Clemson University in 2002.

BTW what was the last thing Clemson won? Omaha? NO. Regional? NO. ACC? NO. As many players have gone to Clemson & other D1 programs & been drafted lower the next time and not have improved their postion in the draft.

He played four years in college,earned his degree and only spent two years getting to ML.

So it took him 6 years just to GET TO the Majors, he hasn't established himself yet. That's not that quick compared to most players who get to the Majors after signing @ 18 y.o.

By my calculations, had he signed out of HS & progressed as quickly he would have made the Majors 2 years sooner. Therefore, if he is ever around long enough to qualify for salary arbitration, he's cost himself at least 2 to 5 Million dollars over the span of his entire career.

I guess if you think too much about it, will drive you crazy!

Only if you turn down a good offer to go to Clemson.

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Originally posted by TBross:
I was lucky I played 13 years and made a lot of money but I am 38 years old now and have a family and could not provide for them if not for my education. The money I made playing will not last for ever if I don't work to supplement it!

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Looked up your career. Off of 66 days of Major League Service in 13 years, how much money could you have made? You never had enough service to be eligible for arbitration let alone a multi year big money deal. Hardly enough to enable you to really say you "made a lot of money".

Also, you say "made a lot of money" & yet you didn't handle it well enough to "provide for them if not for my education." Now, you're advising others how to handle their careers? I don't that kind of help would be worth paying for.

Procrustes..........

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That's not that quick compared to most players who get to the Majors after signing @ 18 y.o.

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And exactly how many is THAT? Is there even a MOST in that category?

Why are you being so abrasive?

M & M,
My guess is Procrustes is someone we know who has some issues and doesn't want us to who he is. This person also uses phrases that are used when you are familiar with the business. This person has done their homework (especially on Clemson)and knows how to access information on people like TBross. This person thinks some of us are just plain stupid not to realize this. I might also add, due to training,noticing the use of phrases and substitutions of characters for words is always a dead giveaway.

So Pro, if you have something to say, say it you don't have to hide your identity to say what is on your mind <shaking head sadly>. Why would you ever come on so "abrasive" to someone you know?

Procrustes, Mr.Bross pitched in Japan for 4 years that I know of, and I would have to bet a steak dinner that he made some pretty good money while doing so. If a guy is good enough to pitch one day in the big leagues, he has beaten great odds. Banging on a guy for playing parts of two seasons in the major leagues is a very weak post IMO.

i agree with everyone.....go to college!!!! get a degree....no-ifs, ands, or buts about it...the way the economy is going, a degree is priceless.....great discussion

What I am trying to figure out is why Mr Brossis taking a beating because he had a "cup of coffee" in the "BIGS"--- and then he gives advice based on his experience--

We all have the dream--I had it--my sons had it-- but we went to college and got on with our lives-- it is a select few who get to the bigs and I think Mr Bross is to be commended for his post==open and honest.

To those taking him down--grow up--find another forum if you want to tear people down-- we don't do that here

It seems to me that alot people confuse the question of "Draft v. College" with the question of "where will I make the most money".

To me, baseball and money are not the same thing. You get drafted, you sign, you play and you have life experiences that can never be found in any college. Is it right for everybody? Probably not. But if you don't want to hear your grandkids saying "Yeah Grandpa - coulda, woulda.." when you tell them you were good enough to get drafted but didn't sign and never played pro-ball, I'd suggest hitting the road with the team.

It's unlikely that you're going to get injured and lose the ability to learn accounting, or that your marketing chops will diminish over time.

Live life, my friends; it's all we've got. There are lots of good, contented people who do not have a lot of money.

...And maybe Mr. Greene has had his success
because he went to college...No one will ever know.

I am following another 2002 1st round pick who started last year in Single A and made the move to AA midseason, where he struck out more than he walked. Learning at each level. Had a good spring training and enjoyed some success in the big league camp...will now most likely skip AA and go straight to AAA.

Is the college playing time one of the reasons he had this kind of spring? Maybe.

Procrustes...again, you are something.

04CatcherDad-From another 04 catcher dad-Very good post!

Sorry to offend all you guys. I'm new to the site & don't know how you guys view things. I found it extremely odd that someone was giving advice that EVERYONE should go to college first.

TBross may have beat the odds, but it seemed to me he was pontificating "I played 13 years...made lots of money...etc." The implication seemed to be more Major League experience than 66 days. Guess I was wrong there too...mea culpa.

Also, if he did play in Japan (not listed in the reference material I saw) made so much money there, & used it so well as to be able to now give advice about it, why does he "have" to work to support his family?

Procrustes, He did play in Japan, and did quite well. It is easy to find his record if one looks for it. Bill Gates still works, and I don't think he needs to. 13 years experience in pro ball, is exactly that........experience. It allows him to give his opinion on something that he has experience in. He is now a well respected agent and is passing his experience on to the young players that he represents. I signed out of HS, but the times have changed a lot in the last 39 years. At that time it was the right move for me.......today, unless there was a huge chunk of money involved, I would probably go to college........times change and so do people.

pro ...

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why does he "have" to work to support his family?

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Maybe he got hit hard by the down turn in the stock market a few years ago ... Besides, who cares? It doesn't matter a twit why ... he is just sharing his experience.

Knowing "TBross" there is something that bothers me here. First our experience shows that he has represented several players who signed out of high school. Second, his opinion of kid's first going to college is excellent. It shows he has the players best interest in mind. Lets face it, there's no early pay day for the advisor who has a player go to college. Last our experience with "TBross" has shown us that he is very knowledgable and honest. He is one, and there are several, of the agents who really care about there clients. He's respected!

posted by TBross
by the way, that's his real name and he really lives in Arizona.

[/QUOTE] I really think kids should go to school IF and this is a big if they are cut out for it. Lets all e realistic here some kids are not for college. I don't mean this in a bad way but not all kids can handle the work. The bottom line is this you are either going to go to school and get an education to further your life after baseball or you are going to sign and roll the dice. Because no matter what anyone tells you this career is a HUGE gamble. You have to be both lucky and good. Timing is key.
I was lucky I played 13 years and made a lot of money but I am 38 years old now and have a family and could not provide for them if not for my education. The money I made playing will not last for ever if I don't work to supplement it! [/QUOTE]

Posted by "procrustes"
whoever he is, who is listed as being from "earth"

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Sorry to offend EVERYONE. I'm new to the site & don't know how you guys view things. I found it extremely odd that someone was giving advice that EVERYONE should go to college first.

As to TBross. Yes he beat the odds, but it seemed to me he was pontificating "I played 13 years...made lots of money...etc." The implication seemed to be more Major League experience than 66 days. Guess I was wrong there too...mea culpa.

Also, if he did play in Japan (not listed in the reference material I saw) made so much money there, & used it so well as to be able to now give advice about it, why does he "have" to work to support his family?

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QUESTION: Where did he say "EVERYONE" should go to college?

QUESTION: Where did he say he made so much money he would never have to work again? How many people in their 30s don't work to support their family. A lot of money is how much? He didn't claim to make a billion dollars.

Question: What is your motive for jumping on a respected baseball person? I suppose you're in the same business. Wonder who anyone interested in hiring an agent would pick? The honest guy with courage or the "Snake in the grass" coward.

I would never say that to anyone who had the balls to stand behind their comments!

Gee, I am so sorry that I ever mentioned Khalil Greene, but I was just posting my thoughts and trying to share. And yes, I do take exception to what was said about Clemson, it was a direct hit to me, you all may not realize that. I was just posting an observation. If there was a good discussion to follow, could it not have been done in a more prefessional way? I have seen all too many nasty things said about others, when not necessary or even when necessary just is uncalled for. As far as what TBross has posted, I read his post along with everyone else's, just an opinion. And no one has the right to question anyone's financial circumstances or publicly embarrass them.
Chill is correct, no one will ever know when a decision like that was the right thing or not, it was a personal decision. Oh well, he missed out on a few million dollars. That was his option.
PG, you make good points. Be able to say what you want and stand behind your comments, not hide behind another name.
It is all very sad really
IMO of course.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by baseonballs50:
M & M,
My guess is Procrustes is someone we know who has some issues and doesn't want us to who he is.

Sorry to disappoint you all, but the only person on this site that I know is another Dad on my 05's team who told me about the site at our first game of the year on Monday(notice when I registered).

The info on TBross wasn't hard to find & is available at 100's of web sites. The fact I can use a computer hardly qualifies me as being "familiar with the business". The only business I've worked in is heavy equipment leasing since graduating from college 22 years ago where my playing career ended.

I don't have any ax to grind here, I just disagree with TBross's position. You shouldn't read anymore into it than that...