Draft Making Baseball Interesting

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Connell:

Why does it take a hot streak against good competition to make the scouts notice what he has been doing all along? I have seen this before with players who get hot at the right time against the right teams and get attention. I just have never figured out why it happens this way.

because exceptional performance against verifiable competition is proof positive.....no need to evaluate how he projects against top competition when he hands them a chair..


Congrats!...its not bragging when it is fact....but even then this is something worthy of bragging about...

I was umpiring a game in GA years ago when the best pitcher in the state was pitching for one team and the best hitter (HR wise) was on the other team. Scouts galore around the fence.
The shortstop for the hitters team made 2 great plays in the first, hit a towering home run in the bottom of the first, made a play from his knees diving behind second in the second inning and hit another home run in the fourth off this pitcher.
He went from unknown to one of the top ranked players in GA after 1 game. He had been doing it all year but was just not seen until that game. Was drafted but chose college and hurt his arm.

LOL That's how it happens a lot. That's how I got noticed for college ball....and that was a long time ago. I was supposed to be cannon fodder for a draft prospect from another HS....just picked the right time to have a great game. Fanned 10 over 7 innings (and I was normally NOT a strikeout pitcher) and got noticed.

I heard a coach one time tell a parent that the reason to pick the best showcase team possible is not because of their track record (getting kids drafted etc) it's because they should have the best, most scouted talent. And when you do get your shot, your likely to be playing for an important audience. Doesn't matter if they were their for you or not.

quote:

Originally posted by piaa_ump:
because exceptional performance against verifiable competition is proof positive.....no need to evaluate how he projects against top competition when he hands them a chair...

I think what exascerbates Jeff's frustration is that his son HAS done it against top competition. He threw some gems for the Upstate Mavericks as well as our Canes team.

I am happy to hear Kevin is getting attention.

There is a ballplayer on my son's former HS team who has yet to make all-anything in his first two years on varsity and the baseball program putting it nicely isn't exactly a powerhouse, but is projected to go between first and third round in the upcoming draft. However he plays for all top showcase teams including making last year's area code team.

HS competition means squat for a great player. I wonder had this player just played for his HS and legion teams what kind of exposure he'd have today and whether every major league team would be scouting him. This player is the real deal.

It all comes down to playing on those top summer teams that offer the most exposure and playing in front of the right people..

I was afraid if I put anything on here I would mess with the mojo but I reckon I didn't. 2 400+ homeruns last night. Well my question changes. I have coached 17 players who have been drafted but for specific spots mostly pitchers. Do teams actually draft any players as 2 way players
Some have talked about it but I have never heard it done
I know it is done in college but have never seen it in the minors

Side note that is funny and only baseball people would understand: After the two home runs he came up a third time in the 5th inning. The other team put in a young pitcher who had not pitched in high school that I know of. His coach obviously told him to pitch around Kevin from the dugout. They also knew that Kevin was pitching against them tonight in a make-up game. The first pitch buzzed him on the backside. The catcher jumped up and said he didn't mean to do that. The pitcher yelled from the mound I promise I did not mean to throw at you. The next three were way outside. I don't understand why they did not just put him on first but that is baseball also. After the game, the pitcher, catcher and several others made a point of telling him good game and that they did not throw at him. I thought it was funny that they wanted to make sure that he knew it was a mistake. If you don't know, he is 6'3" and 225 and was recruited also as a defensive end by D1 schools.
BTW, there will be no retaliation tonight. He thought it was funny.