Frisco will host first baseball combine

Hate to say this - smells like another way for someone to make money off kid's and their parent's dreams.

Don't be so quick to judge this SPORTSTV Combine thing. They might have come out of left field but they might have something here.

I spoke with one of the representatives today from the SPORTSTV group named Alex Lontayo (former Tulane Pitcher and 6 or 7 year professional pitcher, got up to AAA) and was impressed with this groups approach and plan with their combine event. They have secured a great facility, are only charging $100 for each player to attend and will be professionally video taping the event so parents can pay for their son's performance if they are happy with it. Also they will take the player's video and put it on their website (www.thesportstv.com) I think they are bringing a potentially great event to the Dallas area when we always have to travel to CA or FL to play in showcases to get exposure for our players.

Check out their site www.thesportstv.com and see for yourself.

If you want the invitation that my son got for the event email me or email them at combines@thesportstv.com for more info.

That's my take after talking with Alex for 20 min...

In after thought, $100 for the video is probably not a bad deal. I looked at their website and their thing looked similar to the video services being offered through a company (I do not remember their names) who did business with the Perfect Game events. Their video's services (filming and putting it on their website) costs $400 to $500 (if my memory serves me correct). Same thing that sportstv is offering for $100. I would not be surprised if it is not the same group Perfect Game has been using. It reminds me of plasma tv's - the high prices are starting to drop.

Again I would not put much hope into the video process. I really think most scouts do not take the time to look at all of this. Hell most of them do not even know how to use a computer.

If I read damien's post correctly, it says they will charge $100 to attend, which isn't bad (is that like a $100 tryout fee??? ). His post hints that there are additional fees to post video, etc. It would be nice to have a total picture.

PD, not another tryout fee.

I will email them directly to get more information about the video service packages they offer from their event. What I understood in the conversation with Alex is they will provide the parents the option to have their son's combine video performance hosted for $100 a year on their website so college coaches and scouts can access for free. Additionally if the parent / player wanted to get a professionally edited DVD copy and additional copies to pass out to college coaches directly they would charge additional for the video editing, DVD copying and shipping / packaging. It still seems like a great deal compared to other groups out their trying to charge a lot more.

What it seems like is these guys are a bunch of former players that started this company and are looking to bring something that has got more of an edge to it then what we are used to. For example, you should check out the video interviews on their site (Left hand side of home page) where they interviewed about a dozen MLB players during spring training. One part is hilarious with Todd Greene (SF Giants catcher) talking about wearing a THONG under his uniform.

I will email them and see if Alex or someone in their group can jump on here to clear things up about the video costs, etc...

I wanted to make an introduction to the Texas forum. My name is Alex Lontayo I am member of the SPORTSTV Combine staff and their company Sports Media Group and wanted to address some of the questions that have been posted regarding our combine.

I have heard through a handful of parents that have contacted us that their has been quite a conversation going on in this forum.

We are focused on providing a way to maximize amateur athlete exposure to college coaches and scouts by using high impact recruiting events, professional video production and an advanced website (www.thesportstv.com) for on demand access for athletes, scouts, coaches, agents, fans and more.

I have specifically addressed some of the questions below and have provided more information regarding our event as well.

WHAT: SPORTSTV Baseball Combine



WHEN: Sunday October 22, 2006

· 9 a.m. – 12 a.m. * PITCHING / CATHING SESSION (registration at 8:30 AM)

· 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. * FIELDING / HITTING SESSION (registration at 12:30 PM)



WHERE: Dr Pepper Ballpark, Frisco, Texas – 7300 Roughriders Trail, Frisco, TX 75034



WHAT IS THE COST: The SPORTSTV Baseball Combine is $100 for one session & $150 for both sessions.

(Session A: Pitching / Catching & Session B: Fielding / Hitting)



ONLINE REGISTRATION – SIGN UP LINK - http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1341127



VIDEO PACKAGE:



* $ 99.95 per year for combine video hosting on the www.thesportstv.com site (free access to coaches, scouts, fans, etc.)

* $100 - For a professionally edited DVD of the players combine performance video with player info for recruiting purposes (* additional costs for more DVD copies, * $150 for the video if the player performed in both sessions)



* Each player will have the option to have their video and evaluation launched onto WWW.THESPORTSTV.COM as an individual profile that gives professional scouts and college recruiter’s direct access anytime anywhere.



The market research that we have done on other video service providers at tournaments or showcases positions our service as a much better value for parents and players.


Please take a minute to read about the DALLAS COMBINE that we are putting on at DR PEPPER BALLPARK on OCTOBER 22nd this year. We secured the AA ROUGHRIDERS facility at the last minute and are offering a great opportunity for HS Baseball players to attend our event.

We are focused on providing 14 – 18 year old baseball players an opportunity to showcase their skills and have the best opportunity to maximize their exposure to college coaches and professional scouts at the event and via our website. Our goal is to provide a high impact and cost effective way for players to get the exposure they desire.

We will be professionally video taping each players performance at the combine event. Our combine staff will consist of former and current professional level players and area coaches.

Here is a link to our combine release on the minorleaguebaseball.com website.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/news/article.jsp...ey=pr_milb&fext=.jsp

The SPORTSTV Combines will provide high school baseball player’s the ideal opportunity to get maximum exposure to professional organizations and college programs. The SPORTSTV Combine will put each athlete through a series of baseball specific skills that are professionally video taped, edited and evaluated using industry supported criteria. Each player’s video will be launched onto WWW.THESPORTSTV.COM as an individual profile to give direct access to scouts, coaches, agents and more.

The Dallas Combine which will be held at the Dr Pepper Ballpark baseball facility on October 22nd, 2006.

SPORTSTV COMBINE BENEFITS

Maximum exposure
Comprehensive evaluation and video profile
Pro scouts and college coaches in attendance
Cost effective solution to maximize exposure
Standardized sports measurement system
Online player profile

The SPORTSTV Combine staff has over 50 years of combined professional and college level baseball experience and maintains very strong personal relationships with college and professional scouts, front office personnel and players.

We look forward to seeing you at the SPORTSTV Baseball Combine.

Space is limited so SIGN UP NOW!

Please note: We are limiting space to 35 pitchers due to the combine structure.

ONLINE REGISTRATION – SIGN UP LINK - http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1341127

Visit our website at WWW.THESPORTSTV.COM for more information and online access to interviews and articles with professional baseball players and college coaches.

Please contact our combine staff directly to ask any questions regarding the Dallas Combine at combines@thesportstv.com or call us directly at 1.888.846.5959.

Thanks,

Alex Lontayo
alex@thesportstv.com

In response to DallasBaseballWeb questions from DALLAS COMBINE TOPIC.

Question: Will college and/or pro scouts actually be in attendance or is this strictly set up to videotape the players?

Answer: TARGET ATTENDEES: We are aggressively marketing the event to professional scouts and college coaches in the greater Dallas area. We have existing contacts with the Texas / Oklahoma Professional Scouting Association (Includes the professional scouts in the Texas and Oklahoma area for most professional teams) as far as colleges are going we have contacts from TCU, Dallas Baptist, Univ Texas Arlington and junior colleges in the area.

I am sending an advanced list out by Wednesday to college coaches (TCU, UTA, Dallas Baptist and area JC’s) and professional scouts that we have talked to in the Dallas area. We have gotten some confirmations from some top players in the area regarding who will be attending our event and I'll plan on posting that list this week if people would like to see it.

The value of professional sports video is incredible because it will allow players the opportunity to publish their combine performance on our webisite [URL=WWW.THESPORTSTV.COM ]WWW.THESPORTSTV.COM [/URL] as well as get DVD copies of their combine performance, stats, and evaluation for personal distribution to coaches, scouts, etc...
It also allows coaches and scouts an ability to access a players information and performance ON DEMAND via the internet and spread the word on a propsect through their program or organization.
QUESTION: Also, is this inviation only or is open to all players in the target age group?

ANSWER: Freshman through Seniors in HS.

The additional benefits of participating in this year’s combine are the discounted cost, the opportunity to participate this year and at next years Dallas combine and for the players who graduate in ’08, ’09 and ’10 it provides additional exposure to professional scouts and college coaches before their senior year.

We are focused on providing 14 – 18 year old baseball players an opportunity to showcase their skills and have the best opportunity to maximize their exposure to college coaches and professional scouts at the event and via our website. Our goal is to provide a high impact and cost effective way for players to get the exposure they desire. We will be professionally video taping each players performance at the combine event. Our combine staff will consist of former and current professional level players and area coaches.

Thanks,

Andrew Beinbrink
Combine Director
combines@thesportstv.com
www.thesportstv.com

The redundant topic of redundancy -- we only need one.