How things change!

Don't take this the wrong way, but baseball is the worst sport I've ever seen for kids beginning college at one school and finishing at another.

infielddad,

You're a mind reader. I was thinking about this yesterday as well. The fact that ESPN has a TV show dedicated to college football NLI signing is both a sign of our times, and something that is difficult for me to swallow....so I didn't watch or listen. I think it sends the wrong message to these kids but that is just one old man's opinion.

Bringing it back to baseball, it is just a matter of time before college baseball has a similiar venue. If ESPN can make money at it, and players can hold court over which program they will sign with then it will happen.

AntzDad, I agree with you. There seems to be alot of mobility with college baseball more so than other sports. I don't know if that is just my perception or if it is reality. I've been checking rosters at many college sites for players & programs that I'm familiar with. Most are there, and some have moved on as freshmen and sophomores to greener pastures. There are so many reasons they make the change. I just hope it works out for them.

There is a a huge difference between recruiting high profile DI/Professional High School Draftees (the cream of the crop) and your average run of the mill college freshman (all the rest). The former will be on the roster and contributing as a freshman. The later will be wondering how to break into the lineup by his junior year. There are probably many reasons but among them are over recruiting and outright deceit by omission (they don't tell them everything and what they do tell them is half true) just to get a "recruit" to commit for at least a year of tuition. They also make honest mistakes and recruit kids that just aren't going to develop. I guess that's why they call it a weeding out process. If they can get them to stay a second year then they are trapped because many credits will not transfer and it will set them back at least a semester if not a full year. That's why there is so much movement after the first year. JUCO transfers also play a big role in spoiling someone's expectations. It is a brutal realization but a kid can be prepared for it if he gets an honest evaluation of talent and some caring guidance. We want our moment on the stage. Sometimes we're willing to pay for it ourselves instead of admitting what the reality of our talent is. It can cost a lot just to have your name on a college baseball website for one season. We can't measure the value of this experience for college freshman. Disappointment is part of the growing up and maturation process.

quote:

Originally posted by AntzDad:
Don't take this the wrong way, but baseball is the worst sport I've ever seen for kids beginning college at one school and finishing at another.

While I agree, it isn't always seen as a negative.
How many begin at 2 year programs and move to 4? That happens in football as well.

FWIW, every recruited player, whether one of those high profile guys or just all of the rest, has to be aware that what is today is not necessarily going to be what is tomorrow. That can be seen as a negative or a positive, but reality is, things change.

We tend to blame coaching staffs on movement of players, I don't beleive that is (coaches) the strongest reason for it. Both sides make mistakes, it happens.

What I am trying to say is do not always lay blame on the coaching staff.


The title of this topic is a reminder just how difficult this sport is. It's a day to day battle in trying to be better than the next guy, that would include HS, college and beyond.

I think the fact that baseball is not a "full scholarship sport" as is basketball and football, has much to do with this result, as does the Draft. It affects the School/Player relationship in a number of ways.

Schools can "over recruit" since they can have seven players on the beginning season Roster that are walk-ons. They have WAY more than that during Spring workouts. If a non-scholarship player doesn't work out, they just run out to the local JUCO and fill the vacancy or offer a few bucks to a transfer looking for a new home.

Additionally, the June MLB Draft could take a "committed player(s)" thus giving even further justification for them to pad their recruited numbers. Thus, players who thought they may have a chance to play and perhaps earn scholarship money at some point, find out neither is going to happen and must find a place to play once that realization becomes a reality.

There is somewhat more of a commitment when you've given, and the player accepts, a full ride as is the case with the other big two sports. In baseball with few full scholarships, and the ability to fill from JUCO rosters makes the whole relationship more transient in nature.

Now there are many other academic, student-school match issues that may come into play and change athletes minds, but that could potentially occur in any other college sport.

One of the local kids (one of my past little leaguers) was featured in the paper this morning because he was different from most. He actually signed with the school he had committed to.

Sons former p coach had told me years ago on several occasions how hard recruiting had become, I would imagine it is now even harder.

I find it absolutely amazing when any coach gets a very high draft pick to keep his school commitment and not sign.

I don't think that we really realize how difficult this whole thing it is, would you agree infielddad?

quote:

Prime9 said....I think the fact that baseball is not a "full scholarship sport" as is basketball and football, has much to do with this result, as does the Draft. It affects the School/Player relationship in a number of ways.

Bingo. Yahtzee. Checkmate. You're exactly right Prime9. Follow the money.

quote:

TPM said.... Sons former p coach had told me years ago on several occasions how hard recruiting had become, I would imagine it is now even harder.

Agree 100%. I believe it is incredibly hard for these coaches to find talent, and to find players that buy into their program. I've looked at the recruiting numbers (from a coaches perspective) to determine how my son got to where he is. Luck is the first word that comes to my mind. It is probably even more so with these elite, draft laden teams. Definetly a tough job, as things change quickly in their freshmen year and possible their junior year if they get drafted.

I asked infielddad because he is close to someone who is a bit more familiar with recruiting than we are.