This is directed at coaches.
Let's say you have two position players (catchers) that are working towards a starting spot. One player has played for the program for two full years and is entering his third year, and he is a junior
The second player is a transfer in and is a sophomore.
Both players have similar defensive ability.
Both players have the same batting average.
Who would be the player to have the starting role hypothetically?
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If it's a push, I would start off with my third year player. Mainly because he knows what I expect from him and I know how he works within my system. Now, if they are both solid offensively, I would try and find a spot for the transfer. Catchers typically have to have strong arms, so I would see how he played at the corner infield.
I would start looking into the other intangibles....leadership, on field processing at game speed. But, like Coach said, the returning corner guys may have to worry about their spot...lol
No two players are equal. Just never works that way. Coach is with kids more than anyone else. He sees what we do not Doesn't make him infallible, but he will make the decision he believes in.
Who would be the player to have the starting role hypothetically?
I feel like I'm being set up but the answer for me is neither. Just whether a player is a junior or sophomore and/or whether he has been in the school a few years or has transferred is certainly not something I would use to make a decision. And as JB said, the "all other things being equal" NEVER happens. When players with similar talent are competing for a spot, we coaches factor in so many things it makes our own heads spin.
Now, there may be some related byproducts of that information. Maybe the junior has more game experience or a higher maturity level that would give the coach more confidence in his ability to perform in a pressure game. Maybe the coach knows more about the intangibles the player has that has been in the program longer. But the transfer soph could just as easily have played more travel games or is a more seasoned or polished player otherwise. WAY more goes into it than this.
So, just get to your point and tell us your situation and your thoughts so we can drill a bit deeper.
Guys, just play the game. His son is obviously one of these two he talks about (more than likely the Jr. who is in his third year.) and the transfer probably came in and was "handed" the spot. Everyone knows that no two players are equal. One of them is probably slower than molasses and the other probably cant block a dirt ball. Both are probably decent hitters as suggested.
Play the best 9, not the 9 best.
ALL things equal (twins separated at birth), the player who has been with the program gets the nod--seniority is the tie-breaker.
IOW, the bar is slightly higher for the newcomer. If he's getting the PT, I've got to assume he's the better player--or, the player who has been with the program for 2 years didn't do enough during that time to impress the coaches with his intangibles.
As d8 says its not allways the best at each position that play. I have two catchers in a similar situation as you describe. One can not play anywhere else but catch. The other one has caught, pitched, played 3rd, DH'd and played 1st this season. Mine are both in the same grade. Guess which one is more valuable to me as a coach?
We have a few players who can "only play one position", therefore, they are usually on the bench. The HS kids who can play multiple positions, and are solid/effective in those positions, tend to get the nod more often.
As others have stated, there's so much more (especially at catcher) than just hitting and fielding in making the decision. I'm guessing the poster's son is the older, long term player who is getting pushed out of his position. I've never seen the parent of a younger, transfer player come here and complain.
I've never seen two kids "being equal" in real life. Catcher especially. I have a kid on my travel team who is the weakest hitter of any of the catchers I have. However is solid ability behind the plate, the way he handles the pitchers and runs the game give him the nod almost every time.
