In defense of PG

I just got back from East Cobb. The weather was terrible all week as you all know. For Gods sake they had a hurricane in the area and on top of that thunder storms everday after the storm passed. The guys assigned to the fields to get them ready were outstanding. Two of them stayed at our Motel. On one day they left at 3am and got back at the room around 11:30pm. They left the next morning at 5am and got back again around 11pm. It was like that all week. The bottom line is they did everything they could do to get the fields in shape to play on and keep the games going. I got to the fields at East Cobb this morning at 8am for my sons game against the team from Conn at 9am. Jerry and the crew were already there hours before preparing everything for the day. I stopped him and introduced myself to him. He was very busy so I told him I would not hold him up. He was nice enough to stop for a few minutes and talk to me and ask about my son. I let him know how much I appreciate everything he does for the kids. You can not controll the weather thats a fact. Under the adverse circumstances they did an outstanding job running this tournement as usual.

I have to agree! PG did an outstanding job of getting as many games in as possible, hustled around to find other (less flooded) fields in the area. Scheduling must have been a nightmare for 100+ teams, prepping fields, & keeping teams & recruiters apprised of developments. Not a task for anyone with less heart &/or determination, much less willingness.

My son's team finished play at 2:40 AM on the 14th (that's AM,folks!!). Game was to have been 5 pm on the 13th. And guess what, 8 college recruiters were there watching our guys!
Seems that the middle of the night was the only time there wasn't a torrential downpour for a couple of days...(team did play during one downpour, but everyone wanted to get thru it.)

Bottom line, "make the adjustment!" PG did! The recruiters did! Our team did!
Thanks PG for a job very well done!

(see Ill. forum,TT wins... &... TPM, who removed the "hater" post?)

I look at the problems PG faced from two prospectives: one as a coach in the tournament and the other as an event manager of tournaments.

I felt that PG did a great job in truly poor conditions. I know for a fact they have done everything they can to get the championship bracket completed. The college scouts were there and I felt that my team received a lot of attention at this event considering we were only able to play three games due to the weather. I felt bad for a couple of our pitchers as they were not able to throw because we never got to a fourth game.

As a tournament director I felt there were too many teams that did not want to play when PG asked them to play. There were too many excuses. In my opinion the PG folks were too nice in some circumstances in allowing teams to dictate starts and leave fields without permission. After one rain delay they tried to get teams to play and many had different excuses as to why they could not play at that time. Most had left the field to take their kids to dinner without consulting a PG official. To me, after all the rain we faced, when PG says your game is at 7 p.m. or 7 a.m. on Field 2 you are there.

I'm more disappointed with some of the coaches who did not realize that this is a showcase as well as a tournament. It is important to showcase your kids as well as win. I know one team that pitched four kids in a playoff game so they could all be seen - just in case the team lost. That's the way to do it.

FYI - While I feel PG is a great organization they cannot control the rain. Anyone who has a problem with that fact should not only never attend a PG event, but should never play in a tournament ever again. Take up basketball - it's an indoor deal.

Dear Jerry,

Perhaps you can build a mobile indoor stadium - complete with retractable roof. Maybe that will satisfy the folks that like to curse at the moon.

LOL

Itsinthegame,

That won't work. They need like mobile 12 fields.

BBM,
The bashing is posted.
The post gives a negative perception of PG, dis organized, money hungry, etc. I do not feel that was fair considering the circumstances. As Bob (Fl baseball Guy said), if you can't accept it take in an indoor sport.
Poster referred too them having too many teams, yet I remember a post a few years ago complaining about them not having enough teams. I think PG tries very hard at making everyone happy as best as they can.
The poster said that at many events coaches were missing. Maybe the coaches had no reason to be there. I know my son's coach called me one day this week and he sounded so very tired, I suppose trying to keep up with the rescheduling and changing his schedule to get everyone in he wanted to see. This is his job, and knowing him he would be up 24/7 if he had to get in as much as he could.
I think that if anyone has complaints they should be directed towards the organizers on their website or through a phone call or email, not here. I am sure they would appreciate hearing from people for feedback.
By all means if someone attends a poorly run event let us know, but don't do it because mother nature was not cooperating. If by any way someone is unhappy, go to the source first, that is fair.

TPM,

The "complainer" will just fade away - just like the rest of the whiners and moaners.

And PG will keep doing its fabulous work. Second to none.

And on we go.

quote:

TPM, who removed the "hater" post?)

A moderator removed the post by "Hater" and then e-mailed me to let me know about it. Thank you very much for doing so.

I will not tolerate such anonymous bashing by someone named "Hater" on this site. Any member or visitor who sees a "Hateful" post like that, on any topic, is invited to e-mail me at jas@pclink.com and I will address it as soon as I become aware.

I don't have any direct knowledge of the events at the showcase, but it sounds like PG worked very hard to make the best of some terrible weather conditions, as everyone who knows PG would expect. Yet there will always be some small percentage of people with unrealistic expectations who are busy asking, "Why did this hurricane happen TO ME?" and who post anonymously, bashing and blaming a fine organization because they were disappointed due to terrible weather that was beyond the control of any human.

Thank you to the members who have posted the truth about the situation:

Tiger Paw Mom: "For years we have had to spend extra money on hotels and meals because of schedule changes due to poor weather. IT IS part of baseball, especially when played in the summer. Organizers have alternate plans but if they encounter day after day of solid rain, it is NOT THEIR FAULT."

Coach May: "The weather was terrible all week as you all know. For Gods sake they had a hurricane in the area and on top of that thunder storms everday after the storm passed. The guys assigned to the fields to get them ready were outstanding. Two of them stayed at our Motel. On one day they left at 3am and got back at the room around 11:30pm. They left the next morning at 5am and got back again around 11pm. It was like that all week. The bottom line is they did everything they could do to get the fields in shape to play on and keep the games going."

Baseballmom: "PG did an outstanding job of getting as many games in as possible, hustled around to find other (less flooded) fields in the area. Scheduling must have been a nightmare for 100+ teams, prepping fields, & keeping teams & recruiters apprised of developments. Not a task for anyone with less heart &/or determination, much less willingness. ... Thanks PG for a job very well done!"

Florida Baseball Guy: "I felt that PG did a great job in truly poor conditions. I know for a fact they have done everything they can to get the championship bracket completed."

itsinthegame: "Dear Jerry, Perhaps you can build a mobile indoor stadium - complete with retractable roof. Maybe that will satisfy the folks that like to curse at the moon. LOL"

Dad04: "That won't work. They need like mobile 12 fields."

Florida Baseball Guy: "FYI - While I feel PG is a great organization they cannot control the rain. Anyone who has a problem with that fact should not only never attend a PG event, but should never play in a tournament ever again. Take up basketball - it's an indoor deal."

Thank you.

TPM,
Yes, I went to the other forum & posted there, too.
I suggested that the complainer read the rules, which clearly spell out all contengincies, including the coaches responsibility to stay in touch with PG Staff. Our coach got calls late into the night, as well...He elected to answer his phone!! And abide by what was being offered. After all, they went to play...

I'm referring to an email notice from a one time poster that used "hater" as part of his/her moniker. Posted about 12:30AM, but by this morning, about 7AM, it had been removed. Maybe MnMom took care of it, as it was even more biting! The team in question had a 1-2 record & thought they were going into the championship round ( ), when most teams hadn't even been able to finish pool play.
I think the complainers need to consider all the facts, all the rules, before making senseless accusations.

Our primary objective for attending WWBA was to have our players seen. The goal was accomplished with great success, inspite of the rain & flooding. Playing to the best of their ability was 2nd. Winning a few games was just icing on the cake.
I think PG folks did an outstanding job! I imagine many of them & recruiters have gone a day or 2 with out sleep at all! Part of the job, for sure.

MnMom,
Thank you for taking care of it!
I think the record is now straight!

For the complainers, I'm reminded of my mom saying many times..."If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!"

My team has been on the road for three weeks. First week was at Fl Baseball Guy's event in Fla. Rain every day with the event shortened. Then to East Cobb for the 17U and 18U event. Again rain, a hurricane and then more rain every day. These two events again were both shortened. We played 3 games last week in the 18U event and pitched 3 to 4 guys each game. We did the same in the 17U event. The reason is exposure opportunity and knowing that it was going to be difficult for anyone short of a miracle maker to work out schedules. We had to provide the opportunity for as many kids as possible to show. My kids had a great time. It was a bonding opportunity and friendships made that will last forever. The best part was we had 6 kids that received notice that offers will come at the end of the event.
All the PG staff did a great job, and were very cordial in a tremendously difficult atmosphere.

BBM,
I missed that one completely, was referring to another, but not the "hater" post.
Thinking about all the tournaments and showcases that never went as planned due to weather issues, we weren't happy but considered it just part of the process. If anyone has a problem that their son wasn't put in the games, they need to take that up with THEIR coaches.
Coach Merc, hope all went well!
Anyone know who won?

From what I was told tonight, the Scorpions beat Chet Lemon's Juice in the final. They were trailing 6-1 late in the game and won. TPM thanks for the wishes. My son will have choices and now we'll have to figure it out between East Coast Pro and the start of school.

Wow,if so that's great, I am happy for Bob!
Good luck and enjoy!

Son's tournament this weekend in Nashville got brackets changed several times due to rain outs on Friday. Our head coach wasn't able to get there until Sunday because he was stuck in another city with his 14 yo team because they were in a tournament where they played on Monday and were not able to play again until Friday (tournament was to have finished on Thurs). That's baseball - anyone that has played for very long understands.

PG is a class act all the way. Simply cannot say enough great things about them other than "thank you."

IN RESPONSE TO THOSE UPSET OVER THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Sorry, I don't have a lot of time right now. Thanks to those of you who understand. I will post this in the Illinois board also.

Just a few things that most people would not be aware of.

We used fields that were over one hour apart. In fact, in the past two weeks we have used Roswell, Centennial, Georgia Tech, Sandy Plains, Starrs Mill, Kennesaw State, Kennesaw Mountain, Poly Tech, Walton HS, Walker HS, Mt Paran HS, North Cobb Christian, Wheeler HS, Kell HS, Sprayberry HS, Pope HS, Lassiter HS, Sandy Plains Complex, Harrison Fields, and several others including the East Cobb Complex. We also checked many other sites that were unplayable.

Most anyone in their right mind would have cancelled the tournament after all teams had played a game. The outlook was very bleak, but there were many teams and talented players wanting to play. There were also a very large number of College Recruiters and Scouts wanting to see them play. The week before was bad, last week was a nightmare as the Marietta area was pounded every day with bands from Hurricane Dennis. We rescheduled games over 75 times in one week. Often several times within hours.

We have never done anything but try our very best. In some 40 years in baseball, I’ve never seen weather problems like those in Marietta this past week. That was after serious weather problems in Marietta the previous week. Parts of the Marietta area received over 2 feet of rain during the two weeks, the majority during the past week.

We purchased every available bag of Turface (Diamond Dry) in the Atlanta area over the past two weeks. Suppliers were completely out.

Torrential rains would hit different areas at different times causing nearly impossible scheduling problems. Some complained about communication, but once we would have a schedule redone we would get a report of more rain at certain fields and have to redo the schedule. The 11:00 PM schedule would change before midnight. Several times we rescheduled games for 9:00 AM start to find the field under water at 7:00 AM. We continued to work hard to do everything possible. You can’t communicate when there’s nothing to communicate. We called all coaches every time we had information and often just to tell them we have no information. Doesn’t anyone wonder just how the 200 and some games that were played even happened without good communication? The problem was things changed by the hour. Yes some games started later than scheduled, but exact times for starting were nearly impossible and we needed teams there and ready to play.

We were forced to seed the top 48 teams once we realized the tournament could not crown a champion without doing so. This caused the last 7 seeds 49-55 to be dropped into consolation play. This was done fairly by record and tie breaker, though we knew some people would be mad. We notified in writing all coaches of the possibilities before they had played a game.

One team (one of the seven) that was dropped made threatening crank calls to our staff throughout the entire night. Our staff was working on two or three hours sleep a night to do everything possible. Adjustments were made on the run to get in as many games as possible.

The morning after the playoff was set, the East Cobb Complex and Kell right next to it, got no rain overnight. This was a blessing and gave us some hope. When we reached the complex at 6:30 in the morning the fields were in good playing condition. We then checked Kell which was completely underwater. Someone!!!! Had gone there during the night and vandalized the field. Workers discovered a water pipe on the field had been busted in such a way there could be no accident. Once again we had to find another field and get it ready. Kell was done for two days.

Someone actually did see a vehicle at Kell in the wee hours and reported the license number. This could get very interesting indeed. In addition our vehicle was vandalized and there were a few other incidents that got in the way of being overly happy about everything. There were way too many dilemmas to list here.

Did we make some mistakes? Yes I’m sure we did. What was done was next to impossible with out making a few mistakes. Could we have played more games? Maybe a few, but not many. We told people in charge of fields “We don’t care how much it costs, we need to play the games”!

We are big boys… make that exhausted big boys! We can take the heat! People should sit back and think about the entire situation before flying off the handle. I am extremely proud of our staff. I don’t know anyone anywhere that could have done as much under so much pressure. It’s just like a player who doesn’t have a good game but gave it everything he has. We feel GOOD about our efforts!

In all the time we have been running events, we have never received so many compliments from College Recruiters, Scouts and other good baseball people. Everyone who is a knowledgeable baseball person is well aware that the near impossible was accomplished in Marietta last week. I know it was the roughest week in my baseball life! We feel we have absolutely nothing to apologize about.

The tournament ended with the Florida Bombers edging the Orlando Scorpions 12-9 at 1:30 AM this morning. This could not have been possible if we had taken 55 teams to the playoffs.

The events that took place were not very pleasing to many people. There were so many adjustments, emergencies, problems, etc. that people will never know. Of the many teams, scouts, college coaches, etc. I’d say 95% were very supportive and willing to work with us. It’s great to be around great baseball people and there are a lot of them. The other 5% can simply stay away from us! I only wish they could live our last week!

My suggestion to those that feel we somehow didn’t do everything possible- tell that to the college coaches who might be interested in recruiting your son. Then again maybe you shouldn’t do that because it would be very revealing. They by far were the most amazed that the tournament was played, let alone completed. That’s because they know just how difficult it was.

Thanks to the many people who were so very understanding. You’re the reason we didn’t quit!

I hope you're not losing any sleep over it. With that kind of weather, any reasonable person has to expect things to be crazy.

Ignore the complainers & never look back.

Jerry,
I have heard from many parents that it was successful for them from a recruiting standpoint. So you accomplished what you set out to do, despite the weather.

I'll never forget one year in jupiter arriving early in the am to play a game in the pouring rain as the team was told to be there no matter what. Game was delayed for many many hours, we had no hotel or pool to go back to (living an hour or so away we did not need hotle rooms). So our kids had to hang out at the field for hours or in a restaurant, or some went to the movies across the street. They never complained.

It was that week when CU saw Dave for the first time and their relationship began. Thank you.
I'd say we got more than our moneys worth that weekend despite rescheduling inconveniences.

I am not surprised at the things you shared with us. People are nasty by nature when things don't go their way.
Keep up the good work and REST!

Jerry,

Agree with Texan (first time I've agreed with any Texan in a long time)...

Congrats and I applaud your efforts.

Jerry, Andy, Betty & all the PG staff,

Can't thank you enough for all your extraordinary work under the worst possible conditions. Just so you know, several of our players have received offers, some multiple! So, as I said earlier, our primary goal was to have them seen...It's paying off very nicely!

I hope you are able to get some rest...Maybe a vacation to Hawaii! Or Salmon fishing in Canada!

PG, you did a great job under very stressful circumstances. The Atlanta area is having a record year, rain wise. They had a tropical storm just the week before and a hurricane that dumped incredible amounts of water. Some people just a few miles away had water in their homes, so the complaints of a few BB parents and/or coaches about some game schedule inconveniences are not really all that important. Throw in the fact that you have 4 weeks of tournaments (back-to-back-to-back-to-back??????) the 15U, then 17u, the 18U and this week the 16U, all at the same locations and all with the same weather headaches (rained again today). Under less than perfect circumstances it is impossible to keep everyone happy. I think the only reason it is called Baseball is because all of the more appropiate names were taken.

I hope the vandelism was not by one of the local team's coaches or team members, if so I will apologize for them. I heard from the umps that one local team was dropped for cheating, so I hope that wasn't some type of childesh payback to PG. You guys don't deserve that kind of grief.

Many thanks again for your time and hard work.