Interesting Size Issue

For many the question of size is in their minds---- nowhere else-- they do not look beyond the height and weight

PFBEAR, Whats your son's primary position in baseball?

Question. If size doesn't matter, how come in the top 50 high school prospects (04) in the country for baseball 4, maybe 5 are under six feet.
Also if you look at rosters for top Div 1 schools not too many are under six feet.
I can't speak for football.
PF,
The interest in your son for football is a great advantage to him, IMO. He is eligible to play both in college and my understanding is if recruited for both, football takes precedent. The coaches don't have to give up any of their 11.7 scholarship money. I know of a few in this situation and it has worked well for them.

Size in football is much more of an issue than in baseball recruiting and thats a fact. My oldest son is a Junior who plays football and baseball. He is very talented in football and very average in baseball. He is being recruited in football by several schools. He is 5'11 230 and runs a 4.7 40 and has a very good vertical at 36". He plays LB and NG. The major D-1 schools are hesitant to offer because "Were concerned about his height". They have a profile for lb and dl and 6'1" is about the minumum unless they are 4.5 40 guys. The fact that your a stud and can make plays does not matter. They want height and projectibility as they put it. In baseball at the College level his size would be a non factor. If a kid can mash or a kid has speed and can throw well size is not a factor. Went to a major D-1 contest the other day and 4 starters for the home team were 5'10 and below. Dont worry about size especially height. You cant controll it anyway so why worry about it. My 14 year old is 5'11 already and just plays baseball. Why couldnt my football player has his height? Its just the way it goes we have to deal with it.

The data concludes that size is an issue. However, I think the reasoning is deeper than that. Maybe the big players have tools that fit the college game better. Or, since many Freshman do not initially get varsity looks, and are many times redshirted, it may be wise to play a hunch and go with the bigger guys initially and develop them. On the flip side, I bet the size issue plays a much smaller role with the JC transfers after a year or 2 of development.

There's an old saying in baseball: Little guys have to prove everyday that they can play, big guys have to prove that they CAN'T.

Fair? Probably not, realistic and still a fact? Yes.

All you smaller guys out there, work your tails off, outhustle everybody, play the game with passion and good fundamentals, and you'll get your share of chances.

Denise-

He plays MIF. I think C is his best spot, but he doesn't play there much.

Yea, I would think that the fact that the top 50 having only 4 or 5 sub 6 footers is coincidence, it just so happens that the taller/bigger you are the more likely you are to be better at baseball. This does not mean, however that, a 5'9" player can not be better than a 6 ft player, its just odds are the 6ft player is capable of being better.

I don't know about that. Why does being taller make you better? I know all the "bigger is better" arguments, but I don't buy alot of them.

The one thing I give the big guys is they usually have more potential to beef up. There is only so much meat a 5'9" guy can put on his frame without losing flexibility, etc.

The real frustrating thing is that if my son had the exact same skills, but was 6'1", he'd be considered much better than he is now.

Why is a 350' HR more impressive from a kid who is 6' than from a kid who is 5'9"? My son was 5'4" as a freshman and led his varsity team in HR-strong build and good mechanics-height had nothing to do with it.

PFBear to me its more impressive. I love the 5-9 bust butt kid. He will win you games. Let me repeat that He will win you games. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He plays every game with something to prove. He doesnt think that he just has to show up. He shows up everyday wanting to show that hes a player. As far as this thing about all the top 50 programs and over 6'0 let me just say this. I went to see UNC the other day. They have alot of kids 5-10 5-9 and they are a top 25 program. Most of the kids are listed 2 inches taller than what they are anyway. But it doesnt mean squat so who cares. I'll take a bunch of runts with heart and passion and beat the pants out of projectable body kids all day long. My youngest son is 14 hes 5'11 197 hes big. I tell him all the time you better play like your 5-6 150 boy. That is a compliment.

One of the few advantages a small player has over the big guys:

You get to walk onto the field where no one knows you and watch the transformation.

First, the players "size you up" and decide you are no threat to their position. The parents "size you up" and determine you are no threat to their son or any one to pay attention to. The coaches probably know better, but the opposing coaches don't and will certainly underestimate you.

But then it happens. By the end of the first few practices the kids realize you ARE their competition. And after the first few games the parents learn to respect you as well.

And better yet, you popped a few long balls over their heads because the other ocach moved their outfield in on you.

There is something good to be found in any situation. You just have to look for it.

Was waiting and waiting for one of our other websters to chime in with a saying that has been often repeated on this board:

If you are a big kid, you have to show them that you CAN'T play; and,
If you are a short kid, you have to show them that you CAN play.

My son is bigger, faster and stronger than I was and than my son who played at Mississippi State. Paul, at MSU, was about 5'11", 165. Ryan is now 6'2+", 195, as a senior in high school. Paul says bigger is better...all things being equal. I agree. (At least it gets you more "notice".)

When my 5'8" son was at a PG Western Underclass Showcase last year, he came up to do BP...everyone there looked at his size and started talking and didn't pay much attention, TIL he hit his first ball...Went to the wall in Centerfield with wood...and it wasn't the only one that he hit. Well, everyone took notice...
You don't have to be big to get noticed. You have to be able to play the game....my son can!

In his profile, PG said he was one of their favorite players by the end of the showcase. Could have been the one he put out in left center....during the Top Prospect Game.

quote:

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There's an old saying in baseball: Little guys have to prove everyday that they can play, big guys have to prove that they CAN'T.

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Beenthere; Matadordad beat you to it .

PFBear- I did not say that being taller made you better. But odds are, being bigger will allow you to become better; all is not fair. Also, in my opinion, a 350' HR is more impressive from a 5'9" kid than a 6' kid.

I don't understand why size would be such an issue at a middle inflield position. Yeah, colleges would love to find the nect Jeter or A-Rod, but if you play second and have considerable hitting ability, what can size do to help you?

PFBear

Drew Meyer was a little guy that could play MIF pretty well for a big DI school South Carolina! He was listed as 5'10" and 180, but I met him and I would estimate more like 5'8"-5'9". He was drafted 10th overall and 1st for the Texas Rangers two years ago! Besides a strong arm and a quality bat, Drew has speed!

What is your son's 60? IMO that would be a critical factor to offset size.

How tall is Warren Sapp? How tall was the U of Alabama catcher turned pro Jerome Brown? He could crush a baseball.

This isn't a "My son is short and it's not fair" type of thing. I just thought it was very interesting that height and size seems to be more of a factor for him in baseball than it is in football.

One thing I'm learning through all this is that if you want to play college ball, you can. It may be D-3 or JUCO, but if a kid loves the game and has some talent, he can find the right fit.

Callaway,

He ran a 6.81 60 last summer. Not sure what it will be this year following a severe hematoma to his right leg and an added 15 lbs. of muscle over the winter.