Is Juco "College Baseball"?

1. - It's the same in many ways and different in many ways and varies widely just as the array of four year college baseball experiences do.  Competitively, many JC's in CA, TX and other areas would stand up against plenty of lower to mid level 4 yr programs in most parts of the country.  The daily regimens can be just as demanding.  Facilities can be better or worse.  There is still academic accountability and the balancing of commitments to school, baseball and often work. It is still a young adult venturing out on his own for the first time with a host of heightened responsibilities.  The "same" list goes on.  On the flip side, many JC's (not all) are "commuter" and more local in nature.  Combine that with the shorter timeframe and the more prevalent sense that this is a temporary step to the 4 yr destination, you typically don't have quite the school loyalty, bond, brotherhood in comparison.  It is still there in most cases for sure.  Just not typically as deep.  Exceptions definitely apply in both camps.  There are far more than "two different views on it".

2. Having been away a while, my first reaction to your post was, once again, I wish you'd get over these reassurance, image, status and labeling issues but after years now, I recognize that ship has sailed .  I get it.  We have all battled the thoughts to varying degrees I reckon.

@Francis7,

I look at it a little differently.   Forget labels.   Just like anything in life, it is what you make it.   

Is there an opportunity to get college credits and play competitive baseball then transfer all those skills to another college or university?  Absolutely.   Is there an opportunity to ignore academics and play college baseball then have to start all over again?  Absolutely.  Is there an opportunity to save some money, get college credits, play baseball and then move onto whatever it is that you are looking for in life?   Absolutely.    Again, this is about the individual not the institution.   I'd give you the same answer if a recruit was choosing between several 4-year offers....what works best for the recruit and gives them the opportunities that match their goals.

As always, JMO.

I know of many top Jucos that have and would beat D1 programs, even lower end Power 4's.  I saw it with my own eyes this fall.

If that's not COLLEGE baseball, I don't know what is.

Master, while I don't discount your main point, Fall is a whole different animal in a lot of ways.  But that is a whole 'nother topic...

@cabbagedad posted:

Master, while I don't discount your main point, Fall is a whole different animal in a lot of ways.  But that is a whole 'nother topic...

I get what you're saying, I'd discount it too if I wasn't there.

I am with cabbagedad, Fenway and MasterP.

There is a huge decreptancy between JUCO BB programs in northern states vs. southern or midwest. The issue is you don't understand because you don't try to venture out of your bubble.How many times have we discussed this on this site?

With that being said, Juco serves a multi purpose for all students whether in sports or education. My neice who lives in NJ chose to go to a Juco as she was not ready for the 4 year experience.

I'm sure some Juco's in the south can beat some 4 years in the north. Just the same as some D2's can beat certain D1's in a one game situation.

Then again, I would bet that the very best SEC school can beat some A-Ball teams in a one game situation. But, that doesn't then mean that the SEC team is considered as being a professional team...at least not in the old days. (These days, maybe the best SEC should be considered as pro teams?)

I'm 100% sure that many JUCO's from the south could beat  many 4 year programs (non P4) from the North, not only in a single game, but in a series.

From LL  to the HS select level you can see that (with a few stud exceptions), the talent level in the south and west is much more advanced and WAY deeper. You see it at national HS select events (excluding the "national" teams).

And due to the fact that Northern (non P4) schools DO NOT recruit nationally, that lack of mid level talent gets pushed to the D1 level in that area, where as in the south there is not enough room on D1 rosters (due to them recruiting nationally and the level of talent),  so A LOT of that talent siphons down to the JUCO level.

It would be really  interesting if all D1 schools would recruit nationally (but that is not financially feasible........for most students or the institution).

and @cabbagedad  #2.   

Francis 7;

Have you watched the games of the California JC schools. Specifically I believe I could send you video of Jerry Weinstein Sac. City College games. Maybe you can interview Jerry as he also Coached the U of Miami,  Pro Baseball and the Israel National Team.

Bob

Different question.....

Suppose to save money a kid goes to a local northeast JUCO that has good academics that will transfer to a D3 4 year that he wants to attend. BUT the baseball team is very mediocre at the local JUCO. Would that kill his chances of being able to play at a D3 college?

Lets say for argument's sake the kid is in question is a D3 prospect not D2 or D1. with a 4.0 GPA.

A local JUCO (now NAIA) here in Ohio used to have 3-4 pitchers at a time who were 95+mph guys.  They recruited ALOT of guys from the Dominican and Puerto Rico.  The problem was the guys would get here in the fall......realize Ohio weather is miserable compared to what they are used to and they'd leave before spring practice even got into full swing lol

@BB328 posted:

Different question.....

Suppose to save money a kid goes to a local northeast JUCO that has good academics that will transfer to a D3 4 year that he wants to attend. BUT the baseball team is very mediocre at the local JUCO. Would that kill his chances of being able to play at a D3 college?

Lets say for argument's sake the kid is in question is a D3 prospect not D2 or D1. with a 4.0 GPA.

Good players that are good people will always be able to find a home.

Players on bad teams hit and pitch against a variety of skill levels. If a player handles his business and is fishing in the right ponds the quality of the team he plays for is not going to hold him back.

@DaddyBaller posted:

Good players that are good people will always be able to find a home.

Players on bad teams hit and pitch against a variety of skill levels. If a player handles his business and is fishing in the right ponds the quality of the team he plays for is not going to hold him back.

Yes but...  on one hand, it is a plus that you have already proven you can compete while handling the rigors of college sports.  On the other hand, many D3's (particularly HA's) don't dip into the transfer/JC pool much at all, so it depends very much on the specific target schools.  NAIA is generally a totally different animal, littered with JC transfers, mid-level drop-downs and internationals.

@BB328 posted:

Different question.....

Suppose to save money a kid goes to a local northeast JUCO that has good academics that will transfer to a D3 4 year that he wants to attend. BUT the baseball team is very mediocre at the local JUCO. Would that kill his chances of being able to play at a D3 college?

Lets say for argument's sake the kid is in question is a D3 prospect not D2 or D1. with a 4.0 GPA.

D3 baseball teams have no roster limits.  The coach can roster as many players as he wants, he will play the players he thinks will help the team win.  So when you say "kill his chances of being able to play," do you mean to be rostered, or to get in games?

Are you asking, will playing at a mediocre juco improve the kid's baseball skills?  Who can say?  Would he play in a summer collegiate league?  How good a baseball team does the D3 have?

I agree with cabbagedad's #1.  Functionally, if you can get the job that you want with an associate's degree, then the juco education/baseball experience will be exactly what you need - who cares whether someone calls it "college" or not?

But the point about not having 21-22-year-olds is legit.  To use a high school comparison, would you call being on the HS j.v. team "playing high school baseball"?  One of my other sons was on the j.v. golf team for 4 years.  I think he eventually got a letter.  Did he "play high school golf"?

@Consultant posted:

Francis 7;

Have you watched the games of the California JC schools. Specifically I believe I could send you video of Jerry Weinstein Sac. City College games. Maybe you can interview Jerry as he also Coached the U of Miami,  Pro Baseball and the Israel National Team.

Bob

... to add to Bob's point, most CA JC's (which operate under a different association than the rest of the country's JC schools) are quite competitive.  If you scan the roster of any school across the country, across all levels, that utilizes JC transfers, there is a fair probability you will see a CA JC kid on it.  This is, in part, also because of the supply and demand in CA with not enough roster spots at 4 yr schools as compared to number of talented HS and JC players.  It is somewhat the same in FL and TX although I am not as tuned in as I used to be.  Adbono would know.

My opinion is yes, I consider Juco baseball college baseball. Some jucos are good and some are not. There's a large variety of players. Juco is not for everyone. There's no pampering. You grind. You may have to sleep in the same bed with another guy. There's large rosters. Your teammates come from various backgrounds. I can't think of a better way to prepare my son for life. It will really test your love of the game and if you aren't cut out for it, the financial investment, if any, is forgiving.