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It's a Small World

P parent10+ posts
On this site, a lot of people talk about how small the baseball world is and how coaches from different schools talk with each other all the time. It's ironic that some of these same coaches don't seem to realize that prospects and their families talk with other prospects and their families too, and that what they do and say can come back to bite them.

In the past few weeks, I've heard about:

*A recruiting coordinator who was very curt and unfriendly to the father of a top prospect who came up to introduce himself. This same coach failed to return phone calls of a respected summer coach who contacted him to put out feelers regarding various players.

*A head coach who informed two of his players the day they returned to school that their scholarships had not been renewed. The registrar had dropped all the players' courses since no payment had been made.

*A head coach who treated certain talented players like scum. He mistreated them in various ways and had them sit most of the season while less talented players (who ended the season with a BA of less than .200) got dozens or hundreds of at bats. (He had not inherited these players; they were recruited by his program.) One player who left ended up at the top of several offensive categories for his esteemed summer league.

A few months ago, I talked with a player who left a D1 program because, as he put it, it was becoming increasingly hard to get out of bed each morning. He said he'd wake up and think, "How is coach going to insult us today?" I knew a player being recruited by this coach and passed on what I had heard to his dad. This information corroborated things he had heard from other players and his son chose to sign for a different program.

What goes around definitely comes around.

On the other hand, there are coaches who are widely esteemed by many. Ask a lot of questions and you will get nothing but positive answers. Word gets around fast about these coaches too.

It's definitely a small world.
Last edited {1}
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TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
The operative word for me is "heard"----'tain't always what is true


me too.

#1 where did the father try to introduce himself, was it while the coach was busy working? As far as returning phone calls, most are not real good at it.

#2 in son's case, after funding is released he had to sign his scholarship papers each semester, if not signed may not receive funding, it says RETURN BY THIS DATE or funding may not occur, besides who doesn't check their account before they come back to school to see if the bill has been paid? This year my son didn't receive funding (due to going pro) and was not withdrawn from classes until he didn't show up, that is how it is usually done, because the player has the option to return and pay the bill himself if not playing. Not checking to see if your business has or hasn't been taken care of shows lack of responsibility, maybe that is WHY there were not funds.

#3 many players who sit think they are treated like scum. Some also end up sitting for other various reasons. I know of some players who sat in various programs because they had bad attitudes, but they didn't think they did. Coaches do this to force them to transfer. Having a good summer doesn't mean you will get playing time at school.

#4 Maybe he didn't want to get up in the morning because he just wasn't cut out for it. People tend to tell you what is their version.

I agree that there are some coaches who shouldn't be coaching. Sometimes many players think that strong motivation is insulting.

FYI, college baseball is a whole different animal than what most are used to in HS. No hand holding.

It is a small world, but most what you hear is through "I heard".
Last edited by TPM
B baseballguy100+ posts
I would agree to not take everything we "hear" as gospel. On the other hand, if you "hear" something about a coach or a program, it should become another piece of information about that coach or program to be investigated. If you keep "hearing" similar comments...maybe the comments have merit (even the comments on this website).

Every situation and every decision is unique to the individual. Some people may thrive in certain types of programs/with certain types of coaches while others detest them. I am believing more and more that each student/athlete and his family must find the 'right' situation for them.....keeping in mind that it might very well be the 'wrong' place for someone else.

But...yes, it IS a small world after all.
T TripleDad500+ posts
The only real way to get info is to "hear" it, whether it be from one persons mouth to anothers ear..."HEAR", or email blog whatever. That is not the point. The concern is the integrity of the source. Is there an ax to grind?, an attempt to degrade a repuation or program? Maybe someone that misinterpetes the situation. And most often, what you hear is half the story.
I think most of us have heard so much biased garbage over the years about coaches and kids that we learn to ignore a lot of it.
I mentioned in another thread about some kids getting quickly cut for what seemed minor ist time offenses. It is my guess there is a whole lot more to the story.
D deldad500+ posts
It is imperative that one has an open mind to both the good and bad information. Someone who bases a decision on one source is foolish. Also, someone who hears a cautionary tale about the actions of a school or a coach and choses to ignore it does so at their own peril.

It is a small world, there are people on this board who have called me in reference to my kid playing for their team or have spoken in front of me about my kid without knowing I was there. Like everything in life, the one with the most information is usually the most prepared and therefore wins. Take it all in listen to it all, be your own filter. Trust your eyes and ears not those of the so called experts.
B bb1100+ posts
I know that what is heard is not always true. However, it is true that what goes around comes around. I can not speak for college as so many of you can and it is deeply appreciated what is shared. High school though, the parents that have children that want to continue to play in college do talk. Especially since we do have open enrollment so you may not be tied to one particular school. Parents that have heard things, call and want to know more. I can only tell them what I know to be true and let them form their own opinions. They need to find out for themselves and hopefully no one gets hurt in the meantime. Saturday I found out a kid will require TJ. Though there are no injuries in the program according to the coach and there are more, this one was just the most disheartening. It didn't have to happen.
There are always players in the wings waiting to fill the spot regardless of how the coach treats them.
H HitaHomer1100+ posts
My son, when he was younger, attended only one school's camp every year - the big SEC school in our state. Of course he dreamed of growing up and playing there. Would have been one of those players to step in with no questions asked. Then he went to Auburn's camp his junior year - long story why he was there, its far away - and saw how the coaches treated the campers. He said they treated ALL the players with so much respect and that the head coach shook hands with every new pitcher that took the mound etc. He said the atmosphere of the camp just was amazing and the hitting coach wrote him a hand written note after the camp. Well, right then and there he said he didn't think he would ever want to play for the school in our state because he realized how arrogant the coaches were and how a lot of what he had heard about them seemed to be true. Unfortunately he won't be going to Auburn, as he is not that top of a prospect, but he always compliments those coaches when any college discussion comes up. You never know what kid is going to develop into a top prospect that will end up going to Auburn because they treated him with respect even when he wasn't a top prospect. Kids talk and sometimes they are right on target. I think you should always at least listen.
Infield08Infield081,000+ posts
quote:
Most coaches at camp will treat their paying customers with respect.


True, but at certain camps there are a few favorites which get WAY more "respect" (i.e., attention) than the rest. It is really obvious, and it makes the rest of the campers feel disrespected. (Coaches giving certain players chances to run the 60 over, giving them way more innings of PT than other players during a scrimmage, constantly joking around with them, etc.) My son has been on both sides of the fence and he will tell you that while it was fun to be a "favorite," it felt pretty crummy to be almost ignored.

It really stands out when the staff at camps go out of their way to make all campers feel welcome and respected, no matter their talent level or recruitment potential. It reveals that they care about the campers as individuals and want to help them reach their highest potential, whatever that may be. The character and integrity that they display is not soon forgotten, as HitaHomer can attest.
Last edited by Infield08
H HitaHomer1100+ posts
Son doesn't say bad things about other camps, just has stated that the Auburn camp had an "atmosphere" unlike any others. And, I'm not sure if he has gotten any hand written notes from schools that want him, let alone a big SEC school that isn't recruiting him. Anyway, I just think you never know where what a kid - or numerous kids - says about you/your program might help or hurt.

TPM: This was labor day 2006.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
Hitahomer,

HC Tom Slater, IMO, is one of the good guys.
He was the hitting coach when DK was being recruited to UF, we had a chance to spend the weekend with him and I saw him often when he was recruiting DK at games. Former HC at VMI, the man is a gentleman.

My son has only been to one camp and it was when he was junior, he was beiing considered by this school, so looking back he did get special attention.

Most of the really big schools who run camps from my understanding are pretty good. But I can understand that if a coach or his staff is not willing to make an effort to be nice to everyone, it would leave a poor impression. Many schools that run camps for all ages will still be watching the recruits closely, while making others feel they got what they paid for. I know a parent told me once he visited the camp where son went to school and the pitching coach worked with all 100 pitchers, regardless of age. Some camps will have their players assigned to different groups, usually the younger ones, while coaches have a chance to move around. I know this from my son working camp. He was assigned to "fungo" instruction and bullpen demonstrations. Smile

The same goes for the "camper" he has to leave a good impression as well. Wink

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