DIA - Dad Is an A$$.
...of course there were also the DIA's to avoid.
DIA - Dad Is an A$$.
DIA - Dad Is an A$$.
JB,
I don't think "it's political" either, but there is most definitely "Favortism" at certain levels of baseball.....
I had been helping a friend with his 9-U Pony (Mustang) baseball team this year. I thoroughly enjoyed coaching and teaching the fundamentals of the game to these young men. I didn't have any family members on the field, I was just there to have a good time and help out a friend. Having been away from "Rec Ball" for nearly ten years, I had forgotten how bad parents can be. I understand that everyone loves their kids, and WE ALL want the best for our children. I witnessed several things the last couple of months that made me uncomfortable. You know what, it was probably just as bad ten years ago, but I had to walk away. My buddy has other dads with kids on the team that can step in and help out, so I didn't leave him hanging...I just felt like I'd leave the "daddy ball" to the Dads. It's not Political...but there is Favortism, it's on youth fields now, and it was there fifty years ago.
There may be some politics in HS baseball, but I didn't see it at my son's school. What I saw was a coach that put kids on the field that he felt comfortable with. Yes, he played the sons of Booster Supporters, not because they were helping out with the program, but because they were the Best players (in his opinion) to help the team succeed. Did everyone agree with the decisions? Not at all. I don't think you'll ever please 100% of a team...that's Life.
This year I've watched a HOF college baseball coach try several lineups throughout the season on my son's team. They've struggled and it doesn't appear that a fifth staight regional is in the cards for 2012? I have witnessed Skip trying many different lineups throughout the season, and besides the four starting everyday seniors, nobody's position has been safe. No Politics here...maybe some "Favortism", however, IMO it's about the all important comfort level and Winning!
I can't comment on Professional Baseball, but there's absolutely No Doubt that there's politics when it comes to the draft. We've all seen the son of an executive, a scout, an agent, a former ballplayer, etc...get drafted over players with more talent. Yes, we know the story of how Mike Piazza was drafted very late by the Dodgers as a favor to Lasorda...and Yes, that worked out pretty well. But more often than not, these are Wasted Draft picks, and players with more upside are left on the outside looking in.
There's Daddyball...Favortism...Politics...That's LIFE. With that said, in the long run (IMHO)...it's about improving each day to be the best ballplayer you can at whatever level that may be, and to quote Charlie Sheen..."WINNING!"
I don't think "it's political" either, but there is most definitely "Favortism" at certain levels of baseball.....
I had been helping a friend with his 9-U Pony (Mustang) baseball team this year. I thoroughly enjoyed coaching and teaching the fundamentals of the game to these young men. I didn't have any family members on the field, I was just there to have a good time and help out a friend. Having been away from "Rec Ball" for nearly ten years, I had forgotten how bad parents can be. I understand that everyone loves their kids, and WE ALL want the best for our children. I witnessed several things the last couple of months that made me uncomfortable. You know what, it was probably just as bad ten years ago, but I had to walk away. My buddy has other dads with kids on the team that can step in and help out, so I didn't leave him hanging...I just felt like I'd leave the "daddy ball" to the Dads. It's not Political...but there is Favortism, it's on youth fields now, and it was there fifty years ago.
There may be some politics in HS baseball, but I didn't see it at my son's school. What I saw was a coach that put kids on the field that he felt comfortable with. Yes, he played the sons of Booster Supporters, not because they were helping out with the program, but because they were the Best players (in his opinion) to help the team succeed. Did everyone agree with the decisions? Not at all. I don't think you'll ever please 100% of a team...that's Life.
This year I've watched a HOF college baseball coach try several lineups throughout the season on my son's team. They've struggled and it doesn't appear that a fifth staight regional is in the cards for 2012? I have witnessed Skip trying many different lineups throughout the season, and besides the four starting everyday seniors, nobody's position has been safe. No Politics here...maybe some "Favortism", however, IMO it's about the all important comfort level and Winning!
I can't comment on Professional Baseball, but there's absolutely No Doubt that there's politics when it comes to the draft. We've all seen the son of an executive, a scout, an agent, a former ballplayer, etc...get drafted over players with more talent. Yes, we know the story of how Mike Piazza was drafted very late by the Dodgers as a favor to Lasorda...and Yes, that worked out pretty well. But more often than not, these are Wasted Draft picks, and players with more upside are left on the outside looking in.
There's Daddyball...Favortism...Politics...That's LIFE. With that said, in the long run (IMHO)...it's about improving each day to be the best ballplayer you can at whatever level that may be, and to quote Charlie Sheen..."WINNING!"
quote:Originally posted by justbaseball:
...of course there wear also the DIA's to avoid.
DIA - Dad Is an A$$.
HaHa...DIA, or LP's (Loud Parents)
If your last name isn't Ford you're not going to be Chairman of the Board of Ford Motor Company no matter how qualified you may be. That's life!quote:There's Daddyball...Favortism...Politics...That's LIFE.
I'm thankful for politics personally. It put my son in a much better position to get further in the game. Not in the way you would expect though...
My son had a great 12u season. Absolutely dominated every game he pitched. Probably hit about .900. Was a stud catcher when he wasn't pitching.
Of course when all-star time came around he didn't make the team. Why? Because his father (and head coach) refused to play the "vote for my son and I'll vote for yours" game. Apparently the other coaches felt they were teaching me a lesson...
But I thank them. Instead of going to the first all-star practice, my son went to a travel team tryout. Apparently the coaches there saw something the rec. coaches didn't see, because the next week my son was the starting pitcher in the team's first bracket game.
Since then he has moved to second team headed by a respected local HS coach, and become that team's number one pitcher. He's gotten to pitch against the area's best players and held his own. He's gotten to work with two former MLB pitchers to help him tweak both his mechanics, and mental approach.
What have the players who made the "all-star" team gotten? The chance to keep playing in the same rec league with the same coaches. They have also got a surprise coming when they hit HS and no longer have their daddy to clear the way for them.
So I am thankful for politics, without it my son would probably still be playing in that rec program. He would not have received the opportunity to show that he didn't need me - he could stand on his own. He wouldn't be nearly as prepared as he will be when the day for HS tryouts rolls around if it weren't for politics.
Heck, if it weren't for politics I might be out there coaching third, roasting my butt in the hot sun, instead of sitting in a comfortable chair in the shade with a hot dog and a cool drink.
Again, YEA POLITICS !!
My son had a great 12u season. Absolutely dominated every game he pitched. Probably hit about .900. Was a stud catcher when he wasn't pitching.
Of course when all-star time came around he didn't make the team. Why? Because his father (and head coach) refused to play the "vote for my son and I'll vote for yours" game. Apparently the other coaches felt they were teaching me a lesson...
But I thank them. Instead of going to the first all-star practice, my son went to a travel team tryout. Apparently the coaches there saw something the rec. coaches didn't see, because the next week my son was the starting pitcher in the team's first bracket game.
Since then he has moved to second team headed by a respected local HS coach, and become that team's number one pitcher. He's gotten to pitch against the area's best players and held his own. He's gotten to work with two former MLB pitchers to help him tweak both his mechanics, and mental approach.
What have the players who made the "all-star" team gotten? The chance to keep playing in the same rec league with the same coaches. They have also got a surprise coming when they hit HS and no longer have their daddy to clear the way for them.
So I am thankful for politics, without it my son would probably still be playing in that rec program. He would not have received the opportunity to show that he didn't need me - he could stand on his own. He wouldn't be nearly as prepared as he will be when the day for HS tryouts rolls around if it weren't for politics.
Heck, if it weren't for politics I might be out there coaching third, roasting my butt in the hot sun, instead of sitting in a comfortable chair in the shade with a hot dog and a cool drink.
Again, YEA POLITICS !!
quote:Originally posted by RJM:It doesn't bother me they are drafted. They're generally picked from the 40th to 60th round. What bothers me is if they receive a roster spot or playing time over a more deserving player in short season A ball.quote:I personally have no issue with kids of big leaguers or team management officials or scouts' kids getting drafted as a courtesy.
I have no issue with it, if this is what the team decides to do, reward it's employees by drafting their sons, that's their business. No matter what, the player still has to earn his way up the ladder. How many do they actually draft each year under that circumstance, one, two, three?
I think I get what JBB was getting at, of course there is favoritism, it exists everywhere. It isn't always a bad thing, JMO. However, this seems to be an excuse a parent uses when the player doesn't put in the time they feel he should in the game.
Our story is like Rob T's story. If it wasn't for politics, we never would have found travel ball. It happened 8 years ago and was the best thing that ever happened to us baseball wise.
I have noticed some politics or most likely favortism in HS. But the studs play. Politics only seen to effect bench players. Some kids get on the team and some get cut. Seems a fair deal for parents that spend an insane amount of time volunteering and fundraising.
I have noticed some politics or most likely favortism in HS. But the studs play. Politics only seen to effect bench players. Some kids get on the team and some get cut. Seems a fair deal for parents that spend an insane amount of time volunteering and fundraising.
Sure there is politics there when the coaches don't even bother to win. For those that want to win, unless they are overwhelming strong, they better put up a strong starting line-up. The kids know who their peers are good and who are not. I could see the team chemistry quickly goes down when coach favored his kid and the kid made too many errors. I had seen games where a coach made a mistake in the starting pitcher and were down 0-9 in the 1st inning. The coach had to pull the pitcher out. Now how would the coach tell the team to rally after that?
One day this year, someone accused me of "having favorites" on our team. The implication was that this was a terrible sin. When I was a younger coach, I thought it was terrible also.
He/she was right. I do have favorites. My favorites are those athletes who most frequently do what I ask of them. To those that do, I give more attention. I talk to them more. I spend more time teaching them. I also expect more of them.
The implication was made that my favorites improved more than others because they were my favorites, and that was somehow unfair. He/she mistook cause for effect.
The fact is, that the athletes who come to me ready to learn, and try it my way even if it is more challenging and more difficult than they imagined, are ready to get more out of our
program. And they are my favorites.
As a coach, I have only one thing to offer an athlete. What I can offer is my attention. This means that I attend to their needs. The reward for good behavior should be attention, attending to their needs. The consequence of inattentions, lack of effort, unwillingness or un-readiness to learn, or just plain offensive or disruptive behavior, is my inattention to that athlete.
How can it be any other way? If you have three children, and you spend all of your time and energy working with one that displays negative behavior, what does that tell your other two children? It tells them that to capture your attention, they should behave poorly. What we reward is what we get.
As a coach, I want athletes who are eager to learn, eager to experiment, to improve, and eager to work hard. I want athletes who come to me for help in developing their mental and physical skills and are willing to accept what I have to offer. Otherwise, why have they come to me?
I am going to reward that athlete with my attention. In doing so, I encourage others to become like the athlete above. If I spend my time with the unwilling, and/or disruptive athlete, I would only encourage undesirable behavior. I want to forge a link between attention and excellence.
Excellence is the sense of achieving all that is possible and desired. My way of making this happen is to provide my knowledge and attention to those who "attend" to me. This does result in increased performance for those that do so. I am a professional coach, and when I pay attention to a person, that person is going to improve. Over time, this makes it appear that my "favorites" are the better athletes. Not so at all.
The better athletes are those that pay attention, and thus become my favorites. What the accusing person doesn't realize is that you must have favorites if anyone is to develop in a positive fashion. The coach's job is to reward those who exhibit positive developmental behaviors.
Those are my "favorites", and they should be.
Author: Anonymous
He/she was right. I do have favorites. My favorites are those athletes who most frequently do what I ask of them. To those that do, I give more attention. I talk to them more. I spend more time teaching them. I also expect more of them.
The implication was made that my favorites improved more than others because they were my favorites, and that was somehow unfair. He/she mistook cause for effect.
The fact is, that the athletes who come to me ready to learn, and try it my way even if it is more challenging and more difficult than they imagined, are ready to get more out of our
program. And they are my favorites.
As a coach, I have only one thing to offer an athlete. What I can offer is my attention. This means that I attend to their needs. The reward for good behavior should be attention, attending to their needs. The consequence of inattentions, lack of effort, unwillingness or un-readiness to learn, or just plain offensive or disruptive behavior, is my inattention to that athlete.
How can it be any other way? If you have three children, and you spend all of your time and energy working with one that displays negative behavior, what does that tell your other two children? It tells them that to capture your attention, they should behave poorly. What we reward is what we get.
As a coach, I want athletes who are eager to learn, eager to experiment, to improve, and eager to work hard. I want athletes who come to me for help in developing their mental and physical skills and are willing to accept what I have to offer. Otherwise, why have they come to me?
I am going to reward that athlete with my attention. In doing so, I encourage others to become like the athlete above. If I spend my time with the unwilling, and/or disruptive athlete, I would only encourage undesirable behavior. I want to forge a link between attention and excellence.
Excellence is the sense of achieving all that is possible and desired. My way of making this happen is to provide my knowledge and attention to those who "attend" to me. This does result in increased performance for those that do so. I am a professional coach, and when I pay attention to a person, that person is going to improve. Over time, this makes it appear that my "favorites" are the better athletes. Not so at all.
The better athletes are those that pay attention, and thus become my favorites. What the accusing person doesn't realize is that you must have favorites if anyone is to develop in a positive fashion. The coach's job is to reward those who exhibit positive developmental behaviors.
Those are my "favorites", and they should be.
Author: Anonymous
Going back to my original post on the top while there's politics, far more often politics is used as an excuse rather than dealing in reality.quote:Originally posted by TPM:quote:Originally posted by RJM:It doesn't bother me they are drafted. They're generally picked from the 40th to 60th round. What bothers me is if they receive a roster spot or playing time over a more deserving player in short season A ball.quote:I personally have no issue with kids of big leaguers or team management officials or scouts' kids getting drafted as a courtesy.
I have no issue with it, if this is what the team decides to do, reward it's employees by drafting their sons, that's their business. No matter what, the player still has to earn his way up the ladder. How many do they actually draft each year under that circumstance, one, two, three?
I think I get what JBB was getting at, of course there is favoritism, it exists everywhere. It isn't always a bad thing, JMO. However, this seems to be an excuse a parent uses when the player doesn't put in the time they feel he should in the game.
I watched a sophomore third baseman on a varsity team, supposedly good football player. Make 17 plays out of 40 chances, hit .220 and get thrown out every steal attempt, start all but one game.
I just wonder what his Dad post's.
I just wonder what his Dad post's.
quote:Originally posted by RJM:Going back to my original post on the top while there's politics, far more often politics is used as an excuse rather than dealing in reality.quote:Originally posted by TPM:quote:Originally posted by RJM:It doesn't bother me they are drafted. They're generally picked from the 40th to 60th round. What bothers me is if they receive a roster spot or playing time over a more deserving player in short season A ball.quote:I personally have no issue with kids of big leaguers or team management officials or scouts' kids getting drafted as a courtesy.
I have no issue with it, if this is what the team decides to do, reward it's employees by drafting their sons, that's their business. No matter what, the player still has to earn his way up the ladder. How many do they actually draft each year under that circumstance, one, two, three?
I think I get what JBB was getting at, of course there is favoritism, it exists everywhere. It isn't always a bad thing, JMO. However, this seems to be an excuse a parent uses when the player doesn't put in the time they feel he should in the game.
I was agreeing with you, about the draft and using politics as an excuse when the player isn't playing.
This is a great thread and instead of starting something similar, I thought I'd just comment here.
Of course "Politics" exists, at every facet of life. "Nepotism", whatever you want to call it. What we tell our Kid is "be so good that a coach will have no choice but to play you." I think few parents realize just how close their Kid is to the "bubble" of not being a starter/not making a team/getting benched/getting dropped off the recruiting radar.
Sometimes it isn't fair. Guess what: Newsflash----- Life ain't fair! Get used to it and get over it. Work harder
I stopped coaching my Kid's teams at 14U. For 15U tryouts this month (15U in 2018 summer) my Kid decided he only wanted to try out for the best travel programs in the Midwest. He didn't make one of them, they were nice enough to give us honest feedback: "great hitter, great hands defensively, too slow of a runner, we don't have a defensive position for him." Some other Kids who have been in that program a long time made the team, kids that my son has competed very successfully against in the past. Are we crying politics? Heck no! Our son has to improve his running speed/athleticism. No excuses. He's 14, he can get there
He did get selected by another of the Top Travel Teams, which of course we're happy about. But that doesn't change the fact that he is still running the sixty in 8 something. He's going to have to work very very hard just to earn playing time on this team. He's going to need to work on his speed regardless. Some other Kid who is fast but 5'3" might say it "just isn't fair" that my slow Kid got selected just because my Kid is 5'11" 175 pounds of muscle at 14, not shaving yet still has plenty more growth ahead of him.
I told my son from here on out you will have to fight hard for playing time at every level. Get used to it. No excuses. I think it is good to put your Kid in a position where he has to work harder than ever just to get a chance. Work to overcome favoritism and anything else.... its not going to get easier
I've never wanted mine to be the best player on a team because there is no one to push him. I think you play the best ball you can afford. It is time that we as parents stop making excuses for our kids and start being honest with them. I have people in my community tell me you think your kid all that. I respond with no. I've been to the real world and know where my child fits into the whole scheme of sports at the highest level and he is not close. We as parents have to be lovingly honest with our children. Sometimes they need love and sometimes they need honestly and it is hard to know which is needed the most at the time. But we must quit babying them and blaming everybody else when they don't get to play or when they don't make a team.
I will also throw this in here. Some times it is the parents that keep a kid from making a team or getting playing time. I have had some kids that were good but I would not pick them for my travel teams because I did not want to deal with the parents. I know for a fact because I have had the conversation with recruiters and head coaches. There are colleges that won't recruit certain kids because of mom or dad. One guy said to me I listen at the games and there is no way I could put up with that mouth for four years. The kid's ability can't make up for the dad's mouth.
3and2, isn't hsbbweb a tremendous resource? This thread from over 5 years ago is just as true & applicable today as it ever was! I especially am glad to re-read AGDAD19's post of Favoratism above. I recall a thread from this summer where a parent complained about playing time...Hope he comes to this thread & can find a way to "make the adjustment " in thinking.
And your words of advice are priceless, unchanging! Give no room to excuses.
Local 11U travel team tryouts. Coach needed to pick up two players but had three trying out.
Players 1 & 2 were a package deal as they lived outside of our local area. They lived close to each other and would rely on player 2's mom to drive them to practice. Player 1 was an all time stud, once in a lifetime player that every team would want to have. He was much bigger than all the kids and could crush the ball. Player 2 was below average compared to the rest of the team. Small, weak hitter, no real position other than PO. And, he was just an average pitcher.
Player 3 was local and a very good hitter and could play multiple positions. He would have immediately been one of our best hitters and one of our best players.
It was obvious that the parents of player 2 had hitched their wagon to the monster that was player 1. If our coach wanted player 1, he had to take player 2. The coach didn't have an option to take all three players.
He decided to take 1 and 2. Player 1 was as good as I've described and hit bombs. He was a novelty act because of his size and was a favorite among his teammates. Player 2 was a weak player and never fit in. Player 2 sulked and cried if he didn't do well, and displayed horrible body language on the mound when things were going badly. The package deal lasted one summer and then both players moved on.
Player 3 would go on to become a very good high school player and was the conference player of the year. Despite several D2 offers, he only wanted to play if it was at a D1. So he chose not to play in college.
Player 2 was finished with baseball by high school.
Player 1 was drafted out of high school in the 4th round.
Stafford posted:Local 11U travel team tryouts. Coach needed to pick up two players but had three trying out.
Players 1 & 2 were a package deal as they lived outside of our local area. They lived close to each other and would rely on player 2's mom to drive them to practice. Player 1 was an all time stud, once in a lifetime player that every team would want to have. He was much bigger than all the kids and could crush the ball. Player 2 was below average compared to the rest of the team. Small, weak hitter, no real position other than PO. And, he was just an average pitcher.
Player 3 was local and a very good hitter and could play multiple positions. He would have immediately been one of our best hitters and one of our best players.
It was obvious that the parents of player 2 had hitched their wagon to the monster that was player 1. If our coach wanted player 1, he had to take player 2. The coach didn't have an option to take all three players.
He decided to take 1 and 2. Player 1 was as good as I've described and hit bombs. He was a novelty act because of his size and was a favorite among his teammates. Player 2 was a weak player and never fit in. Player 2 sulked and cried if he didn't do well, and displayed horrible body language on the mound when things were going badly. The package deal lasted one summer and then both players moved on.
Player 3 would go on to become a very good high school player and was the conference player of the year. Despite several D2 offers, he only wanted to play if it was at a D1. So he chose not to play in college.
Player 2 was finished with baseball by high school.
Player 1 was drafted out of high school in the 4th round.
Cool story...thanks for sharing!
RJM posted:I remember a Legion teammate's mother screaming politics when he wasn't chosen to start a regional game when the scheduled starter was injured. What she failed to recognize was it was payback for blowing off the last day of states the previous year because the parents didn't think he would pitch.
The mother bltched all year about his lack of opportunity to pitch and politics. We had four pitchers ultimately drafted from that team. Six pitchers went on to pitch in college. Her son wasn't one of them. To this day she thinks the Legion coach killed his college chances.
A coach held a grudge for a year? That's petty...and it's politics
justbaseball posted:quote:
I will state a view that won't be popular among many. But since it was brought up, I personally have no issue with kids of big leaguers or team management officials or scouts' kids getting drafted as a courtesy.
That is nepotism. politics and a real disservice to other young men who are better skilled and won't get the opportunity because of a relationship...and sadly, that is life.
I am seeing a lot of posters who I have never seen post before, that is awesome. Some have a lot of time on the board too...glad to see your responses. - edit -idiot alert, I just saw the dates of some of these posts, duh!!!
I equate politics to my son in the following way, as it relates to benefitting from them: "Imagine you are coach and you have two guys with the same stats, abilities, etc. competing for the last position on the team. One does everything the coach asks of him, so does the other. But one is clearly more likeable than the other. Which kid gets the nod?"
My wife was a high school teacher before we started our family. Same scenario with students who are borderline on a grade...much easier to help a kid you like than one who is an a-hole.
SanDiegoRealist posted:I am seeing a lot of posters who I have never seen post before, that is awesome. Some have a lot of time on the board too...glad to see your responses.
I equate politics to my son in the following way, as it relates to benefitting from them: "Imagine you are coach and you have two guys with the same stats, abilities, etc. competing for the last position on the team. One does everything the coach asks of him, so does the other. But one is clearly more likeable than the other. Which kid gets the nod?"
My wife was a high school teacher before we started our family. Same scenario with students who are borderline on a grade...much easier to help a kid you like than one who is an a-hole.
SDR, in case you are talking about this particular thread as it regards to seeing posters you haven't seen, that is because the bulk of this thread is from 2012 
As far as taking the more likable kid instead of the a-hole, yeah, I'll usually go that route but i do so because the a-hole is more likely to negatively affect the team atmosphere and, thus, the team performance - that's a meaningful tiebreaker. Sometimes, it depends on what kind of a-hole. Last year, I was hoping to keep a kid around that most of the other players didn't like. He was a competitive SOB ( taking it too far at times) and, at the time, the group lacked that edge. He would have rubbed some the wrong way but would also have raised the bar where it was needed. I would say my opinion was definitely the minority on that one. Later, some people came around to seeing it.
SanDiegoRealist posted:justbaseball posted:quote:
I will state a view that won't be popular among many. But since it was brought up, I personally have no issue with kids of big leaguers or team management officials or scouts' kids getting drafted as a courtesy.That is nepotism. politics and a real disservice to other young men who are better skilled and won't get the opportunity because of a relationship...and sadly, that is life.
IMO, I doubt these picks realistically take away much opportunity from other young men. If they are good enough, they will get picked and if by chance they miss out on Round #40 because some team decides to pick the 3rd base coach's grandson, then they can sign as a free agent. Really no difference between being picked #1,215 and being signed as a free agent. These picks don't really squeeze out talent.
cabbagedad posted:SanDiegoRealist posted:I am seeing a lot of posters who I have never seen post before, that is awesome. Some have a lot of time on the board too...glad to see your responses.
I equate politics to my son in the following way, as it relates to benefitting from them: "Imagine you are coach and you have two guys with the same stats, abilities, etc. competing for the last position on the team. One does everything the coach asks of him, so does the other. But one is clearly more likeable than the other. Which kid gets the nod?"
My wife was a high school teacher before we started our family. Same scenario with students who are borderline on a grade...much easier to help a kid you like than one who is an a-hole.
SDR, in case you are talking about this particular thread as it regards to seeing posters you haven't seen, that is because the bulk of this thread is from 2012
As far as taking the more likable kid instead of the a-hole, yeah, I'll usually go that route but i do so because the a-hole is more likely to negatively affect the team atmosphere and, thus, the team performance - that's a meaningful tiebreaker. Sometimes, it depends on what kind of a-hole. Last year, I was hoping to keep a kid around that most of the other players didn't like. He was a competitive SOB ( taking it too far at times) and, at the time, the group lacked that edge. He would have rubbed some the wrong way but would also have raised the bar where it was needed. I would say my opinion was definitely the minority on that one. Later, some people came around to seeing it.
Just saw that and edited my post....what a tool!
2017LHPscrewball posted:IMO, I doubt these picks realistically take away much opportunity from other young men. If they are good enough, they will get picked and if by chance they miss out on Round #40 because some team decides to pick the 3rd base coach's grandson, then they can sign as a free agent. Really no difference between being picked #1,215 and being signed as a free agent. These picks don't really squeeze out talent.
Do some research and see how many draftees and DI ship recipients have some relative who’s in the “business”. It’s not the high profile studs that get squeezed out. It’s the players on the bubble who are shoved out.
My mother told me 3 things when I put on a tie and went to my first "real" job -
1) It is not what you know, it is who you know
2) The secretaries run everything - kiss their ass
3) Be nice to everyone on the way up - you'll see them on the way down
All 3 true ...and political.
SanDiegoRealist posted:cabbagedad posted:SanDiegoRealist posted:I am seeing a lot of posters who I have never seen post before, that is awesome. Some have a lot of time on the board too...glad to see your responses.
I equate politics to my son in the following way, as it relates to benefitting from them: "Imagine you are coach and you have two guys with the same stats, abilities, etc. competing for the last position on the team. One does everything the coach asks of him, so does the other. But one is clearly more likeable than the other. Which kid gets the nod?"
My wife was a high school teacher before we started our family. Same scenario with students who are borderline on a grade...much easier to help a kid you like than one who is an a-hole.
SDR, in case you are talking about this particular thread as it regards to seeing posters you haven't seen, that is because the bulk of this thread is from 2012
As far as taking the more likable kid instead of the a-hole, yeah, I'll usually go that route but i do so because the a-hole is more likely to negatively affect the team atmosphere and, thus, the team performance - that's a meaningful tiebreaker. Sometimes, it depends on what kind of a-hole. Last year, I was hoping to keep a kid around that most of the other players didn't like. He was a competitive SOB ( taking it too far at times) and, at the time, the group lacked that edge. He would have rubbed some the wrong way but would also have raised the bar where it was needed. I would say my opinion was definitely the minority on that one. Later, some people came around to seeing it.
Just saw that and edited my post....what a tool!
Pay attention..lol!
Stats4Gnats posted:2017LHPscrewball posted:IMO, I doubt these picks realistically take away much opportunity from other young men. If they are good enough, they will get picked and if by chance they miss out on Round #40 because some team decides to pick the 3rd base coach's grandson, then they can sign as a free agent. Really no difference between being picked #1,215 and being signed as a free agent. These picks don't really squeeze out talent.
Do some research and see how many draftees and DI ship recipients have some relative who’s in the “business”. It’s not the high profile studs that get squeezed out. It’s the players on the bubble who are shoved out.
I actually have to agree with you on one point - that some kids "on the bubble" don't get drafted, but if you are drafted at #1,200 after 3-4 years of college ball, then you most likely don't really have a promising future in professional baseball (if you are a high schooler picked #1,200 you probably have a good shot at getting your education subsidized). Not sure I would agree with the term "shoved out" - I think something along the lines of "passed over" or "told you are not good enough" might be more appropriate. But again, if you are "on the bubble" and you still want your shot, you had better have a game plan that doesn't rely on you sneaking into the 40th round.
Perhaps your use of the term "disservice" is what really stuck out - in most cases when it comes to these "bubble" picks, it is probably the exact opposite. Using the phrase bandied about when it comes to playing time, work harder and get good enough so they cannot help but pick you earlier - something in the 20's seems pretty safe.
If you are a high schooler getting a pick at the 1200 slot, go to college.
Baseball Dudes on Facebook posted this, I think it makes sense here:
"Truth"
It can sting. It may hurt our pride. It can be tough to hear and the reaction is often to get frustrated with the other side and blame them for not seeing, hearing and/or believing what we do.
We are going in a different direction. You need to get better. They are better at this than you are. You're making poor decisions. We aren't seeing the growth in the players that we expected. We struggle with the lack of communication. You're not strong enough. You're not fast enough. You're not good enough. We have found it hard to trust your words. Here are your weaknesses...
Man, who wants to hear all of that stuff?! Dagger to the heart. Instant hit to our self esteem. Raise your hand if you've ever experienced one, or many, of these moments [hand, both hands up here!!]. Been there, done that, experienced the pain of packing my bags and walking away in self pity and being told I wasn't good enough for them.
Now, we can either take these messages, blame the giver, go on about them being wrong and crawl into a hole with a couple gallons of ice cream or we can grow up, see it from the other side, learn from the feedback AND GET BETTER.
You see, no one is perfect, no one has this all figured out...NO ONE (even though some think they do)! These humbling moments are when we CAN grow the most as individuals. It's how we receive the message, how we process it and how we use it as fuel which WILL be the determining factor in how quickly we get back up, how hard we work to improve, how much farther we go in life and how much of a difference we can make in the lives of others.
The TRUTH is we are only as good as we are at how we handle the TRUTH. Real growth will be difficult to attain until you take your walls down, become coachable, accept reality that you are not the all mighty and learn to see the world through the eyes of others.
Growth, maturity, development, your future and the future of those around you will blossom when you become great at hearing the TRUTH.
luv baseball posted:My mother told me 3 things when I put on a tie and went to my first "real" job -
1) It is not what you know, it is who you know
2) The secretaries run everything - kiss their ass
3) Be nice to everyone on the way up - you'll see them on the way down
All 3 true ...and political.
I can't disagree with any of this but, I also would add this to #1. "It isn't who you know, but who knows you."
My son spent all Summer around campus as he was rehabbing from TJS. His school hosted multiple travel\showcase events and he worked them as a way to make a few dollars. Over the course of the summer he had numerous parents\players\coaches come up to him and ask him how he was doing. He said he couldn't remember meeting most of them but they all knew who he was.
I made sure to let him know that this is the reason I kept talking\lecturing him about how important it was to carry yourself in a positive manner on and off the field. Who knows, one of those folks could end up being his future boss.
I agree with everything posted above, but don't discount that daddy ball is out there. But like another poster stated, it turned out to be a great thing (for my son) because he just got asked to be on a great team with one of the best coaches around that truly and deeply cares about the well being of all the boys. Another poster on this site that has a son who can really play ball once told me, "if you want your son to get better at baseball and play at that next level(hs), get him out of township baseball." Truer words have never been spoken! Again, this relates to my son's experiences, might not be true for everyone.
Dadof3 posted:I agree with everything posted above, but don't discount that daddy ball is out there. But like another poster stated, it turned out to be a great thing (for my son) because he just got asked to be on a great team with one of the best coaches around that truly and deeply cares about the well being of all the boys. Another poster on this site that has a son who can really play ball once told me, "if you want your son to get better at baseball and play at that next level(hs), get him out of township baseball." Truer words have never been spoken! Again, this relates to my son's experiences, might not be true for everyone.
I honestly think each child and parent must make their own choices. Every one's position, skill set and attitude are unique. On top of that each area may or may not have good township programs, legion or HS programs.....
I had a township coach tell me once that travel ball has ruined the LL and above programs. Is this the chicken and egg? Did the better players leave the township leagues for better travel or did travel steal the better players at the expense of the leagues?
All I know is every time my 2020 tries to play a league season ( either fall ball or legion) he gets disgusted by the poor coaching and sub par talent that he is used to at the high end travel level. But be careful! Travel ball doesn't mean the end of Daddy ball. Research your team if going to a new one!
Kevin A posted:Dadof3 posted:I agree with everything posted above, but don't discount that daddy ball is out there. But like another poster stated, it turned out to be a great thing (for my son) because he just got asked to be on a great team with one of the best coaches around that truly and deeply cares about the well being of all the boys. Another poster on this site that has a son who can really play ball once told me, "if you want your son to get better at baseball and play at that next level(hs), get him out of township baseball." Truer words have never been spoken! Again, this relates to my son's experiences, might not be true for everyone.
I honestly think each child and parent must make their own choices. Every one's position, skill set and attitude are unique. On top of that each area may or may not have good township programs, legion or HS programs.....
I had a township coach tell me once that travel ball has ruined the LL and above programs. Is this the chicken and egg? Did the better players leave the township leagues for better travel or did travel steal the better players at the expense of the leagues?
All I know is every time my 2020 tries to play a league season ( either fall ball or legion) he gets disgusted by the poor coaching and sub par talent that he is used to at the high end travel level. But be careful! Travel ball doesn't mean the end of Daddy ball. Research your team if going to a new one!
I don't disagree with you, but you can also argue that travel ball has become watered down and really doesn't mean anything any special longer. We've all been to tournaments where the same 6, 8, or 10 teams are the ones who come and are competitive, the rest are kind of like chum in the water. Travel ball used to just be comprised of those competitive teams. Now there are soooo many teams. It's what, $150 a year to buy team insurance? Anyone can order jerseys and hats. Boom - you now have a travel team. Guess who is coaching those teams? Add to that you have guys (not necessarily Dads), who are seeing the writing on the wall - parents will pay $$$ to say their kid is playing travel ball. Doesn't matter if they are good, they have the jersey, attend the tournaments, and walk the walk.
Now the flip side to this is: Is this harmful at all? Most who post here know that I have strong opinions on the monetization of the college baseball dream/recruiting process, etc. But do guys creating travel ball teams (daddy ball teams) do any real harm? The only downside I see really is that they are watering down tournaments and making them less competitive. But as more kids who either think or are being told they are too good to play rec ball leave that arena, there are kids filling in those vacancies. Some probably wouldn't have gotten the chance to play rec ball if the more skilled players were still playing.
Not trying to be a jerk, but you can even look at the LLWS and see what I am talking about. The kids are not nearly the size they were even just 3-4 years ago. Those kids have abandoned LL for travel ball. My son's LL always had a kid or two who thought they were too good to play rec ball...until Majors season rolled around and they wanted to be an all-star so they could try to get to Williamsport. Heck, my son isn't that far removed from LL and he competed against a ton of kids who are committed to D1s like Vanderbilt, Arizona, etc. I just don't see that caliber of player in this year's LLWS and I think it has become a systemic problem of the perception that it is Daddy ball and not good baseball. LL needs to move majors division to 50/70 and allow leading off to get those kids back.
The travel ball industry is out of control and coaches see many players on teams that will not play at the college level.
Anyone can sponser a travel team. Make sure you know who that person or persons are. Make sure your coach has connections, because honestly in a lot of cases, its not what you know but who you know.
Then its up to the player to produce.
TPM posted:The travel ball industry is out of control and coaches see many players on teams that will not play at the college level.
Anyone can sponser a travel team. Make sure you know who that person or persons are. Make sure your coach has connections, because honestly in a lot of cases, its not what you know but who you know.
Then its up to the player to produce.
Well said
Most of Travel Ball now is just glorified Rec Ball. It is the kids who should still be in a Little League or Legion Ball program (based not just on ability but also based on how much time they actually put in on the game of Baseball) competing against other kids who should be in a Little League or Legion Ball program, except now they have fancier uniforms and more hotel stays.
As I've said in other threads, now that my Kid is starting high school (2021) and we are a little more aware of what is going on, there are really only 2 or 3 Travel programs in our state that I'd be OK with him playing for. They have the connections, they have the track record of developing players and placing them at the next level, they play in the higher level tournaments. Otherwise I'd spend that money on training to get Bigger/Faster/Stronger, instruction on hitting or pitching, and tutors to keep those grades more competitive. Then have my Kid be that much more prepared for tryouts with the "real teams" a year later.... make him work for it