Six teams' top prospects coming into the 2010 season were from Latin America. Why?
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Because they're good baseball players,,,I'm just guessing tho! 
quote:Originally posted by floridafan:
Six teams' top prospects coming into the 2010 season were from Latin America. Why?
CPLZ is right, because they are good.
Some of them work a bit harder than others in the game to get where they want to, while some won't make it at all (just like everyone else).
Good weather - year round play? Better youth instruction?
All the above, without a doubt!
With all due respect to those American born players who do know the meaning of the words, passion, commitment, desire, dedication......and love of the game.
We have become a society that's way too distracted, and way too focused on instant gratification. The concepts neccesary for our younger players to achieve success are somehow lost in all of our busyness.
There was a time when the sandlot "pick up" games were played from morning to night and you did not go home until your mom or dad dragged you there. We loved it.
That love, that passion, is hard to find these days. Apologies to our young athletes who actually do "get it".
With all due respect to those American born players who do know the meaning of the words, passion, commitment, desire, dedication......and love of the game.
We have become a society that's way too distracted, and way too focused on instant gratification. The concepts neccesary for our younger players to achieve success are somehow lost in all of our busyness.
There was a time when the sandlot "pick up" games were played from morning to night and you did not go home until your mom or dad dragged you there. We loved it.
That love, that passion, is hard to find these days. Apologies to our young athletes who actually do "get it".
quote:But they love it more than we love it. Their kids play it more than our kids play it.
To be very honest, from what I have seen in milb, I think that most american born players have more talent than latin players.
But the article explains alot, they don't have much to do there BUT play baseball 24/7. Therefore, the more you play the better you become.
They also don't have college options to consider.
But the article explains alot, they don't have much to do there BUT play baseball 24/7. Therefore, the more you play the better you become.
They also don't have college options to consider.
When kids see a sport as a means of bettering their own (and their families') circumstances, it stands to reason that many of them will dedicate themselves to becoming good at it.
Here in the U.S. we've determined that football and basketball are the only two sports worthy of a full scholarship to a Division I college. No wonder adults who are in a position to help guide economically disadvantaged youth here routinely nudge them in the direction of football and basketball.
They're the "ticket" to a college education at the very least; and, for the best among them, the NFL and NBA. Baseball provides no such "ticket."
Here in the U.S. we've determined that football and basketball are the only two sports worthy of a full scholarship to a Division I college. No wonder adults who are in a position to help guide economically disadvantaged youth here routinely nudge them in the direction of football and basketball.
They're the "ticket" to a college education at the very least; and, for the best among them, the NFL and NBA. Baseball provides no such "ticket."
These two quotes from the article posted above say alot!
"When a child is in the womb, that's when the father buys him a baseball glove," says Francisco "Frank" Cruz, a Dominican youth coach.
"American coaches who visit the D.R. are intrigued by how these young players are made. For starters, they note, most Dominican kids don't have video games-they have beisbol".
"When a child is in the womb, that's when the father buys him a baseball glove," says Francisco "Frank" Cruz, a Dominican youth coach.
"American coaches who visit the D.R. are intrigued by how these young players are made. For starters, they note, most Dominican kids don't have video games-they have beisbol".
I visited the Dominican Republic several years ago. I had some interesting conversations with educational people there.
Want to know what the Dominicans think the number one hindrance to education is? Baseball. The parents teach the kids that the best way to better themselves is MLB, so instead of going to school, they play baseball, all day, every day.
It's funny that a bunch of the cadet baseball players at my sons school went on a Thanksgiving mission to Nicaragua. They took with them a bunch of used baseball equipment for the children and I don't know if they did it, but they were talking of building or enhancing some baseball facility down there. These are great kids with big hearts and walking the walk. I didn't have the heart to tell them the Dominican Republic story.
Want to know what the Dominicans think the number one hindrance to education is? Baseball. The parents teach the kids that the best way to better themselves is MLB, so instead of going to school, they play baseball, all day, every day.
It's funny that a bunch of the cadet baseball players at my sons school went on a Thanksgiving mission to Nicaragua. They took with them a bunch of used baseball equipment for the children and I don't know if they did it, but they were talking of building or enhancing some baseball facility down there. These are great kids with big hearts and walking the walk. I didn't have the heart to tell them the Dominican Republic story.