If a player had a choice of choosing a team for either the Baltimore Metro or a team from the MABA. Which is the better choice for an above average 13U ball player.
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Is MABA the old MMTA?
In any event, my opinion is that Balt Metro is still the best overall youth league in Maryland. Yes, it's true that it is probably not the league it used to be due to travel-only teams siphoning off players and lots of other reasons that people will name. But, it remains a good overall league. You can make arguments for certain teams or players in other leagues....but Roger/Balt Metro is probably still the best. Others may have other opinions. The other leagues ARE getting better though.
In any event, my opinion is that Balt Metro is still the best overall youth league in Maryland. Yes, it's true that it is probably not the league it used to be due to travel-only teams siphoning off players and lots of other reasons that people will name. But, it remains a good overall league. You can make arguments for certain teams or players in other leagues....but Roger/Balt Metro is probably still the best. Others may have other opinions. The other leagues ARE getting better though.
So is it better to be on a weak Metro team or a strong MABA/MMTA team? Which league will give a kid a better shot of making a good MIAA high scholl team like Calvert Hall or Mt. St. Joe?
You don't have to look at the league as much the quality of the coaching for the team you wish to play for. Most teams (MABA and BMB) supplement league play with pre/in/post - season tournaments so "quality" of competition evens out throughout the course of a season.
If Calvert Hall or Mt St. Joe are the type of schools you would like your son to attend and play for ... why not give the coaches a call and talk to them? I am sure they would have some thoughts.
As stated, the coaching would be very important to me...so, whatever league you get into, make sure you find a team with good coaches who will help your son develop. Too many screamers who only are in it to build up their win-loss record. At 13, I would rather have someone who is interested in developing my son.
As stated, the coaching would be very important to me...so, whatever league you get into, make sure you find a team with good coaches who will help your son develop. Too many screamers who only are in it to build up their win-loss record. At 13, I would rather have someone who is interested in developing my son.
T....
I know of Travel players that made CHC and didn't play either league.
I know of several 13U coaches, both BMB and MABA that I would recommend if you are interested.
You can private email me at diamondpros@msn.com
I know of Travel players that made CHC and didn't play either league.
I know of several 13U coaches, both BMB and MABA that I would recommend if you are interested.
You can private email me at diamondpros@msn.com
In a Big 10 vs. ACC format like that exists in college basketball, I wonder how the BMB would do against the MABA age group vs. age group?
My son has played in both BMB and MABA(MMTA). The BMB and MABA are extremely watered down after last year. There are several full time tournament teams that have really watered down BMB and MABA by siphoning off top talent. Some BMB teams like the Frederick Hustlers are now split in to two teams. Plus,tournament ball is more fun and you do not have to fight traffic during workdays or leave work at 3:00 pm to get your son to a 6:00pm game. Not to mention that the travel leagues like BMB, MCBA, and MABA really get the shaft when it comes to fields. The rec programs get the best fields and the better kids play or practice on a lot of goat pastures.
My son played for one of the "elite" MD programs last year and the team did very well so this is not sour grapes. We raised over $10k and the organization comes in and takes 25% plus charges us to play on fields we rarely set foot on.
As an independant team we keep what we raise and we play at venues we choose against the competition we choose.
Keep in mind that in either league, your son will be lucky to face top pitching more that 6-8 ABs in a week. Especially when the vast majority of the top pitchers are all playing for the tournamant teams.
Tournament players get 15-20 quality ABs per weekend minimum if they are playing the right tournaments. The other comment I will make regarding tournament teams is that they are forced to develop more pitchers. The top team in BMB last year at U11 was the MD Cardinals. They basically used only 2-3 pitchers for the most part and trust me when I say they had others that should have had a chance. No my son was not one of them and no he did not play for the Cardinals.
However,if made to choose.. BMB is still tops but barely. Again, pick the coach and not the team. Look for a coach with baseball experience that has the kids play in multiple positions. Kids need to be developed regardless of God given ability.
I know I got off subject and on my soap box a bit, but I hope it sheds some light on the state of baseball in MD.
Bill
My son played for one of the "elite" MD programs last year and the team did very well so this is not sour grapes. We raised over $10k and the organization comes in and takes 25% plus charges us to play on fields we rarely set foot on.
As an independant team we keep what we raise and we play at venues we choose against the competition we choose.
Keep in mind that in either league, your son will be lucky to face top pitching more that 6-8 ABs in a week. Especially when the vast majority of the top pitchers are all playing for the tournamant teams.
Tournament players get 15-20 quality ABs per weekend minimum if they are playing the right tournaments. The other comment I will make regarding tournament teams is that they are forced to develop more pitchers. The top team in BMB last year at U11 was the MD Cardinals. They basically used only 2-3 pitchers for the most part and trust me when I say they had others that should have had a chance. No my son was not one of them and no he did not play for the Cardinals.
However,if made to choose.. BMB is still tops but barely. Again, pick the coach and not the team. Look for a coach with baseball experience that has the kids play in multiple positions. Kids need to be developed regardless of God given ability.
I know I got off subject and on my soap box a bit, but I hope it sheds some light on the state of baseball in MD.
Bill
I will 2nd what Bill L is talking about. pick a coach not a team. My son played with a metro team that was all about trying to collect the metal. We had to move on he wanted to play at the next level and kids do not gain anything from that. No mater what people say it is not all about wining,it is about getting better. The team he moved to went independent this past summer. I think the kids had a much better time not haveing to run all over the metro area 3-4 times a week and twice on the weekends I know I liked it much more. I guess what I am trying to say is find a coach not a league and your son will get better.
The metro league provides decent competition. Yes it does involve driving the cluttered roads and by ways during the week but the weekday competition is some of the best baseball available because on any given weekday anybody can be beat anybody especially going through the schedule the 2nd or 3rd time. By then coaches and players know everyone as far as who to pitch to and how to hit the other team’s best pitchers.
It is very good baseball. It forces the players and coaches to evolve to become successful.
The problem of tournament teams is the cost and the available games a team can play do to weather. There are limited amount of tournaments available for older age groups to go to and there are added expenses of hotel rooms and other variable cost that the parents have to endure that add up to participate in a tournament team format. The tournament teams make more sense in the fall where there are field limits do to fields being commandeered by other sports and other non dedicated baseball players to fall baseball. It makes sense to concatenate area teams to form a tournament team to seek out the limited number of tournament opportunities.
Weather may play an issue with the availability of tournaments to allow a team to play. If you have a rained out tournament, that tournament is rarely rescheduled. If a metro league doubleheader is rained out on a weekend, it can be rescheduled. The most important thing is for the kids to have a chance to play enough games to help them become better ball players.
It is very good baseball. It forces the players and coaches to evolve to become successful.
The problem of tournament teams is the cost and the available games a team can play do to weather. There are limited amount of tournaments available for older age groups to go to and there are added expenses of hotel rooms and other variable cost that the parents have to endure that add up to participate in a tournament team format. The tournament teams make more sense in the fall where there are field limits do to fields being commandeered by other sports and other non dedicated baseball players to fall baseball. It makes sense to concatenate area teams to form a tournament team to seek out the limited number of tournament opportunities.
Weather may play an issue with the availability of tournaments to allow a team to play. If you have a rained out tournament, that tournament is rarely rescheduled. If a metro league doubleheader is rained out on a weekend, it can be rescheduled. The most important thing is for the kids to have a chance to play enough games to help them become better ball players.
May I suggest that one review the cost of playing Metro versus a tournament only schedule. We know for a fact that the top Metro teams cost $1,500-$2,000 dollars per player. That is $16,500.00 for a team of 11. You could almost play every Ripken (20+) tournament, on age, twice at that price. Some of the costs are covered via fund raising depending on the organization.
A tournament team is also able to schedule more frequent and focused practices since there are no games during the week.(Players improve in practice and the games are actually their reward for all their practicing) An additional bonus is the kids do not have to choose homework versus a game during the week.
We have tried Rec ball, MCBA (Lame league with 8:00pm games during the school year for 11 and 12 year olds), BMB, and MABA. My son has had more fielding and challenging batting opportunities in three (3) weekends of tournament ball than he had in a year in MCBA.
One final note if I may indulge. If you find a great coach please support him. One of the best coaches my son ever had as a 9 y.o gave it up because too many parents are butt heads. Anyone that knows me knows I can get excited too, but please please support the good coaches who volunteer to coach our kids!
We still miss that coach and he would still be playing for him if he did not throw in the towel. However, my son loves his current coach and is not looking back.
Bill
A tournament team is also able to schedule more frequent and focused practices since there are no games during the week.(Players improve in practice and the games are actually their reward for all their practicing) An additional bonus is the kids do not have to choose homework versus a game during the week.
We have tried Rec ball, MCBA (Lame league with 8:00pm games during the school year for 11 and 12 year olds), BMB, and MABA. My son has had more fielding and challenging batting opportunities in three (3) weekends of tournament ball than he had in a year in MCBA.
One final note if I may indulge. If you find a great coach please support him. One of the best coaches my son ever had as a 9 y.o gave it up because too many parents are butt heads. Anyone that knows me knows I can get excited too, but please please support the good coaches who volunteer to coach our kids!
We still miss that coach and he would still be playing for him if he did not throw in the towel. However, my son loves his current coach and is not looking back.
Bill
Having the correct coach has some importance, but most coaches are there for their own son’s benefit. The same can be said for the assistant coaches on his staff. If your kid wants it and you are able support him both financially and with your time, take your kid to private lessons at a Diamond Pros, Frozen Rope or the Larry Sheet’s facility. Having a lot of practice during the week is good only if that practice is productive and ran by someone who knows baseball and is able to keep kids focus during practice, because practice can be boring. But having someone to instruct your kid on a one to one basis and you the parent reinforces what is learned at these sessions by taking the kid to the cages or going over the pitching taught with him can be more productive than just doing practice during the week. Besides just how well attended are practices during the week. At least if there is a competitive game during the week, there tends to be nearly 100% participation by the team.
Competitive baseball is not cheap. Maybe that is another reason why baseball participation among kids in this state trends downward. The numbers express represent a kid on a team that has the desire to go to Cooperstown or Sports at the Beach or the Ripken Experience in South Carolina. These numbers really only apply to kids in the 10-12 age range older kids tend to not go to such places. Both MABA and BMB teams tend to go to these destinations but BMB tends to do better, but the bottom line is as a parent you can choose a metro team that does not have any intentions of going to a costly end of the season tournament and that would lower the cost of participation on a Metro team.
Competitive baseball is not cheap. Maybe that is another reason why baseball participation among kids in this state trends downward. The numbers express represent a kid on a team that has the desire to go to Cooperstown or Sports at the Beach or the Ripken Experience in South Carolina. These numbers really only apply to kids in the 10-12 age range older kids tend to not go to such places. Both MABA and BMB teams tend to go to these destinations but BMB tends to do better, but the bottom line is as a parent you can choose a metro team that does not have any intentions of going to a costly end of the season tournament and that would lower the cost of participation on a Metro team.
T800,,, Reading the post it seems to me that you have made your mind up on BMB. You are correct that alot of coach's are just there for their own sons behalf. What I would do now is take a look at the teams in your sons age group and talk to the coach of that team you can tell real quick who the daddy baller's are and who is looking to make kids better players. You can pay all the money you want on private lessons, but if your son can not put what he has learnd to use in good competive games then you have just wasted your time and money. There is more to baseball than being able to hit and pitch, you have to learn the game. You learn the game by having a coach and playing other teams that are looking for the same thnig and you will not find that by sticking with BMB or MABA
Great post cup shot. I know a Dad or two that also coach. They do a great job with all the kids.
You have to practice correctly to establish muscle memory, but you have to play the game at full speed. That is why it is so critical to play top competition as often as possible.
How many times have you seen a great practice kid who falls apart come game time? Conversely, how many kids can turn it up a notch when it really counts? You will never know unless or until they are in the fire.
BMB does not really test the kids with as few good teams as there are and that holds true for Maryland in general.
We recently played down in Virginia where there were several top 20 Virginia teams present. The top 5 were not even there. Anyone of those teams wins BMB hands down as far as I am concerned. Just look at how many teams from Maryland can really compete with the top teams. When is the last time a team from Maryland finished over .500 at any National event other than NABF or AABC? I think there was one Buzz team and I think the Maine boys did well with the Hustlers.
I think our kids are better off going .500 against the best of the best versus beating up on teams in BMB. What did the Cardinals U11 team learn in BMB last year beating up on everyone? I think they lost 2 or 3 games. They went to Disney and won 1 game and did not make it out of the consolation bracket.
Heck, the team my son played on one year missed getting to the championship bracket by 2-1 run games at AAU Nationals and the starting SS and #3 hitter was out with a broken arm that week. We used the league to develop the kids in multiple positions and we made sure that we attended the best tournaments so they were game ready. This team may not have turned any heads in practice but they would flat out put a licken, and did to every BMB team, MCBA, and MABA team they played. For whatever reason, the people in Maryland want to try and reinvent the way baseball is played and players are developed.
I too recently thought BMB was the be all, end all til we played down south. Our kids are just as talented, but they need to be tested, developed, and retested and developed some more. That will not happen in BMB, MABA, MCBA, or any other of the travel leagues in Maryland.
Wow T800 u hit a nerve.
Bill
You have to practice correctly to establish muscle memory, but you have to play the game at full speed. That is why it is so critical to play top competition as often as possible.
How many times have you seen a great practice kid who falls apart come game time? Conversely, how many kids can turn it up a notch when it really counts? You will never know unless or until they are in the fire.
BMB does not really test the kids with as few good teams as there are and that holds true for Maryland in general.
We recently played down in Virginia where there were several top 20 Virginia teams present. The top 5 were not even there. Anyone of those teams wins BMB hands down as far as I am concerned. Just look at how many teams from Maryland can really compete with the top teams. When is the last time a team from Maryland finished over .500 at any National event other than NABF or AABC? I think there was one Buzz team and I think the Maine boys did well with the Hustlers.
I think our kids are better off going .500 against the best of the best versus beating up on teams in BMB. What did the Cardinals U11 team learn in BMB last year beating up on everyone? I think they lost 2 or 3 games. They went to Disney and won 1 game and did not make it out of the consolation bracket.
Heck, the team my son played on one year missed getting to the championship bracket by 2-1 run games at AAU Nationals and the starting SS and #3 hitter was out with a broken arm that week. We used the league to develop the kids in multiple positions and we made sure that we attended the best tournaments so they were game ready. This team may not have turned any heads in practice but they would flat out put a licken, and did to every BMB team, MCBA, and MABA team they played. For whatever reason, the people in Maryland want to try and reinvent the way baseball is played and players are developed.
I too recently thought BMB was the be all, end all til we played down south. Our kids are just as talented, but they need to be tested, developed, and retested and developed some more. That will not happen in BMB, MABA, MCBA, or any other of the travel leagues in Maryland.
Wow T800 u hit a nerve.
Bill
Speaking of which,does anyone know of tournament teams looking for 17 year olds next summer?
Feel free to email me at diamondpros@msn.com. We should be able to give you some ideas.
I have to add that it's not just coaches who want to "win" at all costs. My son has played on teams where the parents were the ones complaining when "Johnny" was put into the game in a close situation. This was not "Johnny" going in the game instead of their son, it was the fact that "Johnny" was going in at all.
As far as BMB, I agree with Bill L. and his viewpoints. BMB has changed over the years. It used to be the end all and be all. In my opinion, that's not the case any longer.
As far as BMB, I agree with Bill L. and his viewpoints. BMB has changed over the years. It used to be the end all and be all. In my opinion, that's not the case any longer.
My original posting concern a friend’s kid trying to decide what the better choice is between a MABA team and a BMB team. My kid does play on a metro team, but in Harford County there is not a real MABA presence except for the Blue Claws but they do not serve a plethora of age groups. There are a few good MABA teams like the Savage Spirit it would have been nice to see them play in the BMB.
There is one known tournament team and that is the 11U Arsenal now 12U. They played mostly Ripken tournaments with some degree of moderate success.
Maryland teams have done well this summer at Cooperstown Dreams Park. The Olney Pirates finish second one week and Team Maryland (Maryland Cardinals) finish third one week there. Other BMB teams like Lake Shore and HCYP have played late into the final day of the tournament. The Harford Sox finished second at Cooperstown’s All-Star Village also this summer and went to Puerto Rico and finish second there. Maybe your sons are younger and play baseball at the 10 or 11U age brackets, but at the 12U level the BMB offers very competitive baseball. Sure Maryland baseball has a weather problem due to a shorter season for baseball than the south or west but that can be overcome by going to Diamond Pros if you are in Harford County and working on your game there in the off season.
If a Maryland team wants it and its players want it they can do the things necessary to compete on a regional or national stage by working hard on their game and their conditioning in the off-season.
One thing that south does not have to deal with is the s****r issue like we have to deal with here in Maryland but that is another issue for another day.
What the BMB does not do is to try to showcase their product. They could do a better job at that. Baseball in Maryland could use someone to come along and really try to organize it better and increase the quality of the game in this state and to get more kids playing baseball in this state.
There is one known tournament team and that is the 11U Arsenal now 12U. They played mostly Ripken tournaments with some degree of moderate success.
Maryland teams have done well this summer at Cooperstown Dreams Park. The Olney Pirates finish second one week and Team Maryland (Maryland Cardinals) finish third one week there. Other BMB teams like Lake Shore and HCYP have played late into the final day of the tournament. The Harford Sox finished second at Cooperstown’s All-Star Village also this summer and went to Puerto Rico and finish second there. Maybe your sons are younger and play baseball at the 10 or 11U age brackets, but at the 12U level the BMB offers very competitive baseball. Sure Maryland baseball has a weather problem due to a shorter season for baseball than the south or west but that can be overcome by going to Diamond Pros if you are in Harford County and working on your game there in the off season.
If a Maryland team wants it and its players want it they can do the things necessary to compete on a regional or national stage by working hard on their game and their conditioning in the off-season.
One thing that south does not have to deal with is the s****r issue like we have to deal with here in Maryland but that is another issue for another day.
What the BMB does not do is to try to showcase their product. They could do a better job at that. Baseball in Maryland could use someone to come along and really try to organize it better and increase the quality of the game in this state and to get more kids playing baseball in this state.
The MABA is mainly teams from the Howard County side of town I believe. I guess then your friend would need to decide if he wants to travel to there - if he is in Harford County or this side of town.
My son played on an older Metro team last year. There were teams that were competitive in that age bracket. However, there were many teams that were not. Unfortunatley, it seems to be the same teams year after year that do poorly.
I don't think BMB tries to showcase their product because they never have had to. MABA is still relatively new and that's the only real competition to Metro out there.
My son played on an older Metro team last year. There were teams that were competitive in that age bracket. However, there were many teams that were not. Unfortunatley, it seems to be the same teams year after year that do poorly.
I don't think BMB tries to showcase their product because they never have had to. MABA is still relatively new and that's the only real competition to Metro out there.
I have to agree that the U12 soon to be U13 BMB is better than the younger age groups. However, there are still way too many poor teams.
I would like to see a league where the teams play by invitation only. There are currently just way too many travel teams in MD. I think it is the result of my kid not pitching enough or my kid never gets to play SS or why is my kid always in the outfield?
It seems a lot of parents in MD would rather just start their own team just so their son gets to pitch, play SS, or bat 3rd. Well it takes a team.
I hesitate to say it but the Liberal mind set in Maryland is that some kid is better than my kid because he was treated unfairly. Well just maybe the other kid practices more and plays harder. His parents should stop making excuses like don't worry that pitch was 2 feet outside that you watched for a called 3rd strike, when they should be saying, if the umpire has a big strike zone you better be swinging at anything close with 2 strikes. Teach them to study the whole game and learn the little things about the greatest game God gave man. Do not teach them that it is okay and mommy or daddy will bail you out with their money. Worse yet they go and play that s****r or l*****s.
In baseball it is really hard to deny results. It just drives me nuts when I hear parents making all kinds of excuses and then go start their own team.
BMB is really sufferring, I believe, because of the lack of leadership and that as long as you can field a team and pay the fee you are good to go.
Starting up a team should not be prohibitive but right now BMB lets almost anyone play and the kids change teams like most people change underwear.
I would like to see a league where the teams play by invitation only. There are currently just way too many travel teams in MD. I think it is the result of my kid not pitching enough or my kid never gets to play SS or why is my kid always in the outfield?
It seems a lot of parents in MD would rather just start their own team just so their son gets to pitch, play SS, or bat 3rd. Well it takes a team.
I hesitate to say it but the Liberal mind set in Maryland is that some kid is better than my kid because he was treated unfairly. Well just maybe the other kid practices more and plays harder. His parents should stop making excuses like don't worry that pitch was 2 feet outside that you watched for a called 3rd strike, when they should be saying, if the umpire has a big strike zone you better be swinging at anything close with 2 strikes. Teach them to study the whole game and learn the little things about the greatest game God gave man. Do not teach them that it is okay and mommy or daddy will bail you out with their money. Worse yet they go and play that s****r or l*****s.
In baseball it is really hard to deny results. It just drives me nuts when I hear parents making all kinds of excuses and then go start their own team.
BMB is really sufferring, I believe, because of the lack of leadership and that as long as you can field a team and pay the fee you are good to go.
Starting up a team should not be prohibitive but right now BMB lets almost anyone play and the kids change teams like most people change underwear.
I think the biggest concern about the BMB is that you can't play tournaments during the season because of so many games being played. As for them not winning any major tournaments like the NABF you might want to check out their web site. They have 22 world champions since 2002 that's not to mention the runner-ups. I'd like to see any other league with those numbers. True the BMB may not be the same as before but it is still very strong. My team was always one of the weaker teams yet when ever we played out of state tournaments or teams from other leagues we always did very well. Every kid on my team made their high school team and most made varsity by their soph year. We actually folded our team about eight games into the season this year (16-u)because the schedule was just to demanding. We had 23 games in 23 days and that was just to much. I believe someone mentioned Calvert Hall and I know many of their players played in the Bmb. Kevin Lingerman was High School Player Of The Year and he plays for the Maryland Orioles. I believe many others plyed BMB for many years and now play for the Maryland Select. Not sure about the younger ages in the BMB but the older groups are still pretty strong. Once you reach high school a team that does national tournaments would probably be good if you have the talent. You have to understand that at the younger levels I would be more concern about having a good coach and learning to play the game properly more than winning some championship. Hope this helps.
Banditsbb
Banditsbb
Does anyone believe that the Ripken way has been good for developing good quality youth baseball in the state of Maryland? I am referring to the requirements placed on travel teams that their players have to play in-house baseball to qualify for the Ripken post season play. Besides providing a cool tournament facility and expensive camps, what have the Ripken way has done to really help foster the increase of the quality of baseball in the state of Maryland?
I'd imagine that the impact is neglible.
Consistent, quality coaching is something that I believe is of paramount importance. Secondly, I think that it's advantageous to make sure that the players are exposed to a level of competition that will challenge them.
I reject the notion that one league will offer a player more exposure to college coaches and professional scouts than another. It's been my experience that if the player is a true quality young man, he'll be found.
If you're finding a team whose coach has his priorities mixed up, then look elsewhere. It's getting so that there are more travel teams in the state than rec league teams. (at least it seems so anyway!) It's a buyers market. Be patient and be selective. You'll find the right match somewhere. But most of all, go for the coaching.
Consistent, quality coaching is something that I believe is of paramount importance. Secondly, I think that it's advantageous to make sure that the players are exposed to a level of competition that will challenge them.
I reject the notion that one league will offer a player more exposure to college coaches and professional scouts than another. It's been my experience that if the player is a true quality young man, he'll be found.
If you're finding a team whose coach has his priorities mixed up, then look elsewhere. It's getting so that there are more travel teams in the state than rec league teams. (at least it seems so anyway!) It's a buyers market. Be patient and be selective. You'll find the right match somewhere. But most of all, go for the coaching.
Well in my county, the Ripken way has corrupted the younger age groups of 10-12. First every travel coach in Harford County wants to be the sacrificial lamb team when the team is in the 12U bracket that plays in the Ripken World Series as the allege host team of the tournament. This means that the players on travel teams in Harford County have to be subject to the dismal in-house Rec system in place that every travel kid I know hates to play in. The travel kids are force to be dispersed on in-house teams where they tend to be treated as pariahs because they made the travel team over in some cases the son of the coach of the in-house team he is doing time on. There is no real learning being experience by the travel kid on this team. It makes a lot of good travel players bored and think of playing baseball as a burden. Kids endure this for a roll of the dice shot at being the sacrifice to the Ripken way at the Ripken World Series when they play for a 12U team, because you do no qualify to be a part of the sacrificial team if you play and ounce of Metro Ball that year. I think this hurts the development of elite or select or metro level players in the Harford County area.
Ripken further slams the development of Metro teams for any league by the creation of the Ripken Select team known as the Aberdeen Arsenal. This 12U team is a team that plays mostly a Ripken tournament schedule but siphons off area talent from the around Aberdeen that can fill the rosters of area metro teams. Besides the tournament facility they offer, I am not sure if the Ripkens are helping the cause of growing the sport of baseball in the Harford County or Maryland in general for kids under 13.
Ripken further slams the development of Metro teams for any league by the creation of the Ripken Select team known as the Aberdeen Arsenal. This 12U team is a team that plays mostly a Ripken tournament schedule but siphons off area talent from the around Aberdeen that can fill the rosters of area metro teams. Besides the tournament facility they offer, I am not sure if the Ripkens are helping the cause of growing the sport of baseball in the Harford County or Maryland in general for kids under 13.
Apparently all of their efforts didn't pan out. As far as I know, wasn't a team from Southern Maryland the Md. State Champion this year?
A team from Southern MD was the "state" champion, however the Emmorton Rec team was the Harford County representative team in the tournament. If memory serves me correct I think they went 1-3 in their bracket.
quote:Originally posted by baseballguy:
Is MABA the old MMTA?
In any event, my opinion is that Balt Metro is .....probably not the league it used to be due ...but Roger/Balt Metro is probably still the best. Others may have other opinions.
B-Metro admins not (and never have) been that!
With two B-Metro stuffing deep pockets (>~$60,000 / yr), no one sees this cash cow being let go anytime soon.
A few wonder if the 14 admins directors employed by the Cal Sr Foundation bring to the bank as much as the two B-Metro Admins.
quote:Originally posted by Bear:quote:Originally posted by baseballguy:
Is MABA the old MMTA?
In any event, my opinion is that Balt Metro is .....probably not the league it used to be due ...but Roger/Balt Metro is probably still the best. Others may have other opinions.
B-Metro admins not (and never have) been that!
With two B-Metro stuffing deep pockets (>~$60,000 / yr), no one sees this cash cow being let go anytime soon.
A few wonder if the 14 admins directors employed by the Cal Sr Foundation bring to the bank as much as the two B-Metro Admins.
Ripken has a beautiful facility no doubt. Remember though it is always about the money with Ripken.
The day they put an inner city Baltimore team together, bus them to Ripken for practice and games at no cost to the parents or kids is the day I may have a little of the respect I have lost for Cal.
The day they open up the fields for local travel teams to practice for little or no charge may also change my mind. I understand not allowing all the teams on fields with grass infields because that would ruin them but they do have fields without grass infields too.
We live in Montgomery County so using their fields is not viable so this is not sour grapes. However, I am sure there is more than one metro team that might like a chance to use their fields. Then the coaches could focus more on baseball as opposed to maintaining and finding their own fields.
You are sooo right regarding BMB and the money.
Bill
Dear Mr. Bear -
Couldn't agree more with the $$$ issue.....
....however, the original question was about which league was better for an above average 13 year old player?
I still contend that while its not the league it used to be....Balt Metro is 'probably' the best of the leagues that exist. MMTA (or whatever it is now called) is getting better, but I would still say Balt Metro is my choice to answer the original question.
Couldn't agree more with the $$$ issue.....
....however, the original question was about which league was better for an above average 13 year old player?
I still contend that while its not the league it used to be....Balt Metro is 'probably' the best of the leagues that exist. MMTA (or whatever it is now called) is getting better, but I would still say Balt Metro is my choice to answer the original question.
Bill & others...great conversation.
I'm 41 years old and began coaching in the BMB league when I was 23. Boy did my Columbia Reds 17-18 teams take some spankings back then! We had 7 teams in the league...I had the best of the best in Howard County, and I think we went something like 11 and 25 that first year.
As the years went by, we (my coaching staff and I stayed intact for 15 years until I bailed on them when my dad died) found that we had the players to compete, but we as coaches had to get better. We started to turn the corner in 1994, and from 1995-1998, we were pretty darn good. By 1998, the league had 14 teams in it, and about 1/2 were mediocre to real bad. It wasn't a fun experience for our players, parents or coaches.
We were fortunate enough to receive an invitation to join a multi-state league and it was a terrific decision for us to make the move out of the BMB league. It was trying though. We found ourselves going to NoVa or Delaware a couple times a week, and to New York or New Jersey on the weekends. We played great teams all the time though, and it really allowed our players and parents to understand what it took to play college baseball.
Thanks God for my wife and the wives of our coaches. Because practice time was difficult to come by, we had everyone report to our field (or away fields) by 4:00 so we could get a practice in before a 6 or 7:00 game. At the 17-18 level, that is much easier cause the kids can drive.
I'm really torn over this one (away from the original thread)...BMB/MABA vs. tournament teams. You see, I like fall baseball (because of the weather and the exposure to college coaches), but I don't know that playing baseball 2 out of every 7 days would have been a good approach for 17-18 year old guys. Baseball is played every day, and players develop rhythm by getting that constant day in and day out work and exposure to the game. I used to always wonder how a guy could time a 97 MPH fastball...but learned as I got older that the more someone sees it, the slower it seems to the brain.
I'm tired of typing...and you are probably tired of reading.
I'm 41 years old and began coaching in the BMB league when I was 23. Boy did my Columbia Reds 17-18 teams take some spankings back then! We had 7 teams in the league...I had the best of the best in Howard County, and I think we went something like 11 and 25 that first year.
As the years went by, we (my coaching staff and I stayed intact for 15 years until I bailed on them when my dad died) found that we had the players to compete, but we as coaches had to get better. We started to turn the corner in 1994, and from 1995-1998, we were pretty darn good. By 1998, the league had 14 teams in it, and about 1/2 were mediocre to real bad. It wasn't a fun experience for our players, parents or coaches.
We were fortunate enough to receive an invitation to join a multi-state league and it was a terrific decision for us to make the move out of the BMB league. It was trying though. We found ourselves going to NoVa or Delaware a couple times a week, and to New York or New Jersey on the weekends. We played great teams all the time though, and it really allowed our players and parents to understand what it took to play college baseball.
Thanks God for my wife and the wives of our coaches. Because practice time was difficult to come by, we had everyone report to our field (or away fields) by 4:00 so we could get a practice in before a 6 or 7:00 game. At the 17-18 level, that is much easier cause the kids can drive.
I'm really torn over this one (away from the original thread)...BMB/MABA vs. tournament teams. You see, I like fall baseball (because of the weather and the exposure to college coaches), but I don't know that playing baseball 2 out of every 7 days would have been a good approach for 17-18 year old guys. Baseball is played every day, and players develop rhythm by getting that constant day in and day out work and exposure to the game. I used to always wonder how a guy could time a 97 MPH fastball...but learned as I got older that the more someone sees it, the slower it seems to the brain.
I'm tired of typing...and you are probably tired of reading.
Larry,
You start to wonder how a kid living in the Mid-Atlantic area can develop into a good baseball player if there is lack of quality competition within his own state that he dwells in that can challenge him on a regular basis. Maybe baseball is not a game for a middle class kid to pursue if he has aspirations to play at a high level in Baseball. Baseball could be just a game for kids growing up in the Dominican Republic or for the rich kid who has the resources to have a batting cage and instructors who can train him on a one on one basis in his own backyard.
Maybe if the BMB and MABA merge together or just cooperated in a way to provide a better product for kids to want to continue playing baseball and not give it up after they reach a certain age.
You start to wonder how a kid living in the Mid-Atlantic area can develop into a good baseball player if there is lack of quality competition within his own state that he dwells in that can challenge him on a regular basis. Maybe baseball is not a game for a middle class kid to pursue if he has aspirations to play at a high level in Baseball. Baseball could be just a game for kids growing up in the Dominican Republic or for the rich kid who has the resources to have a batting cage and instructors who can train him on a one on one basis in his own backyard.
Maybe if the BMB and MABA merge together or just cooperated in a way to provide a better product for kids to want to continue playing baseball and not give it up after they reach a certain age.
There are just too many travel teams in Maryland and the competition from other sports makes it that much tougher.
Too many of the rec organizations in MD, that are the feeder systems for all sports, have soo many kids in other sports that baseball becomes a step child at best. It is just not a money maker for say the Olney Boys and Girls club like s*****. Plus a soccor game is over in an hour versus baseball that normally takes about 2 h 15 min.
My son played in Damascus. They had one real baseball guy, great guy who the parents chased away. Then we had a football guy and basketball guy running the show. Guess what happened to baseball?
No fall ball, no wins = no kids to play ball.
It is becoming a rich man's sport with is a real shame. I really miss when we were kids and as we were riding home on the bus we were choosing up sides and planning to meet at the field for a pick up game.
Go look at a top U12 game today. A good team will have at least 5 kids with 225 power and at least 1 kid throwing an honest 70 + and 1 kid with 250+power. When I was growing up in PA our U12 little league allstar team lost in the state semi finals We had maybe one kid throwing 60 and one kid with HR power. The parents are investing enormous amounts of time and money trying to keep up with other parents so their son has a chance of playing beyond highschool. How many kids did you know growing up that had private batting, pitching, and conditioning lessons? Today it is required if you play for a team like the Tidewater Drillers in VA. I think this is the organization David Wright came up through.
Bill
Too many of the rec organizations in MD, that are the feeder systems for all sports, have soo many kids in other sports that baseball becomes a step child at best. It is just not a money maker for say the Olney Boys and Girls club like s*****. Plus a soccor game is over in an hour versus baseball that normally takes about 2 h 15 min.
My son played in Damascus. They had one real baseball guy, great guy who the parents chased away. Then we had a football guy and basketball guy running the show. Guess what happened to baseball?
No fall ball, no wins = no kids to play ball.
It is becoming a rich man's sport with is a real shame. I really miss when we were kids and as we were riding home on the bus we were choosing up sides and planning to meet at the field for a pick up game.
Go look at a top U12 game today. A good team will have at least 5 kids with 225 power and at least 1 kid throwing an honest 70 + and 1 kid with 250+power. When I was growing up in PA our U12 little league allstar team lost in the state semi finals We had maybe one kid throwing 60 and one kid with HR power. The parents are investing enormous amounts of time and money trying to keep up with other parents so their son has a chance of playing beyond highschool. How many kids did you know growing up that had private batting, pitching, and conditioning lessons? Today it is required if you play for a team like the Tidewater Drillers in VA. I think this is the organization David Wright came up through.
Bill
Baseball is too capitalistic in minds of s****r mom controlled recreation councils especially in Hartford County. In Ripken’s County, s****r and lacrosse are popular because in Baltimore bedroom county it is just easy for the parent to shuffle around their kids because of the virtual guarantee known pick-up times. S****r is a limit skill sport. It takes good conditioning to do it but really the skill factor does not really matter. What matters is that it is truly a commie pinko sport in sense that does not really celebrate individual achievement or accomplishment. Parents can feel safe from feeling expose to having an average or below average kid playing s****r because skills and individual achievements are not really rewarded or celebrated. Since there is no batting order and everyone can play pretty much and parents and kids do not suffer harm to there self-esteem unlike in baseball where stats are kept and playtime is more often earned on merit minus the coaches son phenomena.
Let face it. We the suburban parents are killing baseball. Our time dictates, what I kids are steered towards. We don’t let our kids run off to the local schoolyard to play pick up games. We don’t want a hard ball game played in the middle of our cul-de-sac by our 12 year old conditioned trained sons. Baseball hurts property values. The game I love is not good for my middle class style of living. So passing down the love of the game to our sons so they can pass down to theirs is difficult not impossible but difficult task under the current constraints.
With the O’s being horrible and the lack of the MLB really doing anything to push the game to our kids as being cool to pursue, the game I love will fade away over time for the next generation here in the People Republic of Maryland.
Let face it. We the suburban parents are killing baseball. Our time dictates, what I kids are steered towards. We don’t let our kids run off to the local schoolyard to play pick up games. We don’t want a hard ball game played in the middle of our cul-de-sac by our 12 year old conditioned trained sons. Baseball hurts property values. The game I love is not good for my middle class style of living. So passing down the love of the game to our sons so they can pass down to theirs is difficult not impossible but difficult task under the current constraints.
With the O’s being horrible and the lack of the MLB really doing anything to push the game to our kids as being cool to pursue, the game I love will fade away over time for the next generation here in the People Republic of Maryland.
Bill l
Who was the real baseball guy they chased out? If I may ask. I have lived in that area for about 35 years
Who was the real baseball guy they chased out? If I may ask. I have lived in that area for about 35 years
The parents just wore him down especially 1 or 2 of them inparticular. A real sin. He was making great progress in bringing along the baseball program. There may have been other pressures too. He fielded the last Damascus MCBA team to finish .500 I think.
Steve Salem is his name and he works for Ripken baseball now. Great Guy and a real teacher. He played 4 years at AU on the last team AU fielded.
In fact my son wrote a note about his favorite people and Steve's name still came up after 4 years.
Steve Salem is his name and he works for Ripken baseball now. Great Guy and a real teacher. He played 4 years at AU on the last team AU fielded.
In fact my son wrote a note about his favorite people and Steve's name still came up after 4 years.
quote:Originally posted by cup shot:
Bill l
Who was the real baseball guy they chased out? If I may ask. I have lived in that area for about 35 years
Right on !
quote:Originally posted by T800:
Baseball is too capitalistic in minds of s****r mom controlled recreation councils especially in Hartford County. In Ripken’s County, s****r and lacrosse are popular because in Baltimore bedroom county it is just easy for the parent to shuffle around their kids because of the virtual guarantee known pick-up times. S****r is a limit skill sport. It takes good conditioning to do it but really the skill factor does not really matter. What matters is that it is truly a commie pinko sport in sense that does not really celebrate individual achievement or accomplishment. Parents can feel safe from feeling expose to having an average or below average kid playing s****r because skills and individual achievements are not really rewarded or celebrated. Since there is no batting order and everyone can play pretty much and parents and kids do not suffer harm to there self-esteem unlike in baseball where stats are kept and playtime is more often earned on merit minus the coaches son phenomena.
Let face it. We the suburban parents are killing baseball. Our time dictates, what I kids are steered towards. We don’t let our kids run off to the local schoolyard to play pick up games. We don’t want a hard ball game played in the middle of our cul-de-sac by our 12 year old conditioned trained sons. Baseball hurts property values. The game I love is not good for my middle class style of living. So passing down the love of the game to our sons so they can pass down to theirs is difficult not impossible but difficult task under the current constraints.
With the O’s being horrible and the lack of the MLB really doing anything to push the game to our kids as being cool to pursue, the game I love will fade away over time for the next generation here in the People Republic of Maryland.