Well, at least we have HS and college baseball.
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Are scouts still attending HS games during the lockout?
@Around_The_Horn yes. Minor league play is business as usual as well.
Horn
many scouts will have reduced scouting days during the current “lock out”.
HS is not a priority, College and Minor Leagues are #1.
Bob
From a fan standpoint, I’m over MLB. I feel bad for the various employees related to the game, but I had more fun watching college games last weekend than MLB.
Here in Texas, we have a bunch of high quality Colleges and University Baseball programs. And some very high level High School programs as well. I think i'll switch over to HighSchool and College baseball watching (and of course , I'll be watching my kid and his team mates!!!)
After being a minor leaguers parent for a season or two, I stopped watching all pro sports and most of college sports unless I had a connection with a player. I'll still sit for a little league through juco games without knowing anyone. I know a few of last season MLB rookies, and for their sake I hope this BS is resolved soon, it's not like they have a say...
@Around_The_Horn posted:Are scouts still attending HS games during the lockout?
I attended a HS game last Friday in the DFW area in 37 degree temps and enough wind to make it feel like it was in the 20s. The home team was one of the perennial powerhouses in 6A Texas baseball. Their starting pitcher and their catcher are both prospects for this year’s MLB draft so 3 or 4 MLB scouts were at the game - even in lousy weather conditions. The first pitch out of the kid’s hand was a 94 mph FB - on February 25th in 37 degree temps. And he commanded the baseball too, and backed it up with good secondary stuff. I will be surprised if he makes it to a college campus.
@adbono posted:I attended a HS game last Friday in the DFW area in 37 degree temps and enough wind to make it feel like it was in the 20s. The home team was one of the perennial powerhouses in 6A Texas baseball. Their starting pitcher and their catcher are both prospects for this year’s MLB draft so 3 or 4 MLB scouts were at the game - even in lousy weather conditions. The first pitch out of the kid’s hand was a 94 mph FB - on February 25th in 37 degree temps. And he commanded the baseball too, and backed it up with good secondary stuff. I will be surprised if he makes it to a college campus.
Same down here. A lot of great HS talent this year it seems. There were 30+ scouts watching a pitcher during a scrimmage in the San Antonio area a week or two ago. Would not of believed it I had not seen all the pictures.
Perhaps the clubs should stop hiring corporate lawyers to run our sports leagues. It occasionally works (Tagliabue) but more often does not. Should be noted that the greatest commissioner of modern times (Rozelle) wasn't an attorney - he was a PR man.
But as for the sentiment regarding CBB, absolutely - it's a tremendous product and I hope more people climb on the train.
If Manfred is still commissioner, I'll start thinking about MLB once the CWS is over. I've got MiLB in my back yard to take me through September if needed.
The owners and MLB players are being ridiculous as they can't figure out how to share and grow a $10B business . I'll bet you could put a few common sense fans in a room, and they'd have it figured out in less than a day. Absolutely ridiculous.
When College Baseball use wood bats, it will be A “game changer”. Increased attendance tv, sponsors, No Cost to the Teams.
Bob
@Consultant posted:When College Baseball use wood bats, it will be A “game changer”. Increased attendance tv, sponsors, No Cost to the Teams.
Bob
Why? Why would the popularity of College Baseball change due to the composition of bats?
Here's a thought: can you have a popular college sport without an equivalent professional sport? Obviously football and basketball have both. In other words, if there were no MLB, would lower levels be more, or less, popular? Kids play lacrosse with no popular professional league (does one even exist?).
Horn
the sound of the wood bat, the shorter games, the science of pure hitting techniques, true evaluation for pro scouts.
Bob
@anotherparent posted:Here's a thought: can you have a popular college sport without an equivalent professional sport? Obviously football and basketball have both. In other words, if there were no MLB, would lower levels be more, or less, popular? Kids play lacrosse with no popular professional league (does one even exist?).
Yes - and lacrosse is doing a great job marketing to the kids. My nephew played for Marquette and is now pro. The tickets are very reasonable. They have both an outdoor and indoor season. Last season they changed where the games are played. All 8 teams travel to one city and play there for the weekend. They market the hell out of it - do clinics for kids, very fan friendly and interactive. Different ticket packages allow you to see 1 game or all games. Then the next week onto a different city. I am not sure we will see it replace football or basketball in polularity but it is certainly growing. And in the north east - it is a spring sport and that takes away interest from baseball. LL rosters are down 50% from 7 - 10 years ago around me. a 12yo local league that used to have 8 teams with only true 12yo players now has 5 - 6 teams with 10 - 11 - 12 yo.
I’m aware lacrosse and spring soccer are making inroads on baseball. But as far as the decline in LL participation how much of it is parents thinking their kids need to play travel baseball.
It took time. But the “feel good” parents dumbed down our LL so badly competitive kids didn’t want to play. They left for travel. The crazy, competitive parents did things like post league standings and playoff results on the board at the concession stand. According to the “feel good” parents it hurt kids feelings.
The KBO starts up April 2nd. Would ESPN dare broadcast the games again?
@K9 posted:The KBO starts up April 2nd. Would ESPN dare broadcast the games again?
I hope not. ESPN and the powers of college baseball should be using this opportunity to get college baseball more exposure. If they don’t find a way now then the wrong people are in place to ever grow college baseball’s popularity.
Looks like they may have a deal as early as today and still get 162 in.
Big bases, ban the shift, add the Cohen tax. Changes are coming.
The FA signing frenzy should be fun.... for the winners.
And it’s over!