Money can't buy you love, but it can...

One thing we found out is the recruiting game is very costly. the more you spend the better your chances. did not have the money to play the game the way we would have liked, but son just signed with a good d2 and is very happy so it worked out good for us.

I wouldn't consider being a bullpen catcher buying a position on the team. He's not rostered. He can't play. He won't travel. He serves a purpose like a student manager.

I talked with the parents of a of a bullpen catcher of an ACC team. The kid likes being part of the action at practice and when the team is at home.

Bullpen catcher is a position of honor and deserves alot of respect for the work they do. Ask any pitcher.

What you're calling the "bullpen catcher" is often the second or third stringer. He may or may not be active vs. red shirted.

I know that Wake Forest's third catcher made the team through a walk-on tryout process in fall 2008. He saw no game action in 2009, but he was on the active roster throughout. I think he traveled to some, but not all, away games. This year he has had a pretty decent showing in the fall, and has every reason to hope to see some game action in the spring.

I also know the guy in this role at Maryland very well. He was a "recruited walk on." But he's stood out in practice, plus Maryland's # 1 guy has apparently suffered some sort of injury this year. I spoke with one of the new assistants in Jupiter this year and was told our friend would very likely be seeing lots of innings and AB's come spring.

Bottom line: An opportunity can be had. After that it's up to you. Whether you get the opportunity by begging, borrowing, or stealing, or by earning it the good old fashioned way, it's still your opportunity.

Guys, I agree with you all please don't get me wrong. I truly do understand what it means to have any opportunity given to prove one day who you really are.

I guess I started this post because this young lad hasn't 1 single drop of baseball talent. I've personally seen him tryout and honestly felt for him. His dad is one of those who is unfortunately blind and just would not let it go.

I would think that some of these 3rd string catchers on ACC, SEC, PAC-10, etc. teams quite possibly played some high school ball.

Think about it even further. This is his Senior year. Next spring he won't be on the team (heard he wasn't going to try out again) and here is a player that is going to a D2 school next year of course as a walk-on!

His signing picture was in the paper last week with his parents, principal, AD, football coach, but alas, the baseball coach was no where to be found! LOL

quote:

I wouldn't consider being a bullpen catcher buying a position on the team. He's not rostered. He can't play. He won't travel.

Generally true I suppose. But in the PAC-10,

"In the sport of baseball, a visiting team may add a 26th student-athlete who may serve as a bullpen catcher only."

Of course, the bullpen catcher posts no stats, but he does tend to get in a lot of action!
Seriously, a bullpen catcher needs to be able to catch the ball, and it is desireable that he have some understanding of and rapport with the pitchers.

Look at it this way: Who does it hurt?

If the program is raising the money it needs ...

If Dad thinks the money is worth it to see his son in uniform and to have bragging rights ...

If son likes hanging with the team, wearing the colors, and maybe having bragging rights of his own some day ...

If he doesn't play, and so isn't taking innings or AB's away from anyone more deserving ...

A fool and his money are soon parted. But a lot of players may be getting the benefit of that money. So, live and let live.

I am not really sure why you posted this thread ( I am reading it as a negative) but I have a story for you...

When my son was 11 (league age 12) and playing Major Division LL we were going through All-Star talk.... As parents we knew the top 1-8, ....9-12 was more subjective but we still with my sons league age (July) and physical maturity (late bloomer) did not think he was going to make it.

We told him so... Very realistic in our house. My son had a love of the game, a great attitude, a willingness to do whatever-whenever, but at 11, he lacked the "top 12" 12 year old talent.

So the night before All-Stars were announced we got a call from the All-Star manager asking if our son would like to be an alternate. I asked my son if he would like that job..He cried in relief... Yes, he would love that job. He would take any job to be a part of it.

He showed up for the 2x daily practice, he caught every bullpen, he cheered the team on.... hey kid, hey kid, come on, come on, ... he knew he would never play a game and it did not matter. It is not that he did not want to play... he would have given up his holograpich Charzard card to play. It is just he knew his role...and he dealt with the role.

At the All-Star BBQ, when the play was finished the All-Star Manager talked kindly about each kid on the team... when he got to my son he talked about his bad league age, his very thin build, and his heart for the game.....And, that he chose to put him in a non-playing role because he could handle the role.

Maybe your bullpen catcher is there because he can handle the role. Not because his dad bought his way in.

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
Look at it this way: Who does it hurt?

If the program is raising the money it needs ...

If Dad thinks the money is worth it to see his son in uniform and to have bragging rights ...

If son likes hanging with the team, wearing the colors, and maybe having bragging rights of his own some day ...

If he doesn't play, and so isn't taking innings or AB's away from anyone more deserving ...

A fool and his money are soon parted. But a lot of players may be getting the benefit of that money. So, live and let live.

MidloDad - that was kind of my take as well. I don't see the harm. Basically, only 9 guys plus a few pitchers can play each game. It might make more sense for a coach to have as his last player on the roster someone whose parents can donate than to have another kid who is not going to play anyways. I am guessing this happens at all levels of collegiate baseball.

playfair - I loved your story. It stirred the emotions in me!

Playfair, I have no hidden agenda or secret motive as to why I posted this. My son is already playing at the next level so I have no dog in this fight whatsoever.

I just found it interesting in today's tough recruiting age that this can actually happen. I think we all maybe had heard or wondered if it really happened and I suppose we can all say "yep, it happens!"

It would actually be a neat story one day if the kid grew and made something of himself while there.

Opportunities disguise themselves in many ways. Here is one of them!

YGD