MSL vs. TSL

I can only speak about MSL. It has been a good experience at this age (16U) for our son, if not for any other reason, it has given him the confidence of what it will be like next year when more scouts are looking at him. I think it has allowed him to get the jitters out and the anxieties out of the way (us too, as parents! HaHa!). There is more exposure to bigger university and pro scouts at the 17U age, obviously. But being invited to participate at 16U was overall a fantastic expereince for him (you have to be invited, by the way). Also, the DBAT group has done a great job, and I appreciated the lengths they have gone to to make up the rain-outs!!!

A couple questions. What was the average number of scouts in attendance for the games? How many innings do pitchers get?

What is the TSL League?

TEXAS SHOWCASE League
GED10DaD

MSL 2009 Attendance

Week 1
Colleges

Wake Forest University
Dartmouth
UT Arlington
Dallas Baptist
Tyler Junior College (3)
Richland College
Austin College
Abilene Christian University
North Central Texas College
Louisiana Tech University
Texas State University

Week 1
Pro Teams

Texas Rangers
NY Yankees
NY Mets
Chicago White Sox
Colorado Rockies
Boston Red Sox.

Week 2
Colleges

Murray State OK

U of Nebraska

Howard College

Mississippi State 

Dallas Baptist -2

Northwestern ST - LA

UT-San Antonio

Cisco JC

Panola JC

UT-Arlington -2

Texas Tech

North Central

McLennan College

Richland College

Ouachita Baptist -2

Austin College

UC Arkansas

Western Texas College

La Tech U

Texarkana College -2

Hill College

Baylor University

St. Edwards University

Week #2
Pro Teams

TB Rays - 2

SF Giants
AZ Diamondbacks

ATL Braves

MIL Brewers - 2

LA Angels

TX Rangers

WSH Nationals

NY Yankees - 2

CHI White Sox

CLV Indians


Week #3
Colleges

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN UNIVERSITY
NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
CISCO JUNIOR COLLEGE
HENDRIX COLLEGE (ARKANSAS)
WOFFORD UNIVERSITY (SOUTH CAROLINA) -2
HOWARD COLLEGE
DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY-2
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
MIDLAND JUNIOR COLLEGE
MURRAY STATE COLLEGE (OK)
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON
GRAYSON COLLEGE
RICHLAND COLLEGE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-ARLINGTON -2
AUSTIN COLLEGE
SAN JACINTO COLLEGE (HOUSTON)
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS
PARIS COLLEGE
NAVARRO COLLEGE

Week #3
Pro Teams

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
NEW YORK METS
COLORADO ROCKIES
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
NEW YORK YANKEES
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
ATLANTA BRAVES
TAMPA BAY RAYS


Week #4
Pro Teams


Giants
Mets
Dodgers
Braves
White Sox
Yankees
MLB Bureau

Colleges & Universities

Western Oklahoma
University of Ozarks
DBU
Richland
Cisco JC
Northwest Oklahoma
Northwood
UTA
Grayson College
Austin College


ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

KCR - Assume that was for 18U league? Also did not get an answer on pitcher innings.

Next year my son would still be 16U. Trying to weigh the benefits of more innings for development vs. best competition vs. exposure at an age where I assume scouts have more of a casual interest.

quote:

Originally posted by NTxDad61:
KCR - Assume that was for 18U league? Also did not get an answer on pitcher innings.

Next year my son would still be 16U. Trying to weigh the benefits of more innings for development vs. best competition vs. exposure at an age where I assume scouts have more of a casual interest.

Ntxdad,

First off, don't expect much of a following for 16U kids. The little that does happen, the 16U MSL will most likely lend the best opportunity.

Second, if your looking for competition, anything Cade puts together will be highly competitive at the area level as his teams are very competitive on the national level.

To quench all your concerns, focus on HS ball while refining fundamentals. Find a competitive and organized summer organization. This will allow for reps. and competition. By the time the fall comes around innings shouldn't be an issue if your son is truely at that elite level.

Bottom line, the MSL is the best thing going in the area for the fall.

I'd rather see a more "team" oriented arena for baseball in the fall, but the trend is moving away from this kind of stuff.

My son was a 15 year old in the MSL this year. I thought it was a very good experience for him. The 15's and 16's might not get as much "scouting" as the older players but it is still exposure for them. My son had 5 innings on the mound, not as much as mom would've liked but there were a lot of pitchers on the team so they tried to be as fair as possible I think. Overall a very positive experience, aside from the weather. We will definitely return next year. I see it as an investment for the years to come. The experience gained for the 15's and 16's this year and next should come across when they take the field when they're 17's and 18's. We feel very lucky to have been apart of the MSL this fall. A big thanks to Cade, Kyle, Shayne, Sam, Jack and everyone else that made it possible. We are looking forward to next year.

First of all the TSL was a complete waste of time. I'm a local baseball umpire that worked the MSL and the TSL. The number of scouts that the MSL had in the stands were BIG. Mr. E***e A***xr the founder of the Bl***hxwks is the owner of the TSL, we all have had bad experiences with this jocker, anyways the TSL kept changing times, locations, and they even charged a ($5)gate fee at Cross Timbers Park in North Richland Hills and at Texas Wesleyans Practice field, these are city parks not privite owned fields. The fields at Craigs Ranch was a stable facilitiy and made it easier for all the scouts to come out and watch the best talent North Texas has to offer. Several of the high school umpires will not work the TSL due to the owner. I think a Showcase League would work in Fort Worth, but only if the right people were in charge and not a con artist like Mr.A***xr.

TSL was a waste of time, effort and money. We never saw any scouts at the games. Rain outs were not made up. MSL a better choice. If we had to do it all over again should have played MSL.

How good Is a pitcher going to be in the fall vs the spring season where is counts. Don't alot of good pitchers just work out and work flat ground in fall. Just a question

quote:

Originally posted by NTxDad61:
... What was the average number of scouts in attendance for the games?

...like anyone could even know that...

dieselpusher -- the MSL occurs during a time when most baseball-only (and some baseball/football) kids are playing with their HS teams during the week. Most kids are still in pretty decent baseball shape....maybe not as sharp as during the season but the coaches/scouts aren't attending to evulate command as much as projectability/up-side. And the season takes place just before, or in line with, the early signing period. The rules of the league limit pitch counts (or they used to), so pitchers' health is not jeopardized unless a kid's combination of innings is too much. My son was primarily a position player in HS....and recruited as a pitcher as a rsult of the MSL.

And wraggArm, I think they have pretty concise attendance stats for each week ---- mayne your comment is tongue-in-cheek.

thanks Panther dad

I can only speak for MSL If your son is a pitcher he will get 2 innings each Sunday. My son played the last 2 years and we are very pleased with the results. He got several calls and visits solely because of MSL. He eventually signed at a D1 JUCO. I worried about only 2 innings but that is plenty with the amount of scouts present. The pitchers that are serious about college will still be in good shape in the fall especially if they haven't signed yet. I know mine stayed ready. Good luck with your decision.

Sounds like MSL is the way to go, but I understand this is a fall league? When are try-outs?

Try this www.dfwmetroscoutleague.com

They will have a general tryout day but the
majority of the kids are invited. Last year they increased the number of teams formed from 6 to 8.
The Arlington A's, Texas Stix, and Ft Worth Cats are given roster spots for players they recommend along with Dbat players recommended. There are probably more teams that also have spots. Also scouts can ask that a player be invited. Hope this helps.