Perfect Game Underclassman Showcase

I had this posted in the wrong forum, so I moved it here.

AgentDad, My son is a 2007 and this past January he attended a PG ID Showcase in Illinois for pitchers and catchers. He was, of course, the youngest there but it was really worth while. He showed well, was seen by coaches of a top 15U travel team and he tried out and will be playing for them this summer. We also just got back from the Sunshine East Showcase in Ft. Myers. Same deal. 150 boys, mainly 2005's. But I wanted him to be on the field with the big boys from Fla, Ga, Va, etc. Yes, he was overmatched at the plate hitting with wood against hs seniors to be. But what a great experience. Pitching wise he did terrific, 3 innings, 1 hit, 0 er. If these events are in your budget I say it is never too early to let your son see what the competition out there is really all about.

My thoughts on this center more around your son than Perfect Game. I think the vast majority of us who have had our sons attend PG events are in agreement about how good it is to be at these events.

My son attended the Perfect game underclassmen showcase and the Northeast Top prospects showcase. First I would assess your sons mental makeup. If throwing him in the deep water with the best will hurt then dont go. I know it was a good thing for my son to go and see what the competition is. Its one thing to be the best in your area or team, its another to be one of 200 trying to perform.

My sons time at the PG Underclass Showcase was great, he got a lesson in what he needed to work on, met some great players and came away dedicated to be a better ballplayer.

So, my only thought is PG is worth going to, as long as your young '08's makeup is mature enough to handle it. From what you say, he would probably benefit from going.

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Originally posted by AgentDad:
My '08 got an invitation to the Perfect Game Underclassman Showcase in Illinois in August. Since he is just going to be a freshman this year (he did play as an 8th grader last year), will it be a good experience for him or will it only hurt him? He is a LHP/1B and is a good sized young man at 5'11" and 160 lbs. He is currently throwing around 75-77 mph and is batting .420 in 14U travel ball. He would stack up favorably against other 14's, but I know there will not be many of them there. He practiced with the varsity this year and is not intimidated by the older kids, just wasn't sure if the scouts in attendance would look seriously or view him as a joke? He hasn't been to a showcase before and I was thinking he should see a local one before going to a prestigous event like Perfect Game. I would appreciate any and all thoughts offered.

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Hi AgentDad,
My son is an '08 also (14 yrs old) and has been invited to the PG in Bourbonnais in August. He's 6'0", weighs 205, throws high 70's, low 80's. I had the same questions you did and am glad you asked them.

He almost didn't make it. Three weeks ago, his select team coach threw him in a complete game for over 200 pitches and he developed shoulder problems--bursar sac inflamed, growth plate stress, tendonitis, other problems. We took him to an ortho who prescribed a program of exercises, rest from throwing, icing, Vioxx, etc. The doctor saw him yesterday and he's okay now and beginning a throwing progression program. The man who will be his h.s. coach next year is now working with him. I am at fault as I should have insisted he come out much earlier (the select team coach did the same thing with another boy the week before, but this young man doesn't seem to have suffered any damage), but I didn't as I trusted the coach's judgment (never again!), as he had claimed to have beaten out over 200 walk-ons a few years ago at Syracuse University for the starting shortstop position and also claimed he averaged over .300 for his career. After this incident, and some other questionable coaching tactics during practices and games, I did some research and found out that Syracuse hasn't had a varsity team since 1972. The guy plain out lied to get his job. However, I still am accountable for allowing my son to continue. You can't imagine how bad I feel for not only placing him in such a situation, but also for not getting him out of there. It's something I'll have to live with, but it won't happen again. Fortunately, the therapy has restored his arm to health, but the outcome could easily have been different. BTW, the director of the select team has chosen not to remove this coach--it would be "inconvenient" for him to do so. He refused to even investigate his background claims as he was "satisfied" with the coach and said he "gave him the best notes he'd ever gotten on practices and games." This is from a guy who's run what at one time was considered one of the better programs in our state. After this incident, I spoke to one of the people who interns for him and the young man said the organization had a rule that no pitcher was to throw more than 75 pitches in a game. Didn't seem to matter to the director that this rule was being routinely ignored. In my opinion, this coach (and director with his complicity) are guilty of the worst possible behavior in men in these positions.

Although it is embarrassing and humiliating (I deserve it, though) to admit my role in this, I want to share this with others on this forum so they don't make the same mistake I did in trusting their son's coaches blindly and assume they know what they're doing. My generation was taught not to interfere with the coach and while that's good in most cases, there are times when we should, I've learned. That applies when the coach is knowledgeable and trustworthy--but not when he isn't. Research what coaches and programs tell you about their backgrounds/experiences. An honorable program and coach won't mind at all. And, don't rely on your son's feedback that he is "okay." My own boy wouldn't come out of a game if his arm was falling off and that's pretty typical of young boys, I think.

Anyway, my son is looking forward to the PG and I'm looking forward to perhaps meeting some of the folks on this forum.

I hope that this post may help at least one other young man and his parents and when something like our situation occurs, they won't be like I was and allow it to happen. Believe me, the coach isn't always right.

Blue Skies

How does a kid throw 200 pitches in a game ? Most LL games are 7 innings long. 200 pitches through 7 innings. That is 30 pitches per inning! On most select teams every kid can pitch, why make one kid suffer like this ? He must of been gettin hit hard, or walking 3 batters an inning. How does this happen ? 200 pitches! I am suprised his arm did not fall off... seriously. I am amazed that this is even possible. Wow! Switch teams next season!

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Originally posted by Bob15:
How does a kid throw 200 pitches in a game ? Most LL games are 7 innings long. 200 pitches through 7 innings. That is 30 pitches per inning! On most select teams every kid can pitch, why make one kid suffer like this ? He must of been gettin hit hard, or walking 3 batters an inning. How does this happen ? 200 pitches! I am suprised his arm did not fall off... seriously. I am amazed that this is even possible. Wow! Switch teams next season!

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We're switching right now, actually. To not playing, rather than have him at risk with this organization. Too bad, as he has the rest of the summer without a team and he lives for baseball. How'd he throw that many? The score was 9-5 (their favor). He pitched 7 innings, struck out 11, but the team had 12 errors. Only had 2 earned runs and 2 walks, plus 1 hit batter. Faced 45 batters. Went deep in the count on many kids. Lots of foul balls, etc.

The thing is, he turned down some top Indiana clubs that asked him to try out as we'd had an exposure to this team a couple of years ago and they had a good rep. Things seem to have changed (we didn't know). The director's kid has gotten his college scholarship and he seems to be more interested in the basketball teams he also fields. All of the select teams my boy has played on before this year were exactly like you say--at least 8-9 of the players could pitch well. There are two on this team--my son and the other kid who also pitched about the same number of pitches in a game the previous week.

Among the many things that upset me is that my son can bring it and all that, but I've always stressed to him to be a pitcher and be aggressive and induce the hitter to hit and let his fielders make plays. It got so in this game (and most of the others) that after all the errors, etc., he feels he has to strike everyone out to get out of the inning. Just bad baseball and not the kind of experience (besides the overthrowing!) that's good for a pitcher's development. We should have known from the gitgo, as the quality of players chosen were decidedly of lower quality and not what we expected from this team. All but perhaps three came directly from rec and LL ball and had no experience in select team play. In fact, there are only 9 players on the team that decided to stick it out, and they keep bringing in kids from other teams to make the rosters at tournaments. He hates like crazy to not get to play any more this summer--he goes into h.s. in the fall and this was going to be a good year--but I see no way he can play with these people. Last year, he played "up" with a 14-year-old team (he was 13) and had a ball, but wanted stronger competition than they played (last year was a Koufax league in 3 counties), and this team plays a regional schedule and more games, etc., much like a select team he played the year before last who played in the Southwest Ohio League (Cincinnati), one of the top leagues in the midwest. We thought this team'd play schedule like that, against good competition, but... Turns out, the director keeps cancelling games and tournaments... suspect he's low on funds. It's definitely not about the kids with this team.

I could write a book... and maybe will. It's what I do, actually... Don't know if we can give plugs here (apologize if I'm off-base), but my aforementioned son and I cowrote a book that came out this past March, titled "Surviving Little League." I'm taking notes for this team and may have a sequel...

The thing is, I've always taught him to play by the rules and obey his coaches and then he does and... He loves baseball and I've never "pushed" him whatsoever. He pushes me! Since he was 5 years old, he asks me to go out in the backyard and hit him 100 grounders, rain, snow, whatever. And... (his idea) he only counts the ones he fields. Just loves baseball and has top grades, plays the sax in his school's jazz band, is the top science, math and language arts student in his school, and Northwestern U. identified him in the 5th grade and has him take the SATs each year in their program and he scores in the upper 10% of graduating h.s. seniors. He's really heart-broken that he can't play any more this year, but he's working on his own every day. He's really looking forward to Perfect Game!

Sorry I rambled on so long!

Blue skies

Sounds like you have a good kid. Buy a pitch counter and don't let that happen to your son again, I am suprised he survived the one.

And sue his old coach for child abuse.

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Originally posted by Bob15:
Sounds like you have a good kid. Buy a pitch counter and don't let that happen to your son again, I am suprised he survived the one.

And sue his old coach for child abuse.

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Thanks, Bob. He really is a great kid. He works hard at everything--school and sports. Although... it's sometimes a struggle to get him to clean his room.

Thought about suing, but am basically against the principle as a rule--see too many frivolous lawsuits from folks who I suspect are just after easy money. Although, in this case, I'm tempted because this coach's behavior, in my opinion, bordered on the criminal and really put Mike's arm and any possible future in baseball at risk. Plus, he's still coaching and I really don't think he should be in charge of children.

Anyway, thanks for your kind words--appreciate it.

Blue skies,
Les

At 14U just out of Jr HS....

Worry about making your HS team....

Will a PG event help you make your HS team?

Answer that and you have your answer... Its ONE step at a time.

But once he makes his HS VARSITY team.. and then is looking to take the next step... there is nothing better than a PG showcase.

Start with an ID showcase... and evaluate from there....

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Originally posted by SDBB:
At 14U just out of Jr HS....

Worry about making your HS team....

Will a PG event help you make your HS team?

Answer that and you have your answer... Its ONE step at a time.

But once he makes his HS VARSITY team.. and then is looking to take the next step... there is nothing better than a PG showcase.

Start with an ID showcase... and evaluate from there....

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It's a bit different in our state, I think. In Indiana, the kids who are capable of making a true select team don't put much stock in most high school teams. Fact is, most of the h.s. teams don't play that many games, play against lesser competition, and their facilities, uniforms, etc., aren't as nice as the good select teams are. The coach for a select team my son was on a year ago put it squarely, that (to the players) "your high school team tryout ought to be the easiest tryout you'll ever have." I know in many areas high school teams are good and it's an honor to make one, but it's a bit different here in a cold-weather state. The high school teams are lucky to be able to play 30-35 games. Just a bit more than rec or LL teams. My son will play high school ball, but his select team will play tougher competition against more talented players. Also, the recruiters and scouts don't attend many h.s. games in our area unless a bona fide bluechipper is playing occasionally, but they all make the upper level select teams games and tournaments. I imagine it's different in California and other warm weather states.

As to an ID showcase, he was selected for this PG Underclass showcase, based on evaluations from Baseball America folks who'd seen him play, from what I understand from talking to their office (the fellow said he'd gotten "pretty good notes" from their scouts), and they do have PG ID showcases in our area, for which also he received two of those invites after he got the Underclass invitation, but my understanding is that the ID showcases are kind filled from mass mailings that a lot of kids get or are just open to anyone who wants to apply and get accepted and aren't necessarily invited to because someone's seen them play, but are just a good chance to be seen, etc.

In many states, I'd say making the high school team would be a great thing and not that it isn't here--it's just the quality of play is overall usually higher with the top select teams.

Blue skies,
Les

Les--- About the ID Showcases; That is just what they are. They are used for kids who do not get the chance to be seen by scouts. This does not by any means degrade the competition in the event. The ID I attended had a 4th round draft pick in it as well as possible 1-2 Top 10 draft picks in '05. In some cases for a younger kid an ID showcase would be a good step before attending a National PG Showcase. Apologies in advance if I misunderstood your post.

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Originally posted by CubanLefty:
Les--- About the ID Showcases; That is just what they are. They are used for kids who do not get the chance to be seen by scouts. This does not by any means degrade the competition in the event. The ID I attended had a 4th round draft pick in it as well as possible 1-2 Top 10 draft picks in '05. In some cases for a younger kid an ID showcase would be a good step before attending a National PG Showcase. Apologies in advance if I misunderstood your post.

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No apologies necessary and I was afraid someone would misunderstand. In no way was I denegrating the ID showcases--I think anything PG puts on is first-class and very worthwhile. All I was saying is that my understanding of the IDs were just what you said--very useful for kids who don't get the chance to get seen by scouts and to get on the national radar, while the other PG events were composed of kids who had actually been seen and invited, probably including many who had first been seen at an ID showcase. At least, that was my understanding. I think any event like these are great and an honor to attend. I'm certainly no "expert" on any of these as this will be our first. Also, my son plays on a team for an organization that hosts its own showcase camps and while these are okay for limited exposure, not the same level as the PG, Area Code and other showcases. But anyway, I never even considered I was downgrading the competition and am sorry you perhaps thought I was. From what I understand, the criteria used in judging the kids' talents are the same at all the events and provide a very even playing field to let the player know where he stands, talent-wise. And, get him noticed! Hope that clears up any misunderstanding and I'm sure it does as from your last sentence of your post.

Blue skies,
Les

I was trying to decide whether to go to a Underclass showcase or an ID showcase. Are there many scouts at the ID showcases? i play for a team that gets pretty heavily scouted and was originally going to go to the ID showcase but i am starting to have thoughts as an 06'. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks