Politics/size excuses

In most cases politics and size are code word excuses for "I wasn't good enough" and "I didn't work hard enough." I've only heard these excuses from the parents of bubble players.

I suspect size is really  hitting power or throwing velocity, and will rightfully break ties between players actual performance.  A coach will typically pick a player that has potential over another who has maxed his performance out if they are close.

Politics is a fact of life, but agree both excuses are overused.

Politics doesn't (generally) override winning.

I would disagree about the number.

I think "politics" plays a much larger role - particularly as you move up levels.

Once the levels go up - so does the money.

Once the money goes up - the politics intensify.

Its gets harder - in all ways - talent and politics.

It all intensifies - and only the supremely talented and/or strong and and/or lucky survive.

Just my opinion.

Given the name of the site I was thinking high school. In college and pros I agree with you. In college coaches sometimes give a lot of benefit of the doubt with struggling top recruits. In the minors a friend's son, a 34th round pick was hitting .290 with power in AAA and was bypassed for a callup for a second round pick hitting .240 without power. As the dad said, "There were probably 600,000 reasons for the decision."

My son's college team had a quirky but talented right hander last year.  He had pretty good outings in Florida, mid 80's stuff and a nice breaking ball.  When conference play started he was buried on the bench - I thought he could have helped the team in many instances.  

This year he got cut.  When I called my son to tell him I didn't understand that cut he succinctly put an end to the discussion and this thread.  He said "Well, you think he's good - Coach thinks he's not good.  Coach won."  Puts us all in the place we belong.

Either you can play or you can not. As a coach you put the best 9 guys on the field to give you a chance to win. Period. 

Great line. Coach has the ONLY opinion when it comes to this kind of stuff. 

Excuses?? The best piece of advice I received was from a coach a long time ago. It not only applies to baseball but anything you do. Don't make excuses make the play>

Baseball is like the real world. There will always be politics on the fringes. Yes, the Booster Club President's kid might get that roster spot over the 20th kid on the roster even if he isn't as talented and the boss's nephew might get the job over you some day when you're better suited for the position. However, the key to success in almost anything that depends on other's opinions is to make yourself indispensable. They may take the BC Prez's kid over you if your on the fringe of making the team, but don't be that guy. Be the guy coach CAN'T leave off the roster - be the salesman that does so much business that the boss CAN'T risk losing you.

After starting this thread I read an article quoting my son's HS coach saying that the starting catcher will be the senior (my boy is a Soph). Funny how things happen. The senior was a DH the last 2 yrs and rearly caught. It is the opion of many that my son is the better option as far as skill and knowlege etc. I had a conversation with my son that the senior deserves the chance and that he should stay focused and it will work itself out after a few games. He was disappointed of  course and feels that the best 9 should be on the field come gameday and he is more deserving and I don't blame him. I am looking at it as a good life lesson that things don't always work out they way you think they should and continue mission.

At this moment I truely feel that the coach might be feeling the pressure of not starting a senior so he is going to give him the chance and when my son out performs him he will come out on the other side better off. I plan to stay hands off no matter what the outcome, after all he still has 2 yrs of HS and will be playing for a competitive showcase team this summer.

+1... this post is right on.  Saying politics doesn't exist at every level of baseball is silly because it certainly does... LL through pros and everything in between.  It could be that booster club prez's son getting the last roster slot, the big donor's son making the travel squad, or it could be the HS AD's son getting PT at the expense of a better player.  It's there in baseball just as it's everywhere else in life.  It takes an extremely strong coach to tune out these types of pressures completely... And Coaches usually have to pick their battles just like the rest of us.  But all that said, the goal for every player has to be to "not be that guy" who loses out in these scenarios.  Never let it become an excuse because that would be admitting defeat. Striving to be indispensable is the right target.  And like BFS said earlier... a coach's W-L will be the judge of his judgement.  Lastly, for those "lucky" son's of the BC prez, big donor, and HS AD... they know why they were given an opportunity... just like everyone else knows why.  Not sure what sort of character that builds in a young man, but I have a pretty good idea.  Entitlement leads to an ever greater sense of entitlement.  And if they DON'T know why, then they may REALLY be in trouble down line.  So many people in life who've been standing in the shallow end for so long, they don't realize that they can't swim when the water starts to rise.

And that's the double-edged sword. There are those kids of influential people who are talented and did earn their spot (in whatever, athletics, a job, etc.) and always get questioned. We've had a few threads here over the years about sons of former players and current FO staff regarding their abilities relative to their careers.

True... It can work in reverse.  But talent will generally show itself and justify that type player in time.  Sometimes the LL SS is the "coach's kid"... Sometimes the coach's kid IS a SS. 

This is true and there is nothing you can do about this at the lower level.  What I have found is that this gets exposed starting at the high school level.  It is funny though how even kids that are legit will get picked on in regards to "who their dad is" or "what their dad does"  I have a player who is going to a D3 college next year to play.  As a sophomore he was very average at the plate but was our best outfielder and the kid stayed in the lineup because of that.  The rumor was that he played because his dad gave our program a bunch of money.  Ha Ha, the only thing his dad had ever done is buy a banner every year.  I have learned that you can't fight simple minded people and you can't fix stupid.

Generally speaking I would agree, but I have a 5'8" catcher made all tournament in Atlanta twice as 16U and 17U and 5 others off the travel team have already committed to playing after high school and we are still scrounging.  

 Oh my - there are plenty of 5'8" catchers in College baseball D1-D3.  I saw a fantastic 5'6" catcher this weekend.  He looked funny standing next to the 6'6" pitcher but nobody laughed when he threw out three guys and hit two doubles.  Awesome bat speed.  That kind of talent doesn't hide and your sons talent doesn't hide either.