What's your opinion on Showcases like Prep Baseball Report, does it help get players on Coaches radar?
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I Think that PBR is trying to do the right things but I would invest in Perfect Game showcases. Their website and database are second to none and they are what everyone is trying to become. Expensive but worth it!
I used PBR more as a showcase to get my feet wet and get in their database as a player to follow. And while it can help in the sense that you get a video as well as times and velocities you would be better suited to invest your money in perfect game. JMO
Yes, a player recieves a t-shirt at the showcase, an online profile with the players picture (Taken at the showcase), 60 time, OF/IF velocity, P Velocities, as well as a written evaluation of about a paragraph in length. All are posted on the players profile along with a potential ranking depending where PBR sees that players abilities and how he projects.
I have heard nothing but good about perfectgame, however being in Ohio, there was one showcase anywhere near last year. PBR is making an effort to be in Ohio. There were/ are something like 10 showcases in Ohio in 2011. In fact, there are at least 5 between now and December
2013 has participated in two. You can check the website and view the spreadsheets with all the stats for every player who participates at any of their events. It's a good way to compare your player's stats to the others who are showcasing in his class.
The paragraph that is written (at least in our case) is generally accurate with a slightly positive slant. You/coaches can easily read between the lines and see if they really seemed keen on a kid and they choose their language very carefully. Players do not, however, receive a full, very candid, written evaluation like they receive from most college camps.
The video that is posted is nice to send the link to coaches or include on the berecruited website profile. Again, they admittedly edit them and naturally try to show the best of a player (as we all do).
If you check press releases from colleges in Illinois/Indiana when they sign a player there is often a note that this kid was ranked X by PBR. Those rankings do mean something, but I don't have the impression that they are dealbreakers.
Our impression is that PBR is something that is valuable to get on the radar if your son is looking to go to school in the midwest region. It's not particularly expensive, the events are VERY well organized and implemented, and it's a great opportunity for your player to see how he stacks up against admittedly some of the strongest players in the state.
Although we don't personally have experience with it, we have heard that the leader's opinion of a player is well respected in Illinois, and he is well connected with high school and college coaches.
To us it has been worth the money for 2013 to get on their radar and have some more quality showcasing experiece. It's just been one small but important piece to the much larger puzzle.
The paragraph that is written (at least in our case) is generally accurate with a slightly positive slant. You/coaches can easily read between the lines and see if they really seemed keen on a kid and they choose their language very carefully. Players do not, however, receive a full, very candid, written evaluation like they receive from most college camps.
The video that is posted is nice to send the link to coaches or include on the berecruited website profile. Again, they admittedly edit them and naturally try to show the best of a player (as we all do).
If you check press releases from colleges in Illinois/Indiana when they sign a player there is often a note that this kid was ranked X by PBR. Those rankings do mean something, but I don't have the impression that they are dealbreakers.
Our impression is that PBR is something that is valuable to get on the radar if your son is looking to go to school in the midwest region. It's not particularly expensive, the events are VERY well organized and implemented, and it's a great opportunity for your player to see how he stacks up against admittedly some of the strongest players in the state.
Although we don't personally have experience with it, we have heard that the leader's opinion of a player is well respected in Illinois, and he is well connected with high school and college coaches.
To us it has been worth the money for 2013 to get on their radar and have some more quality showcasing experiece. It's just been one small but important piece to the much larger puzzle.
Thank you for your input.
I've done a few showcases with Perfect Game, DeMarini, and ABR (never with PBR). All are pretty good, but my money is invested in ABR (mainly because I made the National team last year). Perfect Game is huge, which is a cool atmosphere, but you don't get as many reps in front of everyone. DeMarini is alright, nothing special, but nothing bad. ABR has the All-American Games which are second to none. Make the National team and all-expenses paid trip for international competition (I went to JAPAN!)
CTTFB:
Sent you a PM
Sent you a PM
Recently attended one and here is my opinion...
Run well, although slightly behind schedule (I have a feeling more kids showed up than expected).
PBR had their game plan down pretty good on how they run it.
Just like others, this was our first showcase so the 'jitters' to overcome is smaller than a PG.
Write ups in a few days, videos posted in several weeks. Usually positive slants and as stated you can read between the lines.
The good - Lower cost than a PG and allows boys to get used to the format. Rankings of both the event and the state. You get run times and velocities by an external source posted. They also highlight small points that can make a kid stand out inthe crowd. Lastly they say they send out the ratings / information to 200 schools in the area (midwest). I liked this cause you can cut and paste their report and back it up with the website and or information that was sent out.
The bad - Since we ran long, it appeared less of a crowd (and in turn potential scouts) were in the audience as the day went on. Somewhat disapointing.
IMHO its a good place to get feet wet and start getting out there. Less than 50% of a PG and you get what you pay for. If this is your sons first showcase, I'd rather him have jitters to overcoem in a smaller environment / audience vs a PG. Nothing against PG but with PBR you compete against kids in the area / state vs kids from all over. If your a stud, no problem at PG you can stand out. If your not an absolute stud, a PG has to be daunting and imtimdating at first.
Run well, although slightly behind schedule (I have a feeling more kids showed up than expected).
PBR had their game plan down pretty good on how they run it.
Just like others, this was our first showcase so the 'jitters' to overcome is smaller than a PG.
Write ups in a few days, videos posted in several weeks. Usually positive slants and as stated you can read between the lines.
The good - Lower cost than a PG and allows boys to get used to the format. Rankings of both the event and the state. You get run times and velocities by an external source posted. They also highlight small points that can make a kid stand out inthe crowd. Lastly they say they send out the ratings / information to 200 schools in the area (midwest). I liked this cause you can cut and paste their report and back it up with the website and or information that was sent out.
The bad - Since we ran long, it appeared less of a crowd (and in turn potential scouts) were in the audience as the day went on. Somewhat disapointing.
IMHO its a good place to get feet wet and start getting out there. Less than 50% of a PG and you get what you pay for. If this is your sons first showcase, I'd rather him have jitters to overcoem in a smaller environment / audience vs a PG. Nothing against PG but with PBR you compete against kids in the area / state vs kids from all over. If your a stud, no problem at PG you can stand out. If your not an absolute stud, a PG has to be daunting and imtimdating at first.
I noticed that you mention, and another one also, that the write up is "usually positive slants". Do you think that is because you are paying them or is it an straight up honest evaluation?
quote:Originally posted by lefthookdad:
I noticed that you mention, and another one also, that the write up is "usually positive slants". Do you think that is because you are paying them or is it an straight up honest evaluation?
Our son has attended a couple showcases this year. The evaluations with one stated positives AND where they thought a player could improve & what level of College ball they did or didn't see a player projected at. This was by email. Then they scheduled a phone conversation with each player & called and spoke in length with each player. Times, Velo & videos of each player were added to website. But, not the evaluations.
PBR, has website, magazine, player profiles & rankings. Website spotlights & features players too. Evaluations as well as times / velo are posted on players profile, along with video. But, they also rank players in their top player lists that have never been to their events. Therefore, no money exchanged.
Plan to attend PG event this next year.
Some parents state their opinion that evaluations are slanted. My thinking is, if that were the case, they'd loose all credibility with scouts, coaches & colleges...
quote:Originally posted by lefthookdad:
I noticed that you mention, and another one also, that the write up is "usually positive slants". Do you think that is because you are paying them or is it an straight up honest evaluation?
Much of the same is pretty much done with all showcase companies...including Perfect Game. You can watch the videos of some of the kids that attend and they are clearly a "3-4" on the PG Scale and yet i have yet to seen anyone on PG be ranked any less than a 6.
quote:Originally posted by StateDynasty:
Much of the same is pretty much done with all showcase companies...including Perfect Game. You can watch the videos of some of the kids that attend and they are clearly a "3-4" on the PG Scale and yet i have yet to seen anyone on PG be ranked any less than a 6.
This has been my experience as well. I think that Perfect Game is just trying to keep the masses happy and not hurt anyones feelings. Imagine if they did grade someone a 3 and had a scathing report that basically said that "Junior can't even catch a cold, hit a fungo and shouldn't even be playing rec ball". This would disuade many from everr attending their events. PG is a big business and they want to have happy and repeat customers. And they do a great job at what they do. The measurables are what matter- 60 yard speed, pitching and arm speed velocities, and demonstrated hitting and defensive skills. This is what gets attention.
