Quantity or Quality?

How exactly do you describe inferior in this case?

That could mean a lot of different things and completely alter the answer.

My experience is the very best players have no problem imagining themselves winning a starting job at the top programs. Doesn't always work out that way, but while making the decision, they believe they're going to get both quantity and quality.

Let's define the question further.
1. Given his projected ability if your son attends College A he'll play all 4 years.

2. Given his projected ability if your son attends College B he'll sit his freshman year, play a limited schedule his sophmore season, play a lot but not be the starter in his position as a junior, and be the starter in his position as a senior.

College A is a Division III school. College B is a Division I school. Both are competitive in their league but not likely to reach the NCAAs. They are equally good schools academically and costs are similar after academic/athletic scholarships are taken into account. Both have equally good coaching staffs, although College B has more resources.

My son would have to pick. I think he'd be more likely to enjoy his time on College A's team. I think he'd end up a better player at College B.

Personally, given that he's a HS freshman I'd be overjoyed if he had the opportunity to choose someday.

This is an interesting hypothetical and I am going to go off of CADad's refined scenario.

If it were my decision, I would rather win at D3 than lose at D1. I think my son probably would also see things that way as well but the ultimate decision would be his.

There is also the player with the mindset that he wants to prove that he can play at a high Division I level--

As a dad, I prefer the scholarship money at the D1.

quote:

Originally posted by AParent:
How exactly do you describe inferior in this case?

That could mean a lot of different things and completely alter the answer.

I was just wondering for fun what choice people would make if they had to choose from one of the following situations:

You have a "position player" (I know the situation might be different for a pitcher)

A. he is offered a scholarship (doesn't matter what) to a top 25 ranked baseball school, but he knows few freshmen ever start and playing time as a sophomore would probably be limited. He could for the sake of argument be a starter his junior and senior years. Coaching is rated excellent to very good .


B. He is offered a scholarship (doesn't matter what) to a smaller college. Competition for playing time is not as great. He could probably start as a freshman just for the sake of argument and play all four years. However, the school doesn't have much of a winning record. Coaching is fair, but not great.

Would you prefer to watch your son play "four years" at an OKAY school or "two years" at a GREAT school.

Of course, this is just a scenario, since no one can ever be guaranteed playing time. I was just curious, since there has been a debate going on at my house about which is the best. Some believe playing for four years means getting better and staying on top of your game even if the program is not top notch. Others believe that playing for a top ranked school is better because it makes you a better player when you train under better coaches.

Also, I might add that there has been a debate about who gets drafted more. Players from the larger well know schools or players from the smaller less known schools.

HowUbe, There is no debate about who gets drafted more. The players from the well known baseball programs get drafted much more frequently than those at the smaller less known schools, and there is a good reason for it. The better high school prospects end up going to the better name programs because they are offered scholarships to those schools and accept them a lot more often than they turn them down.

This is also a question that has been debated here as well.
Knowing what I know as son goes to a top D1, here's my opinion.
Go to the school where you will play as much as you can, because chances are after college you won't get drafted. Despite better coachng at the bigger school, doesn't matter how good it is if you never get to play on a regular basis.
There are some schools that regularly lose players to the draft, large and small. I can give you several examples of CWS contenders who get a handful drafted each year. I can give you several examples of schools that never go to the CWS and they lose many players. I can also tell you that larger D1 schools don't always choose the most talented players, on any given college roster you might find maybe 3-4 blue chip players. The rest are there because they have adequate ability to play the college game, not to be future MLB stars. Besides, no school can afford a roster of 40-50 blue chip players. And some coaches couldn't care less what their players do after college, they are interested at winning and sometimes have to struggle with that, they don't always have time to focus on future stars.

If anyone thinks that bigger is better, you need to change your opinion. Lots depends on the program philosophy and the individual player who is being drafted. If you think that chances are better your son will be drafted going to the larger school, don't count on it.

Go to Baseball America and go over the drafted players and where they come from, you might be surprised.

I would guide the player to the big school - option A. If the player really "has the potential to be a starter his junior & senior years" then why not challenge yourself at the better program to make that scenario happen? IMO competitive, talented ball players want to go where they are challenged the most.

I have the list on my desk.

BBScout,
I know you do, I was directing it to Howube.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
Go to Baseball America and go over the drafted players and where they come from, you might be surprised.

Why don't you just tell me, since that sounds like a lot of work...lol...Did any of them come from America?...LOL

HOW

Do some work on your own--- it can't all be handed to you on a "silver platter"

We have a load of knowledgeable people here ready to help but you can do some work on your own--- your statement in your post certainly tells me a lot about you

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
HOW

Do some work on your own--- it can't all be handed to you on a "silver platter"

We have a load of knowledgeable people here ready to help but you can do some work on your own--- your statement in your post certainly tells me a lot about you

I am very sorry if I offended you. It was my feeble attempt at humor. I guess I won't try that again.

HOW

No need to apologize--it is just that many of us spend hours getting the info together and we expect others to do the same before they ask questions and seek info

Howube,
I am in agreement with TR regarding your last post.
In fact many of the questions you have asked have been debated recently on the website. It's time you begin your own search for the answers you seek here.
FYI,
http://www.baseballamerica.com
BTW,
Your feeble attempt at humor, your posts in general are strangely reminicent of another poster, and that is not JMO.

Thanks TR.

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
Howube,
I am in agreement with TR regarding your last post.
In fact many of the questions you have asked have been debated recently on the website. It's time you begin your own search for the answers you seek here.
FYI,
http://www.baseballamerica.com
BTW,
Your feeble attempt at humor, your posts in general are strangely reminicent of another poster, and that is not JMO.

Thanks TR.

Once again you have my apology. I did do some searching on this forum, but it is hard sometimes to find the right "keyword". I have gained some helpful insight from posters who have already gone through what I have been going through and I thank them. To those of you I have offended, you have my apology. I did not mean to bore anyone with my post. I think I have outstayed my welcome. Good night.

This is basically the same question as to whether a soph or freshman in HS sits on the varsity or plays on the F/S or JV teams. When I posed this question a long time back, the majority said that he should play rather then sit. How does this differ from the college scenario?

It all depends on the player. What is important to him? Some kids want to play at the highest level they can and are willing to take the risk of spending time working towards getting in the line up and take this in to account when they go to a big time school so to speak. Others are more concerned with playing time right away and are not as concerned with the level of the play or the challenge of going to the higher level school. The way I would handle this and have in the past with our players: Son what are your goals? What is important to you? Having a better chance of playing right away or going to a school where you might have to sit for a year or two before you can contribute on the field? Its kind of like the discussion I have had with posistion players that are also pitchers. Some of them have been sought after as pitchers only at D-1 schools and posistion players and pitchers at lower D-1 D-2 schools. Do you feel that you will be happy sitting most of the time and pitching every fifth game and never swinging the bat. Or do you want to go somewhere else where you can have the chance to play everyday and hit? The player has to make this kind of decision. As a parent all I can do is talk to them and give them my advice but the decision has to be theirs. Personally I could careless as long as my kid is happy with the decision.

HowUBe

Based on the scenario you gave most kids would pick the D1. Obvious choice.

However, as a side:

Most players who have the talent to play even two years at a "top 25" D1 program are not going to choose between that and a small school that "doesn't have much of a winning record" and whose coach is "fair, but not great".

A kid who chooses between a small school and a high level D1 will be looking at a small school that is nearly always the top one or two teams in their conference at a minimum. They will be looking for a top program with top coaches.

You need to make the scenario less lop-sided if you want to really challenge the thought processes.

I do not want to offend anyone who has posted above, but I do want to add my thoughts as the current owner/administrator of this website.

Some years ago when I was a newer member of this site, I occasionally read admonitions from a few other members to do some reading and research before asking a question. I still think that's a good idea - the original founder of the site, Bob Howdeshell, has compiled hundreds of web pages of great information, articles and interviews, and many members have added a treasure trove of input here on the forums.

However, I also remember as a newer member sometimes feeling a little nervous when such a suggestion sounded more like a reprimand. I don't want current newcomers to feel afraid to post, and so I do want to clarify or confirm to whoever might be interested:

Your sincere questions are always welcome. Please spend some time reading and learning from what's already been posted, but feel free to "ask away". It seems that often when new threads are started about old topics, new information surfaces. Besides, it's just interesting to see new discussions. I don't think any of us would enjoy the forums as much if we decided that all the questions had been asked and answered, so we should not allow any new threads.

Again, this is not intended to insult or offend anyone who has posted above. I'm offering my thoughts in this thread in order to make sure that all members, new or "experienced", know that thoughtful and sincere questions are always welcome here.

MN - Nice.

How - Just as you can see that we have many different kinds of parents with many different kinds of kids here on this site - there are many different fits for those kids.

My own son has ended up at a school that has more depth than some he could have attended and were he will struggle to get playing time more than some other offers. There were also some schools he had interest in that he new he wouldn't see the field as a freshman. However, he chose it based on several factors.

A fit means so many different things for folks - what kind of academics, major, location, money/costs, coach, depth, draft history........... I think playing time was very important to my son - is very important to my son. IMO you have to compute that issue in with all of the other things that are important to your son and family. I did have a family friend/coach tell me this week how that often playing time can be an issue that can discourage some kids if they're not playing and then the challenge comes further in that they may allow that to affect the classroom. This obviously doesn't pertain to all players - only you and your son know how baseball affects him and his overall motivation in school. Just something else for you to chew on.

.

Well said MN Mom....



This process is long, confusing, difficult and emotional.

The ability to ask the help of a human being who has been through the process gives the process a human touch that can make all the difference. Reading material is so impersonal, but a good poster can clarify, address and answer questions in a few positive sentences and keep this informational chain going on to the next generation...

Quote from AParent
"You need to make the scenario less lop-sided if you want to really challenge the thought processes."

My oldest, a golfer had a less lop-sided scenario. He had offers from small D1 schools and one DII school. It came down to a D1 school (not very competitive) and the DII school with a chance to win Nationals. Projected playing time was about the same at both schools with possible more PT at the D1 school. At the D1 school you do play in some of the same big tournaments as the "big boys" so as an individual there is competition. He chose the DII school with the more competitive program rather than the chance to play D1.