Some observations

I think a lot has to do with the player and the mentality the coach instills in them

We have been know to have our # 3 and 4 hitters bunt if thre situation calls for it> we constantly talk about putting the ball in play and moving runner ups.

If you look at the results of our tournament games you will see that every game had a different hitter getting the big hit.

You do not win in baseball with the "me syndrome"---you win when you say WE!!!

Favoritism and daddy ball is rampant in baseball these days....

Coaching is getting watered down.....Many good baseball Coaches have gotten out....

Parents are running many High School teams....

Good Coaches like yourself and CoachB25 are

It doesn't even have to be showcase ball. My son is fifteen and a high school soph. I've been very aware of the "me first" approach since 13U travel.

The problem is coaches foster it allowing preferential treatment for certain players. Two summers ago (14U) my son was asked to play for a second team whenever he would be available. The coach guaranteed when he showed up he would lead off and play short. He attended a few preseason practices (when he was available).

I started giving the situation some thought. Had my son showed up to play for this team there were three negatives: 1) Being provided preferential treatment and special rules that could make him a prima donna, 2) The regular shortstop who showed up every day to play gets screwed, and 3) the ninth player in the lineup gets screwed by being bumped out of the lineup. I decided my son would not play for this team. I prefered he be humbled being one of fourteen on an excellent travel team and have it be his only team.

RJM I had to read my post again after seeing yours. I dont see how they have anything to do with each other. If anyone would like to address my post I would appreciate it. If not fine.

Coach May,
I trust what you see because I know that you can spot this stuff a mile away.

When son was younger there wasn't as much "I" in the team concept as there seems to be today.

That's evident sometimes in players that go from team to team in tournaments. They are playing with specific teams to be seen, I am not sure half care if they win or lose, as long as someone sees them.

I just know that my son was often asked to play on many teams that were top in the state for one or two games to help them win and he could be "seen" at the same time, but he preferred playing with the team he had played with all summer, or all fall, even if they weren't the best. He often hated when one player would abandon the team for another higher profile team, then expect to come back and join their team the next week. It usually didn't happen.
I remember a player leaving our team when we played in jupiter for the olympic tryouts, thinking he would get more attention on the MOST SUCCESSFUL TRAVEL TEAM IN THE USA THAT SUMMER. Turns out the USA folks picked 5 players from our team (the most of any team) for tryouts, one of them the catcher that came in to replace the catcher that abandoned our team.

By the way he didn't play much on that team that weekend.

All I can say is that ends very quickly when you step onto a college field. Check your ego at the door, most college coaches WILL NOT put up with it.

quote:

Is "Showcase Baseball" hurting these young kids as far as the team concept goes? It may be totally different in your area or from your experiences.
Any thoughts on this from you guys?

Coach, I've been seeing this mentality for awhile. Everything is about "me." I think this goes further than club sports though-- it goes back to everybody getting a trophy as kids in sports, activities, etc. It goes back to "every kid deserves an A because he tried." Society is all about "me"-- plain and simple.

It's simply a representation of the society as a whole...My feelings, my entertainment, my choice...Our kids have this jammed down the gullet practically from the moment they are cognizant of thought...My grandmother came through a ghetto in Chicago..a Polish Ghetto..every single person who could work, worked for the better future of their family..they sacrificed, they gave of themselves and the next generation had it better..so many communities have lifted themselves in the same way...when we lose sight that "self-sacrifice" is the most important thing for a community or society, we experience what is happening today. Unfortunately the last generation had to endure WWII to get back the notion the "I" wasn't as important as "We".
So old boy you are mearly witnessing a symptomatic thing...there are cures..they may not be agreeable.
Most folks bridle at the word discipline these days..and self-sacrifice is scorned. So looking at the kids you mention isn't or shouldn't surprise you as a thinking person..You are right to be indignant..it is a repugnant thing.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach May:
There are alot of very good hs aged players out there. There are more and more young players working hard to be very good in baseball. There seems to be an explosion of young players that want to play at the next level. There are more and more young players playing in the summer and fall at a more competitive level.

It appears to me there are more and more young player more concerned with "what they do" than what the team does.

I also see more and more players that are more concerned with what the team can do for them than what they can do for the team.

I think that some of this is directly related to "Showcase Mentality Baseball." My definition of Showcase Mentality Baseball is a player that is so concerned with getting seen and impressing someone that the team concept is an after thought. It becomes "Its about me , not the team." "After all this is Showcase."

My approach is play the game for the love of the game and play the game to win the game. If you do this you will ultimately show what you can do and you will show your value to whoever is watching. Personally I despise the "Showcase Mentality."

Now. Do any of you see what I am talking about out there during your kids summer and fall baseball? Maybe I see this from a different angle being that I coach a summer / fall team. As a parent of a player (I did not coach in the summer and fall) I always stressed "play the game because you love the game , lose yourself in competing and doing whatever you can to help your team win."

Is "Showcase Baseball" hurting these young kids as far as the team concept goes? It may be totally different in your area or from your experiences.
Any thoughts on this from you guys?

Coach,

I see exactly what you are saying and think that what you have said here is true more and more. I do though see the other side of the coin as well and think that it needs to be a give and take.

For instance, you need a kid to play a certain position to make the "team" better even though you know that kid is better at another position than the kid that is playing that position. Rightfully, it is your job to do what is right for the "team" as Coach. On the other hand, I believe Coaches have a responsibility to the players individually also. I believe it is the Coach's resposibility to get players in the spots where they excel at some point while in front of College Scouts. I understand that's a tall order and can't always be done, but in long tournaments it should be on the Coach's mind, IMO.

Is it really any different than the web gem or home run derby mentality? There is no I in team but there is a me.


Sure the kids are trying to make an impression. And we all know how much it is costing us to put them in the situations for them to be able to make that impression. And the showcase environment in itself is putting these kids out there where they have to make that impression in order to get the chance to move on or at least the showcase mentality would like for you to think so.



Luckily it has been our experience, there are still enough folks involved in the game that play it hard and play it with integrity. And there are still enough folks at that next level that recognize good kids, good technique and fundamentals, and who are team players. Best coach we have been involved with stated that his job was to mold young men, and he used baseball as his tool. Sure the kid that plays for himself will stand out at a Showcase, but in the long run it’s the kid who plays for his team and that love for the game that will have success if not in baseball, most certainly in life.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach May:
It appears to me there are more and more young player more concerned with "what they do" than what the team does.

Perhaps. But baseball has always valued individual performance highly. In professional baseball, there is over 100 years worth of carefully compiled and preserved statistics, and these are overwhelmingly records of individual players. Among team sports, baseball by its nature falls at the lower end in the importance of teamwork. I think players have always been concerned with "how they did."

quote:

My approach is play the game for the love of the game and play the game to win the game.

This is great. However, if a parent wants to instill their kid with this attitude, football or soc cer are far better sports, because they require and foster teamwork much more than baseball. Most of the players in those games don't have any statistics attached to their perfomance. I think learning teamwork can be one of the virtues of playing a sport in addition to baseball.

Each generation seems to think that the following generation(s) is shallower, has it easier, is less respectful, and tends to decadence. And yet, I think human nature stays pretty much the same across many generations. (That's not a slam on our elders--I'm one of the old f@rts here!)

So, no, I'm not convinced that "Showcase Baseball" is hurting young players. Players have always wanted to do well individually, partly in order to reach the next level, whether that is a D1 college, or the Little League All-Star "team".

The face of baseball has changed but DON”T blame the players. They are just pawns in all this! There are four things that have created this showcase mentality. PARENTS ---- MONEY ---- SHOWCASE PROMOTERS --- FREE ENTERPRISE. It all started when parents were seen as potential buyers for something (anything) that would help their sons. Parents WANTED to spend money to help their kids. It was obvious to everyone involved in baseball that if someone could create a “vehicle” to promote their sons that parents would buy it ---- and did they ever BUY it! Does it help the kid? Sure it helps some kids but at the sacrifice of a couple of very important things.

#1 it makes the “game” less important.
#2 it makes the “team” less important.
#3 it cost a lot of money.

This “approach” will not change because parents will not change unless their financial situation forces them to change. As long as “Exposure sellers” see the parents as potential customers there will be those that will market products and/or services to capture that market.

Being a political conservative I say we shouldn’t establish rules that control what parents and showcase promoters do but rather allow the free market to make the necessary adjustments. If baseball changes from a team sport and becomes an individual sport ---- so be it!
Fungo

It doesnt take much to stand back, watch, and observe,....the little things.
Amazing how easy it is to pick out the kids who have more " we " in them, than " me ".
Its also very easy to see which parents care about the team and which only care about their own kid. Ever notice that some parents will go out to their car if their own kid isnt playing? Or how they leave and go to the snack bar if their kid isnt hitting or out on the field?
How many parents actually care about the game?

How does a kid act if he's not playing? Is he still hanging over the fence and watching the game,..or is he sitting in the back of the dugout texting?
Whats his demeanor like at the bottom of the 8th when his team is losing. Is his head still in the game?
Ever watched what some kids are like out in the parkinglot when they think nobody is watching? Ever see how they treat their parents and their parents allow/encourage it?
Who wines and complains about being thirsty and hungry.
" Dad,..wheres my gatorade??? "
Dad/mom going running down to the dugout and hand several through the fence.
Whatever happend to the kids who brought their own jug of water with them?

How many parents carry their kids bag/gear for them?
( insert gag reflux sound here )

Ya know what I like to see?
I like to see the kid that goes up to the plate with his cleats taped around the rip in the toe.
I like to see the kid who tells his hovering parents " No. I dont want a gatorade,..I'm playing. I cant talk to you now. See ya after the game ".

I like to see the kid who's pants are stained,..and torn and he pays them no mind.
I like to see the kid who never takes his head out of the game,..even if he's not playing. I like to see the kid who jumps 6 feet into the air when his buddy/teammate hits a homer and its not particularily crucial to the score of the game.

These kids are out there.

I believe for every three " me " kids out there , there is one " we " kid,..and that, thankgoodness, balances things out.

That is food for thought Coach.

We are just beginning the Showcase route and feel already it is a different attitude. We see the parent’s side mainly and many seem to feel they can buy their way in. I’m pretty sure that won’t work the older they get.

As parents, my husband and I feel pressure to “keep up with the Joneses”. There are a couple of kids (rising sophomores) we knew who played with several different teams almost every weekend this past summer. By late July they were worn out with sore arms. I don’t know, but isn’t that the opposite of what you want for your child?

I think attitude shines through, and someone full of “me” may not be what a coach wants after all.

We had a rule in our house.
You wanna showcase, you get a job and you pay for it.
I'll take ya there and get ya back home safe,...but the rest is up to you.

It was an easy way for me as a parent to see where their true desires laid.
It had to be their dream.
How hard were they willing to work for it?

If you ask them to put their hard earned money where their mouth is, you start to see where their true heart is.

Very interesting topic.
I think it depends somewhat on the season, fall versus spring and the particulart showcases.
In some instances, recruiters or scouts ask to see a particular player, usually a pitcher throw so that could lead to the me issue.

Showcase baseball is "showcase". Travel ball is different in that teams usually compete to win. Big difference. I will say that parents are a major part of the me issue.
Baseball would be much better if parents had to drop off their players and show up two hours later. They could then get the run down from their sons (probably one word answers when you ask how it went "good").

Coach,
Good topic. I've seen and commented a few times on what you're talking about. The term I've used is "prima-donna baseball". Fortunately, it's still a relatively rare occurence so its very noticable when you observe it. You see it most notably when one of these guys step into the batters box ala Manny or take ground balls between innings in their own world. It does derive from the showcase mentality you mentioned and its analagous to the me first attitudes widely seen in the AAU basketball circuit. I think however that because baseball is such a difficult game to master and athletes who can overwhelm it with their talent are so few that its difficulty keeps most players humble. (For example how many truly excellent 5 tools players do you actually see at events, even Jupiter? Not many.)
Most top players seem to get it naturally that you need to show your abilities within the framework of a team and the dynamics of the game.

[

quote:

Baseball would be much better if parents had to drop off their players and show up two hours later. They could then get the run down from their sons (probably one word answers when you ask how it went "good").

LOL. Boy does that sound familiar.

In a lot of ways I feel lucky that the whole travel team/showcase team phenomenon pretty much passed Oregon by. There aren't really any travel team organizations to speak of.

Our summer ball is pretty much limited to Legion ball (and then a successor organization) which for the most part is just the HS varsity teams.

The competition is definitely not anywhere as stiff compared to what travel teams face. That is the downside.

The upside is the travel/showcase mentality doesn't take hold.

To be seen and evaluated, we had to travel to camps and showcases, which we would do a couple times each summer, taking a few days off the Legion team which the coach always was fine with.)

It all worked out for us OK, but I have to admit: all along, I wondered if the fact my son wasn't playing against stiff travel team competition was going to be a big detriment.

Coach May,

I find it difficult to completely fault the kids. A pitcher at a PG event is told by his coach that he is pitching the 3rd & 4th innings of game three during the tournament. How team oriented can we expect the pitcher to be? He's going out to the mound to sizzle the radar guns. And I don't blame him. His family invested quite heavily for those 2 innings.

From a team standpoint, it might be wise for that pitcher to pitch around the opponents best hitter, but how is that going to impress the scouts. Testing your best stuff against the batters best stuff is what PG events are all about. And I am sure the hitter would also prefer the power vs power challenge so he can impress the scouts.

The enviornment at a PG event is about winning and who hit 95mph on the radar gun.

I remember my son and I watching Rick Porcello pitch in Jupiter. Nobody was asking how well Porcello played team ball, only what he hit on the gun.


shortstopmom, just curious, did you make your son get a paper route so he could pay for little league too.

I think that the ME mentallity can coexist with the team mentallity. We didn't showcase but I think showcasing is a time for ME.
The team mentality can be taken to a fault in some cases. The ME mentality existed long before showcases. It was rampant in Allstar and travel teams. Hopefully parents and coaches teach their kids to understand the difference.
I remember telling my son years ago not to be jealous if another pitcher was better than him and to stay focused and do his job. There were times I wished he was a little more selfish.
When I talk to him these days he starts by raviving about his teammates. He has had a chance to play the last 2 summers here in a coveted league and prefers to stay in a league where his friends are. The covet league has televised games and is full of talented players. I feel it would be better for him but he isn't buying it. Sometimes it is better to be a ME player.

quote:

Originally posted by chalkline:

Showcase baseball is "showcase". Travel ball is different in that teams usually compete to win. Big difference. I will say that parents are a major part of the me issue.
Baseball would be much better if parents had to drop off their players and show up two hours later.

Better to enjoy the journey versus only focusing on the end result!!

Every Fall in college ball, they have Scout Day. Guess what? It is a showcase for the players individual draft prospects.

Summer travel ball provides family time, meeting new baseball people, and players many times compete against other players that they eventually may run into in college competition.

You get to meet scouts, former MLB players, college coaches, and a whole host of people that share one thing in common-----baseball.

That sounds better than sitting in a motel room for your 2 hours while your son competes, doesn't it?

quote:

Originally posted by Fungo:
The face of baseball has changed but DON”T blame the players. They are just pawns in all this! There are four things that have created this showcase mentality. PARENTS ---- MONEY ---- SHOWCASE PROMOTERS --- FREE ENTERPRISE.....

Good post Fungo!

A common response from a parents perspective: If I'm shelling out mucho dollars, I want to see a return.

Baseball was once an inexpensive team sport to play, that's changed as it's almost become a speculative market at the prospect level. You initially invest a small amount in this family business called baseball and the next thing you know you are competing with other family businesses for the same reward. The showcase venue is the R&D, and in order to compete you follow your competitions lead and continue to throw money into improving and promoting the product. Unfortunatly, when all is said and done many small busnesses do not get the return they were expecting, the product does not match-up to the competition, and then falls out of the market. All you can hope for is that there is a stockholders understanding that the "experience" was worth the investment.

Bottom line, realize your products potential, train in-house, pick the venues that have the best return, and remember that it's usually the same scouting customer that's shopping week in and week out at these events.

You can't blame the showcases because they are providing a requested service.

Team-baseball in it's purist sense can still be found at the HS, LL, Legion, Babe Ruth, and Rec levels.

I hate to refer a young player as a product, but thats the direction Showcase "I-Baseball" has evolved. IMHO

Oldslugger,
I am not saying I do not enjoy watching my son. We have experienced great times and memories and made friends all across the country. As a former travel ball coach, I reflect on the better without parents somewhat tongue in cheek. Part of the real problem stems from parental evaluation of their sons ability versus what others might view(hence the growth in travel and showcase) Baseball is one of the greatest sports in teaching individual as well as team. As for individual, it is a sport of failure and how you handle that. As for team, it takes more than one to play and certainly to win.

Great lessons in life.

Thanks guys for all of your responses. I asked the question and I got some great feedback as usual. I coach showcase baseball and our program has been very successful not only winning games but finding great fits and opportunities at the next level for our players. I believe in the concept of showcase baseball. Getting talented players that can play at the next level out in front of the college coaches as often as possible.

My job as a high school coach is to help develop my players and my program. Our goal is to win games , teach the game and help those that want to play at the next level achieve that goal. I have never had a player that wanted to play in college not play in college. In the summer its about putting them in situations where they can be seen by college coaches and hopefully win some games.

I have my concerns and I am sure others do as well. Its important to me that I also teach the importance of being a team player. Its also important to me that players that have the work ethic and desire to play past hs get that opportunity. I have a great group of young players this fall and we are heading down as 16's to play in the 17u WWBA this weekend. I will strive to teach them the importance of being a team player. And I will do everything I can to assist them in the coming years to reach their goal to play in college. Thanks for your imput.

DOD,
What's wrong with asking your player to help pay for the things he wants to particiapte in? Senior summer son wanted to play for a team that cost 3000+, he did the necessary fundraising to help pay for half.
There are other incentives one can use, help around teh house (without being asked), and bringing home good grades to be awarded.

I have to agree with some points here, don't blame tthe players. When you get most everything handed to you al of your life, you eventually learn to "expect" it.

One thing about bigtime tournaments, the coaches and scouts are not only looking for how good you perform, but how you handle how bad you don't. I remember sons pitching coach telling us that he not only watched him carefully on the mound, but how he reacted to his teammates during the game. He wasn't at his best that day and he wasn't at his worst. His best performance was his pregame warmup and his bull pen before the game, all business. On the mound he was doing what he had to do to keep his team in the game and that is what a pitcher's role is all about. Good coaches can tell what pitchers are playing to show off themselves and which for their team. You can't hide it.

Too many players are led to beleive all of their lives that performance alone makes them special, that's not true, IMO.

I think that we all know that showcases and team tournaments are different. Showcasing is about me, it's whether that mentality of me also exists in other circumstances, so I understand the point that CM is trying to make.

A player has to learn that many times people will be watching, it's just not done at Jupiter, area code games, etc. Once you get into college, and even beyond then it becomes the scouts that watch and analyze and pick apart everything you do. If you are up there trying to show off "me" you can lose it for your team. There's a difference in winning/losing being a "me" guy, or winning/losing and being a "team" guy.

Dear Old Dad,

quote:

shortstopmom, just curious, did you make your son get a paper route so he could pay for little league too.

Nope, didnt have a paper route,....but he did mow lawns.
When the kids were real little ( under 12 ) we found a way to get the money together for the team fees, uniforms etc.....but my kids did have chores and they did earn an allowance and were brought up to save for the extra things they really wanted. They also did their part to chip in for the coach's end of the season gift as well.
Were a military family, so our budget is always tight,....
like so many other Americans, I am sure.

Here's a little challenge:
Tell your son you're going to give him $100.
Tell him he can spend it on anything he wants....gas, video games, CD's, etc. or the next baseball showcase.
You might be suprised at what he decides to pick.
Hopefully you wont be disappointed,...but if you are, knowing who's dream it really is, can be quite valuable.

Should we be embarrassed or something for helping to create this ME or TEAM mentality, that didn’t exist before showcases or travel tournaments.

Heck, I thought this so called ME mentality has always been an important and healthy part of all athletics including baseball. There are many opportunities to be a team player, but each player is always a ME. Sooner or later all players will understand this. They don’t get rid of teams, they get rid of individuals. Being a ME doesn’t make someone a bad team player. A competitive ME will always want to do what is necessary to help his team win the game.

If it’s all about winning, isn’t this the way it works? First ME has to be part of the TEAM. This requires a lot of attention to the ME part of the game. Tryouts are all about the ME thing. If Me gets cut, ME isn’t part of the team. The whole team doesn’t move up and get the same opportunities, but certain individuals do. The teams change, but there’s always ME that I need to deal with. So when things change, ME becomes a part of the new team and I become a great teammate on the new team.

If we are honest about all this… Isn’t a team… even the very best teams… simply a bunch of ME’s? Being a ME doesn’t necessarily make someone a bad teammate or even selfish. We are all ME’s to a certain extent and responsible for what we do. Competition produces ME’s in all walks of life.

Team work and something called chemistry is very important. That happens when each individual, each ME, does his job.

In the real world it is only ME that I have complete control over. Those who control what MY future might be, hopefully like ME and want ME on their TEAM.

Anyway… My question… What exactly is this ME mentality? Is it something new that was created by showcases and travel baseball or has it been in existence from the very beginning of time?

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Should we be embarrassed or something for helping to create this ME or TEAM mentality, that didn’t exist before showcases or travel tournaments.

Absolutely not.

Good post, but here is my take. Two examples. Pitcher on the mound with guns pointed on him, trying to throw his hardest to impress with velo. He misses his spots and can't find the strike zone, walking hitters, but he's able to show off a powerful arm. The first thing into the dugout, "what was my velo"?

The hitter, knowing that scouts and coaches have come to watch him. He's swinging for the fences when the team needs just to get men on base, or bring them home. Result is strikeout after strikeout and not taking the coaches signals.

I am not really blaming these players. For some it's the pressure in the difference between getting drafted high or a nice scholarship to college, or a difference in round money or even a differnce in who recruits you and who doesn't.

PG I agree. One flaw my son has is not enough ME mentality.
All you have to do is look at most ML players. Lots of ME mentality but most are great teammates.

BHD I'm not sure most of the players feel that way. I know most are trying to do the best they can for their families. There are certainly Manny, Manny players who do consider themselves before the team, though. I won't name names.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Should we be embarrassed or something for helping to create this ME or TEAM mentality, that didn’t exist before showcases or travel tournaments.

Heck, I thought this so called ME mentality has always been an important and healthy part of all athletics including baseball. There are many opportunities to be a team player, but each player is always a ME. Sooner or later all players will understand this. They don’t get rid of teams, they get rid of individuals. Being a ME doesn’t make someone a bad team player. A competitive ME will always want to do what is necessary to help his team win the game.

If it’s all about winning, isn’t this the way it works? First ME has to be part of the TEAM. This requires a lot of attention to the ME part of the game. Tryouts are all about the ME thing. If Me gets cut, ME isn’t part of the team. The whole team doesn’t move up and get the same opportunities, but certain individuals do. The teams change, but there’s always ME that I need to deal with. So when things change, ME becomes a part of the new team and I become a great teammate on the new team.

If we are honest about all this… Isn’t a team… even the very best teams… simply a bunch of ME’s? Being a ME doesn’t necessarily make someone a bad teammate or even selfish. We are all ME’s to a certain extent and responsible for what we do. Competition produces ME’s in all walks of life.

Team work and something called chemistry is very important. That happens when each individual, each ME, does his job.

In the real world it is only ME that I have complete control over. Those who control what MY future might be, hopefully like ME and want ME on their TEAM.

Anyway… My question… What exactly is this ME mentality? Is it something new that was created by showcases and travel baseball or has it been in existence from the very beginning of time?

PGStaff,

My only caveat to that, is that when a ME wins a game as a TEAM and is upset that ME didn't get the glory then it's a bad thing. On the other hand, if ME works his tail off so both HE and the TEAM get the glory, then it is a good thing.

I'll say one name and it will be my example. Terrell Owens.

I believe it is a goal that should be the same as life itself. Make ME as good as possible so that the World as a whole is a better place because of it.

Having said that, Showcase baseball should be just that, a place to "showcase" a players best attributes and not a place to see who can put the best players together to WIN.

That philosophy hasn't worked too well for the Yankees lately. TEAM is very important and works much better when ALL of the MEs are working toward the same goal.

Dad04 that is not what I am saying. My son always puts team 1st and his teammates on a pedestal. He has great confidence but doesn't want the limelight. He is just happy being in the mix with the guys and not striving to stand out. He goes out to win and he puts it all out there but I guess the word I should use is lacks BB ambition. When he goes out and has a fantastic game he doen't strut his stuff and never has. Sometimes it appears he isn't intersted.
I remember one time when he was a 17U and he tried out for a big team organization. Hundreds of players trying out for 3 age groupd up to 19U. The head guy who owns the otganization calls him over on the final day of 15 tryouts. He asked him if he wanted to be a player and he shugged his shoulders. The coach said that wasn't the response he was looking for. He had to assuer him he did want to play for them. I told the coach that that was his standard response to a question like that He was the 1st one offered a contract. The coach was an Assoc. scout for the Pirates and my son just dissed him. Everything worked out but he is very non challent about every thing. No real drive to stand out.

Here is an example of the ME mentality within the TEAM framework---I se this example over and over when talking baseball with players

My son was playing in the playoffs during a summer league campaign in college---top of the final inning they are up 2-1 and he leads off the inning( he is their number 3 hitter and leading power bat)and hits as you can by the score have been to get.He swings from the heels at the first pitch and misses and the entire infield backs up totally forgetting his 6.6 speed---the next pitch he drops a bunt which they cannot even mamke a play on---next three pitches he steals second,third and home to make it 3-1---They won 3-2

I asked him after the game why he did what he did--his answer was simple--"I knew if I got on I could score just by stealing my way around and we were nothitting anyway" and I do think he had signals between himself and the batters so they knew what he was doing.

This to me was a ME situation within the TEAM FRAMEWORK because of the type of game it was--a pitching duel

9 strong "ME's" makes a strong team if they have people like Coach May and PG leading the way. There are 2 types of ME, the TO type, and the competitive person who knows his toughest foe is himself. The legit showcases and successful travel teams brings out the best in those players.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach May:
RJM I had to read my post again after seeing yours. I dont see how they have anything to do with each other. If anyone would like to address my post I would appreciate it. If not fine.

You stated "It appears to me there are more and more young players concerned with what they do than what the teams does" and tied it to showcase ball. My response is this environment starts earlier than showcase ball. It cultivates itself at much younger ages, making it a cancer by the showcase age. I cited an opportunity my son was offered as a personal example of how it starts. In my son's case I didn't allow it to happen.

Thanks RJM I see your point now and how it relates to my original post. And I think you make a very good point.

Keep in mind also that showcases are for individual players to shine---travel/elite teams are TEAMS made up of excellent players

quote:

My job as a high school coach is to help develop my players and my program

Question for Coach May. Do you see more of the "Look at me attitude" on your showcase team than you do your high school team.

I don't know much about your showcase team or really what a Showcase team is, but I would be surprised if a High school team had a problem with that kind of attitude. For me the honor of representing your High School and working with your team mates in the gym, on the practice field in the cages, the socializing at school, would build a sense of unity, a Team kind of attitude. Which in games would come out as a Our Team/Our School vs. them.

I preach to our players that if you just focus on playing the game and doing whatever you have to do to help us win everything else will take care of itself. The purpose of our team is to put talented players together so they can compete against other talented teams. We make sure we get them out in front of college coaches so they can show their ability and get opportunities. With the younger guys I have found that they can get caught up in who is at the game scouting and worrying about making sure they have a good showing. I believe if you lose yourself in the game and just focus on playing the game and helping your team it all works out.

I have a great group of players. They are fine young men and are learning about this whole thing. With a hs team you do not have the distractions that you have with a showcase team. But thats all part of it. Everyone wants to do good as an individual. If you can get them to understand if we do good as a team the individual stuff will be taken care of. I guess you could also say if the individuals all do good the team will as well. But if the focus is entirely on me instead of we , well I believe you have some issues.

I was not talking about my team in the post. I was talking about "showcase" baseball in general. I was talking about a "showcase mentality" that can creep in. All of these posts have been outstanding. I hope I am making some sense with this post.