Why all the focus on just hitting? Cant you show well in 1 or 2 abs? regardless of hitting a 5 run homer? I think that recruiters and scouts can probably asses the kid's ability by even watching his approach in the on deck circle.
Nails, unless I missed something, in your last post you made a suggestion to improve the Stevenson Showcase. Isn't that what the discussions are for? Sully pointed out what he thought was a flaw, and then a new idea came up. Isn't that what this board is about? Well done gentleman.
By the way, some scouts are good, but evaluating a hitter in the on deck circle?
By the way, some scouts are good, but evaluating a hitter in the on deck circle?
Imagine a pitcher being told he will only throw about 3 or 4 pitches ..you think a coach/scout is going to get a good evaluation based on that ?
Correct bballdad--this board is suppossed to be about giving feedback -whether it be positive and/or negative - on events such as the Stevenson. Some people will try to twist things all around and draw you into conversations that are not directly related to the topic at hand .
Side note to all of this --
On the sunday of Stevenson the kids had about an hour to kill before gametime due to the weather delay. A bunch of them took some batting practice on their own -player throwing to player from about 20 feet -in the batting cages down the line . Well..at first one college guy strolled over to take a look ..and then another ..and another ..ended up with about 6 or 7 of them with notebooks in hand taking notes . Point is ...they see lots of value in watching the kids take bp cuts even if it was a very informal session . I have to believe they would have loved to see these kids take a regular bp session on the field JMO
Correct bballdad--this board is suppossed to be about giving feedback -whether it be positive and/or negative - on events such as the Stevenson. Some people will try to twist things all around and draw you into conversations that are not directly related to the topic at hand .
Side note to all of this --
On the sunday of Stevenson the kids had about an hour to kill before gametime due to the weather delay. A bunch of them took some batting practice on their own -player throwing to player from about 20 feet -in the batting cages down the line . Well..at first one college guy strolled over to take a look ..and then another ..and another ..ended up with about 6 or 7 of them with notebooks in hand taking notes . Point is ...they see lots of value in watching the kids take bp cuts even if it was a very informal session . I have to believe they would have loved to see these kids take a regular bp session on the field JMO
No dog in this fight and the discussion has been good. My 2 cents. My daughter went to a "showcase" recently to show her wares. Players, for the most part were grouped by grad years, positions ... You all know the routine. She is not "smooth" in the fielding but holds her own. She is also a pitcher. When her group rotated into the "hitting phase," she was taken over to pitch. She is alright as a pitcher. HOWEVER, she can rake with anyone. NOT ONE AT BAT! I was, (insert any number of bad words here). Camp director simply described it as "an oversight." Therefore, the comments about not getting to hit or getting a limited number of at bats, to me makes sense.
BTW, I'm not asserting any "right" or "wrong" in the ongoing discussion but rather giving my feelings as a parent from another event. Take it for what it is worth.
BTW, I'm not asserting any "right" or "wrong" in the ongoing discussion but rather giving my feelings as a parent from another event. Take it for what it is worth.
Next year I will make a suggestion that they put a BP set up on the Freshman Field at Stevenson. We suggest time slots and an order so scouts can walk up behind the cage and watch.
The more cuts the colleges/scouts can see the player take ...the more it can help the player get evaluated properly. Thats the whole point of the showcase isnt it ? To help the player get noticed and move on to the next level . A salesman is going to have a hard time selling his product without actually letting the customer see it .
I'm normally pretty quiet with issues like this but each situation and student athlete is a separate issue and what might be for one, might not be right for the other.
This is mostly about exposure and future intentions, regardless if it is front of a scout or a collegiate coach.
'09s at this stage (Summer heading into Senior yr.)should have a general idea as far as how much interest they are generating from colleges and scouts.
The saying "learn to crawl before walking" should be applied here, unless you are the excpetion to the rule (the elite athlete), you have to generate local interest 1st as most players fortunate enough to get a college scholly will go local as well as gain the attention of local scouts.
If you feel that you or your son have not rec'd much interest, I would suggest local events.
If you've already garnered enough local attention and pro scouts are showing interest as well as out of region elite college baseball programs, going to a event like at Cincy would likely be the event to attend.
This is mostly about exposure and future intentions, regardless if it is front of a scout or a collegiate coach.
'09s at this stage (Summer heading into Senior yr.)should have a general idea as far as how much interest they are generating from colleges and scouts.
The saying "learn to crawl before walking" should be applied here, unless you are the excpetion to the rule (the elite athlete), you have to generate local interest 1st as most players fortunate enough to get a college scholly will go local as well as gain the attention of local scouts.
If you feel that you or your son have not rec'd much interest, I would suggest local events.
If you've already garnered enough local attention and pro scouts are showing interest as well as out of region elite college baseball programs, going to a event like at Cincy would likely be the event to attend.
Stevenson needs to have an organized BP on the first day. If it happens, this board is doing it's job.
I don't want to open an old can of worms, but I want to make a comment. Jason Cohen from Deerfield had a great Stevenson Showcase. My son has played with him and against him for 5 years. He was singled out by NCSAscout as having a good showcase. I was there, he did.
Jason also went to the PBR showcase the day before. They had him as 35th overall prospect. I think he was underrated by PBR. He pitches well, plays excellent third and first base and is a lefty bat with power and hits for average.
Jason takes lessons at MVP and plays on Top Tier. If there ever was a case where a kid could be "helped" in PBR by his relionship with MVP and TT it is here. My point is, I think PBR bends over backwards to be fair and I site this as an example. Also, I was proud and happy with the rating my son got, and he does not take lessons at MVP and does not play for TT.
I am sure Todd Fine will work on Jason's behalf and get him to the place that suits his ability. The kid can play and will be Deerfield's No 1 pitcher and bat number 3 or 4 in their lineup.
My point is PBR ran an excellent showcase and I believe they do their best to give fair, non-biased evaluations.
I don't want to open an old can of worms, but I want to make a comment. Jason Cohen from Deerfield had a great Stevenson Showcase. My son has played with him and against him for 5 years. He was singled out by NCSAscout as having a good showcase. I was there, he did.
Jason also went to the PBR showcase the day before. They had him as 35th overall prospect. I think he was underrated by PBR. He pitches well, plays excellent third and first base and is a lefty bat with power and hits for average.
Jason takes lessons at MVP and plays on Top Tier. If there ever was a case where a kid could be "helped" in PBR by his relionship with MVP and TT it is here. My point is, I think PBR bends over backwards to be fair and I site this as an example. Also, I was proud and happy with the rating my son got, and he does not take lessons at MVP and does not play for TT.
I am sure Todd Fine will work on Jason's behalf and get him to the place that suits his ability. The kid can play and will be Deerfield's No 1 pitcher and bat number 3 or 4 in their lineup.
My point is PBR ran an excellent showcase and I believe they do their best to give fair, non-biased evaluations.
While I like and support the idea of a BP session, the logistics might be difficult.
You have two games (for most of them) going on at the same time w/new pitchers each inning, and then throw in a BP session, those interested in watching most everything would not be able to.
You have two games (for most of them) going on at the same time w/new pitchers each inning, and then throw in a BP session, those interested in watching most everything would not be able to.
I felt the Stevenson showcase was well run and worth evey penny considering what it costs to attend many of the showcases in the area. You get to see top talent on both the mound, in the field, and at bat. It is real game conditions, not just throwing to a catcher like your do at the other showcases. Currently my son won't wow people with his fastball but the lack of eye poppong speed has helped him learn to pitch. His cutter and splitter result in many ground balls and strikeouts. At the showcase he faced the minimum 6 batters, striking out 2 and getting 4 ground outs. He has heard from 22 colleges, with 3 also requesting transcripts, videos, and schedules. So, IMO, sure things could be organized a little differently, but at least for my son it was worth it. Three of the schools were Ivy League and, in their letters, wanted to set-up a campus tour. As it goes, you can't please everyone, but I say hats off to harvey and his staff.