The Connection

Go where you’re loved. This has been my motto! Thank you for this.

Absolutely go where you are loved, will stick and will compete to PLAY. 

@Francis7 posted:

If you have 200 outfielders in a graduation year who all run a 6.80 and have an exit velo of 90, there's got to be something that happens to make a coach what a specific one, right?

Is that why everyone says it's important to go where you are loved rather than try and shoehorn yourself on to a roster - because that love means they want you, and it's better to be wanted than to be one who's left without a chair when the music stops?

Sure it's the connection ultimately.  Initially, its a mix of their actual ability, luck, timing and probably initially an advocate of some kind that made difference.  Fact of life inside and outside of baseball.  And as we all know often in life the best or equal candidates get passed over and end up where they really belong, hopefully.  Baseball=Life. 

Another factor, I think (?) is networking. If a RC has a trusted advisor and that person goes to bat for you with the RC, it's a huge edge. Related, it pays to play travel ball for someone who is respected, has a network of contacts at schools that align with your interests and talent, and who is willing to be an advocate for you.

Go where you are loved, sure, but keep in mind that all those guys on the bench are loved too - not just the 10 guys in the lineup.

I also think as important as they are, numbers are also overrated. There is a world of difference between someone who throws 90+, has a wicked secondary pitch and a solid third pitch who can locate vs. someone who hit 90 once. On paper, they both throw 90. Similarly, there might be two kids who run 6.6 but one takes terrible routes or has gotten slower as he’s gotten bigger. They might both show 6.6 but one is getting faster and the other is getting slower; one can use his speed on offense and defense whereas the other primarily uses his for bunting or stealing if he can get on base. 95+ Position velocity is only useful if you are accurate and 100+ exit velocity only matters if you have good plate discipline and your swing is short and/or fast enough to keep up with high velocity pitching.

I agree that there are a lot of really good players out there and it’s much harder to distinguish in baseball as it is in other sports because there just aren’t as many opportunities in a game to show what you can do as there are in other sports. But the mistake a lot of people make is assuming that equal metrics always means equal performance.

And I know Bob will add in the 6th tool.

@Francis7 posted:

Another factor, I think (?) is networking. If a RC has a trusted advisor and that person goes to bat for you with the RC, it's a huge edge. Related, it pays to play travel ball for someone who is respected, has a network of contacts at schools that align with your interests and talent, and who is willing to be an advocate for you.

Yes of course. Eventually if the trusted person is wrong enough times they lose their pull.  Or should, like any other scout.

This assumes no character issues, good attitude, grades etc...

@Francis7 posted:

Maybe I am wrong? But, when I look at Perfect Game and PBR stuff, and I see stuff shared on social media like Twitter and Instagram, and I focus on a specific grad year and position, my impression is that there is A LOT of kids out there who seem great. They have size, experience and all the performance metrics.  "Good students" too.

Here, I am not talking about the obvious future P5 kids.  They are at another level. More so, I mean everyone outside the can't miss studs.

There seems to be SO MANY really good players at a specific grad year and position. How can they all find opportunities to play in college? How many of them won't continue after HS despite being capable and deserving a chance?

Francis,

Some really good replies here.

First, understand that PG, PBR and many other organizations are selling you and others subscriptions because it makes them tons of money. What you read, see and like on twitter or IG may not be attractive to those more familiar who work in baseball.

Unless you are a scout, a coach or have seen multiple players in all situations, do you REALLY know what to look for?  It's just not all about stats and metrics.  It's also about coaches, scouts, etc., knowing what they are looking for in a specific player for their specific program. They see things that you dont see, even though you may think that pitcher or that position player is really, really good. Also, as an FYI, many coaches recruit players because they will be a good player to come off the bench, not necessarily a starter and many coaches do NOT tell you that. Sometimes recruiting coaches will pass on a player because the player is good, but needs too much work in so little time. Coach will call a friend to see if they can fit the player in. This is particularly the case where players will not be a draft consideration. Professional ball is different.

Not every player that is good will find a place to play. That has been since my player was in HS and still the same scenerio today.

The connection does have a lot to do with who plays where and if they play. Not sure if  son would have gotten a chance to be a Tiger if there wasn't a connection, with or without his skills.

My most favorite college player in the past few years lacked all of the metrics you would consider a sure bet.  There was a connection as well. He wasnt favored over the  6 foot stud that lost his start to him.  Best attitude ever. Best team cheerleader and showed respect to everyone as well as the game.

Baseball can be cruel. But it also gives young men opportunties, they just have to work hard and overcome the obstacles.

Hope that this makes sense.

@Francis7 posted:

Maybe I am wrong? But, when I look at Perfect Game and PBR stuff, and I see stuff shared on social media like Twitter and Instagram, and I focus on a specific grad year and position, my impression is that there is A LOT of kids out there who seem great. They have size, experience and all the performance metrics.  "Good students" too.

Here, I am not talking about the obvious future P5 kids.  They are at another level. More so, I mean everyone outside the can't miss studs.

There seems to be SO MANY really good players at a specific grad year and position. How can they all find opportunities to play in college? How many of them won't continue after HS despite being capable and deserving a chance?

A once met a parent whose child played another D1 sport at a large college. Kid is really good. Played on national teams in the sport. For this particular sport, the kid is at another level.

But, this sport, while they obviously have statistics, it's not like baseball where there are a ton of performance metrics. There's no exit velo or POP time or spin rate, etc.

That being said, the parent maintains that, when it comes to recruiting - especially in their sport - a huge element is that there's something about the athlete that just connects with the recruiting coach. Maybe it's body type? Maybe it's attitude? Maybe the player reminds the coach of something in themselves?

Getting back to baseball, since there so many good players and a finite amount of opportunities each year, is that "connection" what drives the decision?

If you have 200 outfielders in a graduation year who all run a 6.80 and have an exit velo of 90, there's got to be something that happens to make a coach what a specific one, right?

Is that why everyone says it's important to go where you are loved rather than try and shoehorn yourself on to a roster - because that love means they want you, and it's better to be wanted than to be one who's left without a chair when the music stops?

Yes, something happens.

Some really fast kids are good at baseball.  Some are not. Some can reach a 90 exit velo but can't hit all that well. Some kids are baseball smart. Some kids are blockheads. Coaches can watch and tell the difference. It's their job. They do it all the time. If they can't do it, they have to find another job.

Just like interviewing potential candidates for a job. You can have several qualified candidates; masters degree, Big 4 experience, etc. But what makes one candidate distinguish themselves from the others? How do you stand out? What makes you more desirable than your peers. All those things come into place.

PT;

yes, the 6th Tool.

A Coach, Scout, parent need to recognize the player with the extra skill.

In players it maybe a natural ability, however Willie learned it from his father who played CF and Willie at age 16. played LF. His father tough him how to "read the bat" of the hitters.

Tommy learned the 6th Tool on the playgrounds of Norristown, Penn. He had that extra skill as Manager.

"The joy of winning"! The game allow the opportunity for this joy and for learning the art of competing.

The Japan HS player studies the "Book of 5 Rings".

Bob

@ARCEKU21 posted:

Just like interviewing potential candidates for a job. You can have several qualified candidates; masters degree, Big 4 experience, etc. But what makes one candidate distinguish themselves from the others? How do you stand out? What makes you more desirable than your peers. All those things come into place.

He stole my answer. In a given situation a certain player has an ‘it’ factor with a certain coach. He may not have that connection with another coach.

Just like jobs, baseball roster spots can come through connections. A high school coach, a travel coach or a scout might tell a college coach he knows of a player that would fit his program. Part of this is the player’s coach making the call, “I have a guy who fits.” This is assuming the coach has a relationship and credibility.

@ARCEKU21 posted:

Just like interviewing potential candidates for a job. You can have several qualified candidates; masters degree, Big 4 experience, etc. But what makes one candidate distinguish themselves from the others? How do you stand out? What makes you more desirable than your peers. All those things come into place.

Often times the difference maker is something that a coach or scout sees in a young player that reminds him of another successful player. It can literally be anything. How he throws, a play he makes in the field, a clutch hit, etc. That makes the connection unique to those two people and often it’s burned into the mind of the coach/scout which equates to more opportunities for that player. Coaches and scout talk about prospects in that manner all the time. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “I like him. He reminds me of __________.”

I think you're asking a lot of questions that can't be answered with vague/high level answers on a message board.  I'd equate many of them to "what's the meaning of life?"  A) this is no right/wrong answer and B) there are nearly infinite answers.  While there are tried and true pieces (exit velo, 60 times, 90+ fastballs, etc) and lots of good educated guesses that are all generally of value, it all comes down to the eye of the beholder - the college coach/RC.

While many of us make smart educated guesses and take action based on them, how many of us are going directly to the specific coaches and straight up asking them?  Not many.  While there's value in finding out what a specific coach is looking for in general terms, the possibility is there to get much more specific and focused.  Looking back, I think my son could have benefitted by pressing (respectfully) his targeted coaches for more specifics on him.  My son maintained communications with his targets via email and telephone, but the vast majority was through email.  And just about every email he sent them asked something along the lines of "What do you think I can be doing to improve?"  Coaches mostly never provided that.  The closest thing to an answer was on par with "keep grinding."  I just don't think many coaches are interested (or feel they have the time) to get specific like that in a email.  But ask on a phone call, and I bet your chances increase.  My son rarely did that and I'd consider it a missed opportunity.  if you really want to play for coach X at University X, go directly to him and get as specific as he'll allow.  But that needs to be done for EVERY target.  Coach X might give you his "magic bullet" of sorts with regard to one kid, but the same bullet does nothing for Coach Y.  There is a lot of assuming going by us and our kids and that makes sense at the early stages when you're casting your widest net.  If you're not a shoe in blue chip prospect, I'd argue a player needs to get very specific and focused to determine exactly what will make the connection between him and a single coach.  You get to a point where you should know exactly what's on the "test."  Only then can you "study" in a really focused manner.