I agree 100% if you can get on a great 13U and 14U team you will be prepared to play HS. Those types of teams will prepare you very well. The problem is, how are you going to make those teams if you have the skill level of a rec player? The best teams, which have the best practices, coaching, competition and 9 months out of the year play are highly competitive. You have to beat someone out of a spot. You have to be much better for a coach to take the headache of a new kid and new parents versus what he already has on his team. Kids walking off of the street after playing 6-8 weeks a year of rec for the last 5 years are not going to make those teams around here. I never saw a kid walk out of rec at twelve and make a great 13U team. They are going to make the AA level teams which are not much better than rec ball.
Good luck.
Guess it's just different in different areas. I live not far from ECB and have not seen the crazy parents at the higher age groups. I'm glad you are not like that Bobble. I'm just relating to what I have seen down here. It is a circus at the little kids games.
In my son's SR year he had an offer from a HS coach in Georgia to graduate there. My son wanted to grad with his friends so I passed in on to another player. I noticed he attends college in Georgia.
My son loved pitching and was always well behaved. His biggest flaw was that he wasn't ambitious. He wanted to play D1 against top teams and he never looked past college. He worked hard and graduated with a 3.8 GPA. He is planing to get married to the only girl he has ever loved and has hung up the spikes at 23 yo. His journey was incredible but he wants to move on to the next stage in his life. Those years of BB were a source of great pleasure to him and to me. My wife is not as into BB as he got older. The younger travel ball was extreme fun and the challenge of failing is always there. He learned to deal with it. Every year I asked if he was still interested and he would look at me funny like I was dumb. Our young travel teams had very competent players. I watched a team a few weeks ago and I was impressed with their pitchers control. They were 10-11 and looked great in their NY pinstriped uniforms. I never get tired of watching that.
My son loved pitching and was always well behaved. His biggest flaw was that he wasn't ambitious. He wanted to play D1 against top teams and he never looked past college. He worked hard and graduated with a 3.8 GPA. He is planing to get married to the only girl he has ever loved and has hung up the spikes at 23 yo. His journey was incredible but he wants to move on to the next stage in his life. Those years of BB were a source of great pleasure to him and to me. My wife is not as into BB as he got older. The younger travel ball was extreme fun and the challenge of failing is always there. He learned to deal with it. Every year I asked if he was still interested and he would look at me funny like I was dumb. Our young travel teams had very competent players. I watched a team a few weeks ago and I was impressed with their pitchers control. They were 10-11 and looked great in their NY pinstriped uniforms. I never get tired of watching that.
My general rule on parental behaviour is the lower the age(parents don't know how to act yet, plus a little control issue) and the lower skill level(parental expectations are way too high, and control issue again) and the lower the talent of the player(parents of stud players are more relaxed, they know their kid will play and play well) the worse the behavior.
It seems to get better as the players(and parents) grow up. But not always.
It seems to get better as the players(and parents) grow up. But not always.
Bobble, I am truly happy that you and your son had a great experience from a young age. I love baseball, my son loves baseball and I am not looking forward to the day when it all ends, whenever that might be. I will look back on these days as the best in my life, as I'm sure you do.
My son did rec ball till he was 11, then moved on. As of now, it has worked out great for him. Couldn't have asked for more. I'm just re-thinking whether or not travel is necessary at those younger ages. For him it was not. I really didn't mean to say that it is a bad thing.
Congratulations on your son being successful and moving on to real life. I'm sure the lessons he learned in baseball will make him a much better person.
My son did rec ball till he was 11, then moved on. As of now, it has worked out great for him. Couldn't have asked for more. I'm just re-thinking whether or not travel is necessary at those younger ages. For him it was not. I really didn't mean to say that it is a bad thing.
Congratulations on your son being successful and moving on to real life. I'm sure the lessons he learned in baseball will make him a much better person.
Man! I really screwed up. My son didn't play organized ball until he was seven. And we passed on all-stars at seven and eight years old to go on vacation for two weeks! I really held him back.
This year (sixteen years old/15U eligible playing 16U and 18U) was the first year I didn't coach him. I didn't attend all his games. I even skipped an entire weekend once.
And despite all the horrible things I've done to hold back his progress he still showed well at his first college showcase.
This year (sixteen years old/15U eligible playing 16U and 18U) was the first year I didn't coach him. I didn't attend all his games. I even skipped an entire weekend once.
And despite all the horrible things I've done to hold back his progress he still showed well at his first college showcase.
quote:Now its about insane parents ?
I agree with you bballman, it is not about the parents. But a lot of them sure think it is and ogle about the bragging rights. By the way, I am still waiting for those posters to respond instead of asking a 3rd party about my position concerning small diamond ball. If they exist, that is.
RIM, mine didn't start till 7 either. Did not think he was mature enough till then. I think it was a good thing for him.
quote:If they exist, that is.
Daque they exist but some do not want to waste their breath and a winless endeavor.
Why don't you give us some back ground on your experience. Others have and you chose to ignore them.
quote:And despite all the horrible things I've done to hold back his progress he still showed well at his first college showcase.
According to who ?
quote:I agree with you bballman, it is not about the parents
Why did they bring it up?
My daughter had no interest until she found out a lot of her friends signed up for softball. Two days before the first practice she asked me to teach her how to swing a bat and throw a ball. She played college softball.quote:Originally posted by bballman:
RIM, mine didn't start till 7 either. Did not think he was mature enough till then. I think it was a good thing for him.
My son preferred his sister's 12U (girls are different) practice to tee ball and kiddie ball.
Why are you being so negative? You've changed a lot in the past few months. The showcase was run by coaches from two mid major D1 conferences. Therefore, they could talk to him. He did well for a player who just finished his soph year of high school. He's put himself on some radar screens.quote:Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:quote:And despite all the horrible things I've done to hold back his progress he still showed well at his first college showcase.
According to who ?
"My son played both rec and travel from 9-12."
RJM
Didn't you say this earlier in the thread?
If it was good enough for your son, why is it bad for others? I have no idea why you continuously say anything before the big field doesn't matter, yet you played travel with your son. You were the coach and organized the whole thing, didn't you?
It doesn't make sense.
Advanced training helps in everything in life. I have never figured out why baseball should be the only thing in life where it is a either a disadvantage or it doesn't matter to start early. Why do people send their kids to private schools when there is a perfectly good public school next door? Could it be the advantage they get from better teaching, materials and facilities?
RJM
Didn't you say this earlier in the thread?
If it was good enough for your son, why is it bad for others? I have no idea why you continuously say anything before the big field doesn't matter, yet you played travel with your son. You were the coach and organized the whole thing, didn't you?
It doesn't make sense.
Advanced training helps in everything in life. I have never figured out why baseball should be the only thing in life where it is a either a disadvantage or it doesn't matter to start early. Why do people send their kids to private schools when there is a perfectly good public school next door? Could it be the advantage they get from better teaching, materials and facilities?
Changed ? no I believe in playing the highest level possible. That includes 9-16 yo. The question is a legit question. Is it you or a recruiter wanting to verbal your son. At that age you start to know what he has and his potential. At 17U my son threw 2 perfect games against 18U elite teams. 4 back to back complete game no hitters with one 15 Ks. Scouts holding him back at tryouts, carding him and recruiters calling him one of the best young pitchers they had seen. A SR scout at Long Island Tiger tournament said he was a smart young pitcher after watching him shut out the LI tigers. I still have his card. He told me he reports direct to the head office.
At 16 you should be polished and very skilled. Yes it takes innate talent but it also takes training and developing a competence level. The earlier you start the better off your chances are. Your motor skills need to be developed.
I went back and read this thread through and Daque hi jacked it with his ridiculous theory. The original thread was about travel ball the good and the bad.
At 16 you should be polished and very skilled. Yes it takes innate talent but it also takes training and developing a competence level. The earlier you start the better off your chances are. Your motor skills need to be developed.
I went back and read this thread through and Daque hi jacked it with his ridiculous theory. The original thread was about travel ball the good and the bad.
Doug you are exactly right. I am not a big fan of private schools but early education is for developing good study habits and teaching how to learn. Otherwise you could start kids at 15-16yo. What did they learn that the couldn't pick up in 6 months. They learned to be students gradually.
Well, if you look at the majority of the posts, everyone seems to be in favor of travel before HS. The only thing that makes a difference is the quality of rec ball in your area and at what age do you think it is appropriate to start.
So to answer the original posting, the answer is yes, travel is good.
So to answer the original posting, the answer is yes, travel is good.
quote:They learned to be students gradually.
I have one child that plays travel ball and one that plays rec ball. They are different kids but both of them love to play the game. There doesn't have to be a one-size-fits-all program.
I thought the original post was a good one. Parent struggling with what to do at the early stages would benefit from others good and bad stories. To me 15 was the age you should be a polished player,understand the game and be ready to compete at the highest level. That comes from early development.
Bobblehead;
And yet your son is done. Perhaps he played as much as he wanted to play and now he is tired of it. It sounds as if he was a pretty high-level prospect.
Two good reasons to limit the amount of baseball == travel or rec -- before age 12.
1. burnout
2. overuse and injury
It happens, and ultimately the game if for the kid, not the parent. If it is fun, by all means play all you want. But if it ends suddenly and perhaps prematurely, perhaps it is too much.
Daque adds perspective that while it might not be right for everyone is certainly right for some and absolutely worth consideration in all cases.
And yet your son is done. Perhaps he played as much as he wanted to play and now he is tired of it. It sounds as if he was a pretty high-level prospect.
Two good reasons to limit the amount of baseball == travel or rec -- before age 12.
1. burnout
2. overuse and injury
It happens, and ultimately the game if for the kid, not the parent. If it is fun, by all means play all you want. But if it ends suddenly and perhaps prematurely, perhaps it is too much.
Daque adds perspective that while it might not be right for everyone is certainly right for some and absolutely worth consideration in all cases.
No burnout. He is in love for the 1st time and is heading to Wilmington NC until fiancé finishes her degree.
My son has always been in control of his life. The game was more about teammates and still is. It is a sad time and a happy time. He stays in touch with several guys who left his college and has been to a few their weddings all over the states.
He has 3 job offers from top fortune 500 companies but he has told them he won't commit until his fiancé decides where they want to live. These jobs require commitment and training away from where she is. They talked it over and he explained. They all liked the fact that he was upfront and conferred with his fiancé. They all said they wanted him once they knew what they wanted. He has never had job interviews before and they were all impressed with his interviews. Passed all the Aptitude tests with flying colors. He even had to do Sat's and some field work with 4-5 interviews for each company. He has always know that he would be done after college.
Here he has 3 teams in the top Elite SR leagues that email him to see if he would play for them. I think he is tired of being a poor student and has been looking at new cars.
He is very grounded.
My son has always been in control of his life. The game was more about teammates and still is. It is a sad time and a happy time. He stays in touch with several guys who left his college and has been to a few their weddings all over the states.
He has 3 job offers from top fortune 500 companies but he has told them he won't commit until his fiancé decides where they want to live. These jobs require commitment and training away from where she is. They talked it over and he explained. They all liked the fact that he was upfront and conferred with his fiancé. They all said they wanted him once they knew what they wanted. He has never had job interviews before and they were all impressed with his interviews. Passed all the Aptitude tests with flying colors. He even had to do Sat's and some field work with 4-5 interviews for each company. He has always know that he would be done after college.
Here he has 3 teams in the top Elite SR leagues that email him to see if he would play for them. I think he is tired of being a poor student and has been looking at new cars.
He is very grounded.
Wow! this thread has exploded in 24 hours. Lots of good posts and different perspectives.
Here in the greater Phoenix area, we have lots of MLB teams playing spring training here. Lots of scouts in the area. Jake Barrett (3rd round, 99th overall pick), pitched against our HS team twice (we split). When he was throwing, there were always at least 10-20 scouts in the stands. Our #1 will attend ASU in the fall and was a 40th round pick. He attracted lots of scouts every time he pitched. The players were always playing in front of scouts it seemed.
Our unknown transfer came in from Arkansas. It took one practice for him to get noticed. He's a 6'2" RHP who sits in the 86-88 range. For the first few weeks of the season, he started and threw 3-5 and my son follwed him. Arizona State was scouting our Arkansas friend one evening and when he was done, they went over to our coach, who spoke for a few minutes with the college scouts. My son went out to start the next inning. They watched the first batter from the side and then went back into the stands behind home plate and started gunning and charting. When I say 'they will find you' I guess that's what I'm talking about. My son got a big head start that day.
Of course not everyone has that kind of access. You have to make it by going to a Perfect Game or other 'classic' to get someone to see you. This will put jr on the radar and then nature takes its course.
With that said, are there kids throwing 150 innings as 8U? Yes there are, but those kids might not be around for 12U ball. Clearly, this is wrong.
Play coach pitch, hit .975, have some fun. When your son turns 9-10, play some LL kid pitch, get some lessons, see what he's got. Start club ball around 11 or 12... Grow from there. Take time off in the off season, etc.
Can a kid who's 15 and hasn't thrown an inning become a MLB pitcher? Yes. They all develop at their own rate and speed. Great athletes develop differently. A great athlete with great hand/eye/speed/reflexes, etc can pass the common kid like a lightening bolt and there is nothing any lesson can do about that.
Watch a replay of Usain Bolt. Humans don't do run 9.38 in 100m or 19.19 in the 200m. It just isn't done. Yet it was. He could go 9.2 and sub 19 before he's done. An old track coach told me sprinters are born, distance runners are made.
These days, all athletes are born and then made.
For baseball, it's all different depending on kid/location/opportunity/HS program/options available/instruction available, etc.
In the end, if they have talent, develop it and get noticed, somebody will call. 2 out of those 3 require effort beyond the field.
Here in the greater Phoenix area, we have lots of MLB teams playing spring training here. Lots of scouts in the area. Jake Barrett (3rd round, 99th overall pick), pitched against our HS team twice (we split). When he was throwing, there were always at least 10-20 scouts in the stands. Our #1 will attend ASU in the fall and was a 40th round pick. He attracted lots of scouts every time he pitched. The players were always playing in front of scouts it seemed.
Our unknown transfer came in from Arkansas. It took one practice for him to get noticed. He's a 6'2" RHP who sits in the 86-88 range. For the first few weeks of the season, he started and threw 3-5 and my son follwed him. Arizona State was scouting our Arkansas friend one evening and when he was done, they went over to our coach, who spoke for a few minutes with the college scouts. My son went out to start the next inning. They watched the first batter from the side and then went back into the stands behind home plate and started gunning and charting. When I say 'they will find you' I guess that's what I'm talking about. My son got a big head start that day.
Of course not everyone has that kind of access. You have to make it by going to a Perfect Game or other 'classic' to get someone to see you. This will put jr on the radar and then nature takes its course.
With that said, are there kids throwing 150 innings as 8U? Yes there are, but those kids might not be around for 12U ball. Clearly, this is wrong.
Play coach pitch, hit .975, have some fun. When your son turns 9-10, play some LL kid pitch, get some lessons, see what he's got. Start club ball around 11 or 12... Grow from there. Take time off in the off season, etc.
Can a kid who's 15 and hasn't thrown an inning become a MLB pitcher? Yes. They all develop at their own rate and speed. Great athletes develop differently. A great athlete with great hand/eye/speed/reflexes, etc can pass the common kid like a lightening bolt and there is nothing any lesson can do about that.
Watch a replay of Usain Bolt. Humans don't do run 9.38 in 100m or 19.19 in the 200m. It just isn't done. Yet it was. He could go 9.2 and sub 19 before he's done. An old track coach told me sprinters are born, distance runners are made.
These days, all athletes are born and then made.
For baseball, it's all different depending on kid/location/opportunity/HS program/options available/instruction available, etc.
In the end, if they have talent, develop it and get noticed, somebody will call. 2 out of those 3 require effort beyond the field.
JMoff:
James Pazos will be going to Chandler-Gilbert this year. He played over the summer with us on the Firebirds and is a great talent and a great kid. Your Arkansas friend has committed to Arizona.
James Pazos will be going to Chandler-Gilbert this year. He played over the summer with us on the Firebirds and is a great talent and a great kid. Your Arkansas friend has committed to Arizona.
quote:A great athlete with great hand/eye/speed/reflexes, etc can pass the common kid like a lightening bolt and there is nothing any lesson can do about that.
Amen.
Conversely, all the tutoring, battng lessons, pitching coaches, camps, travel teams, and clinics cannot take a kid beyond what his innate ability will allow. It is like putting high octane gas in a lawn mower.
I was coaching a 12 year old kid in basketball and he dazzled the crowd with an offensive move. A spectator poked me in the back and asked how I taught him that move. I responded that you don't teach moves like that, they are born with them. I merely provided the opportunities for him to learn how to refine them.
For all sports there is a time to up the ante. In women's gymnastics it is essential that tykes start early because the olympics will be their venue as adolescence approaches. A swimmer can learn to save himself at age 15 if he falls out of a boat but he will never be a world class swimmer regardless of innate ability. Some olympic sports are dominated by athletes in their 30's. Look at Michael Jordan and his struggle to enter the world of baseball. He was good but just too far behind.
How about baseball? Anything before the full sized diamond is not really baseball yet. There is no such thing as an elite small diamond youth baseball player. There are elite youth gymnasts but they are participating against all comers. Compared to the pros, all youth baseball players suck.
Once you are playing on the full sized diamond it is time to get serious about the game and play with and against the very best you can. Work ethic, passion, and the mental part of the game are critical elements to future success. Thriving under pressure and adjusting to failure are essential.
It is the intangibles that are the difference makers beyond HS. Everyone at that level has innate ability and refined skills.
quote:Anything before the full sized diamond is not really baseball yet. There is no such thing as an elite small diamond youth baseball player. There are elite youth gymnasts but they are participating against all comers. Compared to the pros, all youth baseball players suck.
Idle ramblings !
My son's basket ball coach retired and was hired by an Ariz 4A school. He took them to their 1st state championship in 50 years. Same players and taught them how to play the game.
My son's team won their zone every year he was at the HS school. He played JV for 2 years and varsity for 2 years. He played JV because he had to be taught how to work as a team and the skills he needed. He played Varsity BB because he was simply better than anyone due to his having learned how to play the game at an early age. He didn't start BKTB until he was 15. His school was a BKTB powerhouse because his coach was able to teach the game better than most. My son was behind the other guys. That was AAAA BKTB the highest level in Canada. I'll bet your knowledge on BKTB ball is at the level your BB knowledge is. One of the dangers of this site is that guys can push their idle ramblings as gospel. I wonder if Daque has a relative in St Louis ? ALA O'Leary.
By the way MJ had a problem breaking into BKTB and he tried to break into BB in the minors. How many people do you know that starts as the CEO of a corporation.
Someone relay my thanks to Daque for proving my point.
quote:O
Watch a replay of Usain Bolt. Humans don't do run 9.38 in 100m
Neither did Usain. He ran 9.58 lol!!
quote:But a lot of them sure think it is and ogle about the bragging rights.
You mean like when parent A says "Johnny played travel ball"??
quote:
So to answer the original posting, the answer is yes, travel is good.
While it can be good, it is not necessary to be a travel player to be a great high school player.
Depends on the HS and the competition for roster spots.
HS is not a great test as the level of play has huge differences. You could be the best player on a small 1a HS and you couldn't be the bat boy on a top 5a.
You can have a great experience in travel BB and you could have a bad one. At college it is the same except the players are the best ones from all the HSs. That is really when you start to see if you stack up.
HS is not a great test as the level of play has huge differences. You could be the best player on a small 1a HS and you couldn't be the bat boy on a top 5a.
You can have a great experience in travel BB and you could have a bad one. At college it is the same except the players are the best ones from all the HSs. That is really when you start to see if you stack up.
quote:quote:
So to answer the original posting, the answer is yes, travel is good.
While it can be good, it is not necessary to be a travel player to be a great high school player.
You can have a good life without any education, but it sure is a lot harder to do. Why are people against early, quality training in baseball? Nothing else on the planet is like that? Why should baseball be any different?
Doughnutuman:
Nobody is against early, high-quality training in baseball. Some are simply saying that travel baseball is not the only way to get it, particularly at a young age (they also are saying that travel stardom at a young age does not ensure success even at the high school level, all of which is true).
The reason to play travel baseball ought to be because it is fun more than any other reason, although that, too, is a decision for each individual family.
Nobody is against early, high-quality training in baseball. Some are simply saying that travel baseball is not the only way to get it, particularly at a young age (they also are saying that travel stardom at a young age does not ensure success even at the high school level, all of which is true).
The reason to play travel baseball ought to be because it is fun more than any other reason, although that, too, is a decision for each individual family.
Stardome, insane parents, what is that all about?
It is about people putting down a parent and player that wants to succeed. My son wasn't a star in the arly days. In fact I remember him upset because others were so much better than him. One guy was MVP of his allstar team and he wondered if he would ever be as good as him. That was an easy question for me. Yes you will go farther than he will ever go. He isn't even in the competition.
So my son like many was an average player who developed into a college pitcher and the other guy is didn't even graduate from HS. I knew my son would develop because he loved playing and hes showed skills that needed to be developed. Just like BKTB. My son was lucky he was a tall lefty or he might not have even got a shot.
It is about people putting down a parent and player that wants to succeed. My son wasn't a star in the arly days. In fact I remember him upset because others were so much better than him. One guy was MVP of his allstar team and he wondered if he would ever be as good as him. That was an easy question for me. Yes you will go farther than he will ever go. He isn't even in the competition.
So my son like many was an average player who developed into a college pitcher and the other guy is didn't even graduate from HS. I knew my son would develop because he loved playing and hes showed skills that needed to be developed. Just like BKTB. My son was lucky he was a tall lefty or he might not have even got a shot.
ZD:
Perhaps, depending on who it is said to and for what purpose. I was thinking more about the parents who are living vicariously through their child's achievements and strut like a peacock as though they did something more than pay the bills and travel around. But that happens in rec. ball too when their son is the big fish in a very small pond.
It was Abraham Lincoln who noted that, "A big man never feels big and a small man never feels small."
quote:You mean like when parent A says "Johnny played travel ball"??
Perhaps, depending on who it is said to and for what purpose. I was thinking more about the parents who are living vicariously through their child's achievements and strut like a peacock as though they did something more than pay the bills and travel around. But that happens in rec. ball too when their son is the big fish in a very small pond.
It was Abraham Lincoln who noted that, "A big man never feels big and a small man never feels small."
Jemaz,
I don't think anyone has said that travel guarantees anything. Only an idiot would think it did. All that early travel, with good coaching does is prepare a kid to the best of his abilities. I do not see any problem with that and consider it a good thing to be the best player you can be. Going into HS at anything other than your best is a good way to never make the team.
And the best thing about it is that it is FUN! Tell me a better way to spend a weekend than watching your son play ball?
I don't think anyone has said that travel guarantees anything. Only an idiot would think it did. All that early travel, with good coaching does is prepare a kid to the best of his abilities. I do not see any problem with that and consider it a good thing to be the best player you can be. Going into HS at anything other than your best is a good way to never make the team.
And the best thing about it is that it is FUN! Tell me a better way to spend a weekend than watching your son play ball?
quote:I was thinking more about the parents who are living vicariously through their child's achievements and strut like a peacock as though they did something more than pay the bills and travel around. But that happens in rec. ball too when their son is the big fish in a very small pond.
This is exactly why I have ZERO respect for Daques opinion and position. Mindless ramblings. He has an agenda that was evident from the beginning.
What ever he invested in it is bankrupt. You will never hear me attack parents for trying to help their kids nor will I call a kid "Little Johnny". I would rather see them confront reality based on high level competition.
quote:Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
Depends on the HS and the competition for roster spots.
HS is not a great test as the level of play has huge differences. You could be the best player on a small 1a HS and you couldn't be the bat boy on a top 5a.
Totally agree. Zack is at a 5A school.
quote:
And the best thing about it is that it is FUN! Tell me a better way to spend a weekend than watching your son play ball?
I spent a majority of my "vacation days" at the ballfield......
Of course it stinks now because I only have 3 left and the misses and I haven't had our getaway time yet.
Jemaz: Yes I'd heard about James Ferris committing to U of A a week or so ago. He hadn't really told anyone yet other than an announcement on a message board, which he confirmed with my son via the texting network. I wasn't going to blab until he'd told everyone himself. Great family, very nice people.
We hadn't connected with James Pazos until today and he confirmed he iss going to CC. The rumor had been out there for some time. As an ASU fan, I'm dissapointed. He was great to my son last season and really helped him out a lot. Plus, the parents are the best people in the world. He's been blessed with the family he has. He turned down a healthy chunck of change from the Rays.
I can see where kids are going to CC instead of 4 year this season with the collective bargaining agreement expiring and uncertainties about the riches of the draft in 2011 and on. Probably need another thread for that...
We hadn't connected with James Pazos until today and he confirmed he iss going to CC. The rumor had been out there for some time. As an ASU fan, I'm dissapointed. He was great to my son last season and really helped him out a lot. Plus, the parents are the best people in the world. He's been blessed with the family he has. He turned down a healthy chunck of change from the Rays.
I can see where kids are going to CC instead of 4 year this season with the collective bargaining agreement expiring and uncertainties about the riches of the draft in 2011 and on. Probably need another thread for that...
quote:Originally posted by ZacksDad:
[QUOTE]Neither did Usain. He ran 9.58 lol!!
Whoops, that's what I get for not checking my memory. He hasn't yet, but he probably will...
quote:Originally posted by JMoff:
Bobblehead: Exactly. It's just another 'thing'.
The 6'2" LHP throwing in the mid 80's with control, poise and competing gets a look. When coach throws him out there in varsity tryouts against the meat of the senior ladden varsity order starting with a 2-1 count and he retires 6 out of 7 and coach asks him, 'how did that feel' and he says, 'I missed my location on that one pitch to the D-I signee & he burned me for the double to right center, but it won't happen again coach. I was throwing under his hands because I've seen the ink that he can't hit that pitch, but I missed by a 6" and he drove it. Got the next guy on a pop up to end it. I won't do that again, sorry coach'.
This was a true story...
It sounds better than from the 4'2" RHP younger freshman, 'ummm Good?', after displaying a below average arm, speed, power, average and defensive ability.
Maturity on the field comes from competing against great players, getting humbled and coming back. Baseball isn't easy and you have to compete against the best to discover where you really are and where you have to grow. Jr could easily have gone out this season and thrown fastballs by other freshmen, but that isn't growth. That's dominating marginal competition.
There are lots of fish in the sea. In our little pond, JR stands out, yet when he plays against the best in the West, the water gets deeper and JR stops throwing fastballs and starts pitching. In HS this past season, he pitched to 3 draft picks and 16 kids who signed D-I. Don't blow many FB by those guys...
You've got to play against the best to be the best. You have to be perpared to NOT succeed all the time to take those next steps.
Just my 2 cents.
I agree that this kid benefitted from playing travel ball. This example is why I put my son in travel ball. He showed early on, the innate ability and I knew that "IF" he grew like we hoped, that it would pay off in the end. But what about the kid who isn't 6'2" ? That's what Daque is talking about. I agree with him. Just because he played travel at 10 yrs old isn't a guarantee that he'll end up like this kid. And his parents spent possibly thousands of dollars to find this out.
My son is in the 8th grade and I'm coaching the middleschool team. I have coached a travel team for 5 years, playing against the best competition we could find. Here's what I' seeing: About half of the boys who thought they were gonna play MLB have fizzled out. They were studs (even in T.B.) but are winding up the same size as their parents. On the other side you have about as many who have suddenly "grown" right past these smaller boys. I've got kids I wouldn't have given a 2nd look 2 years ago that suddenly have "cannons" strapped on their arm! They can hit a "belt-high-fastball" a country mile. You think I'm gonna keep coddling these 5'9" kids that have matured into 2nd basemen with no arm and good mechanics result in a long fly ball on the big field, or do you think I'm gonna try to teach these late bloomers how to play the game? I've got a couple years to teach them what a "pitchers pitch" is and why they should not swing at it early in the count. Hell, thats how long it took the other boys to learn it, why would these late bloomers be any different? Besides, the upside is a lot better.
To summarize,I LOVE travelball. Wish it would've been around when I was a kid. But if I would've stayed at the little league,(I, because I know how to run a practice and provide the proper environment to learn) my son would still be good, he just wouldn't have faced the best competition.And if he winds up not being my size, or for whatever reason doesn't become what I thought he could when he was little, then I spent a lot of money for almost nothing (except being able to tell people "my son plays TRAVEL BALL").
Stay tuned, I'll let you know how a couple kids who turned into freaks do trying to pass up 5 yr travel players who quit growing.