Under Armour All-America Game

Just to be clear, this is NOT related to the January event that has sparked a lot of controversy and bickering on prior threads.

This is what used to be called the Cape Cod High School All-American Classic.

Apparently Under Armour bought the naming rights. Hopefully they put some money up to help build the event a bit, too.

It's not a bad event, and who knows, it might grow into something. Baseball Factory runs it. They would like it to be seen as comparable to the Aflac game. Maybe someday, but if so they have a lot of ground to make up.

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
Just to be clear, this is NOT related to the January event that has sparked a lot of controversy and bickering on prior threads.

This is what used to be called the Cape Cod High School All-American Classic.

Apparently Under Armour bought the naming rights. Hopefully they put some money up to help build the event a bit, too.

It's not a bad event, and who knows, it might grow into something. Baseball Factory runs it. They would like it to be seen as comparable to the Aflac game. Maybe someday, but if so they have a lot of ground to make up.

Call me crazy, but I thought Under Armour surpassed Aflac in every stage of the game. Also, I thought I read that a bunch of the players at this game did in fact participate in the pre-season tournament. How are they unrelated? Doesn't Baseball Factory put on both events? It Seems like the pre-season tournament is in fact a way to scout players for the "Big Game". It makes sense that a "pre-season" tournament would supplement an All-American game.

Bobby Borchering was a pre-season All-American.
Jonathan Walsh was a pre-season All-American
Michael Dedrick pre-season All-American
Josh Elander pre-season All-American
Scooter Gennett pre-season All-American

I find it hard to believe they would have been on this stage without that tourney.

quote:

Originally posted by Gamecocks1:

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
Just to be clear, this is NOT related to the January event that has sparked a lot of controversy and bickering on prior threads.

This is what used to be called the Cape Cod High School All-American Classic.

Apparently Under Armour bought the naming rights. Hopefully they put some money up to help build the event a bit, too.

It's not a bad event, and who knows, it might grow into something. Baseball Factory runs it. They would like it to be seen as comparable to the Aflac game. Maybe someday, but if so they have a lot of ground to make up.

Call me crazy, but I thought Under Armour surpassed Aflac in every stage of the game. Also, I thought I read that a bunch of the players at this game did in fact participate in the pre-season tournament. How are they unrelated? Doesn't Baseball Factory put on both events? It Seems like the pre-season tournament is in fact a way to scout players for the "Big Game". It makes sense that a "pre-season" tournament would supplement an All-American game.

Bobby Borchering was a pre-season All-American.
Jonathan Walsh was a pre-season All-American
Michael Dedrick pre-season All-American
Josh Elander pre-season All-American
Scooter Gennett pre-season All-American

I find it hard to believe they would have been on this stage without that tourney.

Midlo Dad was trying to be nice, the event is certainly noteworthy but it is nowhere near AFLAC.

Game recap

Beside information is available for folks to review, look at the talent level represented by the pitching velocities.

Aflac Rosters

Besides TV coverage on Fox was much more available than ESPNU.

quote:

Call me crazy, but I thought Under Armour surpassed Aflac in every stage of the game.

I watched both games. Let me be the first to go ahead and call you CRAZY. The Under Armour game was good but the Aflac game was far superior in talent. Far superior in about every other way as well.

Many of the same pitchers were at both events...and for some reason I had velocities varying about 5 MPH between events. Could have been fatigue, who knows.

I watched a HIGH SCHOOL player hit 8 homeruns at Wrigley...and take about 4 onto Waveland Ave. Incredible.

TV coverage may have been an issue I guess. I don't know, I didn't see replays of either telecast. Under Armour certainly stepped it up. Maybe I AM crazy, but with the expectations going in I was impressed.

Not sure who here has access, but these are a couple of nice articles on Baseball America.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/

Sorry, no access to BA premium articles, how did your son do?

quote:

Originally posted by Homerun04:
Sorry, no access to BA premium articles, how did your son do?

I figured most wouldn't (kinda pricey for some simple reading). Anyway...no son here, just a VERY interested observer. Thanks to both organizations for allowing me to travel to 2 great cities this year!

Last year, the Baseball Factory guys pulled aside the players for what was then the Cape Cod High School All-American Classic who were also slated for the Aflac game, and asked them for candid input on what was needed to help them put this game more on par with the Aflac game.

Most of the boys knew well enough to keep their mouths shut, because had they answered candidly, it could have created a free-for-all of negative commentary that could have reflected on them poorly.

One player (whom I will not name) was not reserved, however, and he pretty much laid it all on the table. While there was nothing wrong per se with the event, it was light years behind the Aflac game in prestige and in the experience for the players. A big theme that came out of that was the need for a major corporate sponsor to step up the entire experience.

Glad to hear they apparently worked that out with Under Armour. It'll be interesting to see how it works out in the coming years.