CD,
Although as you can tell I'm not overly enamored with diving there's nothing wrong with a borderline dive, i.e. diving and just missing the ball or having it go off the end of the glove, in fact those are the ones where diving was probably the only chance. It's the slow down and then dive or the dive after the ball you have no chance of reaching that irks me.
TR,
Legit diving at a showcase or camp is impressive. I was at a D1 camp and saw a 3rd baseman react with a dive to snare a grounder during BP and it impressed me. Obviously it wasn't necessary during BP but it showed his ability and more importantly said to me that he'd do the same thing during a game. I never saw him lay out for a ball he couldn't reach though.
CADAD
We are not asking them to be hot dogs but to give the maximum effort
The kids who know what they are doing dont embarass themselves
We are not asking them to be hot dogs but to give the maximum effort
The kids who know what they are doing dont embarass themselves
GOT WOOD
How many kids today know who is Joan Collins is?
Are you showing your age?
How many kids today know who is Joan Collins is?
Are you showing your age?
Probably as many who know Joan of Arc!
Am I showing my age? Dunno' Feel frisky enough!
Am I showing my age? Dunno' Feel frisky enough!
Coach may,thanks for posting that
I think too much stock is put into being big and powerful in baseball.It wasnt until the last 2 decades or so in baseball,the players just shot up muscle wise.In my opinion,baseball always has a spot for a speed guy,a grit guy,or an all out guy who hustles(like a visquel,etc)
I think too much stock is put into being big and powerful in baseball.It wasnt until the last 2 decades or so in baseball,the players just shot up muscle wise.In my opinion,baseball always has a spot for a speed guy,a grit guy,or an all out guy who hustles(like a visquel,etc)
The amazing thing is...You can preach to a kid about the importance of hustle and game presence, yet often times they still don't get it. Sometimes it's just not part of a kids makeup.
There is more to it than diving for a catch or running out a groundball.
Passion, Heart, Hate to lose attitude, The insatiable desire to achieve. It is these things that a player possesses that manifest themselves on the field and is what we call...A HUSTLER. You just know it when you see it.
TR makes an interesting point...kids being eliminated from consideration for dogging it. We often here about a kid that has a bunch of talent
but doesn't get much in the way of scholly offers.
Parents, friends, family are confused...Why they ask?
I am sure there could be a lot of reasons, but TR's
post makes me wonder.
There is more to it than diving for a catch or running out a groundball.
Passion, Heart, Hate to lose attitude, The insatiable desire to achieve. It is these things that a player possesses that manifest themselves on the field and is what we call...A HUSTLER. You just know it when you see it.
TR makes an interesting point...kids being eliminated from consideration for dogging it. We often here about a kid that has a bunch of talent
but doesn't get much in the way of scholly offers.
Parents, friends, family are confused...Why they ask?
I am sure there could be a lot of reasons, but TR's
post makes me wonder.
Triple Dad
I spoke with a college cosch this morning about a -player who had been at his camp---he may not have been the been the best player in attendance but he was the one who stood out because of his HUSTLE---
One additional thing--sometmes the player and his parents read too many newspapers clippings and think that they can SKATE\
WRONG !!!!!!!!
I spoke with a college cosch this morning about a -player who had been at his camp---he may not have been the been the best player in attendance but he was the one who stood out because of his HUSTLE---
One additional thing--sometmes the player and his parents read too many newspapers clippings and think that they can SKATE\
WRONG !!!!!!!!
Coach May - great stuff. Will be required reading for all our players.
With all due respect to the many informed posters in this thread, what I have seen at the showcases, Area Codes and All-Star games I have been to, is that the biggest, fastest and hardest throwing kids get the attention and the others do not.
Hustle is wonderful, and attitude is incredibly important, but size, speed, and athletic ability is paramount. Now if you combine hustle and attitude with size, speed and ability, then you have a player, although I agree with previous posters that some players who could make it are passed over because of their size. For all the undersized players in the world with huge hearts who make it in baseball, more power to you! But you are the exception, not the rule.
Hustle is wonderful, and attitude is incredibly important, but size, speed, and athletic ability is paramount. Now if you combine hustle and attitude with size, speed and ability, then you have a player, although I agree with previous posters that some players who could make it are passed over because of their size. For all the undersized players in the world with huge hearts who make it in baseball, more power to you! But you are the exception, not the rule.
Brod,
I would say an average player with outstanding hustle and game presence has a good chance against a big strong fast player just going through the motions. But know doubt, athletic ability rules.
Maybe that is because PLAYERS with fire, passion, & huge hearts ARE the exception
I would say an average player with outstanding hustle and game presence has a good chance against a big strong fast player just going through the motions. But know doubt, athletic ability rules.
quote:For all the undersized players in the world with huge hearts who make it in baseball, more power to you! But you are the exception, not the rule.
Maybe that is because PLAYERS with fire, passion, & huge hearts ARE the exception
brod and TripleDad:
You've both made excellent points...and I don't think they're contradictory.
You've both made excellent points...and I don't think they're contradictory.
quote:Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
brod and TripleDad:
You've both made excellent points...and I don't think they're contradictory.
I don't think there is a contradiction either. I think that non-hustle/attitude can eliminate some guys. I think hustle can get some guys noticed. I don't think hustle and attiude can can overcome a lack of talent - whatever that is judged to be. Somewhere however the ability to play baseball has to be demonstrated. Some guys can out-talent their attitudes imho. I am not suggesting anyone attempt that strategy but it seems some guy's tools are so overwhelming that the other stuff (i.e., hustle, attitude) is downplayed. I may be wrong about that but that is my suspicion about things.
quote:Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
Very good post Coach. But I'm curious...what is Bryce's height? Did he stand out height wise?
As long as we have coaches and scouts asking this question FIRST, we will continue to have guys trying to get bigger than they are naturally. When will you idiots learn.
"some guys can outalent their attitude"
Cleveland Dad - that is a fascinating point, but then the response is 'for how long?" I was thinking that I saw that in college recruiting in our area as players who weren't starters or produced only sporadically got early offers based solely on potential, not results. That is the art of projection. But I also think that happens even in the minors and MLB level, as some organizations semi-patiently wait (as do the fans) for the player who flashed "phenom" but then fell to "average and bad attitude." Something about being good every day applies here...
Cleveland Dad - that is a fascinating point, but then the response is 'for how long?" I was thinking that I saw that in college recruiting in our area as players who weren't starters or produced only sporadically got early offers based solely on potential, not results. That is the art of projection. But I also think that happens even in the minors and MLB level, as some organizations semi-patiently wait (as do the fans) for the player who flashed "phenom" but then fell to "average and bad attitude." Something about being good every day applies here...
quote:Cleveland Dad - that is a fascinating point, but then the response is 'for how long?"
Good question brod. I guess in this context, I was thinking in terms of the showcase environment where someone was recruited or drafted based off of their projection at the showcase and their so-called attitude/hustle was not held against them. Without naming names, it seems to me there are guys in the big leagues who have questionable attitudes and work ethic. So maybe the answer is pretty long
quote:Originally posted by baseballregie:quote:Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
Very good post Coach. But I'm curious...what is Bryce's height? Did he stand out height wise?
As long as we have coaches and scouts asking this question FIRST, we will continue to have guys trying to get bigger than they are naturally. When will you idiots learn.
Speaking of idiots...
IMO gotwood4sale (who I don't think is a coach or scout even though he's probably stayed at a Holiday Inn Express) was curious about if the player was taller than others that made him first stand out. Not that he had to be tall to be further watched.
Get a grip.
NO WORRIES WOOD, HEIGHT IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE
quote:Originally posted by baseballregie:quote:Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
Very good post Coach. But I'm curious...what is Bryce's height? Did he stand out height wise?
As long as we have coaches and scouts asking this question FIRST, we will continue to have guys trying to get bigger than they are naturally. When will you idiots learn.
Bigger, as I think you are using the word, is different than tall. As far as I know they don't make lifts designed to fit into baseball cleats.
I do understand your concern baseballregie. If players are told or encouraged "to get bigger" then it should also be stated that the expectation is that this occurs through healthy means...working out, exercise, a healthy diet along with a healthy lifestyle. I'm not certain that this expectation is always explained.
My boys are not on the tall side...they're a few inches short of 6'. All of the hustle in the world will not make them taller unfortunately.
Thanks FrankF...you correctly saw my view on this issue.
And TripleDad...maybe I was wrong about those lifts.
Height never stopped me!
If you read my post you will see this was an invitation only event with the top 60 or so 08 players in NC invited. So the fact is all the players present had shown talent in order to be invited. How do you stand out in an arena when all the kids are talented? My point was if you blend in with all the other kids then you are less likely to be noticed above the rest. Of course the guys with the great arms , speed , power are going to be noticed. But what happens once you notice them? You then begin to look even closer at the intangibles , correct? At an event where all the players can play and all the players come in with a certain reputation as "players" sometimes the little things can be what sets you apart from the rest. My post was not about hustle and make up overcoming no talent or average talent. It was about the fact that at an event where all the kids are talented sometimes a simple thing like running out a dropped third strike or busting your butt everywhere you go and be the thing that causes a coach to "take a closer look". Bryce can flat out play. He made All State and has won two state titles at North Lenoir HS. Ive done a little checking since the showcase. But at a showcase with this much talent on the field would I have picked him out above the rest if he was jogging around and cruising? No.