2003cubs, Silly thing to say.O'Connor is leaving to play on a better team at a different position altogether. He has agreed to play with the Indiana Yankees at Catcher and 3B. Read some previous posts and catch up with us as to what is happening.As for Cales and Reimer I have no clue, but it sounds like they may have a similar situation. Not sure who you are cubs but leaving your NB team at least in OConnors case has nothing to do w/playing SS. OConnor played OF for the blues and was happy to do so, now its on to a better oppurtunity. That is the FACT of the matter.
The LOCKPORT PORTERS!
Regarding the Norwood Blues cutting players last summer to reach the 18 man limit. Coach Pildis decisions were based on the availability of players that did not have to play in the HS summer playoffs. Do you think he wanted to travel to Fort Wayne for the regionals & Canada for the World Series without Anitsberger, Todd Schultz, Reimer and others I can't remember? This was not something he wanted to do.
What players were cut last summer? Historically the Blues are out of town only at playoff time. This is the problem for his high end players. Not much exposure playing around Chi/Milw area only. Just another reason so many great kids wind up playing in the frozen north.
sox...I know everyone has debated the topic of the Northern kids going down South to play. It does not happen much, but the needles in the haystack get the chance. I will admit, there is a lot of merit for guys staying up here and playing at a Northern school. The best player up here might just be another number down there. But, if he stays and plays up here, he will certainly stick out like a sore thumb (in a good way)...and get noticed.
Pitchdoc24, Yeah I agree with what you say. My point was that an awful lot of NB players miss out on some great southern oppurtunities. If they were to play with a team which gets more exposure ( Bobby Stevens & Ruairi)(Ind. Yankees & Wis. Blazers) they would have had more than a few fellows get those chances to play at a higher level in a warmer climate. We are talking a lot of great players that have come and gone w/NB's!! And when they could have gone to the SEC, ACC, Southern, Big 12 etc. they wind up at Ind. or Northern primarily because the Blues dont get to Marietta, Jupiter etc. By the way there is no bigger fan of NIU than I. This is not a put down of any of our schools, just an accurate reporting of what could be the case for all their great players. Most kids I know would prefer to play in warm weather. I say give them a chance to obtain that possibility.
Sox...great points. With the new NIU coach, he is doing a great job of recruiting the Chicago area. I think all 8 or 9 signed players for next year are from the area. After beating some Big 10/11 teams last year and having a guy like Joe Mazzuca drafted, that program is certainly on the rise. I have said before in posts that in college, we went down to Florida on our spring trips and as a team we got better because of it..and as a player, I got better. No doubt. After college, I even went down there for a tryout and the players were amazing...and that was for independent ball. Again, yes, point is, the more exposure to the best competition possible, the better the individual player will be...likewise, I believe in teams going out and playing the best teams in the area/state...it only makes you better down the road.
The new Illinois Forum is now open....see below
"Who is the best" is a question that no one can give a fair answer to. The player that travels around the most is most likely to be voted "The Best". Because that's the player that everyone sees and remembers. Not everyone can afford to participate on a travel team. Some teams cost an arm and a leg just to get your sons name on the roster not to mention the cost of travel & lodging and food & entertainment. So because of
this, to say JOE MONEY Bags from St. Coin H.S. who plays for the New york Yankees travel team is the best, is only fooling himself and everyone else that will listen to them.
this, to say JOE MONEY Bags from St. Coin H.S. who plays for the New york Yankees travel team is the best, is only fooling himself and everyone else that will listen to them.
jerny...Interesting post. I think you travel not because you can afford it, but because you want to compare yourself against the best. Surely you would agree, by sheer numbers, there are more quality baseball players in California, Texas, Florida, etc., than Illinois?
I don't think that you would make that statement if you had seen guys like Matt Bush, Upton, Chris Nelson and Greinke and others from days gone by. Expand your horizon!
Don't have to travel a ton to see some quality players but you do have to get out of Oswego, Illinois. Most people in the USA have never heard of Oswego, Illinois. Most people outside of Chicago have not likely heard of Oswego!
I don't think that you would make that statement if you had seen guys like Matt Bush, Upton, Chris Nelson and Greinke and others from days gone by. Expand your horizon!
Don't have to travel a ton to see some quality players but you do have to get out of Oswego, Illinois. Most people in the USA have never heard of Oswego, Illinois. Most people outside of Chicago have not likely heard of Oswego!
jerny, once your son gets to HS he is probably already behind the other guy if he hasn't played with a quality travel program. you are absolutely correct that the cost can be steep for the average parent with average income. this is why it has become a white mans game @ the D1 level. poor folk simply can't afford the dough required. occasionally a kid from a poor family hooks up with a team and the coach and parents raise extra $ so that he can participate. this fellow must be a very studly fellow however to warrant that additional effort from everyone else. the bottom line is that playing 100 games with high level coaching will make the house league seem like the baby sitting agency that it usually is. the same player, no matter who he is or how good he is will be better with more experience. the # of games and practices not to mention the lack of quality players to play with will pull him ****her and ****her behind. keep in mind there are only 20 or 30 teams at the 18u level that travel to all the national tourney's. there are some very good local/midwest teams like the norwood blues and lombard lightning which can be very inexpensive to play for. a number that i have seen recently used is 80% of top D1 talent comes from travel programs. most of these programs are out of tex,cal,fla. just look @ the wisconsin blazers and indiana yankees which are the two best travel programs in the midwest. both teams are filling college rosters and getting people drafted by giving them the kind of exposure needed to succeed. on top of everything else its really tough if you live in oswego to even get to and from the travel tourney's.i understand your fix but if you want to do the best for your son try and find him the experience he needs to succeed with the best travel program you can find.
Tyler Rudman, Bishop Ready ss and 2005 graduate.
Buck8 Do you have some sort of relation to tyler rudman?
I helped coach him for several years
buck8, where is bishop ready?
the westside of Columbus Ohio
Baseball America has just published the Feb/March 2004 Scouting Report. If your subscription is still valid you can access it.
Lots of familiar names for Illinois.
Lots of familiar names for Illinois.
bobby stevens and matt mcfolling being left off the list just points to the difficulty in getting a true and accurate accounting of top talent.
Stevens did not attend a PG event either. Maybe you need to put your money in the pot to get listed. Cales and Steves are certainly 2 of the best 05's in the area...as evident by a number of people on this board talking about them. I believe Stevens was said to be "the best shortstop" at the MVP event (with Petrulis right behind)...certainly not a bad eval for an 05.
quote:Kenny has played for the Ill.Expess the past 4 seasons and is again playing with the Express in 04. IN 03 Kenny played like he is ready to make a great addition in college or the bigs he will be playing at Arizona if he doesnt get drafted.
Originally posted by Mustang23dad:
I havnt seen Kenny Williams play since little league, and heave heard alot about him these past few weeks. Did he play any travel ball, and with who ? How did he do at plainfield HS since he transfered from Lisle ? He was good at 12, and from the looks of things he is still good at 17.
quote:Fyi Jernstead Has been the #1 pitcher on oswego high since his sophmore year this lefty stud is among the top five pitchers in the entire midwest and may get drafted plays with the Il. Express
Originally posted by soxnole:
jerny, once your son gets to HS he is probably already behind the other guy if he hasn't played with a quality travel program. you are absolutely correct that the cost can be steep for the average parent with average income. this is why it has become a white mans game @ the D1 level. poor folk simply can't afford the dough required. occasionally a kid from a poor family hooks up with a team and the coach and parents raise extra $ so that he can participate. this fellow must be a very studly fellow however to warrant that additional effort from everyone else. the bottom line is that playing 100 games with high level coaching will make the house league seem like the baby sitting agency that it usually is. the same player, no matter who he is or how good he is will be better with more experience. the # of games and practices not to mention the lack of quality players to play with will pull him ****her and ****her behind. keep in mind there are only 20 or 30 teams at the 18u level that travel to all the national tourney's. there are some very good local/midwest teams like the norwood blues and lombard lightning which can be very inexpensive to play for. a number that i have seen recently used is 80% of top D1 talent comes from travel programs. most of these programs are out of tex,cal,fla. just look @ the wisconsin blazers and indiana yankees which are the two best travel programs in the midwest. both teams are filling college rosters and getting people drafted by giving them the kind of exposure needed to succeed. on top of everything else its really tough if you live in oswego to even get to and from the travel tourney's.i understand your fix but if you want to do the best for your son try and find him the experience he needs to succeed with the best travel program you can find.
Can anyone list the 04/05's that are on the list from Illinois?
Found the list. Also express, Jerny is very good pitcher - "entire Midwest" is very big area.
dennis, where is the list
It's under Prospects Plus (subscription needed $180 yr) and lists may be 50 04's and 16 05's. Some big names left off and a few curious names included for both classes.
Thanks Dennis, can you check your pm pleasE?
the best second baseman is by far kevin goddard from lockport he has no errors on the year and has the best and smoothest hands i have ever seen, hitting would go to brett m. from stagg but fielding aspect isnt a question.