Why?

quote:

Also, is hype and self-promotion a sign of insecurity?

Probably get a better answer from an advisor/agent.

Is the product marketable ?

Are all options being explored ?

Is a student-athlete who is asked to fill out forms for college coaches, which includes information on prior baseball successes like all-conference, POY, stats self-promoting ?

Does the player who showcases actually self-promoting ? Is the video produced by the showcaser a form of self-promoting ?

Again - off topic imho OS8. Obviously the reason to showcase is for promotion. The topic question asked:

quote:

My question is why do parents feel it is necessary hype up their son’s skills and paint a picture that is just un-realistic of reality? Why not just let your son demonstrate their ability on the field and do all the talking between the lines with their performance and actions vs the parents constantly saying how good they are and make excuses when it does not come true, to everyone within shouting distance?

quote:

quote:
My question is why do parents feel it is necessary hype up their son’s skills and paint a picture that is just un-realistic of reality? Why not just let your son demonstrate their ability on the field and do all the talking between the lines with their performance and actions vs the parents constantly saying how good they are and make excuses when it does not come true, to everyone within shouting distance?

Different human personalities react differently to each situation.

Perhaps these parents are not intentionally " hyping up their son's ability ".
Perhaps they believe in what they are promoting?
Perhaps not.
Does it really matter?

Perhaps an additional question to ask is:

" Does parental self promotion of one's own son/daughter have any effect on their son's/daughter's showcase evaluation? "

I don't hear much kid promoting by the parents. I have seen a lot of things, but not the bragging/excuse thing. But havn't been to a lot of showcases either.

quote:

Different human personalities. Perhaps these parents are not intentionally " hyping up their son's ability ". Perhaps they believe in what they are promoting?

ssmom - I admire your ability to see both sides and to give the benefit of the doubt

I would bet my life savings that in your mind, you believe and know that you are a good mother. I am guessing you don't go around telling people that you are a good mother however - you just are. I believe that was the point of the original post. Just allow them to be a good baseball player between the lines. That ought to be good enough if in fact they are good enough.

quote:

Perhaps an additional question to ask is:

" Does parental self promotion of one's own son/daughter have any effect on their son's/daughter's showcase evaluation? "

I don't think so, but see jmepop's post above.

Take a look at the term "insecurity"

If it means you have no security about something, or trying - to secure - something you don't have just yet(college baseball/pro baseball), then maybe self-promotion is the way to gain security of that "something".

I agree, and have always said, " it all comes down to the field of play"

You can probably do a search on this site where I have repeatedly said that, BUT

If you have a player who consistently performs pretty well, then self-promotion can be useful.

Why do all the "hyped" potential early draft picks get an advisor/agent ? $$$$$$$$$$$$$

Why do many who want to be like them get an advisor/agent ?

Why do some not on the radar yet players(parents pay) attend the routine type showcases ?

To get on the radar.

Why do some HS and summer coaches call scouts and college coaches about a player ?


If some parents want to drive others crazy about "Johnny does this and Johnny does that" when Johnny can't do any of it, just walk away.

As I said before, at my sons HS games, I hung out down the RF line and kept my mouth shut. At the few college scrimmages, I say hello to the coaches briefly, then sit down, stay quiet, and if asked about baseball, I comment about how good the boys look out there.

ClevelandDad, I'll give ya thirty seconds to get back your life savings. ( ha!)
I am NOT a good mother.
But I am a mother who works at trying to be.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
....but thank you.
And thank you for making my brain think today.

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
...if I believe in my son and my son believes in himself, why then does it make a difference if I convince you or someone else at the showcase to believe. I "believe" hype only diminishes the "belief" - if it even exists in the first place.

But if a tree falls in the forest....



Excellent point.

Actually, I believe this is a good topic for the board. When this board first began, it was primarily about (oddly enough) hs players. The original posters' sons progressed to college, other endeavors, or the pro's. Much more recently, pre-hs families have joined us.

The player-promotion (which is different from answering questions honestly about a player: who has contacted, awards, stats,etc.) was, in my experience, more in evidence with younger or less experienced players. That this type of parent behavior might be seen as baggage by recruiters....or just irritating ....is another lesson to be learned on the way.

There was a player my son's age, well known in FL. Good size, good pitcher, with the Dad From Promotion Hades. He threw 86 for the gun at a showcase. I heard the organizers talking as the kid walked away, "That'll be 90 by the time he gets back into the dugout." "And 95 when his Dad tells the story".

OS8 - all your points are valid but for another topic imho. Of course a player has to promote himself before recruiters and scouts - that is what people do everyday on a job interview. There is no insecurity involved in that.

I am trying to understand what benefit there is in promoting someone's player to me? a) I don't care and more importantly - b) I don't have the power to do anything about it so kindly leave me out of it and let me enjoy the event.

I suppose one could argue they can't always tell who the scouts are so they might as well use the blanket approach and assume everyone is a scout

What does bragging to parents have to do with promoting a kid ?

Seems to me the crowds are all down the fence lines.

quote:

Originally posted by Orlando:

There was a player my son's age, well known in FL. Good size, good pitcher, with the Dad From Promotion Hades. He threw 86 for the gun at a showcase. I heard the organizers talking as the kid walked away, "That'll be 90 by the time he gets back into the dugout." "And 95 when his Dad tells the story".

Good points.

Regarding the above I recently heard about a parent who was at a showcase informing the scouts holding the gun that it was his son throwing the heat.

It's not just at showcases. It's on HSBBW. It's at a local HS game. It's at a college game. All parents want to see the best in their kids. Most parents want to make sure that everyone else saw Johnny's great hit and realizes that he can hit for power. We forget that if our kid has all these "tools" that others will see that.... mom and dad don't have to point it out. I'm guilty of it and so are most of the folks I know. We love our kids, we're proud of their accomplishments, and want them to have plenty of opportunities.

Some of us do a better job of keeping it in check than others. It is my hope that I've never left a field, showcase, or this site with someone going "she's obnoxious". Otherwise, hopefully they cut me some slack in a moment of excitement over one of my kids.

BHD..............I can't answer your question about parents bragging to other parents. I suppose you could ask them, and let us know ?

by: Bob Howdeshell
High School Baseball Web

http://www.hsbaseballweb.com/reality.htm

"Many times the player is a "big fish in a small pond." His parents, peers and others all feel that he is a future professional baseball player.

We have all met folks with larger than "reality" opinions about their player's abilities and college baseball potential, that may not match the rest of the world's opinion. The reality of recruiting is that it is different for every player."
*******************
Is it like 5% of all HS kids go on to play college baseball ? Every year in D1, about 2500 incoming freshman out of about 120,000 graduating high schoolers, or about 2 %.

I suppose many(all) of us are lucky and blessed who have college players, and maybe the parents of the other 95% just want to be included, even if their sons don't have the skills to get there.

I don't think it is news to everyone that as we all get older, more settled, that we shift focus of successes of our children to the forefront. It is human nature.

While coaching 3rd base this Fall for my younger boys team, we played a team that had a taller, bigger, and stronger pitcher on the mound. He threw pretty hard for an 12 year old. The teams were mixed with kids ages 10-12.

The name on the back of the kids jersey was NO-NO

His father was the head coach, and I could see the ego dripping off this guy. My first thoughts were to advise him that the charade won't last forever, and that he may be setting up his kid for a big downer at some point when the hitters catch up physically, but I didn't.

Then I thought in my mind to tell him it would be more impressive if he was shutting down 13-14 year olds, but I didn't.

My point is this. I am less bothered by the parent of a marginal player being unrealistic than I am about a daddy/coach posturing up his big fish in a small pond. They still can't find the tip of my tongue on the infield after biting it several times.

I also never said how neat it was for a nice 10 year old who lined a single and turned no-no into a mortal, until now.

Hope thats not self-promoting, just recent history

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
OS8 - all your points are valid but for another topic imho. Of course a player has to promote himself before recruiters and scouts - that is what people do everyday on a job interview. There is no insecurity involved in that.

I am trying to understand what benefit there is in promoting someone's player to me? a) I don't care and more importantly - b) I don't have the power to do anything about it so kindly leave me out of it and let me enjoy the event.

I suppose one could argue they can't always tell who the scouts are so they might as well use the blanket approach and assume everyone is a scout

Not to put words in OS8's mouth but the point I took from his comment was on topic....that the bragging parent (per the original post) was at a showcase. I think you answered your own question; why are they bragging to you? They don't know if you're little #8's dad or if you're the head coach of a D1 so maybe they feel the need to brag just in case you're a coach???

Some people are like that. We may not like that and we may even slip and act something like that ourselves. I'm sure I've gotten excited and said something I shouldn't have. I'm human.

IMHO it is not wrong to be proud of your son. It is not wrong to promote your son...elsewise why bother with showcases and guys like those here that will take your money all day long.

Is it wrong to brag about your son, not really, but it is wrong to be obnoxious about it.

Is it wrong to brag about your son at the expense of another player or his parents...yes.

Is it wrong to put parents down and take pleasure in insulting them because they may offend you by posting something you disagree with...yes, and IMHO that happens way to much here.

Is it wrong to go totally negative on a MLB player continually here...yes, it's called slander and smearing someone, especially when you don't know "all" the facts and you're taking what someone else is saying, (sportswriter) whose only interest is selling newsprint or a book.

IMHO looking at parents with negativism is contagious and it serves absolutely no purpose other than to make your own points at the expense of someone elses opinion.

Judge the player on his performance, and if you can offer a positive recommendation to him, do that...ignore and leave the parent alone, the parent doesn't play BB. JMO

.

quote:

My question is why do parents feel it is necessary hype up their son’s skills and paint a picture that is just un-realistic of reality? Why not just let your son demonstrate their ability on the field and do all the talking between the lines with their performance and actions vs the parents constantly saying how good they are and make excuses when it does not come true, to everyone within shouting distance?

Simply and cynically put...

Because for many without even knowing it....it is more about the parents, their status, than it ever was about the player.

I got a trophy job, trophy cars, a trophy house, a trophy spouse, I go on trophy vacations, I have a trophy second home...I WIN!

The best place left for me to compete is...though my kids...grades, sports, schools attended...

I get MY biggest kudos in the stands.

And all-the-while I will blindly continue to expouse that it's all for the kids!.

All makes perfect sense to me!

44
.

I think it is great that parents support their kid’s and their dreams. I try to make all the games and as many events possible and hope other parents can support their kids as much as possible. I am the first to say that I cheer for my son and all of his teammates; I also don’t have a problem applauding the other teams’ players, who make good plays. I really enjoy watching all the players perform well out in the field and feel for those players who, for what ever reason, do not meet their expectation.

I don’t see it wrong for parents to be proud of the player’s accomplishments and I very pleased to hear of their accomplishments and endeavors. But I think it is just embarrassing for the players to have their parents paint a picture that is just not realistic of their ability. It is even worst when I know of the situation and hear them paint an unrealistic story.

One of my favorite sayings is visibility is good and some times visibility is bad!

Even if you are bragging to a scout or a coach, they don't care either what you say. I had a coach call to tell son his camp was full and was trying to find a different spot for him. Son wasn't here and so he talked to me. He was basically summarizing son's profile and despite stats and batting average, PG rating, awards etc. etc. all he gleened from the profile was son was "strong, smart, a lefty hitter and had a good arm". That's it. Wasn't going to believe another thing (even PG which can be verified) until he saw it with his own eyes (didn't say that, but implied it). So if the paper meant nothing, no coach (or scout) is going to care if I am chatting away at a showcase about how great my son is.

I KNOW we all do it sometimes, we are proud and want their dreams to come true, and yes sometimes they have a bad day and REALLY are better than they appear. But it was very interesting to me when that coach boiled it all down to those four things. Great for me to remember when I am tempted to open my big mouth - they really just want to see it AND I need to trust that even when son doesn't hit a double, the coaches and scouts are a lot smarter than me and they can see his swing, bat speed etc. I think this thread is good to remind us all to keep our mouths shut AND to be forgiving of the other parents.

quote:

Because for many without even knowing it....it is more about the parents, their status, than it ever was about the player.

I have to agree that this is the case with a few parents. And some of those believe that if anyone else's son gets any kind of recognition, then it is a personal insult to their son, so they have to build up their son, while tearing someone else's down. It is a minority of parents, but they are most definitely out there. Sadly, we have seen it first-hand.

I have seen parents who ridicule their son's no matter how well they do. I would rather listen to a parent bragging any day than that. Yes some parents may be unrealistic but that will workout in the future and not my call.
I try to support all the players regardless of how good they are. BB is a game and I try to remember that. I am actually surprised at how well my son has done. It is him who has done it not me.
If a parent braggs to me I am fine with it.