You don't have to be that good to get a scholarship...

I'm not getting where your trying to go with this topic.

I have been to several camps and the players there have wanted nothing more than to play baseball. Sure there are the players that will get ahead of where people think they can get to b/c of a self-promoting father but the majority of players get to where they are with hard work and dedication and a very strong love for the game of baseball.

The more important thing is whether or not they will play and contribute to their team's success once they get there......that is more important than the scholarship.

Limom - I would be interested in knowing where such a thing occurred and who the person was that recommended the kid in question. For example, if Billy Beane or Theo Epstein happened to see a kid and recommend him as a potential high potential player, I can imagine that a few college coaches might just take them at their word. Any clarification would be appreciated. Thanks.

Is this another case of "my son is better than he is but has no scholarship" ??

Limom

For your edification

I know players who got scholarships based on references and recommendations--it is not a case of who you know but more a case of a respected opinion from another Baseball man

Why not tell us about your son, if you in fact have one playing HS baseball, and how he is being short changed because I think that is your problem and where you are headed with this.

Why is this so unbelievable - the one thing you hear on this board repeatedly is you never know who's watching.

Coach's have networks just like any other businessmen. (other coach's, retired coaches, maybe even a MLB scout who lives next door).
If the coach has history with the person who recommends the player sometimes that's as good as seeing for himself.

Or, for argument sake, it could be the case of a coach who's too lazy to recruit. He ends up giving a scholarship to a less talented player, Of course, a coach like this certainly won't have a good program -- so when it comes right down to it - the kid may be getting some scholarship money, but he's not getting any great opportunity.

Either way, there is no sense losing sleep over it.

Limom,
My mom once told me that feeling sorry for yourself will get you nowhere. My mom is a very wise lady and things tend to go best for me when I listen to her. Maybe you should too.

Here we go again................

When you combine the fact that judging talent and projecting an outcome is not an exact science with the fact that people are involved, it's almost a miracle it is not worse.

I doubt whether every coach has the time or budget to see every kid they wish to consider, nor would they want to limit themselves to this small of a population .

There should be a big sign on this thread ..

WARNING ... DO NOT FEED !!!!!!

By limom,

quote:

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Apparently, some colleges don't even see a kid before offering him a scholarship to play at their school. It is not always how well you play but who you know. Kids can be offered these scholarships from being seen at indoor workouts by "knowledegeable baseball people", who recommend them to the college coaches and are signed sight unseen. Unbelievable, but it happened! Of course, these kids look like ballplayers. Don't get me wrong, these guys probably can get by playing at the college level, but probably are not as deserving as others. I thought this stuff ended in HS and LL.

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limom,

What you have said is true regarding some colleges not seeing a kid before making an offer. I could give you several examples where we (PG) have recommended players to top level colleges and they sign with the school sight unseen. In every single case where this has happened the player has become one of the very best in the program. So yes, they got by at the college level, and they were very deserving!

The example you use above (indoor workout) really did happen with us. The pitcher from Wisconsin went sight unseen to a top 20 DI school in the southeast and became their #1 pitcher. When things like this happen, college recruiters are likely to allow it to happen again.

Another college that has won several National DI championships offered a HS senior a scholarship (sight unseen) based on our recommendation. That player ended up signing with a local college instead and became a first round draft pick last year.

I can't speak for everyone, but it is common knowledge to many college coaches that if we highly recommend a player, he is the real deal!!! These players are much better than "just get by" types. They are very deserving and go on to prove it! Of course, anytime a college recruiter can see the player he will want to. However, some times, timing and other things just don't allow it.

Limon if your son is a stud and deserving of baseball attention by those that matter why are you worried about other people? And if he is not a stud then nothing you can say or do will make him a stud. Let his actions on the field speak for himself. If he is good he will be fine. And if he is not so be it. Worrying about other people is pointless. And yes kids sign all the time without ever being seen by the team that signs them. I have had several over the years that have received scholarships based on our coaching staffs word. And you can bet that we will never do anything to loose the trust of the college coaches. We are very honest and direct about our players. But what are you worried about? If your son can flat out play you dont have to worry about him having a place to play. What High School does he play for? What showcase events has he attended and planning to attend? What summer or fall teams has he played on and planning to play on? Size Speed Posistion's Grad Year Schools he is interested in? All I hear is whining and complaining. Look for solutions not excuses.

Limom-

Why do you have a problem with this? I would suspect these "knowledgeable baseball people" know a little more about recruiting than you do. They consider many factors including a players "projectability".

If you want your son to receive a scholarship offer you should get busy marketing him. Don't assume he will be noticed. Your son should write letters to coaches, make phone calls, play in high profile events, and make contacts with knowledgeable baseball people.

Where I live this is all very important as college coaches generally do not recruit from high school games. As has been said before, they are busy coaching their own games during this time.

Keep in mind that coaches evaluate a players parents as well. College coaches do not want to listen to Johnny's mom and dad complain about their son's playing time. If you project a negative image, you could hurt your son's chances.

If all this doesn't work maybe he's not as deserving as you think. Sometimes as parents we can have blinders on when it comes to our kids talent.

TRHit is right on. Most good coaches have a network of people that they trust to send good kids in their direction. No college coach can see every kid, so they count on other respected "baseball people" to see some things for them. I have some colleagues that I would trust completely, and some who are "homers" for their own players. It always depends on the credibility of the source.

PhoenixDad---

Here you go!!

Limom,

TR, Coach May, Coach Knight are very correct. College coaching staffs even with 4 coaches can not see every single player they want to see. We are playing the same time the High Schools are playing. I do not get out and about so to speak until our season has completed. So that means following players on summer teams and/or showcase teams.

Colleges depend heavily on great HS coaches with great baseball reputations and their ability to recognize HS players that can play at the collegiate level. We also depend heavily on area scouts who in their travels see players that are not ready for the professional ranks, but can certainly get it done at the collegiate level.

I can promise you the first time we get a bad recommendation from a HS coach or scout will be the last time. The good baseball people out there do not give bad recommendations, they are proud of their "baseball" reputation and would like to keep it. You know whose judgment you can trust and whose you can't as well.

Orioles42

All I have to do is get on the phone and I can get any of my kids a scholarship. GOOD THING MY NAME ISN'T PINOCHIO!!!

Really, I can call certain schools and get an interest. However, I think few programs are going to spend any of thier money on a kid sight unseen. What does count and can be verified, quality of school and program. Quality of conference and overall schedule. Quality of summer ball program that the young man participates in. If all of these are outstanding, then the young man can certainly play at a level that college coaches can gague.

There was a kid that I played ball with when I was a kid and I still remember his dad coming over to the house complaining about their little league coach and how the coach's kid played instead of his kid and how unfair it was.

A few years later we ran into his parents in high school and I remember talking to the kid and his dad about playing ball and the dad was saying how great the kid was, but the coach's had it in for him.

I saw the kid (now adult) about a month ago and I asked him what he was doing and he said that he had this great job but got fired because they hired a relative to take his job and they had it in for him since they hired him.

It's always someone else's fault isn't it?

CoachB25 made me think about my post. I did not want to leave the impression that those phone calls or recommendations from HS coaches or scouts put the player on the team.

It just gets him to the school. He has to make the team on his own just like anyone else. Thanks CoachB25.....

Orioles42

who deserves to get a scholarship, from a parent's point of view? Most of the times they took stats (Ave, wins, etc) to compare the players, and not natural talent (Speed, arm, power, etc). In reality, any HS coach will recommend a player that he believe will succes at college level for 4 years. A lot of kids that are good enough at HS level, can not play just one inning of college's ball, just because they don't have the potential to jump to the next level. So this is a little more complicated. A better HS career doesn't mint the best choice for college or pro.