Prepster's- Something to think about

Prepster brought this subject up before and I believe it is an interesting subject to discuss again


By Prepster: "A very lopsided outcome from a recent game sparks the recollection of a conversation I had on a baseball sideline yesterday:

The person beside me was offering the opinion that the Charlotte school system ought to offer schools the option of not fielding a baseball team, COUPLED WITH the opportunity for players at those schools to play at a nearby school of their choice. My friend's thesis is that there are some schools in the area that simply aren't fed enough talented players from their district. In many cases, these schools have no JV program. Their varsity is typically made up of 2 or 3 kids who can play the game at the high school level, joined by enough students who can be talked into putting on a uniform to fill out the squad.

The predictable result? They get pummelled game after game by the numerous quality teams in the region.

How can this be healthy for anyone involved? The several honest-to-goodness baseball players at the have-not program never get an opportunity to practice and play with kids whose skills and interest level are comparable, the "players in uniform only" at the have-not program have to wonder why they're out there, and their opponents take little, if anything, from the experience of playing them.

At a time when school resources are precious, one does have to wonder if we're approaching this situation in the smartest possible way. Other thoughts?"

 

T - It is perhaps the most glaring thing I noticed since I moved here 4 years ago.

You will always have some disparity in talent in every high school league in the country - but up our way - it isnt a disparity - it is a scheduled massacre.

This year - I didnt even attend half of the games - because I didnt want to watch it. My wife - dutifully - still went to every game - and when she got home - I didnt ask if we won or lost - I asked if any one from the opposing team got hurt.

I would say that these games comprised about 50% of our season.

I dont really understand how this can go on - year after year - and no adjustments be made. Actually - you would need major adjustments IMO.

I love baseball to my core - but I dont love watching this type of stuff. And I wont watch it. As much as I love the game - I wont watch it anymore.

 

Our old conference

We had two teams that were so bad it is hard for you to imagine it unless you saw it for yourself. The fields? Folks one year the outfield fence comprised of 55 gallon drums with 2 by 6's stacked on top of the drums. That gives you some kind of an idea what the fields were like. The teams? Several could not catch. Hardly any of them wore cleats. There are no batting cages. I could go on and on. They show up at game time and their is no infield taken. They do not even throw before the game. They just take the field. A typical game is 25 or 30 -0 and its stopped in the 2nd or 3rd inning. But year after year they field a "Team" and you have to play them.

Now here is the really sad thing. A few years ago we are playing one of these teams. I notice a center fielder that is stretching before the game. He finds someone to throw with. He is dressed like a ball player. During the game he made several nice plays. He put the ball in play at the plate and you could tell this kid could play. After the game the kid walks up to me and Coach F-3 and says "Man I sure wish I could play somewhere like this".

Now what if this kid was your kid?

Im not familiar with the problem in your area Gamer. Im sure its bad from your decription of it. I dont know what the answer is. But I do know that if my son was in a situation like these mentioned I would do what I had to do to get him out of it. I could careless what anyone said.

 

I have attended a few games where a coach was forced to make a mockery of the game. Some players would bat opposite handed; they would never steal. It would take a triple to score a run from 2nd and I witnessed some players not running hard to 1st.

It was painful and embarrassing, but I really don't have a good answer.

Perhaps others may be able to provide some good ideas.

 

You know coach, this past year I witnessed a team much like you described. They had 1 player that showed a lot of talent. I went over to the kid by the dugout during the game and said, "I really like the way you play the game." You should have seen the huge smile that he gave! Yet, your heart broke for him knowing the situation he was in.

 

True Story

We have a bigtime LHP that everyone wants to come see pitch. Its his turn to take the hill and we are playing one of these teams. The pro scouts call want to come see him pitch again. Several are bringing in Scouting directors. One GM is coming. We tell them this is not a good game to come see because of the team we are playing. They all say the same thing "We could careless about the other team you are playing we are coming to see your guy pitch". We finally give up and say ok. Well its game time all the stands are full of scouts scouting directors and the GM from Atlanta. We take bp , infield and we are getting ready to take the field. No sign of the opponent. We are not worried because we know they show up at game time. The scouts are running down to the dugout "Where's the other team , whats going on". We tried to tell you guys. They are going to show up at 7 and they are going to be ready when they get here. You are in for a treat. Well sure enough right at 7 they show up. The umpire ask the coach if they want a few minutes to warm up. The coach says "Aint gonna do us any good. We cant throw anyway." Well our guy takes the hill begins to throw 92-94 mph fb's from the leftside and their guys just stand there in the box. One guy steps out after the first pitch and says "I aint standing in there". The umpire doesnt know what to do. Finally he just calls the guy out and the next guy steps in. It was ridiculous. After the 5th inning several of the scouts come over to the dugout. "What the hell was that? I brought my guy in here all the way from such and such to see that?" All we could say was "We told you so". I still see scouts that laugh about that day. I saw a crosschecker at Jupiter and thats all he could talk about.

 

I'm clearing the tears from my eyes laughing so hard

 

I just felt really bad going to these games. It made me sick.

Being new to the area - and not really knowing much of the history as to why it is allowed to happen - I just stopped going to the games. I think that was a good solution for me - and I see more than enough baseball all year anyway.

But shame on me.

I think that if it was the area where I spent most of my life - I would try to do something to change it.

But that isnt reality for me now. I would be spitting in the wind - and I know it.

IMO - At least I am honest about it.

 

In our area, most of the schools that field these teams are in a community that doesn't support baseball. It would take a grassroot effort to effectively change this. It can be done, but it would take a saint, a hero and some guardian angels as their helper.

 

Coach and Braves, at first I see teh humor in that situation but when it settles in the laughter fades to pain. I hate it for those kids. Not only has the coach and school missed an opportunity to teach baseball to the kids but they missed something more important. The coach had a chance to teach values and build character that would stick with them far beyond HS. That is where they really fell short and I know with your love for the game that deep down you guys feel the same way.