1. This Board Rocks has been split into two separate forums.

    The Preps Forum section was moved here to stand on its own. All member accounts are the same here as they were at ThisBoardRocks.

    The rest of ThisBoardRocks is located at: CarolinaPanthersForum.com

    Welcome to the new Preps Forum!

    Dismiss Notice

Finally...it has to be said (A TBR Classic)

Discussion in 'Baseball' started by olefty, Oct 18, 2006.

  1. TheOriole

    TheOriole Full Access Member

    Age:
    62
    Posts:
    988
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2005
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Goback to the original post thread starter O LEfty you are EXACTLY right, period!:hang:
     
  2. Diamond Rat

    Diamond Rat Full Access Member

    Posts:
    209
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2008
    Being a showcase player myself these are strictly my views;

    There are roughly about 20-23 or 24 players that get into a legion game on a decent day, where there are about 50-60 that play on a showcase field in one day. Where do you think the scouts are gonna be? Where they can watch 25 kids? or 55?. That being said there are scouts at Legion games don't get me wrong. But most of them are there to see an individual player. (From my experiences anyways, I could be totally wrong, just what I see in my area).

    Secondly, not all showcase teams are expensive! I've been on showcase teams that were around $175 counting entree fees for 3-4 tourneys.

    Another thought, the legion season is around 25 games if I remember correctly, and is roughly 2 months (not counting playoffs) long. The showcase season starts, right after legion ends and doesn't end until a month or two before legion starts again. (my point?) If you were to pick one or the other, (obviously you have the option of playing both) but where are you gonna play more games?

    One more thought;

    In showcase you have a HUGE variety of coaches/teams/areas to play for, in legion you only have one, (unless you get released etc.), and in many players cases (not all, but a good few), their legion coaches aren't exactly "top notch" coaches by any stretch of the imagination. So showcase is in their better interest.

    This being said, I believe that players can do both. So IMHO, there is no need to argue which one is better. Because neither are. For every plus there is a minus for both sides. So why bother? If you look at what I said closely above, something like "The showcase season starts, right after legion ends and doesn't end until a month or two before legion starts again", so why not do both?

    Again, these are strictly my views, and my opinions. But I think that if you 'bash" one or the other, your not doing a bit of good, because you can do both if you so desire, and is a personal choice.
     
  3. LClefty04

    LClefty04 Full Access Member

    Age:
    39
    Posts:
    580
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2004
    Ha, and what is your reasoning for saying this??? Because Legion is on its way out or that showcase teams get more attention than legion players?
     
  4. olefty

    olefty Full Access Member

    Posts:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2006
    lclefty04- For a guy who was a decent player and played at some good programs throughout your career you have said some things on tbr that have made me scratch my head. That's just me expressing my opinion like every one else. I'm just a fat washed up junk baller who hasn't done much of anything as a coach and only moderately improved any of my guys so I wouldn't take it too personal.

    anyways, this was never about legion ball versus showcase ball. I went back and read my original post and then sifted through all the different posts. I think what I really meant and didn't do a good job of expressing was this...

    First, everyone who wants to play baseball should have opportunity. Showcase is great because it opens up more avenues for kids as they get older. There was a time when a teenager who was only average or below average, (The type of player who would never play college baseball), was just about finished playing at 15-16. They also had much shorter seasons and there was very little fall baseball. Showcase baseball has opened the door to almost any one to continue playing and keep the dream alive so to speak. You can find a team for just about every level of player right up to the end of your high school days. Some kids can keep playing simply for love in a mens rec league for years after.

    The major problem with showcase baseball is the reasons players and their parents are going this route. There is an epidemic going around. It's basically a lack or awareness of one's baseball abilities. Too many good people are letting people lie to them and invest too much money into playing on these teams. Or, the parents just aren't able to take off the rose tinted glasses to truly see their sons aren't at that level. I would estimate 1 out of 20 kids I see playing showcase ball have the talent to earn a baseball scholarship to play college baseball. And that's about the number that actually do get baseball money.

    Now, if a parent and their son love baseball so much they want to spend all their weekends from april through october at a baseball field, not even talking about the financial investment, then this is a great way to go. Forget about the fantasies these guy weave about how showcase ball will allow a college coach to see kids play enough to somehow see something that they wouldn't in any other setting.

    We go to all kinds of games in all kinds of settings. Yes, we go to a lot of showcase and tournament events. But we are eliminating 95% of the kids we see within the first hour. If someone is hoping some sort of miracle will happen from investing their money and entire summer, I'm just letting them know they are roster fillers and fodder for the guys we came to see.

    A last side note...

    Parents who are hoping that baseball will pay for their sons education need to know that almost every player, and 99.9% of private university players, at the college level are on partial scholarships and are paying a pretty good chunk for their son to continue playing baseball in college. This is not a good way to plan for your child's education. You will probably spend more for them to play college baseball than if they just attended a state school and joined a fraternity and went to football games every Saturday.
     
  5. Braves

    Braves Watauga Pioneers #6

    Posts:
    14,703
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2003
    This has been my bone of contention for years. Many people believe if their son plays for a certain team that it guarantees a scholly...or if they play in a certain tournament and had a sucessful series of games.

    Coach May and I have had this conversation many times: A player not suited for major D1, yet parents investing money in attending tournaments that are flooded with D1 recruiters and their son is not getting any calls or personal letters. Nobody is advocating how to spend your money, but if you are looking for a return on your investment it would be beneficial to know what your son's true baseball ability is.
     
  6. texasleaguer

    texasleaguer Full Access Member

    Posts:
    202
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2008
    Location:
    NC
    A new twist

    I really have enjoyed my weekend of reading this one thread. A lot of very good opinions. With regards to being in front of college recruiters and what group gets the biggest pop, I have another venue to ask the TBR experts about.

    My son is a freshman in HS this year and is very excited about getting the baseball season started as this is all he's been waiting for. He has played USSSA and now Showcase for the last 5 years. It's the only sport that he plays now and he takes his goal of playing at the next level very seriously.

    This past summer he has been receiving a lot of invites from Top Gun, Baseball Factory, The Baseball Clearinghouse, and others. Is this normal and does it make sense to seriously look into these since he is only in his Freshman year? They look great until I see the cost involved for the chance to be "graded" with his peers by scouts.

    The last 2 years he has only gone to Clemson Camp and has played at the Perfect Game in East Cobb this past summer. Could this be the only reason he is getting these invites? Since this is our oldest, his mother and I are overwhelmed, at times, with what is best for our son. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
     
  7. The Captain

    The Captain Full Access Member

    Posts:
    194
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2006
    TXLGR,
    Be cautious. I have experience with one of the organizations you listed. They are very expensive and will exploit your son's dream for money. Now I am not saying they are without value but they will soak you. I would be paitent. Enjoy the next 4 years.
     
  8. LClefty04

    LClefty04 Full Access Member

    Age:
    39
    Posts:
    580
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2004
    Olefty I got nothing against you but i'm not on here to agree with everyone. I like to bring up the other possibilities and make people on here give em reasons why i'm wrong or stray away from the problem I brought up and give me another excuse. I'm also another old baseball player also so I feel your pain but I like to give people something fun to read(See Impact Baseball News Alert or whatever it is).

    I agree showcase ball can get expensive because I went that route. But its like you said, it has given more and more players the opportunity to be seen which is great for everyone. I know there are parents who think showcase ball will get their son into UNC and so playing for any showcase team will get them there.

    I like some aspects of showcase ball, depending on the team and people involved in it. If you are talking about On Deck, Carolina Cubs, SC Panthers then your son will go to the next level with or without a scholly but they will be playing college ball.

    The problem with showcase ball is daddy ball, plain and simple.
     
  9. texasleaguer

    texasleaguer Full Access Member

    Posts:
    202
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2008
    Location:
    NC
    Thanks Captain, I appreciate the reply. I know my son will enjoy his next four years playing for his school!
     
  10. olefty

    olefty Full Access Member

    Posts:
    179
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2006
    lclefty04 - I understand. You've actually been there so you opinion is validated no matter what.

    Texasleaguer - Those are a major waste of money! Do not spend it on that. East cobb and clemson camp are great. I think by the end of his sophoore you may have a better idea of what caliber player he has a chance to be. At that point you may look into spending the money you would at clemson on showcase events provided by universities he has interest in and has a chance to play for. If clemson is still a legitimate option then Jack will let you know.

    Good rule of thumb - The colleges who are sending him questionnaires are the the schools that may have interest. Not the schools sending camp invites. Not always true but in general. Also, ask a parent who has been through the process which camps were instructional, intra squad set up, waste of time and money, etc.
     

Share This Page