"worst day of the year"

Great article today in Charlotte Observer about cuts and AKs Hal Bagwells approach and coaching. Sounds like a great guy.

 

LINK

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/20...he-hardest-cut-of-all.html#storylink=misearch

for article

 

Coach Bagwell does it "right."Evaluate. Document. Discuss.
Look them in the eye and be honest, without being cruel.

One other part of the process that we always incorporate is discussion of each player's "role" - same evaluation-type discussion for those who make the team. We let them know where they stand in terms of depth chart and what we plan for them to do in the coming weeks' at least initial games. We will even project what we see for future years if they ask. We don't mind if they don't like what they hear, such as," we see you primarily as a baserunner... you may only get a few innings non-conference as you improve... you are a great young man and can better our program, but you may not do that so much on the field as in the dugout and lockeroom... etc." It's great if this motivates them for improvement, if they are initially a "back-up" at a position. We just think honesty at the outset is important to head off potential problems. Heck, it just seems right. Some who would," make the cut," but who do not think their evaluated potential role is sufficient will walk away. Even that is in the best interest of the kid and the program. Someone who doesn't understand his role and who becomes disatisfied and even disinterested will only be unhappy for 14-16 weeks - and can breed more of the same.

I concur that it is a tough process.
Hey - that's why we make the big bucks! Big bucks! LO(double)L!

 

I'll post in even better discussion with Hal on coaching. It was when he was at South Meck, but his principles are the same.

 

Coach Bagwell

What a great article.

I have really enjoyed the times that I have had the opportunity to chat with Coach Bagwell ... which seems to be every other year as he has some top flight talent under his watch.

 

by far the toughest part of coaching. you try and be as nice and gentle as possible, but unfortunately, to the player receiving the news it can never be gentle enough. it is a big part of their life they are losing out on. we generally have 60+ try out each year. that means we have to disapoint 25+ players. we try and explain, especially to the younger guys, that they should use this as motivation to work hard and improve for next year. some do....some don't ever play again. some parents understand..... most don't and some rake you over the coals. i don't know of any coach that enjoys the "cutting" process. i also don't know of any coach that intentionally cuts the better players for "political" reasons, we all want to win too much. it is tough, even in the best situation. catcoach, i agree about talking to the players that make the team about their probable roles. sometimes it is not received well, but needs to be done.

 

this article made me cry...

 

Well....you cry over an ant getting stepped on

 

haha...but seriously. I know Bagwell and I know how much the boys tend to mean to him...and I can only imagine what it must feel like to be a dream crusher. It must make him sick.