Area Finals

Rules are rules and I agree with penalizing anybody that breaks them. But my point was about changing a rule. American Legion has already shown an interest in allowing exceptions with the State Games. And UK, I agree with your opinion, but there is no other opportunity that could be included with the ECP. It's an exclusive invitation to the top few players in the country to display their talents in front of all the MLB scouts. Quite frankly, for the few players that are invited, one would have to be committed to an asylum to not attend.

I understand the opinion that you stay with a team that you started. You honor your commitments...but what about the freshman and rising sophomores that must leave a playoff team to start their college courses? Which has the priority? Education or their playoff team? The answers are not always black and white

 

two players from Ragsdale that played for the Greensboro legion team got DQed from the state tourney a few years back.

I'm not sure what showcase event they played in but it did happen during the playoffs which is what was apparently against the rules

but in NO WAY did they ABANDON their legion team. It was a one day event - it happened on an off day when their team had no game or no practice scheduled.

hard for me to understand why there would be a rule against just playing ball on a day off but it is American Legion after all

 

Let the Area Finals begin TODAY!!!

Good Luck to all the teams, except the one we're playing...:bananalam

 

Btw to you Area 4 guys, since your finals don't start until tomorrow (Thursday), you need to make the drive up to Kannapolis tonight for our opener. If anyone comes, let me know.

 

still it's about commitment to TEAM

life lesson to be learned. see it through to the END with your team, no matter what. If he's that good, it will all work out; there will be other opportunities to impress.

 

Braves, For the record: Madison may be the most personable, humble, team oriented kid on the planet. That's not an issue with my comments. I have great respect for his talent & hope he wins a Cy Young in the League someday.

So I am not criticizing Madison's decision. That is his business. But I watched this summer as Lexington Post 8's season disentegrated because of the selfish choice of a couple of kids. That is just unthinkable to me. My personal values are such that no way on earth would my son attend such a showcase & miss a critical team event. He would have canceled the Showcase & forfeited the $$ he paid for the good of the team. Heck, Ty never missed a single game or practice in his entire life...not even one. At any level...

That's my values...the way I was raised...& the way I've tried to raise my kids. Others first. Commitment to the community trumps personal gain. When you join a team, you have to make personal sacrifices like skipping vacations, playing hurt, delaying personal desires, etc.

That code was written on my heart by my parents & my Lord. I suspect we are talking the same language, but I guess I am just venting frustration related to our Legion team. I'll shut up now...

 

I'm not disagreeing with you at all. I believe we are of the same mold. I believe you should start what you finish (and not to go on vacations during this time. That rankles me) My only question was about AL re-visiting their rules since they do that with State Games. A one day showcase that does not interfere with one's AL schedule should be allowed. Remember that Showcasing is relatively new compared to the AL rules that exist today.

Let me say this. I attended a showcase event during the AL playoffs a couple of years ago. The players didn't miss a game, but I counted 9 players associated with a playoff team. Technically, 4 out of 5 teams still in the playoffs would have been disqualified if the names were turned in. To me, the forfeitures would have been catastrophic to American Legion in NC.

They need to find a way to co-exist...and I'm not talking about playing for different teams, just allowing an individual workout that doesn't interfere

 

Perfect example of what I'm talking about

 

what can bungarner gain by going to a show case? he's already one of the top prospects in the country and if you follow the draft stuff the clubs will almost always say that they closely watch their last few games before the draft to establish these guys positions in the first few rounds. bumgarner is a known commodity and imo can only hurt himself by going to a showcase. he'll be seen many,many times next year by every team and probably every scouting director and will be evaluated by what he is then not what he did the previous july at a showcase. showcases may be good for unknowns or marginal prospects but the top guys have not much to gain i mo. if you're #1 already where can you go?

 

MB has a lot to gain....yes he is a top talent in the Nation, but no he is not known by everyone or been seen by everyone. As good as he is he still must show he can do more than just throw a fastball and let Scouts compare how he matches up to ALL THE TOP TALENT across the Nation. And yes they do remember what you did in a previous Showcase event in July....I know because I just went through the whole year and half process with my son.....1st and 2nd round money in the draft is not readily handed over....if Madison is going to be one of those guys he needs to take every opportunity to prove and compare himself to the best of the best over the next several months leading up to his Senior year....he needs to get himself on the "Scouting Directors" radar screens and not just the "Area Scouts".

I love Legion Ball (and Coach) and can see how losing a player of Madison caliber would affect the team....from everything I've heard and read MB has been up front with everyone from the begining. Don't fault the kid for trying to do what is best for is future....

Braves is on the right track that maybe it is time for the Legion "powers to be" to look at some rule changes that would enable Legion and Showcase to co-exist...who knows, it may keep more kids playing Legion.