Proehlific Park 2016-2017 Team

Not "got quiet," just said what I wanted to that point...

Now I will add, yes I allow Little League play, but almost none do so anymore - a real shame. Those that have/do play LL, I can easily regulate play with local community dad/coach if need be, such as with a pitcher. Further, those were often guys (LL participants) who did not get much playing time during our season, so LL gave them some extra ABs, etc. in an at-ease, controlled, local setting.

As to the comment about college coaches coming out - that as a focus - you prove my point that now it seems - no forget seems - the goal IS to get to the "next level," not representing the name on the front of your jersey. For example, I went to scout a game the other night (team from my conference playing a nonconference opponent), and it was sadly humorous that 3-4 dads from the two opposing teams - a mix - were behind me talking about who on the field was a "Dirtbag or Cane" and where they were headed, etc. with no talk about how their HS seasons were going or what each conference was like - what I think would be normal conversation. I would add that a college coach was there and he and I talked a few minutes and he agreed that the chatter was "comical" - but hey, he admits he attends all that showcase stuff. It's just logistics and I don't begrudge them. And before you bash me on "not caring about my players advancing", I assure you I make the calls, send the emails/questionnares, even drive them to and at times pay for college camps/workouts on occasion. I care about my players' futures. It just hurts that so many (really parents more at fault than kids in truth) focus more on their future than our present at times.

Bottom line from my perspective: leave kids alone to be focused on playing for their HS team during that season - no matter what the sport. Anything other seems to lack integrity to me. But that is only my opinion; sometimes inaccurate and often - I say often disregarded. If you can defend that in particular - the working/trying out during HS season - then I am interested to hear.

In the end people can do what they want, when they want. Just admit who and what you are and what it's all about. If it's "about kids", then teach them about priority and loyalty. And maybe teach more than just 12 at a time, though taking fees from dozens at a "tryout." And if it's really about "development" try having a practice once in a while... during YOUR season.

Lots of love folks. Discussion can be healthy.

As always - popular or not - not afraid to own my comments,
John Fowler

 

I must add/ask...
If they only do those things you mention here in a tryout, how can that take from 4:00-6:30 as originally posted above to start the discussion? But wait - if they are "looking for pitchers" as was also stated, how do they assess that with a 10 pitch pen being thrown? Do they warm up well first and then just "all-out" for 10 pitches to impress you? (Which is what a 15-16 year old will do to try to get your approval.) Further, when I look for pitchers, we have them throw live to batters to assess - but we may not assess as good as you folks do.

Very interested to hear follow-up on these points... since it's so quiet and all....

 

Catcoach, first of all the kids do warm up prior to pitching, they stretch and throw and long toss. The kids do throw about 6 fastballs and 2 to 4 curveballs and a few change ups and then it is over. I have never seen a kid leave the field injured after this brutal assessment or heard of a kid being injured or sore the next day. The staff then determines if the kid should be given a chance and believe it or not they usually get it right, not always, but more times than not they get it right, plus they normally know about the studs that show up, they do their homework. Now why this seems to upset you, I have no ideal, they are not practicing, they are not trying to change the way a kid pitches, they are not in anyway interfering with the coaches methods or are they risking hurting the HS coaches players. A lot of the programs actually have High School coaches there evaluating since a lot of these programs now use High School coaches to coach their showcase teams. Coach Meadow of North Davidson is an example of a HS coach that coaches an EvoShield team, he seems to embrace the showcase program with numerous players from his team playing Dirtbags and EvoShield.

 

Most of the time the evaluations are held in the fall and winter, but once in a while because of weather issues or because they are a few players short they will hold a tryout during HS baseball season. They understand the importance of not interfering with a HS coaches player while he is playing School baseball.
The dads you heard talking about their kids playing on the Dirtbags or Canes were probably PROUD dads. They were PROUD that there kids were on a good showcase team and more than likely were in the top players of the High School teams you were watching!!
I guaranty that a good player on the Bags or Canes play hard everytime they hit the field and play to win no matter if it is a Showcase game or High School game, that's why those players are normally above average, they live baseball 24/7..

 

Two very different opinions on the subject. Good discussion though .I will say that you DONT have to play showcase or legion or travel ball to PLAY HARD EVERY TIME AND PLAY TO WIN AND TO BE A ABOVE AVERAGE PLAYER AND LIVE IT 24/7. Kids that LOVE the game ALWAYS PLAY HARD NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE PLAYING OR WHO THEY ARE PLAYING FOR. . On the flip side not every high school coach helps their better players find a school at the next level whether it be D1 2 3 or juco and puts in the extra work to make that player better and to make sure his player gets the looks he deserves by contacting College coaches and setting up workouts or visits and camps with a school or schools the player is interested in. I am sure players that play showcase get plenty of looks but if their high school coach done his job better more players could get looked at and could really start focusing on helping their team win which is THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF PLAYING A TEAM SPORT. Trust me i have been in this a long time and kids see right thru a high school coach that gives less than is expected from him and is missing in action in the summer and fall so those players need other venues to play at and QUALITY showcase and travel teams and COACHES will surely benefit those guys.The rest of us are greedy and like our kids playing together as long as possible. So i will leave it at to each his own and thanks to all the coaches that do it for the right reasons at any level.