Showcase Ball - Pros and Cons????

Nope. Same teams now called CBC O'S for the teams

 

It just depends on the player and his

family. Some kids benefit greatly from playing showcase some do not. Some have a great legion program to be a part of many do not. What year in hs is your son? Where he is at as a player? Is he one of the best players in your area? Does he stand out above the other hs players? Does he need to be seen by the Major College programs or would he benefit more from being seen by D2 D3 programs?

Development. Understand that for many showcase programs its simply about putting those players in situations where they can "showcase" their ability in front of college coaches. Its not about developing their skills with practice and reps. Your going to spend almost every weekend simply playing games. Of course there is a benefit to this because your actually getting game reps. Your playing with and against good players. But what is the player doing during the week? Are you on a long toss program? Are you working on your stroke getting quality instruction? Are you working at the things that will make you a better player outside of actually playing games?

Some players especially younger players would benefit more from spending less time running up and down the roads trying to showcase something that is not ready to be showcased. Instead IMO they should be working on their game to improve it and working on developing into a player that in the future would benefit from being showcased. But again it simply comes down to where your son is at this time and what options are available to him.

IMO Showcase should be for the players that have clearly set themselves apart from the rest with performance at the hs level. They have the tools that are sought out by college coaches and the ability to use them in game situations that cause them to be players that should showcase those skills to college coaches. Players that jump on the showcase circuit because they are afraid of being left behind who are not ready to showcase end up being the "Washington Generals" of the showcase circuit. It does them absolutely no good. But trust me someone will take your money and promise you the opportunity to play in great venues in front of college coaches.

Its no different than people who spend a ton of money going to showcase events and a pro style tryout who are simply going to blend in with the average players present. They run a 7.5 60 , throw 75 from the hill and wonder why no one called them. But they are right back out there at the next showcase event trying to catch someone's eye. Go to work on your game. Work to become a player that needs to showcase. Become a player that needs to showcase. Then showcase. Otherwise your throwing your money away. If you come away from one of these things and you say "He did just as good as those other kids." Guess what? They are not there to ID and recruit the kids that do just as good as everyone else. They are there to see the kids who stand out above everyone else.

If your son is a player ready to showcase you will know. He will have an arm that stands out. He will have a bat that stands out. He will have defensive skills that stand out. And even then he needs to understand that he is not a finished product and his focus should remain on constant development even if he does indeed showcase. Understand that no matter what your son's hs era is or his hs batting average college coaches recruit the tools that they feel will play at their level. If your a rising SR crafty RHP who tops out at 80 and dominates at the hs level guess what LSU is not going to recruit you. I know your a stud. I know you have a 0.00 era. But its not going to happen. Do you really need to spend 10k a year criss crossing the USA showcasing in order to convince them you can get it done? Would you be better off going to a camp at specific schools that would want you? Would you be better off playing for a team that indeed plays at those venues?

Once you understand where your son fits into all of this you can make a better decision. If your son is young understand just because the Dirtbags didn't like him at an underclass showcase its not over. In fact its just started for the determined player who really wants it. Go to work. Dont worry about what other people are doing. Go to work on what you need to do to be the best player you can be. There is too much trying to keep up with the other guys stuff going on imo. And baseball is a sport where players can get better and better if they just work at it.

Find the right fit for your son and his current situation. Bust your butt to get better. Then let the cards fall where they fall. There are a lot of kids who dont have the measureables that knock peoples socks off but they can flat out play the game. There are college coaches looking for those players. They then take them and develop them with the player buying in and going to work. And then in a few years we hear about them being drafted or having outstanding college careers. Its not where you start its how you finish. Its not where you are but what you do where your at. Sorry for the long post. But the fact is everyone does not start out with the same cards. Everyone does not get dealt the same hand. Stick around long enough in the game to get some new cards. You might end up with the best cards before its all over.

 

In the PERFECT world, we could have both. Legion games during the week, and showcase during the weekend. or legion teams participate in showcase events during 2 weekends of each month. Something like this doable. I think if legion organizations would just play all of their Saturday of Sunday region games (abt 4-5 games) in one location, they would gain more notariety, and have more college recruiters attend.

at least like braves has mentioned in the past. Legion during the summer, and shocase in the fall.

Both have their benefits.

showcase- you are seen more. play against some of the better players, nicer venues etc (all of these have been mentioned) better pitchers (not necesarilly better PITCHING)

legion- more development, TEAM baseball, closer simulation to college ball. better PITCHING (not just seeing mostly fastballs because the pitcher wants to light up the gun)- development of LOYALTY

we need to bring the BEST of BOTH worlds together......
can't we just all get along?? ha ha

 

Great post! Embedded in that post are 4 or 5 of the truest statements I have ever read on TBR....free advice here that can save thousands of dollars for some.

 

So funny...so sad....so true! Washington Generals..lol...leave it to Kenny to come up with the right term.

 

But remember: the Washington Generals were being paid to look pathetic.