what's the most important thing?

- The first part is because of budgets and getting the most out of them.
- The second part about the need for recruiters at Showcases...someone still needs to decide who fits their program.
- "50% of the talent pool"? which pool are you referring? The Top 100 recruits in our State? They are all playing Travel ball or did until their graduate year.

Look...I don't disagree with some major points you are making and that is "pay for play" and getting away from community ball. But some would say that players that play with guys from all over the state make an easier transition to college.

 

Moe ....

.... everything you are saying was true 10 years ago ... but the world changes. Showcase isn't going to be the "in thing" in another 4-5 years in my opinion, but Legion isn't going to be what replaces it.

Legion has to adapt to survive. Having semi-annual catastropies in the rules and their interpretation, constant legal struggles and heated exchanges aren't going to help it. Over the past few years, it's gotten a black eye. It's not any better this year.

If someone was to attend every one of the showcases (Blue-Grey, Impact, Perfect Game, etc) in the region over the next month, I would venture that half the teams in the legion playoffs will have illegal players due to participation in events outside of Legion. It may be higher. Legion doesn't OWN it's players, it survives because the players want to participate. Keep making it a win/lose situation for those players and guess what ... legion will lose.

And it's a pity ... Legion is a good product. It's not a great one, but it is a good one and fills a necessary role. It could be a better one if it realized it wasn't the only game in town and started cooperating instead of condeming.

 

Leaving your team to play showcase

Every kid does not have the same opportunities to play at a high level with their teamates. In some area Legion ball is very weak and and some areas do not even have it at all. Schools that are feeder programs have to go to other school districts and try out. The coach is not going to keep a significant number of kids from "outside schools" and cut his own players. Why? Well there are a number of reasons and many of them erk me. Number one he doesnt want to make the parents made at him by cutting one of his own players and keeping a kid that doesnt play for him. He is trying to use the Legion season as a way of developing his players and not someone elses. If it is close between two players who is he going to keep? His guy or a player he doesnt even know and isnt going to coach in HS? We are a feeder program. We have three different Legion programs that pull our kids. Usually we have three or four kids that are talented enough where schools seek them out. The rest are left out in the cold trying to make a squad 20 30 miles from home. When they make the team if they do they usually find themselves riding the pine for all the reasons mentioned above. I for one do not have a problem with kids seeking out the best baseball situation for them in the off season. I have always said the season we are about the team. In the off season it is about you. You finding the best situation for you. You working on your game. You spending the time making "yourself a better player". As far as showcase ball I feel that it serves a great and usefull purpose. It exposes kids to a high level of competition. They get to challenge themselves and see where they stack up. The get to be seen by alot of people that can give them some feedback. If it leads to a chance to play at the next level whats wrong with that. JMHO

 

Coach May,,,, you make very valid points about legion ball and how its either non-existent or used differently in certain areas of the state. Please understand that folks like myself (in Cabarrus County), or folks in Rowan County, or Caldwell, or Shelby feel so strongly about legion ball because its still such a "COMMUNITY" thing and popular in our areas. However, I understand and appreciate the points that you described about other areas.

You know guys, I've always said I thought there should be room in a kid's life for him to do both (if he wanted) that is play legion ball in the summer and showcase in the fall. I just don't see why this schedule couldn't work.

I understand the convenience reason about showcases, because it allows for college scouts to attend tournaments and therefore they can see many more prospects all at once,,,, and I also understand that showcasing can and probably does help the "middle of the road" players get extra exposure. I still believe the superstars could play tiddlywinks during the summer and they'll still get signed. Nevertheless, I guess the only problems that I have with showcasing is two:

1- the money. If its for the kids, then why do we charge them? We get sponsors for every other team that kids ever play on (little league, AAU, legion), but now your telling me that a kid must pay $700-$1800 to play on a showcase team????? These prices eliminate some kids from the start.

and 2- (and don't say #2 won't happen), because it could. But where will it end? If showcasing is evergrowing popular in certain areas because they don't have legion ball,,,,,,,, then WHAT is stopping anyone from starting showcases in the winter or even the spring. Will we ever get to the point where kids aren't even playing high school ball, and instead choosing to workout year-round or showcase year-round???

I appreciate the showcase directors for they're trying to promote the kids, but I guess I'm just an old-fogey on the TEAM concept and playing with your friends to beat another TEAM. Just my 2 cents...

 

It is easy for any of us to make broad, generalized statements regarding showcase ball vs team/legion ball but just as there are various communities out there with different "legion" temperatures (i.e in some areas its "the thing"; in others its not that big of a deal) there are also very, very different showcase opportunities out there. You simply cannot make broad, generalized statements that all showcase kids are in it for themselves and there is something more noble about playing legion ball, or visa-versa. It is a case-by-case situation. By the way, any time you do anything because you love it, you are doing it for yourself -another topic.

My son plays first because he wants to play. But our "showcase" team is much, much more than just a squad of individuals. We are a year-round program that runs from January to November. We do "shut down" for high school ball. We are coached/taught/instructed by former major league players, triple A players, double A players, former college coaches, etc. Monday through Friday between tournaments (Weekends too when we dont have a tournament). We are put through college style practices to prepare the kids for what they will face at the next level. We have privelidge to an indoor facility (when it rains) that has multiple cages and indoor mounds. My son goes there every day of his life, except Sunday. Many days he gets to take bp or infield with a former pro player. He also has developed tremendous relationships with the other players - 10 (or more -we have a few juniors) are going to play college ball- and he has been with some of them for 6 years +. How long do they to play together before they are a TEAM?
The kids are put in a structured off season strength and conditioning program run by gurus in that field. Oh yeah - We do play tournaments mainly to apply what we have learned, and yes, because we want to win and enjoy the game. Of course, that's also where the scouts are because they have limited time and resources, and when you are fishing, IF YOU HAD A CHOICE, would you go to a remote part of the lake and hope to get a bite, or go where you know the fish are?? What would be a better use of your time? By the way , show me a top 100 kid in NC who did not participate in some form of "showcase" ball.
Last point - we don't sit around and blast the legion guys. What purpose is there in that???????? They are our friends too. So why paint every "showcase kid" as some selfish, in-it-for-me kid??? Some of my sons best friends and future college teammates are playing legion this summer. We are glad for them - heck, a lot of times wish we were playing legion ball. But we couldnt do both, and we decided as a family to do what we thought was best to prepare our son for college, allowing him to make the final decision. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat. My son has had the time of his life and I have too watching him work his tail off doing what he loves doing. Is has been expensive but worth the investment ; the same is true of my house - by the way, our program raises funds and offers scholarships to those who can't afford it


My 2 cents

 

Hapi,,, I realize there's better showcase situations than others,,, just as there's better legion situations than others. I've never tried to paint showcase players as "me" kids, (go back and read my post) I happen to agree with certain kids those "middle of the road" kids playing showcase. I agree that the scouts love the concept of gathering all the top kids at one ballpark one weekend for a tournament.

I'm glad you were able to allow your son to play on one of the best showcase teams around,,,,,,, but more importantly I'm glad you were able to afford it.

There's a lot of very talented kids who can't afford it, or don't have anyone to help them with the travel.

I'm glad its worked well for you.

You mentioned that sometimes you wished your son could play legion ball too,,,, thats my point,,,, I wish kids didn't have to choose, I wish they could do both. Nobody is trying to make legion ball sound more noble, legion ball certainly has its flaws. But legion ball is still kids playing for their communities against other communities,,, and regardless of whatever you want to call it,,, its pretty special for a young man to play for his community and most former legion players have those memories for a long time...

 

Wow...two great posts from tj and Hapi. That's what I meant about being a politician. I agree with both of them. Some people have the thought that "showcasing" is about throwing together a team to play at a tournament. That is not the case in most instances. Hapi is part of a great program that he eloquently described...it's a team (year round).

And tj is right. I wish my son had the opportunity to play for a Legion team like Kannapolis, Cherryville, Shelby or Caldwell. That would have been an experience that he would never forget. There is nothing else like it in North Carolina.

The best scenario is to play legion in the summer and showcase in the fall, but as most have noted, the recruiters are coming around during the summer showcases and July 1st is Christmas.

tj--you may have been kidding when you mentioned that HS ball can become obsolete. Although that won't happen as a team, some players who will continue to workout and attend Pro workouts all winter may take that route. That's not too far from the truth. I know of 2 highly recruited kids who are contemplating that thought right now. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but the fact that some are talking about will tell you how much HS baseball has changed in the lives of these kids compared to when you were growing up.

But, of course, when you and Intimidator were growing up, The Babe was scouting your practices.

 

Braves, HA HA,,,, but no, the Babe was not alive when I was in high school, he died 3 years earlier...

And no, I wasn't kidding about kids in the future skipping high school ball to workout year round with a certain program, showcase team or whatever. Hope it don't come to that,,,, but as many have stated, times are changing...

:1peekdoor

 

Ding Ding Ding...We have a winner! Very eloquent, factual & to the point. Almost thou persuadest me....

But personally: My son has done both, & the Legion/Showcase combo really worked for us. But if I have to choose one, my heart is with Legion ball.
**Playing games everyday for 6 weeks with guys from area rival high schools is one of those life experiences that Showcase cannot duplicate.
**I doubt that Showcase kids will ever hold reunions, but we have them almost every night at our Legion park with former players returning to watch & socialize.
**Young ballplayers fantacize about playing for their local Post & ask for autographs on occasion, something that logistically is not part of Showcase.

So if your sole objective is becoming the best player possible, I willingly concede that a fulltime commitment to Showcase is the better choice, especially with the outfit for whom Hapi2BMe's son plays. Facilities...profesional instructors...peer pressure to improve...PRACTICE (which never happens in Legion)...concentration of college scouts...Amazing organization & opportunity to say the least.

But if your objective is wholesome fun & community involvement plus working to improve & play at the next level....I prefer Legion supplemented by Showcase in the off season. The loss of 2 months of exposure (the 1st month June is a dead recruiting month for D1 schools) just doesn't seem all that important. I have gotten acquainted with several college recruiters, & all of them indicated that Fall Showcase was sufficient to catch their eye. Unless you are a major major player (especially a pitcher), few offers involving serious money are proffered before the Spring of a kid's Senior season. Scholarships are way too valuable to waste on a kid who isn't a perfect fit.

So give me a hot dog, a warm summer night...the heartfelt live singing of the National Anthem...Legionaires clapping their hands in support...the fun of playing for your home community...rivalries that existed before any player was born...reading about our games everyday in the newspapers...kids making friends that (if they stay in the community) will be life long pals...family's saying "See you tommorow night"...AND IT ALL IS FREE!!!!!!!!...Oh yea, I am firmly in the corner of Legion supporters.