Your thoughts.

Who has the best website? What info would you like to see? Post suggestions. I have posted some that I have. If I missed any post. NC teams. If you know of any other that are really good that are not NC post. Would love to take a look. If you suggest be positive. They may just use you idea.

http://eteamz.active.com/NCAngelsShowcase/
http://www.copperheadsports.org/viewpage.asp?key=9606
http://www.ccprospects.net./index.html
http://www.charlotteheatbaseball.com/
http://eteamz.active.com/sccats/index.cfm?
http://www.thedirtbags.com/

 

I'm not touching this one.

 

Why? I thought it would help these and others improve their websites. I think it is great that they have them and some have some great info. I know that many have their websites on contact list. So I would think that they would be looking for scouts and coaches to look there for more info.

 

Ok Guys

I would have hope to get some in here before I jumped in. Here is my take:

What I would like to see.....
1. More player info. There are a lot of players that have come from other teams (HS and Travel) Would like to kown more about the player. How long they played with the team.

2. Stats. It does not have to be a scout report but the general stats.

3. How the team is doing? Does not have to be a box score just a general note about the games played. Toot your horn a little.

4. Photos of the players. With a breif summary. What do they like to do. Height, weight. Trading card stuff.

What I do not like to see.......

1. Old info. Keep it fresh. Does not have to be a daily thing.

2. To much tooting your own horn. Guess that is one of the keep it fresh things.

3. To many pages (tabs). Try not to cover everything.

4. No info about the teams ups and downs. We all have them. This is baseball.

Ok I started with four each. Lets hear from you now. This is not a vote for who is the best. Just what you want to see.

As a personal note. I like the SCP player interveiws. That is great info and updates us on the players. Good job. Pictures are great too. Heat good update info on players. I knew from your website as to State Team players that came from your org. Before (never) the States site. Angels great updating of the games played win or lose. Also, love the advice. DB. Good game info and players signed. CC sorry have not seen. Copperheads good players list and contact info.

 

The power of showcase teams

Let me explain why I said what I did. I think the fact that not many posted on this topic should tell you something.

It is perceived by many parents and kids that the landscape of HS baseball is changing, especially when it comes to how kids are recruited for baseball beyond HS. While I would hope HS baseball remains the focus for the kids, it's no secret that 'showcase' type baseball has become very important. Let face it. Many more scouts attend showcase events than HS baseball games. And it's obvious why this happens. Scouts get to travel less, and spend less time to see more quality players. Showcases are a more efficient use of scouts time. Legion ball appears to still be an option but as much as I like legion ball, showcase appears to have surpassed legion in some areas when it comes to 'being seen'. And in baseball, you have to be seen. Many college FB coaches never see a recruit play a game in person. Many just watch extensive tape of the kid combined with how they perform in standardized events at combines. Baseball is different. The scouts want to see the kids on the field and as often as possible. Watching film is not sufficient in baseball recruiting.

The websites you have listed above are some, but not all, of the top programs in N.C. and S.C.. It has reached a point to where just being picked for some of these teams is quite an honor and a major step in kids getting to play more baseball in front of scouts and consequently, get noticed (this can be good and bad. You still have to execute). While some may be reluctant to admit it, some of these organizations command a great deal of power, intentional or unintentional. Just making one of these squads is similar to joining an elite fraternity. In most cases you have to have strong skills to make one of these teams. However the system is not pefect and no one has claimed that it is. There are many good players out there that have the skills to play on these teams but have either been overlooked or possibly the kid took themselves out of consideration for various reasons, ie.. money, time, other activities, other preferences, etc. etc..

While i have not been to all of these websites until this weekend, I know I would be very reluctant to critique the websites of some of the most powerful HS showcase organizations in the area. Each group created their program with specific objectives and most likely their website is an extension of that objective. Frankly, there is no way I'm going to tell these guys what I think is wrong with their websites, especially without knowing what they are trying to accomplish. Whether we like it or not, these organizations have become power brokers in HS baseball talent. Some will deny that but it's a fact. I'll give a recent example.

Recently my son caught a pitching clinic at the North Carolina High School Coaches Assoc. meetings in Greensboro. The pitching clinic was taught by a college coach with other college coaches in attendance. There were probably 300 HS coaches in attendance and I saw maybe 8-10 college coaches.

Afterwards the coach giving the clinic was very complimentary to my son in front of the group and joked about how he had found a player that no one knew about. When the clinic was over my son was approached by several college coaches about who he was and how old he was. He was wearing a Ragsdale uniform so where he went to school was obvious. Several asked why they had not heard of him. He replied that he is only a rising sophmore (He is 6'2", 200lbs. and many thought he was older). When they found out his age the next question from all of them was, "Who are you playing summer ball with?" "What showcase team are you with?" When he said he likes to play with his school teammates in the summer and looked forward to legion and playing with his teammates, every coach told him he had to get on a showcase team for next year so they could see him more often and so that he could get more exposure. What does that tell you?

The showcase organizations have become very important and for lack of a better word, POWERFUL. When I mentioned one particular showcase organization to the coaches that day (which shall go unnamed so as not to show favortism or slight to the other organizations) each coach commented that just making their team was tremendous credibility and spoke volumes about your game. These comments just reinforce my opinion.

So in summary, there is no way am I going to come on here and critique or find fault with the websites of some of the more powerful HS baseball organizations in the state. Many of these websites are powerful marketing tools for marketing the players. Even if I understood the objectives of each organization I would not comment here. Not that I saw anything wrong with any of the websites. I thought they all had positives. But no way I'm going there. After asking a few guys on here, i know they feel the same way I do. The websites you are asking us to evaluate are powerful marketing tools.

I do see some change coming in showcase ball. Just like in AAU the last 3-4 years where every Dad with a bucket of balls could start a travel team, I am seeing more and more showcase organizations start up. 3-4 years ago there were not near as many teams as there are now. I think you will see more expansion. You'll see more parent coaching with this. The best programs will still be 'elite' however these other teams starting up will offer opportunity to other kids. Let's face it, they will attend many of the same tournaments together and play against each other. It just as easy for a scout to notice a player from an elite program as it is a kid from a start up team that is playing against the elite team. Just as in business, growth means opportunity for someone.

 

there's so much more money available in football even at the d2 level why not put this effort in football if scholarship money is the aim?

 

Whoa!!!!

My post was.

"Who has the best website? What info would you like to see? Post suggestions. I have posted some that I have. If I missed any post. NC teams. If you know of any other that are really good that are not NC post. Would love to take a look. If you suggest be positive. They may just use you idea."

Man. I think that we have overlooked some wording. I guess my first line was a little suggestive. In no way is this meet to compare teams. That is what the ballfield is for. Agree, you are right they have their power to unleash if they so wish. This was more of a suggestion forum from the board as to what they would like to see. I would say that some may use this negative. I cannot help that. It is only meant to inform them if they look at this website as to what people think. If those in high places feel that it is nessary to control opinion, OK. I would think it a privilage for someone to let you know what they like. So, that way I could weigh and use that info as you wish.

 

I simply used my son as an example. It's not about football vs. baseball. He'll have to make that choice. I wasn't going there . I was trying to discuss the topic; the websites of showcase groups and their influence.

 

1st, I don't think any of those organizations want my opinion on their website and 2nd, if I had something to say to them I would say it directly to them and not in a public forum. that's just me. Doesn't mean I'm right or wrong. I had no problem with your initial post.

I did not feel you slighted any other group. While there are more teams out there, prepstars, on deck, megastars and the canes come to mind, i just haven't gone looking for their websites.

 

Where did I mention scholarship money? Sorry if I implied that.

Personally we are not counting on any scholarship money. We have saved his college money. If he were to get anything it just makes my retirement easier. His 1st objective is to have the best HS experience he can have.