olefty...gotta question for ya- Part 2

I have heard a HS coach tell a D2 college recruiter, " Hey, I've got a player that may not start for me, but I believe can play for you"

I can't wait to hear yours and Andro's thoughts on this:

 

braves I have been without my computer for a few days. Sorry to take so long.

To respond to your question brings up so many conversations with different coaches. Some of these coaches are highly respected and just a little out of the loop a little.

whenever I hear something like that I first hold in a laugh and my ten minute lecture about what it is that we are looking for at our program. Then I take into account that this coach is so busy he has probably not seen a D2 game in fifteen years and has no idea what the level of competition has become.

Then I take into account that maybe we have had in the past a player who recruited us to play JV and we never thought of him as a recruit. This is a kid whose parents are willing to pay the money for college for his son to chase his dreams at the next level. Many schools now have JV programs in order to keep ther numbers up, ours is probably paying to keep my job.

But the high school coach gets a bad idea of what a D2 player is unless he knows why this kid is coming to the school. On average we have a 90% yearly turnover on JV kids. the ones who stick it out may make varsity or may play four years on JV. we have had a handful of players actually make and start for the varsity teams, but very rarely and only in lean years.

SO I can understand the coaches making that mistake if they haven't seen us play and if maybe they have had a fairly average high school player continue playing at the JV level that they thought was a player we actively recruited and expected to play some day.

As a player I played at the highest level of college basebal there is and am very happy it worked out for me over those four years. But as a coach, I often find myself having to open people's eyes as to how good the competition and play is at the D2 level. we have players drafted all the time in our conference and the trend has been increasing every year. I would say almost every player on our Varsity team was an all-conference, all-county, or all-state performer out of high school.

I'll go out on a limb and make a statement that is most likely true...

If a kid does not start on his high school team he is not good enough to play college at the D2 level. point blank. I can't think of any reason this wouldn't be true. Any coach who says optherwise needs to comne watch a game and reevaluate what he considers D2 baseball.

 

D2 Baseball

Lefty, I know what your thinking. You and I have spoke about it more than several times. I'll say it again...

Two perspectives 1) From the Recruiter 2) From the parent, highschool coach, or the player.

1) Think about it this way. When a recruiter goes out to a showcase, they look for the very best players. Regardless of what level they are. Do you think a recruiter would say, "well I'm a DII school so I'm going to approach this looking for second and third tier players." If you really think that you must be kidding yourself. After a showcase they will take the rosters, list the top 5-10 at each position and why. When they make calls, they start from the top. Several players that are the 2nd and 3rd names on this very list will choose a division II school. Believe me, there are very persistent recruiters out there. It may not happen right away, but check the announcement of signings at the end of the year at your local DII school. I've never made this quote myself, but have heard many people say that DII guys are the hardest working guys out there because they have to do everything, from field maintenence to JV teams, to recruiting. And that breeds confidence and thick skin.

2) I truly believe that parents, and players believe this... Just because they find out that they are not DI players they are automatically D2 players. That could not be more incorrect. A pet peeve of mine from high school coaches is they often times compare a player to one that may have went to a DII school in the past. Look at the player for what he is. Do not get caught up in a comparison to a kid that you coached 5 years ago.

- Another bit of information; Players improve. Colleges work day and night training their guys to perform to the best of their capability. Guys are in peak physical condition when the season hits. Although high school kids are coming in more prepared than ever, they are not in as good of condition as the college kids.

To answer your question Braves. C'mon, tell them to come watch. They'll be surprised at the kind of athletes that DII roles out on to the field.

Another analogy for all of you baseball historians out there. Fifteen years ago the best division IA baseball team in the country was Mississippi State. Elon College was a DII school in the Carolinas Conference (or SAC 8 I can't remember). Last year in the Clemson regional now Elon University beat Miss. St. (Who on God's green earth would have imagined that 15 years ago?) My point is not to say the MSU has gotten worse, but to show the trickle down effect of successful smaller programs. Why would that same trickle down not drastically help a DII school?

 

DI & DII

I think there are many parents out there that say "my son will only play for a DI school" who have never seen a DI or DII school play. I think if more parents got out to some college games it may open their eyes. Too many times they are busy getting to their own childs game but they should make the time to see the quality of ball at both these college levels.

 

Let's be honest, every kid dreams about attending a school like UNC, Clemson or like school, where they may have a chance to play on TV and go to Omaha. Unfortunately, just a few will get the opportunity to go there and even less will get an opportunity to start. And even the one's that attend may get very few opportunities to play. At those schools, you either produce immediately and consistently or you sit. You don't get too many second chances.

Outside of the ACC or SEC, the D1 schools biggest difference between them and D2 schools are the opportunity to play some of those ACC or SEC schools. The talent level of the position players are no different. The biggest difference is the quanitity of outstanding pitchers. Most of the teams that I saw at the D2 level have 3-5 pretty good pitchers...the D1 schools are much deeper.

Forgive me for being redundant, but for those players that want to continue to play baseball after HS; I recommend they go to the school they feel gives them the best opportunity to do so....and please...I am only talking about baseball, not education.

 

To be quite honest, Indy, I was mildly surprised watching some of the D2 schools. Just to single out a couple of schools, but I would match Tusculem or Catawba's starting hitters with any lineups I saw in NC last year...and I saw them all. Now, do they get an opportunity to face a Bard or Miller..no..but this year there isn't anybody else that will either. They were an aberration. Do the D2 teams face a 90+ pitcher all weekend. ..No...but they will face at least one and it is not too common at any level of college baseball to face that kind of heat all weekend.

 

olefty,
thought i would say thanks for the info. i thnk college coaches can help us out by being honest with the high school coaches. most do. we probably do lose our prospective on how good is good. when you study and get involved in the game at one level (like most high school coaches do) for so long, i think we do lose our vision. that was one thing coach greer was so good to me about. he always came by and would evaluate all the players and let me (and i know he helped other local coaches out ) know what level HE thought they where at. i know i am always willing to listen to other peoples opinions and ideas on this situation, and i think it would help others as well.:notworthy :notworthy :notworthy