Showcase article in the newspaper

If you have to pay to play somebody is making money period. If you don't pay to play ...... Not sure if that happens. Parents if you are looking for a ride the bus stop is around the corner. I figured that I have spent an average of about $5000.00 per year for about 6 or 7 years. That was just to have fun playing from 6 to 15 AAU, USSSA. Take that same $35,000.00 invested over the same time period.
WOW

I think I could pay for just about any tuition out there for four years and take a vacation.

 

Hahaha...tell that to all the programs out there scrambling for any kind of sponsorship money. Unfortunately many teams (look at American Legion) have had to fold because they no longer could afford it. There is a cost involved with nearly every level of baseball. I don't know of anybody making money fielding a baseball team

Two things:

- that will pay for maybe one year of Private School.
- How can you put a price of the experiences you have enjoyed the last 4 years. If you didn't spend it being with your kids each weekend, you would have spent it on something else (one week at the beach)....or in Stretchy's case, one long weekend of partying

 

If someone is playing youth travel ball in hopes of a scholarship then you are doing it for the wrong reasons. Plus, as Plate Dad says, if you saved all that money and invested it you could cover a lot of college costs.

 

Speaking of just baseball money being added to the mix. The money in college for baseball is what a ??? per year. Most think full ride. No such creature. If you get a full ride with just baseball money nothing else. Say hey to the pros for me. So we have to figure that the rest is academic money. Use FASA number most will pay that the other is go find money.

As for point two. Would hope it would be the same amount of time as if there was no game. Maybe yes or no. Thing is anytime with your kids is a pricless time in life that cannot be made up or gained back. It is a day by day thing. Now, Stretchy is a case by it's self.

 

Candy in the dugout

Niknat you are so right and I want to apologize to you and the wife for not giving your little johnnie credit for his talent. I just learned he set the state record for eating kit kat's during a 7 inning game. Please forgive me.

 

Defense of MVP baseball

Since I have personal knowledge of MVP Baseball, I thought it prudent that I weigh in on this issue. Any newspaper article can be written in a manner to portray what the writer wishes to portray. Oftentimes a quote within a conversation can be taken to imply whatever the writer wishes to imply. I was present during the tryout and have attended several of those parent meetings. In fact, my son is in the MVP program.

Let's take a realistic view here. If an athlete wants to pursue baseball in college AND wants to obtain athletic scholarship money to defray those costs THEN a parent SHOULD be an advocate for their child. Whereas I would not use words like "product" and "agent", is this not in fact what we parents do? Is not the purpose of "SHOWCASE" baseball to showcase our sons' abilities to college recruiters and professional scouts?

Harry Grumet's qoute ..........."urged parents to focus on the long-term goal of securing a college scholarship for their sons rather than getting caught up in the emotion of winning games and trophies in high school".......... was part of a larger conversation about SHOWCASE baseball. What I have heard him say is that playing for MVP in a tournament is not about winning the tournament. Rather than getting caught up in the emotion of winning games and trophies, MVP focuses on training the player and showing off his talents to those who may be interested. Again, is this not what SHOWCASE events are designed to do?

If we each examine our motives, most, if not all of us, will come to the conclusion that we parents are in fact "advocates" or "agents" for our sons. We do this for the love of our sons and the love of the game of baseball.

In conclusion, MVP is a for profit enterprise. It is in the business of baseball. Ask some of the local "Showcase" organizers/teams how they make their money in the "business of baseball". Some charge a fee for their tryouts, some charge a fee to see the results of their tryouts, some charge a fee to subscribe to various lists or reports, some charge a fee to view certain content on their website. MVP chooses to hold free tryouts and allow anyone to view the results of those tryouts. No one at MVP hides or disguises the fact that participation in their program has associated costs. Each parent can make his/her own decision about how they wish to involve their child in baseball. The parent seminar makes it clear that excellent grades are the best way into college - combine excellent grades with baseball ability - the player will almost always have a chance at a college scholarship.

So before we "puke" or think that MVP is "careless and reckless", or that "for profit" is an evil thing, let us all get a fuller understanding of what MVP is and how it does things.

Thanks for letting me attempt to clarify. I'll be happy to chat with any of you either in PM or by phone, if you'd like.

 

I appreciate your clarification. This kind of reply is what allows us to learn and is what makes TBR special.

 

Works for me. I think that reporters for newspapers and TV pull what they want the story to be and not always what the person is trying to get across. If that was the case I am sure that the article would have been several pages long. I do like the fact that they do call it what it is for profit. Maybe you can let us in on a cost, what you get. I'm sure that a lot would be interested in knowing what you are getting for the money.

 

MVP Clarification

No problem, Stretchy. TBR is a great site with diverse viewpoints. I appreciate the opportunity to express mine.

 

MVP Costs

The prices are dependent upon into which program you enroll. For instance, a family may choose to participate in a national tournament. Each tournament is designed to include "training" i.e. workouts with MVP's coaches and instructors (instructors/coaches include hitting, pitching, infield, and outfield). All of the MVP staff are former professional players and/or coaches. The most recent tryout in Raleigh included Doug Baker - member of the 1984 World Champion Detroit Tigers - conducted infield & hitting training on Saturday night for current MVP members.

I do not have the current price list at the moment but I know that the prices are tailored based on what a family wants/needs. MVP's programs are reserved for players who have attended a tryout. Attending these FREE tryouts is the only way MVP can assess a player's needs.