Showcase concerns

Very true statement.

 

Yeah, I couldn't believe I read there were 192 teams entered in WWBA this summer. Good grief!!!!!

The 1st year I attended Jupiter there were 32 teams. I thought that was a lot. The last year I attended I think there were 80+ and I was scratching my head. Of course, 10 of them were PG teams.

I wish Mr Ford would have kept that tournament more exclusive.

 

I think we have said that this would happen. As One Putt has said many times. This is a product and it is to make money. The money and the lure of college and pro scouts. It is not so much the teams fault. But the ones who set in the big chairs. I bet you could have set up teams from areas at HS or college fields for less money. No, you create this huge beast and to pay for it you invite anyone who can play. Beat you will see even more in 09. If not it will be because teams will not be able to afford the cost. Then it will get back to those that have the money.

 

It would seem to me that once a championship gets to a huge number of teams like 86 or 196, then WWBA would won't to have regionals and qualify for a thirty two team tournament. I just can't even fathom 100 teams playing in one tournament.

 

Thanks Philly and Punched, Kind words indeed. They have been playing together for years. We like to have fun, the kids want to play together because they have for years. They are friends on and off the field, best of friends. Everyone of them has had the opportunity to play big time showcase, but they still enjoy the game, playing ball with each other. Plus I still love to coach as do the others on the staff. They wanted to play some showcase tournaments so this will be our 3rd. They paid $25.00 for jerseys and hats and not a dime to play the showcases as we have money set aside for that. So the kids get to play together, have fun, don't have to spend an arm and a leg and guess what it is working because they are getting some looks from some fine small colleges and JUCOs.

Another note, I would never hold any of the kids on my team back. If someone wants them and can offer them more than we do then so be it. I would not want them to miss that opportunity. The way I look at it is there are tons of kids that want to play baseball and as long as there are we will play!!

Good Luck all!!!

 

PG events remain the best of the best. My intentions were not to knock them, but to point out the non-exclusiveness it once had. It is foolish for one to disregard Mr Ford's event as just another money maker. If there is a finer place one can attend to see some of the best talented HS players across the country that come together under one roof to compete....please point it out to me so I can attend.

 

Have you ever attended the Jupiter event? You can toss the words product and money around if you choose, but I don't see any fault by anyone. They just do it better than anyone else.

I don't care if they invite 500. Once you reach a certain number of teams, you lose it's exclusivity. But that 500th team is not any less talented than that 100th.

The experience one's son will obtain having an opportunity to play in Jupiter is unmatched. There is nothing else like it and nothing else to compare it to. East Cobb is just a sample. What price tag do you place for an opportunity to play against future MLB players all day, everyday in fron of 500+ college and ML scouts all under one roof?

The 1st year I was there my young freshman son was pitching against Prince Fielder. As years went by he got to face Lastings Milledge, Justin Upton, Matt Bush and many others that are just reaching the ML level. There is no other place like it.

In my opinion, although the overall talent must be diluted for some teams, the experience of playing far outweigh any cost associated. I don't know if it still is this way, but as of 2005 every player participating received a college offer.

 

If you are going to relate the terms product and money in a derisive way and apply it only with showcase baseball, then please do not exclude colleges in this mix. There is no institution that prostitutes itself for the purpose of money more than big time colleges. In fact, some of their fundraising activities could be considered ghoulish....and private schools with their $30,000+ a year tuition can not be dismissed from those terms, too. It's always about making money. Need to get over that. In the mean time, we can still use the term Higher Education, Colleges and Showcase baseball in the same sentence when discussing making a profit and recruiting kids.

 

What do you expect?

Does anyone expect PG or anyone else running tournements to do it for free? If they do chances are its not going to come close to being the quality event these are. When you bring in the types of players and teams that these events bring in you not only have oustanding competition you have college coaches present by the boat loads.

There is an old saying "You get what you pay for." The WWBA events are first class events in every way. The exposure that young players get at these events is unmatched not only in college coaches but professional scouts. The competition is the best you will see at this level. Of course there are alot of teams at these events. Everyone wants the opportunity to get their guys in something like this. But you will find that almost all the teams are very good. Only a handful are overmatched. Those teams will not be playing in the championship round anyway.

There is nothing wrong with people making money running these types of events. In fact I am very glad that there are people out there willing to do it and if they get paid - they should. There is a simple solution for the people that dont believe they should get paid. Start your own tournements and do it for free. We would all appreciate it.

Showcase baseball will correct itself in due time. When it started out there were very few teams and they were elite programs. As time has gone on everyone has wanted to get into the mix. Now you have some teams that quite simply are out of their league. You will see invite only tourneys in the future. The college coaches are going to in one way or another see that it happens.

Its no big deal anyway. People make too much of all this. If your kid loves the game , works his butt off , has some talent - he will be just fine. Unless you live under a rock your son is not going to fly under the radar. Not in todays baseball world. There are so many opportunities for kids its ridiculous and I am not talking about just the top tier players. Help is just a phone call away or a post away.

 

I said 2 years ago that Showcase was going to explode with growth and it has. It happened in AAu and those kids and parents simply aged into showcase. My son came through this age group. This may be unpopular but many (but not everyone) feels their kid is falling behind if not a part of it. Other venues (Legion) appear to have slipped in areas. State Games is still wonderful but not everyone is there (for a variety of reasons). So other options come up. And unfortunately money is a factor in showcase. I don't mind someone making a profit. As long as they do what they say they are going to do, who cares? But not everyone can afford it.

Low makes some accurate statements up top. I really believe people want quality instruction, dedicated teammates, reasonable cost, exposure, and a fair shot at improving.