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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| rippit |
Posted - 08/04/2011 : 17:57:37
How would you handle answering this question?
Seems too many parents focus on the wrong thing. Do you REALLY want your A/AA player getting a spot on an AAA or higher roster and sitting the bench??
Do you want a team full of A/AA players playing up in AAA or Major tourneys and getting spanked every game???
Please find a team that allows your son to earn a spot and then gets challenged to keep it. Let him be successful just a little bit. Allow your team to be successful just a little bit. Put that before your urge to puff out your chest around the water cooler about your AAA or Major kid (who is getting his ego shattered in the dugout every weekend.)
OTOH, all you sandbaggers out there need to go pick on people your own size. |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Jack-of-Diamonds |
Posted - 08/12/2011 : 10:51:20
IMO, the most common difference between a solid AA team and the average AAA is pitching, particularly pitching depth. A lot of AA's will have one ace, maybe two, and not much pitching strength behind them. Successful AAA's will need 4 or 5 guys that can really get the job done on the mound (6 or 7, even better!).
To me, defense is the biggest key to success, though, at any level. If pitchers are afraid to let the other team put the ball in play it's too much pressure and rarely ends well, especially with borderline pitchers. It's unrealistic to expect even your aces to strike-out every batter. Gimme' a roster full of Greg Maddux's and a defense that takes advantage of hitter's mistakes.
It only takes one run to win a game, though of course we always want more. Still, if you have a solid defense it makes it whole lot easier on your pitchers and hitters. Plus, more often than not runs-allowed makes the difference in whether you get good seeding on Sunday... a huge plus for having a strong defense. |
| PerfectGame |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 23:26:06
Interesting opinions. According to the descriptions I've seen plenty of AA teams that fit the AAA descriptions offered here and AAA's that fit A or AA. We gave up worrying about that ranking system long ago. There are too many anomalies. Maybe it becomes more clear as the kids get older. |
| ramman999 |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 16:01:10
@gamefanatic - I agree:
My take:
AA team - start up, or all star/rec challenge. 2-3 real good players. Mostly developmental. No pitching depth, no ace. Lacks depth, consistency. Starter travel ball, still learning the nuances, and parents still getting used to the riggers of travel ball..
AAA team - established program, solid core of about 6 players. At least 1 ace, 1-2 strong bats, at least 5-6 solid strike throwers. One good catcher, but not a lot of depth beyond the starters. Good team, but maybe lacks consistency. Top AAA teams are a player or 2 away from being a major level team. Most "good" travel ball teams fall into this category.
Majors - established team, high baseball IQ. 8+ solid players with travel ball experience(2+ years).
2-3 Sunday aces and are 8+ pitchers deep. Great catcher, and solid depth at all positions - the kind of team where you know their right fielder could probably start SS on other teams. Good/great hitters throughout the lineup. Excellent defensive team that makes few errors; fundamentally solid in execution. Experienced travel ball/next level coaching and experienced travel ball families.
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| rippit |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 14:41:08
""AA teams have a stud or two but still lack size and quickness to advance. They do not necessarily have the confidence to come back when down more than a few runs. They win as much as they lose against comparable teams. They could have good talent but poor coaching here is rampant. Or, it's more kids that want to play but just don't necessarily have the skills or desire to play more competitively but rec ball just isn't enough. You tend to have more of the rec ball mentality here - "what do you mean we are practicing Thursday night - we just practiced on Tuesday..." Practices are not taken as seriously and coaching mistakes are more common. ""
Amen brother! |
| rippit |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 14:38:25
quote:
Originally posted by ramman999
What is the difference, in your opinion of:
AA vs. AAA team
AAA vs. Majors team
Same question for AA/AAA/Major player..
AA vs AAA - pitching and a really good catcher
AAA vs Majors - more pitching, speed, EXPERIENCE and top notch coaching |
| momshell |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 14:17:21
gamefanatic: You are so right!! |
| gamefanatic |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 13:57:42
quote:
Originally posted by ramman999
What is the difference, in your opinion of:
AA vs. AAA team
AAA vs. Majors team
Same question for AA/AAA/Major player..
I think this is one of those "you know it when you see it" types of questions.
My opinion only:
It also depends upon what context. When we are playing other teams, I look at what level they are currently then I look at past history. History of players and history of coaches and former teams. From a strict history standpoint, if this is a new team and Coach and most players are coming from a single A background and playing in a Majors arena, I totally discount them as a major. With growth, age and coaching maybe a high AA or low AAA (and some recruiting to go along with it.) I pretty much ignore the points and look at the power ranking - somewhat better of an idea since at the present time, it's really all we have to go on... history.
In my mind, Major teams have depth. Depth in pitching and depth in catching. They are quick in both physical prowess and brain function - most players are baseball aware. Size doesn't particularly blow me away and doesn't bother me to see big kids on teams, most of those aren't that quick and quickness will beat big most times (exception being the power hitter but they strike out more times than they clear the wall.) They have pitchers that can hit their spots and they have catchers that can call a good game (notice, I said the catchers not the coaches sitting on the bucket. Part of baseball awareness.) Their catchers are quick and can make runners afraid to run. Majors have a good combination of power and hitting for average and players that do what they need to for the team. They are well coached and they are allowed to play the game as they have been coached. They have the confidence that being down a run or two or ten does not scares them.
AAA teams will have some of this but not necessarily the depth. They may have one or two pitchers that can hit spots consistently and a single catcher or two that can make the plays. Most of their hitters can hit, either for power or average but may have a week spot or two in the lineup. They can advance to Major with good coaching and building the players confidence and quickness.
AA teams have a stud or two but still lack size and quickness to advance. They do not necessarily have the confidence to come back when down more than a few runs. They win as much as they lose against comparable teams. They could have good talent but poor coaching here is rampant. Or, it's more kids that want to play but just don't necessarily have the skills or desire to play more competitively but rec ball just isn't enough. You tend to have more of the rec ball mentality here - "what do you mean we are practicing Thursday night - we just practiced on Tuesday..." Practices are not taken as seriously and coaching mistakes are more common.
A - teams that just don't come together. There may be a stud or two or a potential stud or two on the team. Poor coaching and sometimes just plain old bad luck. A single A team is very scary because they are not taken as seriously and they can beat any team on any given day because no one expects them to so pitching is usually the #10 pitcher and they can light these pitchers up.
Or at least this has been our experience.... chip away....
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| ramman999 |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 08:29:10
What is the difference, in your opinion of:
AA vs. AAA team
AAA vs. Majors team
Same question for AA/AAA/Major player..
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| teamsport |
Posted - 08/10/2011 : 09:05:18
Excellent points from both of you. I wish that all coaches would understand and apply this. You're only setting the players up for failure by not playing in the right classification for their ability. |
| gamefanatic |
Posted - 08/04/2011 : 22:04:04
Also, all the teams that are claiming to be majors. Last year, several teams that were "majors" that had a roster full of A and AA players, coach from A and advertised then played major. Got their shirts handed to them most of the time. I see it as the same thing - how much do kids learn when they are loosing just about every game they play.
I would much rather have my son playing at the level appropriate for him and team - winning some, lose some, learn to win and learn to lose.
I chuckle at some of the listings for teams advertising now. Coaches, do yourself a favor and objectively list your team. If your son is not a AAA player, don't advertise as a AAA team. Of course, easier said than done... |
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