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ivpartner
80 Posts |
 Posted - 04/23/2012 : 10:51:43
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Played in this tournament this past weekend. I love what Danny Pralgo has done with 643 DP. Amazing organization and people.
But here was the GOOD and the BAD about this tournament.
GOOD.
- Aviation Park facility was first class.
- Great field preparation between games.
- 300 feet fields like playing 12U games at Turner Field.
- Had no trouble identifying 643 DP personnel if you had a problem.
BAD.
- We played ALL our pool games and one bracket game at Larry Bell Park. What a MESS!
- Men's toilets were overflowing all weekend with no one available to help.
- No concessions not even water for players or fans.
- 200-225 feet fences.
- Scoreboard wasn't working properly.
- It is clear this park is no longer supported by 643 DP.
The issue is we all paid the same fees BUT it was like teams played 2 different tournaments with 2 totally different experiences and field venues. Pretty interesting to see our coaches and outfielders adjust mid tournament from Cooperstown fences to Turner Field fences.
The biggest problem for us was that the 643 DP website provided NO game, score, or bracket updates all day on Saturday. We finally had to call 643 DP personnel after 7 PM on Saturday night to find out when we played on Sunday morning.
Even this morning there is no complete list of all games played with scores from this tournament. Pretty dissapointing for a high class organization like 643 DP.
Hope they get it together before they host another one because we like their people. |
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ecbpappi
244 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 11:50:13
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Aviation Field #2 is a very nice field but 300 ft fences were probably just a lil too big as I saw several balls that rolled to the fence become inside the park home runs due to short bases and lack of arm strength in the OF.
semi finals were EC Rays vs. Alpharetta Titans and EC Longhorns vs. Hobgood. Longhorns over Hobgood 4-1 in a pitching duel and Rays beat Titans 6-4 iirc. Longhorns beat Rays in ship in a very well played game 5-3.
Game of the season so far was the quarter final game with the Rays and 643 Cougars. Ray came back from 5 runs to take a 10-7 lead into the last inning and got 643 down to their last out with nobody on. 643 proceeded to score 5 runs with 2 outs to take a 12-10 lead. Rays tied it up in the bottom of the inning and onto the 6th we go. 643 goes up 2 runs again but Rays tie it up at 12. They go to International tie breaker and teams proceed to score 1 run in the 7th, 643 scores another run in the 8th but the Rays come thru with 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th to win a marathon of a game. Think that went almost 3 hours, what a game. |
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Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 15:31:22
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Pappi, after that game it was time for a drink- and no it wasn't Gatorade. Great tournament!
quote:
Originally posted by ecbpappi
Aviation Field #2 is a very nice field but 300 ft fences were probably just a lil too big as I saw several balls that rolled to the fence become inside the park home runs due to short bases and lack of arm strength in the OF.
semi finals were EC Rays vs. Alpharetta Titans and EC Longhorns vs. Hobgood. Longhorns over Hobgood 4-1 in a pitching duel and Rays beat Titans 6-4 iirc. Longhorns beat Rays in ship in a very well played game 5-3.
Game of the season so far was the quarter final game with the Rays and 643 Cougars. Ray came back from 5 runs to take a 10-7 lead into the last inning and got 643 down to their last out with nobody on. 643 proceeded to score 5 runs with 2 outs to take a 12-10 lead. Rays tied it up in the bottom of the inning and onto the 6th we go. 643 goes up 2 runs again but Rays tie it up at 12. They go to International tie breaker and teams proceed to score 1 run in the 7th, 643 scores another run in the 8th but the Rays come thru with 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th to win a marathon of a game. Think that went almost 3 hours, what a game.
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CharlieSpikes
12 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 15:45:09
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| While on subject of 643, can someone weigh in on differences they see between 643 and the better teams at ECB in terms of development and experience for the players on their teams? |
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peashooter
297 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 16:09:22
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| IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE COACH...Both are fine organizations |
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ivpartner
80 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 18:00:21
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My son plays for neither team BUT we know players and coaches from both systems. Many people have commented on this before but IMHO:
East Cobb: Coaches vary widely, teams now vary widely, players are recruited to the brand, have great history and facilities. I think that the level of coaching on the better teams and older age groups is superior in general. Big difference in coaching personality, styles among teams. Some great, some I would never let my son play for regardless of how many games they win.
643 DP: More consistent coaching philosophy under Danny Pralgo's leadership with a common style and focus on player development. Fewer teams with a focus on quality like ECB use to be.
They both can provide a great experience but clearly if you like the 643 style you will get it more consistently at 643 than at ECB. ECB has some really good coaches but beware that some of them have some behavior that is unacceptable. Paid coaches are great but the loyalty to players can be sorely lacking at times and it gets worse at the older ages. |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 18:33:26
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quote:
Originally posted by CharlieSpikes
While on subject of 643, can someone weigh in on differences they see between 643 and the better teams at ECB in terms of development and experience for the players on their teams?
Rather than hijack this thread, probably better to refer you to the 6 pages of comments on your question. Thread is titled "6-4-3 DP Academy vs ECB".
http://www.nwgabaseball.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6454&SearchTerms=643 |
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peashooter
297 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 20:25:07
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| One of the reasons I left 643 is that we never got time on the nice fields. It was the first year they were built, but they sold it to the parents in the team meeting as we have this great facility, you will love using it, and we never got the chance to. I am sure they were victim of the too many teams, too little field time scenario. |
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BravesFan
533 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 10:13:06
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jmo but it seems 643 is less focused on winning, watching many of their teams in different age groups over the years it's not uncommon for them to bat the entire line up in bracket games. Also, you see a fair amount of movement throughout the game in terms of positions a player will be on defense. Some will argue that they need to learn a certain spot and get reps there so they can master their primary position and I don;t argue that point but also understand the rotation principal.
Now, the upper echelon of teams at east cobb are more focused more on winning the whole thing come Sunday. Kids are not rotated as much and usually the best players that give a team a chance to win are out there (in most cases). There are good coaches withing both programs with different personalities, from harcore/old school in your face types too the praise/positive attitude types. I think it's important for any parent to realize what they are getting into before signing that 1 year deal. As most know, a coach on the wrong spectrum of the coaching style can make the season long and awfully painful as some are witnessing with a certain top team.
Mr. Baseball signing out.. |
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spike
41 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 12:13:37
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| More focused on winning is something you hear alot.Heres what Dr. Julius Erving said "Athletics is one of the few things left in todays world that is pure. It's unaffected by race, religion, social status, etc... In the end you always have a WINNER and LOSER" Winning at all cost is not necesarily the best situation for a 12 yr old but it does matter a great deal. You play to win the battle pitch by pitch play by play. |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 16:27:03
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quote:
Originally posted by spike
More focused on winning is something you hear alot.Heres what Dr. Julius Erving said "Athletics is one of the few things left in todays world that is pure. It's unaffected by race, religion, social status, etc... In the end you always have a WINNER and LOSER" Winning at all cost is not necesarily the best situation for a 12 yr old but it does matter a great deal. You play to win the battle pitch by pitch play by play.
My observations is that 643 teams play to win.....with all the players that they've committed to developing, and not at the expense of any one of them. They play to win every pitch.
Sometimes that means that their #1 shortstop will be playing shortstop in a bracket game while another time it might be their #3 shortstop in that same position. The players are developed with the mindset that they play to win, every pitch, but that winning a tournament at 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 isn't as important as the preparation necessary to play in high school and beyond. I've never seen a 643 team lay down during any game or any intentional effort to put a lineup on the field that wouldn't win.
I think that's what's being said in the posts above. Many teams will only roll with the 9 or 10 that their coach believes he can win with. 643 works to develop all of their players and then allow them the opportunity to be in the position to win. Do they win every game? No. Are their players better developed as a result of this philosophy? Maybe. Clearly, the players they have with them now subscribe to his method. It's not for everyone, but that's what's great about having options in this area. |
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