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bstand
56 Posts |
 Posted - 04/03/2011 : 21:03:36
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| I have coached at the major level, AAA, and AA. I think that if we take exception to the fact that a player can pay the required fee, and take the field to compete against another team, then maybe we have lost sight of what the game is or should be for. Maybe there is a reason that soccer has become the number one sport in America, eclipsing baseball by leaps and bounds. Maybe it's elitists who think that travel baseball should be reserved for only the top 5% of all players, who have it all wrong. Baseball is a game. A GAME! It should be open to all comers, and travel is one of the only platforms where players can get the required instruction and repetitions to become what they may become. Really, the players who are studs up to age 14, may not even be able to hold the jock strap of little Johnny when he turns 14. A survey of a group of MLB players revealed that the average age they started playing ball was 12. Amazingly not 5. I don't think that every team that winds up in a tournament ends up competing at the level they would like to, nor do they provide the level of competition to their opponent that they would probably like to, but to say that they shouldn't be allowed to play, because they are watering down our division, doesn't compute with me. I take pride in a coach in developing any player who has a desire to learn and work hard. Any warm body can coach a group of kids who are already developed. Maybe a lack of qualified coaches who are willing to donate their time are "watering down" travel baseball. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2011 : 22:09:57
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quote:
Originally posted by bstand
I have coached at the major level, AAA, and AA. I think that if we take exception to the fact that a player can pay the required fee, and take the field to compete against another team, then maybe we have lost sight of what the game is or should be for. Maybe there is a reason that soccer has become the number one sport in America, eclipsing baseball by leaps and bounds. Maybe it's elitists who think that travel baseball should be reserved for only the top 5% of all players, who have it all wrong. Baseball is a game. A GAME! It should be open to all comers, and travel is one of the only platforms where players can get the required instruction and repetitions to become what they may become. Really, the players who are studs up to age 14, may not even be able to hold the jock strap of little Johnny when he turns 14. A survey of a group of MLB players revealed that the average age they started playing ball was 12. Amazingly not 5. I don't think that every team that winds up in a tournament ends up competing at the level they would like to, nor do they provide the level of competition to their opponent that they would probably like to, but to say that they shouldn't be allowed to play, because they are watering down our division, doesn't compute with me. I take pride in a coach in developing any player who has a desire to learn and work hard. Any warm body can coach a group of kids who are already developed. Maybe a lack of qualified coaches who are willing to donate their time are "watering down" travel baseball.
Some others may have, but I never said they shouldn't be allowed to.
Granted that for the competition and instruction travel ball is the place to be in this area. I will say, though, I'm not sure what level of ball we think we are preparing a kid for by having a 9 (or 10 or 11) year-old at a ball park playing a game on Friday, 2 or 3 on Saturday and another 2 or 3 on Sunday. High School teams only play 2-3 games a week unless rainouts screw up the schedule and they have to play 4. The best 15 to 18 year-olds have only played between 15 and 30 games by the end of school. Why do we think the younger ages need to have played 30+?
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Spartan4
913 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2011 : 22:51:18
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I think what I said was misunderstood or I did a bad job explaining my opinions which wouldn't be the first time. The watered down issue comes from I remember MY AGE GROUP IN TRAVEL....Something 99% of the people on this board can't say!! I remember when all the teams that were "travel" baseball teams were GOOD....The rest of the kids played rec ball and had a goal of making an all-star team. Now ANYBODY with a checkbook can start a travel team or find one to play for. I don't think we should hold kids back from playing but I think 11yr olds should play in two divisions. If you can't compete that should be a message that you can't complete. Not that a money hungry organization should start a new classification that is designed for kids who can't compete. That is my main issue with USSSA, it is about money and they go out of their way to field a tourney for the 4million AA teams and the major kids have to play the same 6 teams every weekend(watered down, because it wasn't always like this)....I have said it two thousand times so I'll say it once more, there used to be 25 teams in each age group...There was #1 in the Astros and then everybody else, and those 24 teams were all very similar in talent and coaching. We can agree/disagree about this all we want but most on here weren't around travel baseball 10-15 years ago so they can only see one side of the argument. That is fine, but I think it is funny that everybody LOVES Triple Crown where AA teams have to play Major teams and get shelled...But if a USSSA team is sandbagging or "playing down" we can all complain about the "classifications" that hardly exist in other organizations.
Mr. Moser, I don't think we can say how many 12U teams there should be. A dad with a stud shouldn't be allowed to make his sons full time team a AA team for the purpose of winning a AA trophy. It is very possible for the best player out there to begin a season on a AA team just for the sake of dominating, or as some on here say "build confidence" That is ego driven....And the way I believe it touches every family that is involved in the major side is the additional travel out of state every other weekend to find a tourney with more than 3 teams in it. It is frustrating. BTW I agree 100% with separating AAA teams from major, I just think we should put the upper AAA teams in major and the all the AA teams with the lower AAA teams. Seems to me it would be one less trophy to win, and bigger tournament fields would lead to more games and more "development" for all the teams involved. Other organizations have caught on and noticed USSSA grab the money from the AA teams and set the major teams aside, and that is why Tony from TC and Shannon from Nations are getting busier and busier each season. |
Edited by - Spartan4 on 04/04/2011 08:23:38 |
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Peanutsr
171 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 06:22:38
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It's KID'S baseball.
No signing bonus,
No revenue sharing,
No regionals, super regionals, trip to Omaha,
No player reps or work stopages for collective bargaining.
Just kid's baseball.
Look, I am really, really sorry some of you guys didn't make it to the bigs.
Just let it go, let the KID'S play and have fun.quote:
Originally posted by m72
bmoser- I wish I had a more clear answer for you man but I said it the best way I know how. I don't really have a problem with USSSA. I have a problem with what travel baseball seems to have become compared to what it meant and was created for when I played. I guess it's like anything in life though, at some point everything changes. I just think it should fall under the saying of " somethings never change " and let it be for those it was intended for. loveforthegame25- not picking on or bashing little Johnny, it's just something little Johnny should have to work hard towards in rec ball instead of creating a division for him so he can say he plays travel baseball. Every kid should have the opportunity to experience travel ball but only if he works hard and becomes the player it was intended for. Maybe if rec ball did what it's supposed to, travel ball wouldn't have this issue. My youngest has been playing for 3 years and I can honestly say he hasn't learned a thing from the coaching. It's not all rec parks and coaches but I'd say alot. I'm done here cause I alone will not change anything.
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kaytrishjr
45 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 07:54:50
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quote:
Originally posted by bstand
I have coached at the major level, AAA, and AA. I think that if we take exception to the fact that a player can pay the required fee, and take the field to compete against another team, then maybe we have lost sight of what the game is or should be for. Maybe there is a reason that soccer has become the number one sport in America, eclipsing baseball by leaps and bounds. Maybe it's elitists who think that travel baseball should be reserved for only the top 5% of all players, who have it all wrong. Baseball is a game. A GAME! It should be open to all comers, and travel is one of the only platforms where players can get the required instruction and repetitions to become what they may become. Really, the players who are studs up to age 14, may not even be able to hold the jock strap of little Johnny when he turns 14. A survey of a group of MLB players revealed that the average age they started playing ball was 12. Amazingly not 5. I don't think that every team that winds up in a tournament ends up competing at the level they would like to, nor do they provide the level of competition to their opponent that they would probably like to, but to say that they shouldn't be allowed to play, because they are watering down our division, doesn't compute with me. I take pride in a coach in developing any player who has a desire to learn and work hard. Any warm body can coach a group of kids who are already developed. Maybe a lack of qualified coaches who are willing to donate their time are "watering down" travel baseball.
AMEN, bstand!!!! I agree 100% with you....it's A GAME and anyone who desires to play at any level should be able to play, if you don't like the competition....find somewhere else to play. |
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22202
263 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 09:15:29
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| Let me ask a question. Has there been an "increase" in local parks wanting to have a travel team play out of their home field that they are pushing coaches to start a travel team out of their park? Doing this in hopes of hosting tournaments to make money, by charging teams to play out of their fields to make more money? IF this is happening, how many travel teams have you seen come and go? Has this lead to the abundant of travel teams? It sounds like to me, that the main argument is for the upper age levels. I for one am glad there are opportunities for my U9 player to play. He's not a stud but he is solid, works hard, never missed a practice, work out, or game and is getting better along the way. Build it and they will come seems to be working. |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 10:54:06
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I think the trend towards more travel teams and more skill levels is partially a reflection upon the Rec league experiences travelers have had. Years ago, Rec was all there was, and if you didn't like it, you quit to play another sport. Then a few travel teams popped up that gave the highly skilled players an alternative to Rec, and they thrived. Others saw this and followed. The explosive growth of travel baseball is more of an exodus away from Rec programs. Why?
In Rec, there is a high level of control by a relative few. In most cases, you don't get to choose your coach, your team, your position, when you practice, or when you play. There is very little choice, or flexibility. Only the Coaches, League Directors, and Board members have choice. That might be 10% of all the participants.
Travel ball provides much greater choice. It eliminates the control and perceptions of only 10% of those involved, and allows for open competition for desired teams, facilities, positions played, Coaches, when you play, how much you play, where your play, and who you play with. Choices are earned based upon merit, and not based upon the perception of a few. If you don't agree with the Rec leagues perceptions, choices, and decisions, too bad. In Travel, if you don't agree with perceptions, choices, and decisions you are free to seek out alternatives to find a closer fit to your own needs and desires.
Most people do not like having their choices limited, and controlled by a minority. Most do not like having their choices limited by the perception of that same minority. Stronger individuals prefer to compete openly for the ability to choose their own destiny.
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northgwinnet
22 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 10:58:23
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| The first four words in the baseball rule book: "Baseball is a game..." |
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m72
49 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 11:48:03
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| peanutstr and anyone else that just don't get it- This isn't about anyone not making it to the bigs. However, it does have alot to do with regionals, super regionals and Omaha they just call it World Series qualifier, nationals and Elite32. As Spartan said, you guys obviously have no idea what travel ball was when it first started. kaytrishir- you really don't get it because travel ball is not for anyone at any level and that's what all of you are missing. Unfortunately, USSSA has allowed all of you to think it is. Do you honestly think we are whining because we can't handle the competition. It's you and little Johnny's lack of competition that USSSA has allowed to join in and change the name and meaning of travel baseball. If you can't hang with the big boys then stay in rec ball and go get a professional trainer or whatever it is going to take to get Johnny to that level and then come play but until then stop degrading what use to be a great organization created for the top level players in the community. You guys are idiots of the game if you think it's a right that a kid should have to play travel baseball, no it's a talent he must have to be able to play but USSSA went thinking they were God of the travel baseball world and change it all to allow any kid and their parents to really think Johnny is talented enough for travel baseball by creating divisions. So bmoser I guess I do have something against USSSA afterall. Look every kid has a right to play baseball but just not at any level. You have to earn it but USSSA is just giving it, and yes I have a problem with some organization that didn't even exsist when I played coming along and changing what it means to make a travel baseball team simply for their own benefit, not the kids. You think USSSA really gives 2 shakes of a rats you know what about the kids. Come on!!!!!!!! Little Johnny, which is just a figure of speach for those of you who feel compelled to take up for him as if I'm really talking about a kid named Little Johnny, had no place in travel ball 15 years ago and he shouldn't today. The third and fourth S in USSSA stands for "Specialty Sport". Need I say more. In now way does every team or kid out there in travel baseball today represent that. I really hope I don't have to explain that to anyone as it speaks for itself. Why do you think there are tryouts. Wake up and smell the coffee people. |
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momshell
103 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 11:51:48
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Very well said and completely true. Times have changed and will continue to do so. Who knows what travel ball will look like when our boys have sons of their own.
quote:
Originally posted by bmoser
I think the trend towards more travel teams and more skill levels is partially a reflection upon the Rec league experiences travelers have had. Years ago, Rec was all there was, and if you didn't like it, you quit to play another sport. Then a few travel teams popped up that gave the highly skilled players an alternative to Rec, and they thrived. Others saw this and followed. The explosive growth of travel baseball is more of an exodus away from Rec programs. Why?
In Rec, there is a high level of control by a relative few. In most cases, you don't get to choose your coach, your team, your position, when you practice, or when you play. There is very little choice, or flexibility. Only the Coaches, League Directors, and Board members have choice. That might be 10% of all the participants.
Travel ball provides much greater choice. It eliminates the control and perceptions of only 10% of those involved, and allows for open competition for desired teams, facilities, positions played, Coaches, when you play, how much you play, where your play, and who you play with. Choices are earned based upon merit, and not based upon the perception of a few. If you don't agree with the Rec leagues perceptions, choices, and decisions, too bad. In Travel, if you don't agree with perceptions, choices, and decisions you are free to seek out alternatives to find a closer fit to your own needs and desires.
Most people do not like having their choices limited, and controlled by a minority. Most do not like having their choices limited by the perception of that same minority. Stronger individuals prefer to compete openly for the ability to choose their own destiny.
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kaytrishjr
45 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 11:56:16
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quote:
Originally posted by bmoser
I think the trend towards more travel teams and more skill levels is partially a reflection upon the Rec league experiences travelers have had. Years ago, Rec was all there was, and if you didn't like it, you quit to play another sport. Then a few travel teams popped up that gave the highly skilled players an alternative to Rec, and they thrived. Others saw this and followed. The explosive growth of travel baseball is more of an exodus away from Rec programs. Why?
In Rec, there is a high level of control by a relative few. In most cases, you don't get to choose your coach, your team, your position, when you practice, or when you play. There is very little choice, or flexibility. Only the Coaches, League Directors, and Board members have choice. That might be 10% of all the participants.
Travel ball provides much greater choice. It eliminates the control and perceptions of only 10% of those involved, and allows for open competition for desired teams, facilities, positions played, Coaches, when you play, how much you play, where your play, and who you play with. Choices are earned based upon merit, and not based upon the perception of a few. If you don't agree with the Rec leagues perceptions, choices, and decisions, too bad. In Travel, if you don't agree with perceptions, choices, and decisions you are free to seek out alternatives to find a closer fit to your own needs and desires.
Most people do not like having their choices limited, and controlled by a minority. Most do not like having their choices limited by the perception of that same minority. Stronger individuals prefer to compete openly for the ability to choose their own destiny.
Well said! |
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m72
49 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 12:05:24
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quote:
Originally posted by 22202
Let me ask a question. Has there been an "increase" in local parks wanting to have a travel team play out of their home field that they are pushing coaches to start a travel team out of their park? Doing this in hopes of hosting tournaments to make money, by charging teams to play out of their fields to make more money? IF this is happening, how many travel teams have you seen come and go? Has this lead to the abundant of travel teams? It sounds like to me, that the main argument is for the upper age levels. I for one am glad there are opportunities for my U9 player to play. He's not a stud but he is solid, works hard, never missed a practice, work out, or game and is getting better along the way. Build it and they will come seems to be working.
22202- No offense but it's more like "give it and they will take it". bmoser- if they want to creat another league because they don't like rec then fine do it, but don't do it by changing what travel is. Travel is for a player of a certain talent not all talents and definately not for players that are just unhappy with rec. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 12:26:55
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quote:
Originally posted by bmoser
The explosive growth of travel baseball is more of an exodus away from Rec programs.
If I'm not mistaken the rec leagues at Sandy Plains were at capacity in every age group except 15-18 this Spring. I think it's been that way most years. |
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kaytrishjr
45 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 12:31:21
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quote:
Originally posted by m72
quote:
Originally posted by 22202
Let me ask a question. Has there been an "increase" in local parks wanting to have a travel team play out of their home field that they are pushing coaches to start a travel team out of their park? Doing this in hopes of hosting tournaments to make money, by charging teams to play out of their fields to make more money? IF this is happening, how many travel teams have you seen come and go? Has this lead to the abundant of travel teams? It sounds like to me, that the main argument is for the upper age levels. I for one am glad there are opportunities for my U9 player to play. He's not a stud but he is solid, works hard, never missed a practice, work out, or game and is getting better along the way. Build it and they will come seems to be working.
22202- No offense but it's more like "give it and they will take it". bmoser- if they want to creat another league because they don't like rec then fine do it, but don't do it by changing what travel is. Travel is for a player of a certain talent not all talents and definately not for players that are just unhappy with rec.
Wow, that's an interesting comment! |
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22202
263 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 13:18:55
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"22202- No offense but it's more like "give it and they will take it". bmoser- if they want to creat another league because they don't like rec then fine do it, but don't do it by changing what travel is. Travel is for a player of a certain talent not all talents and definately not for players that are just unhappy with rec."
m72- Did someone say they were unhappy with rec so they went to travel ball? So what is the prerequiste to be on a travel ball team? |
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aadad
8 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 13:27:18
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Great topic and some great points of views in this thread. Here's mine:
I feel very lucky that we have such a tremendous travel ball organization here in GA. And I wonder if some of you, who may have been involved only with "elite" teams since your kids were very young, are missing something.
My son started playing rec ball as an 8yo. He wasn't very good. But he LOVED playing baseball. He was the smallest runt on the field and had no idea how to even run around the bases. He played rec ball for 4 years, improving quite a bit each year. He was never the best player on his team, but always contributed and hustled. He was proud and excited to be selected to play All-Stars at 10 and 11.
When he was 12, someone recommended that I take him to a tryout for a 1st year travel team. He had a great tryout and made the team. It was a AA team and we were terrible. We may have won 5 games the whole year. Although it was torturous at times watching them play, we did have most Sundays off (lol). Playing so many games and playing against better competition helped my son to improve at a pretty rapid rate. By the end of the season, I knew he was ready for a greater challenge.
The next season he played a major role on a very solid AAA team and is now playing JV ball in HS.
The bottom line here is that travel ball in GA affords many kids, of many ages, an opportunity to play lots of baseball. There are many wonderful rec leagues out there, and the one my son played at was fantastic. It played a huge role in his development and love for the game. But at a certain point, he needed to play more. Some kids are ready at 8yo, some at 13yo. We are extremely lucky to have such a variety of levels of travel ball for our kids.
It's up to each family to find the right path for their kids, but it sure is nice to have so many options. |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 13:45:39
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m72:
So no go on A, AA, and even low AAA right? How about middle AAA and high AAA? Some low Majors have terrible records against other Majors, so what about them?
Where precisely is your "real" travel baseball team line drawn?
How do you like events that have Silver brackets for the Saturday losers? How about Bronze? How do you like "Open" events?
When newly formed Rec All Star teams play 1 travel tourney to prepare for District, Regional, or States, is that okay?
What do you think about Freshman and JV teams? Are feeder teams okay?
If we eliminate levels of play, then what is an acceptable winning percentage to be allowed to keep playing and calling yourself a travel team? At what % must a team return to Rec?
I respect your opinion and feel that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It doesn't make it right or wrong, just different. I'd like to hear yours in more detail so I can better understand it.
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Peanutsr
171 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 13:48:35
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When my son started playing travel ball three years ago we just found a team that he liked, joined, and started playing. I guess I am going to have to re-evaluate the whole process. I never realized that there was an official rulebook outlining the requirements for a child to play travel baseball.
I am so glad that I opened and started reading this particular post.
M72, could you please guide me to where I can find this official rulebook so that I can evaluate wether or not I should have my son playing travel ball. Judging from your posts, you certainly must be the ultimate authority on wether or not a child has the proper credentials to play travel baseball.
I say that with the utmost sincerity, take for example your statement from an earlier post:
"I have a problem with what travel baseball seems to have become compared to what it meant and was created for when I played."
I refer to you since you were in on the ground floor, when travel baseball was created. Obviously the pioneers who developed travel baseball either consulted with the kids who played, or at the very least, made sure all the kids were aware that this new form of childrens baseball was being developed in order to provide a means for the most talented children to play to the exclusion of all others. What foresight these brave men had.
Of course that is not the only statement, how about:
"I just think it should fall under the saying of " somethings never change " and let it be for those it was intended for.""
or,
"Every kid should have the opportunity to experience travel ball but only if he works hard and becomes the player it was intended for."
I daresay I need look no further, you are certainly the Alpha and Omega of travel baseball.
Of course, anyone can complain and express dissatisfaction, but true leaders follow up with plans for action such as the one from another earlier post:
"What they should do is break it up by region in each state and have all kids that are or think they are travel talent come for an evaluation. You'll be ranked either AA/AAA/major or go play rec ball and try out for All Stars. "
Brilliant!!!!
I dare say I shant make another decision regarding my son's travel baseball career without first consulting you.
After all we know what the results of allowing common rif-raf to participate are, perfectly summed up in another of your previous statements:
"Having all the little Johnny teams and divisions is like letting all the kids that struggle academically be in honors classes just so they can have the opportunity when they're clearly not honor students. It's called honors for a reason and travel for a reason. You start changing the meaning and your taking away from the ones that really fall into the category of honor student and travel players."
I must say, I feel as if I have experienced an awakening as it relates to travel baseball.
Could you please let me know the soonest you are available, and what sort of fee I can expect to pay, so that you could evaluate my son and let my wife and me know wether or not he is worthy enough to play travel ball?
Boy, Stan must really have his hands full on this topic.
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 13:57:19
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quote:
Originally posted by aadad
Great topic and some great points of views in this thread. Here's mine:
I feel very lucky that we have such a tremendous travel ball organization here in GA. And I wonder if some of you, who may have been involved only with "elite" teams since your kids were very young, are missing something.
My son started playing rec ball as an 8yo. He wasn't very good. But he LOVED playing baseball. He was the smallest runt on the field and had no idea how to even run around the bases. He played rec ball for 4 years, improving quite a bit each year. He was never the best player on his team, but always contributed and hustled. He was proud and excited to be selected to play All-Stars at 10 and 11.
When he was 12, someone recommended that I take him to a tryout for a 1st year travel team. He had a great tryout and made the team. It was a AA team and we were terrible. We may have won 5 games the whole year. Although it was torturous at times watching them play, we did have most Sundays off (lol). Playing so many games and playing against better competition helped my son to improve at a pretty rapid rate. By the end of the season, I knew he was ready for a greater challenge.
The next season he played a major role on a very solid AAA team and is now playing JV ball in HS.
The bottom line here is that travel ball in GA affords many kids, of many ages, an opportunity to play lots of baseball. There are many wonderful rec leagues out there, and the one my son played at was fantastic. It played a huge role in his development and love for the game. But at a certain point, he needed to play more. Some kids are ready at 8yo, some at 13yo. We are extremely lucky to have such a variety of levels of travel ball for our kids.
It's up to each family to find the right path for their kids, but it sure is nice to have so many options.
Tremendous answer! Where were you 4 pages ago.   |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 14:09:21
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Same in Gwinnett County, its called population growth, not to be confused with popularity growth. North Metro ATL City's and County's cannot build parks fast enough to keep up with the influx of new residents over the past 20 years. Most North Metro ATL parks are overcrowded. This doesn't mean that more kids are playing Rec baseball overall, it just means more are playing more Rec baseball in your particular area at this particular time.
From 2000 to 2009, the latest year for which figures are available, the number of kids aged 7 to 17 playing baseball fell 24% This is derived from a study conducted by the American Sporting Goods Association. Travel baseball has grown 7% in the same time period suggesting players are beginning to specialize in one sport more than before. Here's the link below. Sorry to burst your bubble if you were feeling really good about your Rec program, but its just a population shift anomaly.
http://www.csosports.org/baseball-in-decline-for-children-and-youth
quote:
Originally posted by AllStar
quote:
Originally posted by bmoser
The explosive growth of travel baseball is more of an exodus away from Rec programs.
If I'm not mistaken the rec leagues at Sandy Plains were at capacity in every age group except 15-18 this Spring. I think it's been that way most years.
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m72
49 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2011 : 17:43:55
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quote:
Originally posted by 22202
"22202- No offense but it's more like "give it and they will take it". bmoser- if they want to creat another league because they don't like rec then fine do it, but don't do it by changing what travel is. Travel is for a player of a certain talent not all talents and definately not for players that are just unhappy with rec."
m72- Did someone say they were unhappy with rec so they went to travel ball? So what is the prerequiste to be on a travel ball team?
I think bmoser said something to the affect or implied that alot of travel teams came from the unhappiness of rec ball or at least that's the way I understood it. My apologies moser if I misunderstood you. However, I still stand behind my comment regarding it. As for the prerequisite, I think it starts with understanding what travel ball was created for and since you and I and apparently others disagree on that, it would do me no good to provide that prerequisite list for you. Understand travel baseball and you understand what it takes to play at it's true level. peanutsr- This is my personal stand on travel baseball based on what it was when I played it back when it was just American Legion and what that stood for so I don't have to explain a **** thing to you or anyone. If you want to disagree with me then fine, that is your right but man don't ever put words in my mouth, as nowhere in any post of mine did I ever state that I was the ultimate authority on whether a child is travel talent or not nor did I say I was in on the grouond floor when it was created. However, I do know what kind of talent it took to make a travel team or American Legion team when I played and it's nothing like what I see out there today from some of these teams. You guys want me to give explanations based on travel ball today when my argument is that it doesn't seem to stand for the same thing it did when it was created. I can't possibly tell you why there are so many different divisions because like when it was started, I wasn't in on the ground floor when somebody said lets let everyone play travel ball by making all theses different divisions that in the end I feel takes away from those kids that actually have a top notch ability in this sport because unlike when it was created now any kid can be a travel ball player. My point with all of what I have said in any post here is that back when I played, it actually meant and said something about you if you were on a travel team. Not so much anymore. Peanutsr, I appreciate you reciting everything I said before though, it sounded even better the second time around. I'll be glad to evaluate your son for you too if you're questioning his talent, but oh yeah, we don't need to do that because now there are 4 different divisions depending on where he fits in, so anyone can play travel baseball these days. |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2011 : 09:55:26
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m72 said: "Understand travel baseball and you understand what it takes to play at it's true level:
Again...please share with us your "true level"? Majors only? High AAA? Seems like a fair question to me. If I don't understand travel baseball like you do, and you wont tell me its true level, how can I ever know? If we are all left up to our own interpretation, I think we will all keep calling ourselves "travel teams" and your original post will have no impact or relevance to anyone but yourself.
If you are uncomfortable with naming a level, how about this...
If a team ranks 25th out of 174 teams who call themselves travel teams (top 14%), is that true level?
Back when you played travel ball, roughly, what percent made it? |
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momshell
103 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2011 : 10:55:21
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m72-I may be showing my age and it may be a bit cliche, but have you ever read the book "Who Moved My Cheese"? Seriously, everything changes with time. Travel Baseball is different. It will continue to change. It is not going back to the way it was. Ever.
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bstand
56 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2011 : 12:07:25
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| I'm surprised that this is such an inflammatory topic. One thing that never changes is that everything changes. My goodness, we could pick out any institution, profession, industry, or anything for that matter and compare it to what it was 20 years ago, and it will likely not resemble even remotely what it did back then. The way travel ball is today is not a "watered-down", detriment to society. It is the natural evolution of the sport. There is a place for every skill level to play, and I don't see how that adversely impacts the sport as a whole. If anything, it gives us an opportunity to develop more players, and find those diamonds in the rough that are out there, and without the opportunity that travel baseball presents, would never be discovered. Why is this so bad? Because it is different than it was 20 years ago? |
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22202
263 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2011 : 14:03:57
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M72 states-Understand travel baseball and you understand what it takes to play at it's true level.
m72-I am trying to understand what you are saying. You have posted things such as standards, try outs, "understanding", skill level...well what are they? What I hear from you is that MOST travel ball is just overly inflated rec ball playing at different parks. That if players aren't in the top 1% skill level then there is nothing better than a 12 game season rec ball in their future. I think all that was asked of you (who posted these type terms) was to explain your opinion on what a travel ball player needs to possess to play. I am in no way bashing you but only asking to elaborate. |
Edited by - 22202 on 04/06/2011 14:25:26 |
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Gausssa question
