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rippit
667 Posts |
 Posted - 04/25/2014 : 08:36:24
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I haven't met my word quota  this year so here goes:
Happened upon a JUCO game the other day and in no particular order here is what I observed. The players get up there to HIT. There wasn't a whole lot of looking at pitches while trying to draw a walk. The reason I mention this will be explained later.
Size: players seemed short...particularly on one team. And there was a bit of small ball going on which kinda made me snort until one of those smaller guys later in the game sent a towering shot into the left field trees that had to be well over a 400 foot shot. RESPECT.
Everybody seemed really fundamentally sound during warmups...a little flash...but then there were some brain farts during live action that makes you realize two things. 1- they are human. 2- this game is a lot mental after a certain age. (any age but you know what I mean)
Parents: just as into it as any little league game anywhere and I started to get a little sad. It was intense and this is JUCO. I'm not sure I have the energy. LOL.
Speaking of JUCO, other than the size of the player, I was beginning to think that some of the bigger boys might be on this stop because of low grades in HS not because they weren't D1/2 material.
Okay back to that "they hit" statement. I understand patience at the plate and all that, but does anyone else feel like too much might be made of it in order to console a younger kid who doesn't hit all that well? You know, "Hey, good at bat kid!"
In the end, you better step up there like a hitter and stop trying to draw the walk because at the REAL NEXT LEVEL that pitcher is gonna strike you out. Nobody walked their way into the Hall of Fame.
Yes, there are exceptions to every rule, but you better put good wood (or BBCOR material) on that ball during every plate appearance in order to get noticed ESPECIALLY if your "frame" isn't very "projectable". But that's another rant for another day.
IMHO - Way too many stats being calculated these days. K.I.S.S. principal needs to overshadow everything else. Either you HIT or you SIT. If I'm the coach, I don't care about your OBP unless you are my lead off hitter. When that coach puts you in the 3,4,5,6 hole you better be putting the ball in play. And the younger you learn this, the less surprised/confused/dismayed you'll be at 15-16 when your OBP% and QAB% is one of the highest on the team but your AVG is sub par and your rear is mostly in the dugout.
Thoughts?
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HITANDRUN
436 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2014 : 13:21:45
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| Most JUCO programs except for the newer ones have a lot of players that got injured at the D-1 Level, are looking to get drafted, maybe didn't get the playing time at the big school that were at, or like you said had some issues with grades. The talent is good if the team is good. Back in the day our juco team would get to play all the big D-1 schools and we beat them more than they beat us. UGA, TECH,Clemson, etc. They had deeper pitching depth so by the 3rd game of a series we usually would drop that game. 10 players drafted at the end of the season and a couple that didnt start at the D-1 Level. 2 made it to AAA ball, 1 played behind Chipper Jones with Atlanta in AA ball. Some went to A and rookie ball and didn't pan out. Size was never a factor but if I had a choice, play at a small four year school, play at JUCO or sit at UGA or South Carolina and maybe play JR or SR year, I take juco route "everytime. "But I agree with you. Unless you are a speed or lead off guy you better be hitting the first good pitch you get because it might be the only one. |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2014 : 13:35:47
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quote:
Originally posted by rippit
Okay back to that "they hit" statement. I understand patience at the plate and all that, but does anyone else feel like too much might be made of it in order to console a younger kid who doesn't hit all that well? You know, "Hey, good at bat kid!"
In the end, you better step up there like a hitter and stop trying to draw the walk because at the REAL NEXT LEVEL that pitcher is gonna strike you out. Nobody walked their way into the Hall of Fame.
Yes, there are exceptions to every rule, but you better put good wood (or BBCOR material) on that ball during every plate appearance in order to get noticed ESPECIALLY if your "frame" isn't very "projectable". But that's another rant for another day.
Thoughts?
On your first comment above, I don't think so. Especially at younger ages, kids are learning what they can and can't hit. The tomahawk homerun at 8u will be a complete whiff when facing 80-90 mph in the future. Also, kids need to understand situations and, early in the count, waiting for their pitch. You mention mental aspect and this is SOOOO much a part of that which is missing.
You should always be looking to hit, but let's face it, you're facing a guy who's up there to get you out. Getting favorable counts, or waiting for a pitch to drive is smart baseball that will produce over the long run. It drives me nuts to watch a kid pop out on a pitch above his hands on the first or second pitch of an AB. That's a bad AB. Watching a kid battle from 0-2 and get a walk or hit off of a full count, that's a good AB. Not consoling anyone, that's simply good.
A lot of this, especially at the higher levels, is dictated by the coach. Some preach patience, others want aggressive early. Some will take the bat out of your hands on 0-3, others will let you go.
I hear what you're saying but I don't think you can make a blanket statement like that at all, especially after observing one particular game. You are correct that you better put wood on the ball to continue to advance. Every position player that fails to advance is because the bat didn't continue to find the ball. It's been true for 100+ years. If you can hit, they'll find somewhere in the field to hide you. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2014 : 14:47:51
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If you hit, they will find a place for you.
I'm old, but I remember this from when I was playing. They're saying it about Miguel Cabrera now.
“You can shake a tree and a lot of gloves will fall off, but few bats will. His bat is dangerous.”
—Former All-Star Matt Morris |
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Critical Mass
277 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2014 : 08:03:35
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| Play 2 years at a JUCO, get bigger, better and transfer into a bigger school to finish playing, not a bad plan or alternative to D1 ball right our of HS. |
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Observations at a JUCO game
