I think if you can get an outfielder in the portal, go for it. It's not a "must have" like another pitcher, but if you can get a proven player then definitely pull the trigger.
I mentioned it in my second post….im not opposed to it. Definitely not a priority but if an AA is interested…nothing wrong with pursuing another bat
It’s hard to break those awful habits. I will never understand why young pitchers are taught timing gimmicks
Because youth coaches are typically pretty bad?
My thought as well. The bad part is parents pay a lot of money for pitching lessonsBecause youth coaches are typically pretty bad?
And hitting lessons, “speed camps” travel ball teams, AAU bball squads, etc etc
Somebody ought to write book or do a documentary about it!!!! I remember seeing an ESPN 30 FOR 30 about former USC and Oakland Raiders QB Shawn Marinovich and how his father from an early age tried to literally create ROBO QUARTERBACK!!! Sad thing is his father Marv was an ex NFL player himself!!!
I had a mom tell me the cost to play in Edmond and the required hitting practice, and then you get to pay to get into games and tournaments. People have lost their freaking minds
When adults found ways to exploit youth sports for money about 20yrs ago it’s gone downhill quick. Soccer “academies” like Europe, AAU ball with NBA players tied to them, cheer all star gyms, football 7on7 travel teams, softball/baseball travel teams, etc. Parents feel the pressure for their kids to have success that they are blinded by “competitive advantages” that gurus offer. The more “exposure” the more likelihood for a scholarship, right? That is what is preached and these greedy sermons come with a price tag whether it is lessons, travel costs, gate admissions, monthly dues etc. Youth sports are an absolute joke and people continue to fall in the trap of “I want my kid to have the best experience”. Well sometimes the best experience is taking a break or lifting weights in the offseason or working on other areas like sleep and nutrition. Talent will be discovered, parents do not need greedy gurus
A big difference between soccer academies in the US and those in Europe is that the European academies actually pay the kids to be there and here the players pay to be at the academy.
You ought to be on the field with Karen and Bob yelling at you on every call and its 8 and Under Kid Pitch in April. If they didn’t pay so well for weekend tournaments in cash no one would put up with that. My partner had a pair of Karen and Bobs ask for our ump numbers and names so they could call our association after their kids got run ruled. I was Jack Meoff 696900 and my partner was Dirk Diggler 696901. The Karen wrote all that down
My biggest issue with the obsessions in youth sports is how the push for travel clubs, etc has choked out all the local rec leagues for young players to just play teams in the surrounding county areas. Lots of games with the idea of just having fun and learning the game. There are local places to play but the travel teams fill up the ball fields with tournaments and players.
