re: Tournament Baseball is a scam

I'll give you the other side of the story. It doesn't have to be a scam and travel/select baseball can be a very positive thing. My son is now a sophomore in high school and member of the baseball team. He played travels baseball for 5 years from age 9 to 13. Our team never had a try out and was originally put together by our coach selecting kids who could play but more importantly PARENTS he could see himself spending 10-13 weekends with. We became one of the top teams in the state of LA playing in USSSA Majors. We traveled all over the southeast, to St. Louis, Tulsa, and Cooperstown, NY where we finished 5th out of 96 teams. Now, my point isn't the success the kids had on the field rather the success of the team off the field. Fours dads coached the team and received no compensation. Outside of a few corporate sponsors (very little money) the parents paid everything. The kids were taught how to play the game the right way, with class. Most of the teams we played were like the one you described, paid coaches, open tryouts and kids were cut if they didn't perform. Kids were treated like free agents in pro sports. It was a great experience and every kid on our team is now playing high school ball and still loving it. The bond they formed will last forever. It doesn't have to be a bad thing.

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So, you're nephew is playing for Scotty and Bill?

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Yeah. The difference after just 8 months is amazing. They played in the 11-12 year old division as 9 year olds this past fall at Biedenharn and lost 1 game I believe. His pitching has really come around.

having 8-9 year olds do shite like this is insane to me

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I know who he is and I stand by what I said.

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yeah .. don't take the advice of a major league pitcher .. you've picked up far better insight along the way during the day making whole life insurance sales cold calls ..

This thread just depressed me. I have 3 year old twins. Is this what I have to look forward to? shite.

JJ27

We actually played your nephews team last year. We were only a 9AA team but the tournament was an open. The tournament was actually in St. Amant or very close to it, I'm not certain that was the town but anyhow we played them to go to the championship game. The put up a ton of runs on us in the 1st inning, 9 to be exact but in the bottom of the last inning they were winning 11 - 2 and beat us 11-10. They would have still batted in the bottom of the inning but it was still exciting. They apppeared to be a very good and well coached team. Very disciplined and respectful. After the game, the coach all the way on the left of your pic saw me in the parking lot and paid a very nice compliment to our team. I thought those guys were top notch. Our team is called the Blazin' Canes out of Destrehan. We made out fairly successful throughout the season for it being our first year. We ended up winning second in the State tournament in Baton Rough. The tournament was held at Cypress Mounds.

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You have to pay for:
-hotel
-tournament entry (6 or more tourneys, depending if you qualify)
-umpires
-baseballs
-jerseys
-the actual park facility

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You forgot sunflower seeds.

Also I'm pretty positive that now that there are composites in little league that there are some that roll and shave them.

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you're not developed at all and basically you're spending the money so your kid can wear a fitted hat with his name stitched in it

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Again, it all depends on what type of organization your involved in and why you joined. My son is learning the game at such a young age on a level that rec ball can in no way offer. No he's not going to the majors but I enjoy watching competitive ball.