Still Looking for Players....

I enjoy these threads. Just fun to read this time of year. We're new to softball but I've read the local boards for years now. Based off some of the names I've seen over the years I know to stay away from them. Every single season it's the same thing. Always looking for just 1 or 2 more to round out the roster! I also don't look for the big name teams like Firecrackers or Batbusters. Seems if you don't live in a hotspot for that team then every other team just pays money to use the name.

The team I ended up taking my daughter to was really only looking for another pitcher. They had 3 and I got to see them pitch so I knew they did have pitching. I knew when they saw her bat they'd make a spot for her, and they did. Looking forward to this season. Wish it'd hurry up and get here!

Gambler Bob said:

Time will tell but I think the BW going to the Batbusters name will help them in the long run. If the BW can retain some of their better players instead of loosing them to the Bandits their teams will continue to get better. That can be said for some other teams in the Illinois area. Is the BW going to become one of the top teams nationally? Probably not but I personally believe the BW will become better.

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If Bill comes a callin' the players are leaving the organization no matter what name is on the front of the jersey. There is no organization in the Chicagoland area who can come close to the name recognition the Bandits do. The Chill are a distant 2nd in the area.

What a terrible remark. My dd is labeled Pitch/Utility. When she is not pitching you will see her play 3rd ss and 1st and she also bats. She isn't a pitch or sit type of player and doesn't want to be.

#10 said:

Utility player = dues payer, imho

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We lost 5 between fall and spring for various reasons mostly unrelated to our team. Deciding not to play at all, an old favorite coach starting up a team, etc. We were at 8 and still advertising for players 2 weeks ago. We were afraid we were going to have to throw in the towel when we found two who were a great fit. We had pitching and catching already so that helped.

Utility players are not just dues payers on our team of (now) 10. We're 12U and girls are still growing into positions anyway. One team's SS might be another team's CF. When I see utility needed I assume they've got a versatile group and aren't looking for one particular thing more than just an athlete who can play where needed.

#10 said:

Utility player = dues payer, imho

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On my DD's team, everyone is a Utility player to some degree. Every one of our pitchers can play multiple positions. We have five on the team who can play catcher, and everyone is an outfielder.

Strike2 said:

On my DD's team, everyone is a Utility player to some degree. Every one of our pitchers can play multiple positions. We have five on the team who can play catcher, and everyone is an outfielder.

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We have one that is more of a pitcher only, everyone else can play multiple positions. Out of the remaining 12, we have two kids that really only play outfield. Tons of utility players for us also. I think utility players are great for a team. But the way it is listed, I feel like these coaches are looking for a warm body. In that way, I agree with #10. I don't think he meant that utility players are just due payers, but that the coaches are advertising for utility players because they don't really need position players, just due payers.

gamommax3 said:

We have one that is more of a pitcher only, everyone else can play multiple positions. Out of the remaining 12, we have two kids that really only play outfield. Tons of utility players for us also. I think utility players are great for a team. But the way it is listed, I feel like these coaches are looking for a warm body. In that way, I agree with #10. I don't think he meant that utility players are just due payers, but that the coaches are advertising for utility players because they don't really need position players, just due payers.

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^^^This, better than the response I first thought of about taking #10's response the wrong way. ;-)

Sparky Guy said:

If Bill comes a callin' the players are leaving the organization no matter what name is on the front of the jersey. There is no organization in the Chicagoland area who can come close to the name recognition the Bandits do. The Chill are a distant 2nd in the area.

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I have talked to Bill and some of the Bandits coaches over the last 12 months about the demise of the 'big, dominant name recognition org' in our area.

It was less than 3 seasons from "getting any player they want" to "fielding average teams with no idea where their next player is now going to come from".

You take your eye off the ball or think things are going to remain the same and it will go real quick. If they are complacent and don't adapt it will be gone in a blink of an eye.

gamommax3 said:

We have one that is more of a pitcher only, everyone else can play multiple positions. Out of the remaining 12, we have two kids that really only play outfield. Tons of utility players for us also. I think utility players are great for a team. But the way it is listed, I feel like these coaches are looking for a warm body. In that way, I agree with #10. I don't think he meant that utility players are just due payers, but that the coaches are advertising for utility players because they don't really need position players, just due payers.

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I get it...some teams are just looking for depth, but have their lineup set. My favorite is "will consider all positions". To me that translates to "if your kid is good enough, I'll kick the current player in that position to the curb".

Teams that have players who can only play one position are more vulnerable to injuries. I know of pitchers who have, ahem, "grown" to the point where they can't do anything more than catch an accurate throw at 1B. If all they want to do is pitch, and they're really good, then I guess that's OK, but for any level lower than college, that limits a team trying to hold down roster size. What I really like about DD's group is that even if we only have nine, regardless of who that nine is, we can field a competent team.

Yep, see this a lot, primarily with 14U-18U teams as the number of teams continues to grow and the available player pool predictably shrinks starting at 14U. For the younger age groups, I only see ads for a few teams that are still looking. For various reasons some just didn't attract a ton of players and I'm afraid they're probably out of luck now as almost everyone who wants to play travel is invested in a team (meaning they've paid a lot of money for a team that they won't get back if they leave.)