Pick Up Pitchers at Nationals? Yes or No?
- Thread starter Orange Socks
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This team is put together to win and that's it. Their 16U team is for college recruiting since the 18U team has 100% D1 commits and signees.
same in travel Volleyball.
Sitting on the bench doesn't help them improve and prepare for college though. I don't disagree with what your saying, just think this team/coach is losing site of the purpose.
By the way, welcome to our community!
Not all programs are built the same. By no means am I defending sitting his "team" pitchers over his hired guns. At this point in these girls softball careers, they know how to play the game, and can start on any college team day 1. Sitting out a tournament or two will not diminish their skills, but I am sure they don't like chasing down foul balls while the hired guns are getting circle time. You can look at it this way too. Maybe the coach is getting them ready for college since not all freshman will get the majority of playing time and they might need to get used to playing behind a 5th year Senior.
This coach's purpose during their summer run is to win Championships, and the team is run like a college program, or at least as close as you can get. Fall Showcase time is for equal playing time and rotating. There is a reason he has players going to the SEC, PAC12, Big 12, AAC, Southland, Sun Belt and every other D1 conference. When you get hand picked to join his team, you better have a good idea of what you are joining and why you are joining. It's not for every player and family, and that's okay. There are definitely benefits. Ex: I know a kid on this team that was decommitted from an SEC program, in less than a week the family was on a plane, visited with another SEC coach and committed to the that team. I am pretty sure the TB coaches set that up or had a hand in it.
- Jun 16, 2010
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Some teams are pure showcase teams......for winning. Most top recruits are already heavily recruited by 16U.
Every girl on our 16U had an invite from Mike Stith to play with Team Mizuno. To get the exposure that only his name could give you. Only one did.....parents spent a couple thousand more $.......and she went to local university anyway.....that already had recruited her....that then sat her on bench. Most girls REALLY want to stay close to home.
Every girl on our 16U had an invite from Mike Stith to play with Team Mizuno. To get the exposure that only his name could give you. Only one did.....parents spent a couple thousand more $.......and she went to local university anyway.....that already had recruited her....that then sat her on bench. Most girls REALLY want to stay close to home.
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Thats awesome. Good for them. Besides winning with a pickup is never winning
Just to be clear. The team I have been referencing is not the team that won. LOL! They didn't win with their "hired guns" The Hotshots were taking pot shots at that team.
Interesting to read the various replies in this thread... To me, it comes down to what the coach told the players that joined the team initially. If the team declared that they play to win even if that requires pickups, and that originally rostered players may sit because of it, I have no issue with it. Essentially you bought what you paid for. I'm not a fan of that mentality, and wouldn't operate that way myself, but if you explain it up front and people agree to it, they shouldn't be surprised when it happens.
Another perspective a dad offered me last night that I truly hadn't thought of: these girls that are already committed don't need to be pitching every inning of every game to stay sharp and improve. Too many great pitchers get ridden when the games are important. He was saying basically a quarter of the innings is plenty and reduces the risk of injury. So letting someone else be the workhorse made sense to him.
