I guess it's fairly standard practice, but I can't say I'm much in favor of bringing players down at the end of the year to play in their team's regional tournament (i.e., JV player comes down to play in Freshman tourney or varsity player comes down to play in JV tourney). It's one thing if that player has played a number of games throughout the season for the younger team, but to bring down a JV player who hasn't played a freshman game (or very, very few) all year long and take the spot of a starting freshman player doesn't seem right. If winning the tournament is all that important, then you would assume winning the regular season games are equally important and that player should have come down as much as possible during the season. I would really feel badly for some freshman player who has started all season, played his heart out, and then gets benched at the end of the year for some boy who hasn't played for the freshman team all year. Same applies with regard to any varsity players who will come down this coming week for the first time to play in the JV tourney. I don't know, maybe I'm not seeing this issue clearly. Anyone else have some thoughts?

As long as the player is a freshman, I see nothing wrong with it. Just because a freshman started on his freshman team when another player at his position started on the JV squad doesn't mean he has a divine right to the spot.

As long as the player is a freshman, I see nothing wrong with it. Just because a freshman started on his freshman team when another player at his position started on the JV squad doesn't mean he has a divine right to the spot.

 

I guess I'm trying to figure out why the freshman (who played JV all season) would even want to come down to play. He's a JV player, hasn't played with the freshman boys/team all season long, and has essentially been told he's already beyond freshman level ball - so then why even play for one very short end-of-season tourney for a team he's not even been part of? Especially when he's got his own JV tourney coming up?

I guess I'm trying to figure out why the freshman (who played JV all season) would even want to come down to play. He's a JV player, hasn't played with the freshman boys/team all season long, and has essentially been told he's already beyond freshman level ball - so then why even play for one very short end-of-season tourney for a team he's not even been part of? Especially when he's got his own JV tourney coming up?

 

It's an easy answer, the coach and AD think it is more important to win a Freshmen Tourney, than reward the kids who have played all season long on the Freshmen team.....really a shame. If you are good enough to play/start on the JV or a Varsity team, and not play all season on the Freshmen team, then you have no business playing on the freshmen team come the tourney.....

This has been a controversey from the day of time! As in another thread regarding 7/8th graders playing V, some of the smaller schools don't have a choice but to have their players play at all levels to put a team on the field. I can't say I disagree w/bringing a player down who hasn't played all yr to play in the tourney but if that player has been going back and forth all yr, then it should not be a big deal.

 

I do believe if an underclassmen is seeing numerous time at the V level(playing the field everyday, not just PR) then they should not be brought down. Girls bball is notorious for this!!

I disagree with bringing players down just to play in the tourny. Now if they play JV and Varsity then it would be ok to play in the JV tourny but if the played just played varsity I do not think he should be sble to play in the tourny. Not fair to the player that he is replacing just for a couple of games, and i have seen this plan back fire. With the player that came down making two errors and not hitting it as well.

Just like I stated in the basketball thread earlier this year, I'm against this. If you have a FRESHMAN team that plays together during the season, THAT is the team that should win together or lose together on the field.

I guess I'm trying to figure out why the freshman (who played JV all season) would even want to come down to play. He's a JV player, hasn't played with the freshman boys/team all season long, and has essentially been told he's already beyond freshman level ball - so then why even play for one very short end-of-season tourney for a team he's not even been part of? Especially when he's got his own JV tourney coming up?

I play freshman and JV and it is not any different.

Best player should play....however, a coach needs to keep in mind it could upset the team chemestry and motivation.

I play freshman and JV and it is not any different.

 

Maybe you need to play against a wider variety of freshman and JV teams because I can assure you there is a difference in the level of play, especially the pitching.

 

 

Best player should play....however, a coach needs to keep in mind it could upset the team chemestry and motivation.

 

Guess it's just a difference of opinion here. If a player has been specifically moved up (to either JV or varsity) and do not spend any time on the "lower" team, they have essentially been told they are beyond that level of ball - "too good", if you will. I see no purpose whatsoever in having him then go back down for 2 or 3 games at the end of the year to face weaker competition - basically for the single purpose of helping ensure his freshman (or JV) team wins the championship. It'd be on par with having a strong AABC player go play for a local knothole team so the knothole team can win their district. What goal is being served? (BTW, none of these comments are meant to demean the quality of play at the freshman or JV level).

What team did this?

What team did this?

 

Many of them do it. I don't want to point my finger at any one specific team, as that wasn't my purpose at starting the thread.

 

Case in point: Maile is a sophomore and could play for the CovCath JV team in the regionals this week and would no doubt maul any pitching he saw. But what would be the point? He already did that last year and is mauling varsity pitching this year. Heck, Farris is a junior and he could play for the Boone JV team and help ensure their success. Again, why? They are beyond that level of ball. Play at the level you belong, I say. Just because you are a freshman and CAN play freshman ball doesn't mean you SHOULD be playing freshman ball.

It sounds to me like someone is more concerned with their own playing time than the team or the program. Any freshmen should be able to play in a freshmen tournament.

 

Gaining experience is probably the top priority during the regular season for a JV or freshman team. When it's tournament time, the idea is to win.

Maybe I am wrong in thinking this. But don't schools (at least I think they should be) looking at it as having a baseball program, and not 3 baseball teams. If at any given time any given player can help the program at any level is that not what should happen. As long as there are no rules pertaining to that level. ( a soph. or Jr. obviously cannot play in the freshman tournament) If a younger player can move up and gain some very important experience against a varsity team, is that not helping the program at both levels.

 

How different is this from bringing up a pitcher from louisville to help out the pitching staff of the Reds because of an injury or then even sending a seasoned Major leaguer to AA for a 3 week rehab assignment.

Moving "up" to gain experience is far different than moving a kid "down" to a level he has already passed. Not really comparable to a MLB'er rehabbing in the minors.

 

I don't mean to beat a dead horse (probably too late), I just don't see the value in moving down a full-time JV player to freshman (or full-time varsity player to JV) for an end-of-year tourney simply because their grade classification allows it. If they have already passed that level of ball, let the other kids get the experience so that they too might progress upwards. My son is a freshman who played FT on JV this year. I guess he could have been moved down to freshman to play in the tournament, but why? He never played a freshman game all year. Doesn't even know half the kids on that team. Could he haved helped them? Possibly. Probably. But why take away time from 8th graders and other freshman on that team that are trying to improve themselves to get to the JV level next year? His coaches decided at the beginning of the year he was beyond freshman ball. Going back at the end of the season to play 2 or 3 games would prove what exactly?

 

OK, I said my peace and rambled on long enough on this topic. thanks.