Summer Baseball

[NKYSportsNut]

Well I don't want to make it about any particular player. I'm just trying to get a read on the atmosphere here. Is it just parents coming on to brag about their kids?

 

I really don't have a horse in the race but scouting players isn't about who their parents are or what summer program they play for.

 

He's either got it or he doesn't. And, like many folks who've been around the game for a while, I know it when I see it.

 

Agreed, and just my opinion, in most cases if a freshman is a stud wouldn't he be playing JV or Varsity???:idunno:

[Spartan79]

:laugh: Very true! But you'll find 99% of people are bias toward their own teams on here :lol:

 

Like your immense bias towards cov cath.:notworthy:

[History]

Well I don't want to make it about any particular player. I'm just trying to get a read on the atmosphere here. Is it just parents coming on to brag about their kids?

 

I really don't have a horse in the race but scouting players isn't about who their parents are or what summer program they play for.

 

He's either got it or he doesn't. And, like many folks who've been around the game for a while, I know it when I see it.

 

1-no I would say there are parents on here, and players too.

 

2-I don't either and that is why I already like your style. You can be honest if you don't have a horse in the race.

 

3-I am with you there 100%. At most schools the best Freshman get moved up to jv or even varsity. (Now will come back the replies from the "better schools about their depth)

[NKYSportsNut]

Like your immense bias towards cov cath.:notworthy:

 

Yes :lol: toward their JV team. I haven't said a thing about the varsity. (Not that there's nothing to talk about, there is!) I just leave that up to TOG :lol:

Edited May 13, 2010 by NKYSportsNut

[pick402]

In most cases you are correct, if the kid is a real stud as a freshman he's playing JV. It depends on the size of the school obviously, but as a general rule that's true.

 

Speaking of CovCath, I've seen their JV team a couple times recently and it's obvious they're well coached. They bunt and run a lot which I like.

 

I've seen Arnzen throw twice and he's good. He's not overwhelming. But the reason he was effective when I saw him was that the coach was calling inside fastballs a lot and Arnzen was hitting the spot.

 

Most JV kids aren't used to being pitched inside unless they're big, thick kids. Arnzen kept busting them in and they either took it for a strike or got jammed. I was quite impressed with both the coaching and the execution.

[cchwildcat241]

15U Bluegrass BUZZ

1 Joey Parrott Simon Kenton 2B-OF 9

6 Logan Henry Conner P-IF 9

8 Erik Elkus Dixie C-1B 9

11 Brad Franzen Simon Kenton P-1B-OF 9

13 Tyler DiLillo Cooper P-3B-OF 10

14 Pete Ohmer Scott P-1B 9

15 Michael Hewitt Holy Cross 1B-OF 9

20 Alex Conradi St. Henry P-C-IF-OF 9

21 Nick Stoeckle Beechwood OF 9

22 Jordan Pike Scott P-OF 9

23 Ryan Mullen Simon Kenton P-IF-C 9

24 Jared Blank Cooper IF 9

26 Austin Price Conner P-IF-OF 9

32 Mitch Kuebbing St. Henry P-OF 9

Edited May 13, 2010 by cchwildcat241
edit

[NKYSportsNut]

15U Bluegrass BUZZ

1 Joey Parrott Simon Kenton 2B-OF 9

6 Logan Henry Conner P-IF 9

8 Erik Elkus Dixie C-1B 9

11 Brad Franzen Simon Kenton P-1B-OF 9

13 Tyler DiLillo Cooper P-3B-OF 10

14 Pete Ohmer Scott P-1B 9

15 Michael Hewitt Holy Cross 1B-OF 9

20 Alex Conradi St. Henry P-C-IF-OF 9

21 Nick Stoeckle Beechwood OF 9

22 Jordan Pike Scott P-OF 9

23 Ryan Mullen Simon Kenton P-IF-C 9

24 J

 

 

Looks like a solid team! Do you know what high school levels each plays at?

[TheBigCat]

I'm going to try to attend Conner's first freshman tournament game. Can you tell me which players I should be looking for as potential studs? Though I see much more JV and varsity around NKY, I've seen Conner's freshman team a few times and nobody jumped out at me, including the player that you wrote has 'a ton of upside'.

 

What does 'upside' mean to you? I recruit for a particular summer program and upside means that maybe the kid will be a late bloomer, or perhaps the kid is a great athlete but his baseball skills haven't caught up with his athleticism.

 

I don't see either of those with the player you are touting. Not to just hammer on him because I don't know him, but if a kid is going to be relatively short and slow, that's not a good combination for advanced baseball. Every player has to find his spot in the game and when any of these freshman kids get to be 17 or 18 they will understand what it takes to be a 'stud'.

 

Pick....I have seen the kid in the summer and that's why my comments are more on the fence with him. I have seen the upside and the downside. I would put him in the "late bloomer" stage as you reference. Judging from last summer I would agree with the not fleet of foot, but size in baseball doesn't mean as much as other sports. Take a look at many of the players in the majors. In regards to other kids to watch, I was looking at the Bluegrass Braves summer team roster, which has kids that play JV or have played some JV and even some Varsity.

[ft bronc]

I'm new here so I'll have to ask...is this kind of hyperbole typical of the analysis we get on up and coming NKY baseball players?

 

I've seen Conner's freshman team play 5-6 times this year and was completely unimpressed with that particular player. I had been told by a couple parents on the team he's a head case and with witnessing the helmet throwing and bat slamming, I can't disagree.

 

There's a tallish, skinny red head kid on Conner's freshman team that hit the ball well. Don't know his name. Maybe someone here might.

 

But from what I saw the kid you're touting is slow, struggles to make routine plays at 3B, below average arm, and average bat speed at best.

 

Ok, my first post....am in time out now? Is this site only allowed to be the happy zone where we just pat everyone on the back and overstate their abilities?

 

pick - I believe you're talking about their left fielder Dustin Herrmann, and if so, he's a fine player and a great kid. Keep an eye on him because you're right, he does hit the ball very well.

[pick402]

Pick....I have seen the kid in the summer and that's why my comments are more on the fence with him. I have seen the upside and the downside. I would put him in the "late bloomer" stage as you reference. Judging from last summer I would agree with the not fleet of foot, but size in baseball doesn't mean as much as other sports. Take a look at many of the players in the majors. In regards to other kids to watch, I was looking at the Bluegrass Braves summer team roster, which has kids that play JV or have played some JV and even some Varsity.

 

In fairness, I'll give him another look. Let's hope the weather gets better so we get the early tournament games in.

[pick402]

pick - I believe you're talking about their left fielder Dustin Herrmann, and if so, he's a fine player and a great kid. Keep an eye on him because you're right, he does hit the ball very well.

 

Thanks I'll make a note of that. I saw him pitch once and he throws pretty well. Not crazy fast or anything, but solid. And watching him run the bases he has decent speed.

 

I didn't get any read on him defensively but he popped the ball pretty good a couple times with the bat. Of course facing freshman pitching can be deceiving since the quality varies quite a bit, so you really have to watch several games to get a good read.

 

Not trying to get crazy here but he might be able to help JV during their tournament. I've seen Conner's JV and they have 4 or 5 good players and just kind of a mish mash after that.

[hja1224]

I'm new here so I'll have to ask...is this kind of hyperbole typical of the analysis we get on up and coming NKY baseball players?

 

I've seen Conner's freshman team play 5-6 times this year and was completely unimpressed with that particular player. I had been told by a couple parents on the team he's a head case and with witnessing the helmet throwing and bat slamming, I can't disagree.

 

There's a tallish, skinny red head kid on Conner's freshman team that hit the ball well. Don't know his name. Maybe someone here might.

 

But from what I saw the kid you're touting is slow, struggles to make routine plays at 3B, below average arm, and average bat speed at best.

 

Ok, my first post....am in time out now? Is this site only allowed to be the happy zone where we just pat everyone on the back and overstate their abilities?

 

Just curious. Your first post is to bash an 8th grader playing Freshman ball after a comment is made about him from a DIXIE fan. You have seen them play 5-6 times and you know his name and everything about him as a player (just your opinion of course). Yet, you don't know the "tallish, skinny red head kid" who you do like!!

 

I have no dog in this fight but my guess would be either you have a son who didn't make this kids team in the summer or he took your kids spot on the Freshman team at third.

 

Everyone has opinion's and that's what the site is for but try to remember he is an 8th grade kid that is just playing ball and growing up at the same time. Just my opinion of course. :thumb:

[hja1224]

One more thing. I know of two elite summer programs and neither one of them go around high school teams to "recruit". So, do you mind sharing who you recruit for?:idunno:

[History]

I have seen "elite" coaches at the high school tryouts. I think it is funny and embarrasing at the same time. They are like leeches hunting out that one additional pitcher to make their team the best.:puke:

[pick402]

Just curious. Your first post is to bash an 8th grader playing Freshman ball after a comment is made about him from a DIXIE fan. You have seen them play 5-6 times and you know his name and everything about him as a player (just your opinion of course). Yet, you don't know the "tallish, skinny red head kid" who you do like!!

 

I have no dog in this fight but my guess would be either you have a son who didn't make this kids team in the summer or he took your kids spot on the Freshman team at third.

 

Everyone has opinion's and that's what the site is for but try to remember he is an 8th grade kid that is just playing ball and growing up at the same time. Just my opinion of course. :thumb:

 

That's ok, I don't think your reaction is out of line. I have one kid that's too old and a couple that are too young to be playing freshman baseball or 14u/15u summer ball. If you read my original post correctly you'd see that a couple parents I know pointed this particular player out to me. That's why I knew his name. I don't tell anyone I'm looking for players, in part because it sounds like I'm some sort of big shot when I'm not. Plus it just attracts all the wrong parents wanting to tell me how great their sons are. I'm sure you've been there.

 

And yes, I can watch a kid play 5 or 6 times and tell what kind of player he is. Even if he's in a slump hitting (for example), I can still see his mechanics and his approach toward each at bat. So many kids go up to the plate with no idea what they're trying to accomplish. It's just see the ball and try to hit it.

 

The skinny red head kid probably wouldn't be on the radar for any 16u teams but to me he seemed to have potential. I did forget his name but I'll still be keeping an eye on him.

 

On the young end of the scale, I'm looking for kids who can play 16u. All of these kids I'm seeing play Freshman ball are already on 14u or 15u summer teams. I'm looking for kids who might be able to play 16u in 2011 or 2012.

 

I'm self employed and have time to go to games. But I don't 'recruit'. The 16u and 18u summer teams here and Lexington/Louisville don't have time/resources to scout 14u/15u/17u etc. and to be clear I'm not paid to identify potential players for them. The very best baseball players are well known. The next level of players are not well known. I'm glad to try to match up a kid with some potential with a good summer team so he will develop. And I don't always direct players to my preferred summer program. There aren't enough spots obviously. I often direct players/parents to other teams that are well coached because the kid has potential but isn't ready for a top flight summer schedule.

 

I love watching youth baseball. I was at a recent high school game and was bored to tears with the poor quality of play. There was a knothole game nearby and I went over and watched a bunch of 7-8 year olds for an hour and a half. That was much more enjoyable.