No Integrity whatsoever. It is a joke. The last two years selections in the 15th region will prove it. It is a buddy system not a true indication of the best players in their respective classes.

 

How true. How true. It's the same here in the 14th. The buddy system.

Aaron Chapman and Corey Chapman will be a major part of the success for the Pirates this year.

Who should have made it from the 15th Buckmaster?

Shane Sturgill-Johnson Central

Tim Hayes-Lawrence Co.

Kyle Sublett-Paintsville

Patrick Smith-Shelby Valley

Tyler Smith-Pike Central

 

No way is Patrick Smith one of the best in the 15th. He has many flaws as both a pitcher and a hitter.

No way is Patrick Smith one of the best in the 15th. He has many flaws as both a pitcher and a hitter.

 

He is a little fragile because of the injuries but when healthy, he is without a doubt one of the best in the region especially as a pitcher. His hitting and fielding needs work but he does a great job of mixing up pitches and keeping hitters off balance. Especially when he came back last year from his injury. He has good velocity on his fastball, and a pretty sick breaking ball, and a great change up.

But what about his robotic mechanics? He holds the ball back too long and good hitters will be able to pick it up and hit him well.

But what about his robotic mechanics? He holds the ball back too long and good hitters will be able to pick it up and hit him well.

 

He worked on that last year towards the end of the year and had a much more fluid delivery. And trust me when I say that firebird knows 15th region baseball as good as anybody in Eastern Kentucky so when he says Patrick Smith is one of the best then it's true. Plus the improvement shown last season after coming back from the injury was so significant that it was really good to watch.(Especially in the last game VS. East Ridge..Pitched an amazing game)

Who should have made it from the 15th Buckmaster?

I will name the names of Players who made it because it is public knowledge.

 

In 2004 Seniors were Charlie Collett and Shane Simpkins. Juniors were Eric Slone and Wade McCown.

 

In 2005 Seniors were Chad Walls and Josh LeMaster. Juniors were Chase Huffman and Tyler Smith.

 

My point is these are fine players but some were not even the best in their respective class on their own teams. Some of these were put on because of the buddy system of coaches. Some were put on because of relationships of the coaches and the parents player. Their was even a comment made in 2004 during the coaches meeting for the regional when the vote was done that a coach said he hoped a player didnt find out what had transpired, because that kid should have been on the team and was left off. I assume the coach thought it was his fault the kid didnt make it.

 

I feel that the best players dont always make it and that is sad. The child who works hard and performs at that level should be rewarded, not someone who knows someone.

 

Also unless a coach pays his $20 then his players arent even eligible. The whole process is a joke and you know as well as I do that this is true 15th.

 

Dont try to correct me on this because better than anyone you know it is TRUE.

Have you ever seen an all-star team, including the major leagues, where everyone that deserves it makes it? You can not even vote on your own players....so, in many ways, it is a joke. But it is hard for me to aruge looking at that list with the ones that made it. And saying they are not the best on their team is totally an opinion and might not be the same as the ones who chose.

 

But it is certainly not a perfect system. Could it be done a better way??

Have you ever seen an all-star team, including the major leagues, where everyone that deserves it makes it? You can not even vote on your own players....so, in many ways, it is a joke. But it is hard for me to aruge looking at that list with the ones that made it. And saying they are not the best on their team is totally an opinion and might not be the same as the ones who chose.

 

But it is certainly not a perfect system. Could it be done a better way??

So what you're saying is that their is no posturing or politicking involved in these votes. I think you and I both know what I meant by my opinion. My opinion may or may not be that of others but statistics dont lie, neither do they politic. I think that deals get cut between coaches and friends at these meetings. A coach does from what I have been told gets to nominate a player or players from his team.

 

We sure had a top 5 catcher from our team who wanted to play college ball at EKU not get on their and it is hard to argue that their was a more dominate defensive player in the mountains. Whats your take their?

My take on that is that when the coaches look at stats to vote, no one has defensive stats. I don't necessarly agree that LeMaster should have made it. But, I think Walls deserved it on his offense AND defense. I also thought Parrish should have been on over Adams. And probably Spears, the best lead-off man in the mountains. But pass the voting sheet around to coaches and see if they are going to vote for 2 from the same team. They won't. And it WAS done strictly by voting this year.

My take on that is that when the coaches look at stats to vote, no one has defensive stats. I don't necessarly agree that LeMaster should have made it. But, I think Walls deserved it on his offense AND defense. I also thought Parrish should have been on over Adams. And probably Spears, the best lead-off man in the mountains. But pass the voting sheet around to coaches and see if they are going to vote for 2 from the same team. They won't. And it WAS done strictly by voting this year.

So you ARE saying that IT WASN'T done by voting prior to this year?

 

I agree on your thoughts about LeMaster.

 

I do strongly disagree with your thoughts on Adams. Nobody in the 15th region was feared anymore than was Josh Adams. He completely changed opposing teams game philosopy by just his mear presence behind the plate. I dont care if you had to DH for him every trip to the plate, he had by far the most dominating presence of any single player in the 15th region. Just by your opinions, I feel safe in assuming that you did not even nominate Adams.

My take on that is that when the coaches look at stats to vote, no one has defensive stats. I don't necessarly agree that LeMaster should have made it. But, I think Walls deserved it on his offense AND defense. I also thought Parrish should have been on over Adams. And probably Spears, the best lead-off man in the mountains. But pass the voting sheet around to coaches and see if they are going to vote for 2 from the same team. They won't. And it WAS done strictly by voting this year.

I can agree with Walls, Parrish, Adams and maybe Spears last year. He did not have the Offensive year in 05 that he had in 2004. Parrish and Walls had great years offensively and defensively. Both were phenominal this year.

 

I agree with Firebird if I were starting a team of All Stars in the 15th, Josh would be my 1st player chosen. This again isnt taking anything away from anyone else, just my opinion.

My take on that is that when the coaches look at stats to vote, no one has defensive stats. I don't necessarly agree that LeMaster should have made it. But, I think Walls deserved it on his offense AND defense. I also thought Parrish should have been on over Adams. And probably Spears, the best lead-off man in the mountains. But pass the voting sheet around to coaches and see if they are going to vote for 2 from the same team. They won't. And it WAS done strictly by voting this year.

Simpkins and Collett were both on the senior squad in 2004, and they both played on the same team. Kind of shoots that theory all to pieces doesn't it?

I have seen Patrick Stapleton from Betsy Layne play since he was in little league and he has always been overlooked as a pitcher and a hitter, he's a very solid player