default
Member
Watered down? Extremely. It's not much different from Major League Baseball, really. The teams with the most pitching and fewest injuries usually win. If you put a couple of dominant pitchers on team that plays solid defense and scores a couple of runs a game, then you've got a championship team. What I've been seeing is that about 60 percent of the teams in the older age groups have mediocre pitching, two or three very good players and a lot of marginal players who might be better off playing a different game. About 30 percent of the teams have one or two pretty good pitchers and four or five players who have the kind of talent needed to play in college. The other 10 percent are playing in the best tournaments against the best competition. They have two or three outstanding pitchers and lineups that have no holes.
Coaching is similar. About 60 percent of the teams have coaches whose players would win more games if they would just make out the lineup card and then go sit in the stands. They have no clue about offensive and defensive strategies; they can't help players with fielding or hitting problems; and they constantly kill rallies by making horrible decisions in the third base coaching box. About 30 percent of the coaches have some knowledge of offensive and defensive strategies; they might be able to offer some fielding and hitting tips; and they make enough good moves in the coaching box to offset their bonehead moves. The other ten percent are very, very good at strategies; they are excellent teachers; and they rarely miss opportunities to advance runners.
How could we make it better? Create three divisions for Ohio travel ball: Gold, Silver & Bronze. Create a commission (I'll be chairman) to determine which teams go where. Have tournaments geared toward each division. Some crossover into the gold division by silver division teams would be allowed by invitation or application. Teams from other states could also enter the gold division tourneys by invitation or application. There's no reason that Ohio couldn't become a destination for top teams. There's no reason that the best Ohio teams should have to travel out of state to find good competition.
Coaching is similar. About 60 percent of the teams have coaches whose players would win more games if they would just make out the lineup card and then go sit in the stands. They have no clue about offensive and defensive strategies; they can't help players with fielding or hitting problems; and they constantly kill rallies by making horrible decisions in the third base coaching box. About 30 percent of the coaches have some knowledge of offensive and defensive strategies; they might be able to offer some fielding and hitting tips; and they make enough good moves in the coaching box to offset their bonehead moves. The other ten percent are very, very good at strategies; they are excellent teachers; and they rarely miss opportunities to advance runners.
How could we make it better? Create three divisions for Ohio travel ball: Gold, Silver & Bronze. Create a commission (I'll be chairman) to determine which teams go where. Have tournaments geared toward each division. Some crossover into the gold division by silver division teams would be allowed by invitation or application. Teams from other states could also enter the gold division tourneys by invitation or application. There's no reason that Ohio couldn't become a destination for top teams. There's no reason that the best Ohio teams should have to travel out of state to find good competition.
