Hmmm, where to start! And I promised my wife I was going to be a "new" man this year! But I know she won't mind!
First off, virtually the whole 16u team has left? Crap, we better get the money back and cancel premier ASAP. Quite a few are in Chicago right now, and some of the rest will be in Plano next weekend. So to my knowledge, none have left YET! As far as gold is concerned, we had 10 players with us in CO. Two out with injury, and one quit after the Dallas qualifier, before colorado. The one who quit felt like they were not getting enough PT in THEIR position, batting in the position THEY wanted. Understand it, but it was not anything to do with PT overall, cause there was plenty of that! Now, this player is already committed, so they have to do what they feel is right! I personally think the logic is flawed, and would tell the parent the same to their face, so those things happen.
Second off, who got screwed out of going to Chicago? I mean specifically! The organization chose what THEY felt to be the best players that COULD and WANTED to go. Unfortunately, some people look at their kids talent level, or performance level through rose colored glasses. Suck up parents huh? So they put sub standard talent on the field cause some suck up! REALLY! Sounds like you are looking for an excuse as why your kid didnt get to go! Surely it's not because they haven't performed to that level yet! You know it's funny to see the typical pre-national bs starting up again, as it makes for some funny reading. But when you have players used to performing at the highest levels of 12u and 14u moving up to 16u and Gold, its an adjustment period. Everyone has caught up to them or passed them both physically or mentally, so you have to adjust, change, or just flat out work harder. At 10u and 12u, my daughter was an awesome pitcher and ss, at 14u she was avg. at pitcher, and above avg. at ss. By 16u, she was just avg. at ss, and no longer pitching except for hs ball, but she worked her ass off to be a good of. Next, my wife is sharing a room in chicago with the parent of the player you say is leaving for glory at the end of the summer....you know the one you put out there by saying she was the A&M commit? Now, I consider them to be good friends(I think they'll claim me publicly), and I can guarantee that you that you are not speaking for them! Now if they like everybody, decides to evaluate where they are at the end of the season, then so be it! But, that wouldn't make a lot of sense either as I would dance with the one who helped you in attaining the scholarship(If asked my opinion, I'll relay that as well to the parents). And I will say that so far, we are laying a big, fat turd in Chicago! We can't seem to hit all of a sudden(incl. my daughter who may not be hitting her weight in batting average, and she is short) that also seems to be carrying over to other aspects of play. Hopefully it will be like our gold performance in CO, where we did cruddy in pool, but spanked it in the Silver bracket and won.
Lastly, I know its a long post, but I ramble on when some dumba** comes on a posting board spouting a bunch of crap about a lot of stuff they know little about, I think they don't know anyway, as they don't have the cajones to say it without hiding(although I think in this case, it should read doesn't have the ovaries to say it without hiding). I suspect your ovaries got bruised when Suzie HS Stud didn't get picked to go! I understand, but move on, and work harder! I've seen 16u perform both in practices, and in CO and they will be fine! Some of their players need to adjust to the higher level, but its all good! I would love to talk to you in person if you want, as I don't view my daughter through rose-colored glasses, and certainly don't live my athletic dreams or failures thereof, through her! Dan Beaty aka Honcho
Looking bad in front of college coaches doesn't sound like THE BEST way to get recruited. Sounds more like a way to run off colleges. DUH
