How did tryouts in 14U Houston go today?

[Lunatic Fringe]

They aren't affiliated with the Peppers anymore

Would have been nice to know that beforehand.

Out of curiosity, would it have made a difference in your decision to go to the tryout? It's a tough thing when a team decides they need to make a name change or leave an org. for whatever the reason. If they announce it beforehand they take the chance of parents thinking something is wrong or something too big is changing and ultimately, who cares if they are no longer with the org.? What real difference does it make, unless all the coaches and players are different too obviously. I do see that announcing it after tryouts, could be considered a "bait and switch" but what other choice do they really have? At least your being told of the change before the team is finalized, right?
I don't care one way or the other about the peppers change but I am interested in how others would announce this change if their team were doing it.

It makes a big difference. We would not have attended this tryout had we known they were out of the Peppers organization. Its going from the known to the unknown, could be a positive move but I doubt it. The Peppers have a stong reputation.

[Lefty's Dad]

It makes a big difference. We would not have attended this tryout had we known they were out of the Peppers organization. Its going from the known to the unknown, could be a positive move but I doubt it. The Peppers have a stong reputation.

I understand that but look at it from their point of view...If people wouldn't come out after hearing that they have split from their org., that leaves several potential players out of the equation. While after attending the tryouts, they see that the coaches are the same (I am assuming of course) and probably recognize several of the returning players, so how much of a change is it really? I realize that the name "Peppers" means something to many people, just as other org. names mean something to others but in reality if nothing else changes, why is it a problem? If they had made the announcement prior to the tryouts, several players would possibly not have come out just because of the unknown, leaving fewer players to choose from. Since they announced it immediately following the tryouts to those players/parents that were there, (again I'm assuming) they can at least at that point say "look, we are offering your daughter a spot on the team, if us not being part of the pepper org. any longer is a problem, then fine, adios". You now have all the facts. I just don't see it being a problem and have yet to see the down side, for the team, in handling it this way. Just MHO though.

[ReadAllAboutIt]

Kaos lost a pitcher and Peppers lost a pitcher, who else lost pitchers?

[ReadAllAboutIt]

I would say, build your new name up in your try-out announcement. It could have easily been added to the part of 'new facility' By the way, what are they calling themselves?

[Lunatic Fringe]

Lefty's Pop, I hear ya.

My fanny got chapped because I ended up going to that tryout under false pretenses and not another tryout who didn't pull a bait and switch. If we could get our Saturday tryout back then my chapped rear end would heal itself.

We will get over it and end up playing for someone, just don't know who at the moment. The musical chairs nature of tryouts makes this kind of thing grate on the nerves more than it would at any other time of the year.

[REALLY]

10-1 odds they are now the Hawks.... Not a negative move in my opinion both orgs. carry similar respect.

[Bleacher Creature]

10-1 odds they are now the Hawks.... Not a negative move in my opinion both orgs. carry similar respect.

Everybody wants to be a Hawk now!


Thanks Richard and John!
You did a great job!

RIP - Hawks 94

[sbmom96]

Maybe not a negative move for the organization, but I still would have preferred going into the try out knowing that they were no longer affiliated with the Peppers..... I definitely would not have appreciated that had my DD tried out for that team...

[DON'TNONUTIN]

IMO 14U will take a a week or two to sort out. Teams folding, combining and renaming. Tons of 96's moving around and 95's confused on what age group to play in.

Legacy had a good turn out.
Batbusters also.
Fort Bend Thunder Not so much.
Age pure 95 teams ??????

The dust will settle soon.

[Blind Squirrel]

It makes a big difference. We would not have attended this tryout had we known they were out of the Peppers organization. Its going from the known to the unknown, could be a positive move but I doubt it. The Peppers have a stong reputation.

I understand that but look at it from their point of view...If people wouldn't come out after hearing that they have split from their org., that leaves several potential players out of the equation. While after attending the tryouts, they see that the coaches are the same (I am assuming of course) and probably recognize several of the returning players, so how much of a change is it really? I realize that the name "Peppers" means something to many people, just as other org. names mean something to others but in reality if nothing else changes, why is it a problem? If they had made the announcement prior to the tryouts, several players would possibly not have come out just because of the unknown, leaving fewer players to choose from. Since they announced it immediately following the tryouts to those players/parents that were there, (again I'm assuming) they can at least at that point say "look, we are offering your daughter a spot on the team, if us not being part of the pepper org. any longer is a problem, then fine, adios". You now have all the facts. I just don't see it being a problem and have yet to see the down side, for the team, in handling it this way. Just MHO though.

Being in SoCal I couldn't care less about these particular orgs. However, what they did was employ a classic bait and switch tactic. Your explanation/rationale is precisely how one would defend any other entity that uses such a tactic. These folks ran their tryout like a car dealership that advertises low prices on cars they know will not be available to anyone but the first person in. Any person who resorts to this tactic plain and simply reveals an aspect of their character. In this specific context it also reveals that they are more concerned about themselves than they are about the kids. Otherwise, they would not have felt the need to be deceptive. They certainly didn't do it for the kid's sake.

John