Now that the dust has cleared?

[heybuckethead]

Sure some players are still moving around and nothing is for certain, but what were the big surprises n North Texas. From what I've heard no real talent is showing up at anyone's Gold tryouts, and some organization are taking to raiding each other's younger teams to try to keep their teams afloat. Where is all the talent?

What was the result of the 14u v. 16u and the 16u v. 18u Gold battle. Did the majority of the talent look to move up or stay down in their age group, which seems to me to be the trend.

[etx bd]

Do you really think "The Natural" is going to step off a train at your Gold try out and everyone lives happily ever after. Gold programs take the best athletes available and make it possible for them to reach the next level. August tryouts are not where you see great talent - nationals are where you see great talent - try outs are where a coach sees potential. The folks on the sidelines in tryouts haven't got a clue what most coaches are seeing or looking for, especially since their DD is the only one on the field with any talent.

If I remember the movie correctly even "The Natural" sat for half the season. Relax and enjoy fall ball.

[behindtheplate]

etx bd, you may be the "post of the day" you make way too much sense. I do agree with your opinion that these players must be grown and are not likely to show up at a tryout. Most established teams are only looking for a few role players. Beware of gold teams holding "open" tryouts.

[TXfastpitchsoftball]

etx bd, you may be the "post of the day" you make way too much sense. I do agree with your opinion that these players must be grown and are not likely to show up at a tryout. Most established teams are only looking for a few role players. Beware of gold teams holding "open" tryouts.

Let me get this right: (1) Gold players must be "grown," but the top Gold teams already have their established players picked out without a tryout, and (2) holding open tryouts where a raw player who can be "grown" might show up is only for team who really aren't worthy of being called Gold. Got it.

Sorry, I didn't notice that you live in East Texas. That explains it. . .

[etx bd]

Let me get this right: (1) Gold players must be "grown," but the top Gold teams already have their established players picked out without a tryout, and (2) holding open tryouts where a raw player who can be "grown" might show up is only for team who really aren't worthy of being called Gold. Got it.

Sorry, I didn't notice that you live in East Texas. That explains it. . .

Tex sorry but you didn't "get this right"
I am sure your post would make sense where ever it is you call home. But in East Texas we usually read the post before we reply to it.

[Cipher]

etx bd, you may be the "post of the day" you make way too much sense. I do agree with your opinion that these players must be grown and are not likely to show up at a tryout. Most established teams are only looking for a few role players. Beware of gold teams holding "open" tryouts.

Beware of Gold teams hosting open tryouts? Houston Power (qualified Gold), Texas Hawks (qualified Gold), Texas Eclipse (qualified Gold) and Impact Gold (qualified Gold) are all shady operations all right. They have only been around 20 years or so!!! They were ALL posting open tryouts!

While it is true that most teams are only looking for a few players to fill spots of graduating players, or players that have moved on, they are ALL posting "open tryouts" as they are always looking to better their respective teams.

Other "shady outfits" that posted open tryouts in Houston area:

Sudden Impact. Long established program headed up by a quality high school coach.
Hit Away. Been around 10 years or so and put a lot of kids in college.
MC Magic. Headed up by one of Houston's most powerful attorneys.
MC Elite. Been around too long to be considered shady.
Texas Peppers. In my opinion, the best Texas team NOT to qualify.

Most teams advertise "open" tryouts. So to warn people to "beware of teams hosting open tryouts" is a broad statement and, in fact, it is misleading. Call the coaches and find out what positions they are looking for. A team with 4 uncommitted pitchers is probably not looking for another pitcher, but they may be in desperate need in other positions! Players must be "grown"?? That is absurd. Players must be GROOMED! These kids on these teams I have listed have both the talent and the ability as well as the knowledge of the game to play at the gold level. What they lack is the grooming that the college coaches are looking for to get into college. They are just putting the final touches on already GOOD ballplayers. You make it sound like these teams just pick up any idiot that can catch, throw hit and run. Don't give these gold coaches that much credit A lot of times, they are just the "marketer" that gets them in the right place at the right time!