question for Bays Rivers district fans

[Sideline observer]

I have noticed in the Bays Rivers District(Softball) a player can hit 2 for 3 or 2 for 2 on a consistent basis and we never see their names in the paper. I do realize that it is the coach that supplies the information to the Daily Press. I think that true talent will prevail whether you have the support of the coach or not. What do you think?

[brdbaseball2011]

A coach might not want a player to shine and doesnt want them to get recognized by colleges or not want them to do good

[Marty O'Brien]

Here's the criteria I generally use for "standouts" in linescore of the paper for baseball/softball when covering a game and the ones I think coaches should try to use in all cases when calling in game (other suggestions might be considered, but these are baselines)

- 2 base hits or more (please give total number of at-bats), plus multiple RBI and three runs or more for a player with 2 hits or more

- 1 hit (also give total number of at-bats) if it is a key extra-base hit that drives in multiple RBI and affects the outcome of the game.

- Any home run with number of RBI and inning of HR, regardless of whether it is the player's only hit and whether or not it affects the outcome or not.

- Pitcher gives up three hits or fewer in a complete game, win or lose

- Pitcher strikes out 10 or more batters, regardless of anything else

OTHERS (I'll add as I think of them)

- If a team, win or lose, only gets one hit in a game, the player who gets the hit should be mentioned (with number of at-bats)

- A player whose only hit is the game-winning hit, should also be mentioned even if its a one-RBI hit.

[BASEBALL4UTWO]

A coach might not want a player to shine and doesnt want them to get recognized by colleges or not want them to do good


VERY TRUE!!!! When a coach shows favoritisim towards the same individuals especially come time when a coach has to nominate a player for all district. Past couple of years has been a joke since batting averages are padded for certain players! :heh:

[Marty O'Brien]

Seems coaches see enough of each others' teams and talk enough among themselves to know the best players regardless of stats.

In hoops, the Rodney kid from Tabb averaged just 11 points, not close to the top ten in scoring average, and still got named district Player of the Year, all-region and second-team all state.

It was a good call, because he was such a great defender and rebounder, and a decent passer. ...so the coaches had no problem acknowledging him as the best overall player.

Hopefully district softball coaches communicate enough, and are fair enough, to understand who the best players are aside from just batting average.

[athlete1]

VERY TRUE!!!! When a coach shows favoritisim towards the same individuals especially come time when a coach has to nominate a player for all district. Past couple of years has been a joke since batting averages are padded for certain players! :heh:


So true, all of this process has become a joke. Schools in Wmsb sticking together. Coaches do show favortism. Coaches let certain kids run the team. Through the years York softball has always had this problem. Its a good thing the district is recycling and not quite as strong cause they sure have been lucky. Its no wonder so many athletes end up giving it up for good cause of the politics the coaches use.

[BigDaddy]

Fact is many of us fans, see these players (TOP) during travel ball play and the HS coaches don't know half as much as they would like to give themselves credit for. And they definately play favorites for award recognition. The local writers for DP are wrapped up and don't get to HONESTLY see who the top players are themselves and rely on coaches submitting the players/parents that **** up to the coaches.

Lets remember HS Games and HS coaches aren't the ones putting these kids in College programs. Quite the opposite the Travel Ball teams are typically developing the players to hand over talent, that deminishes during a High School season based on coaching experience by a typical HS coach. There are some good ones out there, but more bad than good.

If Travel Ball coaches had these kids as much as a HS coach we would win more national titles to gain recognition for VA.

Why is it, there aren't any HS in Virginia that get knods for National Consideration for ranking. And there has YET to be a newspaper that studies the talent of these schools to get an honest ranking system.

Only ranking system that comes close and might actually be legitimate is the one found at www.virginiafastpitch.com (http://www.virginiafastpitch.com)

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Sideline observer]

I totally agree with all you have said. Most school coaches aren't even interested in your aspirations. If you are a player that is interested in going to college you won't get much/no help from your high school coach, hey you got to do it on your own. Like you say they are only interested in a couple of players/parents. And when you look back in a few years those players end of going nowhere, not even playing college ball. The kids that the coach didn't even ask "What are your aspirations? Would you like play ball in college", the players that get passed over for playing time because the parents/players stay in the coaches ear and they really control the team. They Daily Press does have its job cut out for them trying to keep up with the teams and determining 1st team etc. But sometimes they do see true talent.This person may get their picture in the paper but in BR district you have coaches that from the time that person is acknowledged they are going to do everything to discredit them, in one school I call it down right discrimination. And I am talking baseball/softball. Its all a smokescreen. A coach is trying to discredit a player and make him/her the scapegoat because his team makes 9 error in one game, and not just one game he/she needs to look a his record book. He/she is saying he wants to build up his defense when the players that are making the errors are still on the field not benched. The players with the least amount of errors are the ones sitting on the bench. Its a big joke and everybody can see whats going on but no one wants to talk about it. Like I said look back in a few years and see where these players are and then you 'll see who really has talent. "I guess some things" will never change"

[YorkLegend]

I agree .... Travel ball is where the kids are noticed and if you talk to many of the HS coaches they don't have a clue how much time is spent training and practicing during the rest of the year. Without a doubt travelball is handing HS coaches (in most cases) well developed softball players! Of course, some travel ball teams aren't developing players the way others are but the girls are still on the field playing and their is no substitute like time playing games.

[athlete1]

Totally agree..each team has someone a parent or assistant coaCH doing their books and what you might call an error they may not..and well hopefully most know when doing stats that BB or HP isn't an at bat but who really knows if any of the books are 100% accurate. Yes we do get more practices playing travel ball but more and more there are sooo many teams and organizations that have started and its sooo watered down that even me playing travel ball doens't mean Im better. I mean the people coaching travel teams are volunteering their time which you have to appreciate but their mostly parents and most are learning themselves. They say you don't necessarily make a good coach if you played but Im sorry thats a cop out for people who haven't played at the highest level that says just becuase you have played doesn't mean your a good coach.