Looking at the College World Series you’ll see that 5 of the 8 teams are from the south (6 if you count Texas). The ACC and SEC are well represented, as always.
You hear, correctly, of Florida as a hotbed of baseball but you can’t discount the rest of the south any more as middle of the road talent producers. Most of you know what’s true.
Start talking about baseball talent in the northern states, however, and they still believe the brand of baseball is just as good up there. Simply put, it is not. As someone who has seen all levels of baseball in all parts of the country, warmer states simply have too great an advantage. Warmer weather, population shifts and better transportation over the years has taken its toll and reduced the production of talent from places like Ohio.
Tim Beckham, first draft pick this year, says the athletes are better in Georgia than in California. Naw, that’s not it. Georgia has grown considerably in terms of people and the success of the Braves helped spark a renewed interest in baseball. East Cobb’s program helped not only its players but raised the interest in travel ball. Similar programs in other states in the south have contributed as well.
The players in warm weather states now practice and play more games than kids in other parts of the country. It makes a difference. The players aren’t better athletes than those in, say, Illinois. They just have more opportunity.
Another two factors to take into account are first, the money spent on draft picks and second, the quickened pace at which general managers are judged as being successful or not. Kids are more finished products from warm weather states. Clubs have a better feel for what a player can do when he has played more games. As I’ve said in an earlier post, I don’t like kids that are nearly 100% tools only guys. If you’re going to spend 4 million on a high school player your margin for error is less than if you spent 100 k. Economics 101.
Tags: Atlanta, baseball, Beckham, Braves, California, Cobb, East, Tim
June 15, 2008 at 2:39 am |
I was on Drinkpurple.com and noticed the difference between college and pro baseball: it doesn’t matter where you are from, quality players can come from anywhere. It also became clear to me that while college baseball is huge in the south, the pros only really make a difference in Florida. Just observations.
June 17, 2008 at 4:40 pm |
Thanks for the comment. You’re right, quality players can come from anywhere. However, more of the position players come from the warm weather states because they play more games and can practice more often. You’re still seeing a lot of pitchers come from the north, however, for a couple of reasons. Fewer overuse injuries because they don’t appear in as many innings as an amateur from the south. And the other reason is that scouting on pitchers is based a little more on talent and projection rather than today’s skills. For example, a 6-2 lefthander throwing 90 is going to receive attention regardless of his win/loss success. You can project him to throw harder and, well, he’s a lefthander. And scouts believe a kid like that can at least develop some sort of second and third pitch. It doesn’t matter where he lives.
Positions players are different. Sure the stud hitter who can hit the ball 450 feet stands out everywhere. However, hitters who don’t fit that profile are a little harder to project, particularly if they haven’t played in a lot of games or faced higher competition. Also, fielders are going to be more polished with the more games they play. That’s just a matter of repetition.
I’m not saying it is fair. I’m just saying that’s my opinion.