My son is considering trying out for the "Puma National Team ". This tryout is being put on by the Baseball Factory and Team One. I'm not familiar with these operations and am looking for some feedback from you all. Any and all appreciated. Seems that teams will be selected for all the following:Arizona Intl. Fall Classic, Dodgertown Xmas Camp, Team One Showcase, IBC World Series and USABF World Series. Thanks for your responses.

I think the general concession on these boards has been to examine every aspect of an organization (exposure level potential, costs,organizational structure, etc.) before buying into it.

Visit past posts on these or any other organizations.

You will hear lots of positives on Team One and mixed on Baseball factory. Look at other recent posts about Team One South Showcase...it has rave reviews 60 scouts in attendance.


http://www.baseballfactory

http://www.teamonebaseball.com

The baseball factory teams are competing at the IBC World Series Championship Tournament in Clearwater Florida this week.

The Pool Play - Results

Bracket Play - Results

Baseball Factory...hmmm!

If cost is no object and you believe your son's talent level is D-3 or otherwise small school level it may be your best option. If your son's a real player forget about it.

They are definately more aggressive marketers than most any other option and they hard sell if they get their foot in the door.

My personal opinion is that if your son can play then your economically better off to have him try to make a good summer or fall team; maybe a local all-star HS team event in your state; and or attend a PG event that has national exposure through it's rating system which is relative to all kids across the nation.

However, I've seen a few folks whose son's weren't even varsity starters their entire careers go the Baseball factory route and ultimately find somewhere for their kid to at least start out with an opportunity to play ball. After all, there are approximately (my estimate) 60-75 thousand college baseball players and 1/3 of them are freshmen.



Ofcourse every school has open tryouts and when you stop and think about it that's mostly all these kids end up getting anyway. They don't really get any athletic money, might get some academic money that they probably could have gotten anyway. But they do get to enjoy the showcase experience, do get to feel like they are special because they were invited to these events.

What price do you put on your son's happiness and letting him chase his dream! It's the price most of us can afford or even more.

I will say and I say this as strongly as I can. If you and he are willing to do a little homework on what level he fits into, are willing to self promote and go to a schools camp, then he can find a place to play without spending huge Baseball Factory fees.

It's kinda like washing your car, or shining your shoes. We all can do it, some of us have to because we can't afford not to but others can afford not to be bothered. Either way the car gets washed and the shoes get shined.

I have posted on this forum about my low budget approach to these showcases/tournaments. I think we get too hung up on the showcases and tournaments and expenses. I can tell you my son is also at the IBC 18U world series, he is with the Montgomery Thunder and I have a total investment of $250.00, plus gas to take him to meet a ride in Montgomery, AL. FYI the coach for the Montgomery Thunder is an associate scout for the St. Louis Cardinals. My son is more than likely not a DI player, I have been told he could be, I just hope he finds a place to play after HS. Maybe he could get more exposure if I spent more money but with 4 boys you have to do what you have to do. I can tell you for sure in 2 years (2007) when he graduates. Will my son get the same shot as someone who spends 40K a year? NO. Will I do the best I can for him? You Bet. And I don't think I'm alone.

But I hope it is not about how much you spend it is how you spend it.

DAD4BOYS

All players that have Dads like you certainly know the love that is expressed by you with the sacrifice you are making for your son.

I congratulate you.

Ramrod

Thanks for the support. I don't want you to get me wrong. And I don't want it to look like I am poor mouthing. I think you should spend as much as possible for your kids. One day they will be grown and you will be gone. Will I do the same for son 4 as I do son 1? I will certainly be smarter so I can't say. I just don't want the parents who can't or won't spend the extra $$ to feel their kids can't have the same opportunity. You can make it happen. It may not be as easy as spending money anyway.
I just happen to think we get too hung up on the money aspect and not why we do it. To help our kids reach their goals.

Thank you all for your insights. At this point my son and I will make our decision together after reading all your facts and opinions. We'll visit their websites and talk to a couple of coaches. The gentleman I talked with from their company said my sons tryout cost would only be twenty dollars. Fairly reasonable, but I'll be cautious to see their real motives.."more food for their food chain".
On the other hand I can't tell if my kid is capable of getting to the next level on his own yet either. Hes only going to be soph in HS this year. As a freshman he played JV and this summer played varsity. A catcher and switch hitter at 6"2 and 210, he's been told he needs to get a little lighter to play the position. Pop time at best has been timed at 2.04. This summer we've been to a couple of small showcases put on by colleges and such, just to get comfortable with the whole scene and expectations. These show and tells seem to be dominated by juniors and seniors in HS and incoming freshman in college. I see the whys and wherefores but I also noticed there were maybe three sophs in HS there out of 75 kids.I guess exposure is exposure. Take it for what it is and don't try to read anything else ino it.

Are Team One & The Baseball Factory not part of the same organizaton? I have heard that The Baseball Factory had a contract to conduct the showcases for Team One.

dad4boys and others......

You will find that you need not spend huge amounts of money to get your sons the necessary exposure and experience. Some parents discover that all the money spent couldn't make up for a lack of talent, and others will be able to tell you that talent was rewarded despite not shelling out the big bucks.

Team One
http://www.teamonebaseball.com

and <a href='http://consumeralertsystem.com/cas/zx-hclick.php?hid=62' target='_blank'>baseball</a> factory
http://www.baseballfactory.com

are separate companies and worked together last year

Drivel

better do your homework

you are way off base

TR

as usual you need to fire your research team


http://www.baseballfactory.com/aboutus/press.asp?pk_new...9}&year=2005&month=7

DRIVEL

I am My research team--Team One is part of Baseball Factory--

Thus is no the first team you just picked a link and posted it---- DO YOUR HOMEWORK !!!!!

TR it clearly says on Baseball Factory web site

http://www.baseballfactory.com
, Proud Partners with Team One


Baseball Factory speaks and has staff at Team On events. I heard the sales pitch from baseball factory to team one players how they should attend Baseball Factory events too.

Have you not been hugged today TR

Dibble

I have a wife who hugs me many times a day
and a puppy that does the same-- so does my 87 year old mother when I see her every week

Dont believe all you read !!! and that of course is what you do--no research--just regurgitate what you find on the net--you have a great exciting life---DUH