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Originally posted by iluvgoodbaseball:
Much of what you say has no validity with me either(or a lot of other posters for that matter) as I have been around you enough, listened to you at games enough, and watched enough of your antics over the years to consider the source.

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I do like however at times to investigate what and why some people think like they do whether I consider their point valid or not. I especially at times like doing this with people like you, as at times I even agree with what you are saying.

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Originally posted by Newscout:
I have seen Ken beat this dead horse over and over. Ken it is time to face reality!!!!! Times have changed.

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I have been a big PG supporter until I found out that the Aflac game is the same time as the Connie Mack World Series. I would like to ask PG a question. If you pick a kid that is playing in the Connie Mack W.S do you think that he should leave his team to play in your event? Plan and simple a Yes or No question, not a long explanation just a short answer.

NewGuy

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Originally posted by PGStaff:

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I have been a big PG supporter until I found out that the Aflac game is the same time as the Connie Mack World Series. I would like to ask PG a question. If you pick a kid that is playing in the Connie Mack W.S do you think that he should leave his team to play in your event? Plan and simple a Yes or No question, not a long explanation just a short answer.

NewGuy

Newscout,

The simple answer is NO, but… I can’t actually answer that question that easily.

First of all, you must understand that the Aflac Game is NOT our event. We select the players and run the baseball workouts at the event. We have absolutely nothing to do when it comes to choosing a site, the scheduled times, or the television scheduling. We don’t make the rules, we just pick the players.

That said, we have given our opinion regarding scheduling conflicts. In a perfect world a talented player would be able to attend all the events. It is not a perfect world! Aflac is an individual event and the very best individual event. I’m fairly certain that any player who ever played in the Aflac Game would agree. The whole event is a charity for curing pediatric cancer.

Now… We have recommended that Aflac and Area Codes work together as much as possible. Last year several Aflac players attended the Area Codes and left early to go to Aflac. In other words they did both! Same thing will be true this year with “some” players. However, the Aflac game is just one part of the total event and its purpose. Even more important is having these talented young kids visit the Childrens Hospital and try to provide some hope to some very seriously ill children. That is more important than any baseball event IMO!

Regarding the Connie Mack World Series… We strongly recommended that players on a team should not be torn apart by this decision. The truth is that there have been several Aflac players who were flown to the Aflac Site after their team was eliminated from the CMWS. That is because it is a TEAM event. A few players have been flown in the night before the Aflac Game because their team played in the CMWS Championship game the day before. This is exactly what happened to Eric Hosmer who played for Midland last year. Michael Burgess, Justin Jackson, Kentrail Davis, and several others have all finished the CMWS before showing up at the Aflac event.

Finally the Aflac Game has only 38 players! In the past it has never interfered with any TEAM event that I know of! Unfortunately it has interfered slightly with the Area Code Games a bit at times. However it involves 38 players in the entire country! Honestly I can’t understand how 38 players from coast to coast can cause so much ruckus. Especially the year before they are draft eligible! There are always some first rounders who everyone missed at this time of year. Why not give more players an opportunity.

Please understand… We hold many big tournaments where players leave their team for individual events. I don’t really like that from a selfish stand point! But it is what it is! There are several teams that will not allow there players to tryout for the USA Team. From a team perspective I can understand this. A commitment should be a commitment. However, If I want to do everything possible to help my kids and I have one who is capable of playing for Team USA, he will be excused from his committment to try out! Not saying that is the right thing to do, but it is what I would do in every case. There are always other players to replace him with! Sometimes when one player leaves another gets the chance to shine.

Sorry… I have to say this, being a wood bat believer. The only PURE baseball event is played with wood bats. That doesn’t mean that a METAL bat event can’t be unbelievable (College World Series). I know the odds of playing DI or Professional baseball, but those odds change drastically depending on which team a player is on. There are many teams in the country who have nearly all their players go on to play professional or DI baseball. The team that won our 17U tournament last night looks like U of South Carolinas entire recruiting class and others will have DI offers as well. The team they played against has nearly every player committed to DI schools including UCLA, Southern Cal, Oregon State, Cal State Fullerton, Arizona State, etc. If your on one of those teams the odds are greatly in your favor that you will be drafted or head to a national power college program. Those two teams are not alone!

Ken, Not sure what we are debating about? I appreciate and respect your opinion! Team should always come first, I’ve never believed differently! Perhaps the only thing where we might differ is that I believe team is everyone working to help everyone on the team. I believe there’s a way to accomplish both helping the player and helping the team with good communication, honesty and a little less selfishness.

I’ve written a lot here that could be picked apart I suppose. I don’t mind discussing this stuff as long as everyone has an open mind.

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if you wanted to get seen by Dartmouth you should have gone to the Dallas Mustang Classic.

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Originally posted by KellerDad:
I am late to this thread, but will put my two cents in. The experience my son had with Connie Mack last summer was unbeatable.