After reading several of the threads on travel ball vs little league, I went back and reread this article from 2006.
I remember reading it then, and saying to myself that it's (1) ridiculous how serious these kids are at a young age, and (2) none of these kids are going to make it.
As an update, the four youth players featured in the article were: Jarrod Petree, Zac Ryan, Bryce Harper and Jesse Winker.
Jarrod Petree:
Zac Ryan:
Bryce Harper: We know.
Jesse Winker:
In 2006, my gut instinct was that each of the kids would likely burn out and this was just crazy (I remember sharing the article with people and shaking my head). While I still think it's crazy (can't ride a bike?? can't jump on a trampoline?? what happened to being a kid? Plus some of the parent antics makes me ill, and has to have some long term effects on the kid that will show up somewhere), on the other hand, perhaps there's something to playing a bunch of games at a high level, practicing hard and being focused while you're young. Obviously, I know there are a LOT of exceptions (and I know everyone can point to the town "stud" and show how he crashed and burned), but to go 4-4 in a random article from 6 years ago (as far as all 4 playing either pro or D1 college baseball...with 2 of them already millionaires) is pretty hard to totally discount.
I remember reading it then, and saying to myself that it's (1) ridiculous how serious these kids are at a young age, and (2) none of these kids are going to make it.
As an update, the four youth players featured in the article were: Jarrod Petree, Zac Ryan, Bryce Harper and Jesse Winker.
Jarrod Petree:
Zac Ryan:
Bryce Harper: We know.
Jesse Winker:
In 2006, my gut instinct was that each of the kids would likely burn out and this was just crazy (I remember sharing the article with people and shaking my head). While I still think it's crazy (can't ride a bike?? can't jump on a trampoline?? what happened to being a kid? Plus some of the parent antics makes me ill, and has to have some long term effects on the kid that will show up somewhere), on the other hand, perhaps there's something to playing a bunch of games at a high level, practicing hard and being focused while you're young. Obviously, I know there are a LOT of exceptions (and I know everyone can point to the town "stud" and show how he crashed and burned), but to go 4-4 in a random article from 6 years ago (as far as all 4 playing either pro or D1 college baseball...with 2 of them already millionaires) is pretty hard to totally discount.
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