Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Shouldn't MLB Youth Program be helmed more by Minor League Teams?

Shouldn't Little League be inspired more by MiLB Teams ?

First off, the Youth Academies are successful and awesome.  And it's apparent that demographically, even if based on population densities stats alone, there a need for more Urban Youth Academies.  I give kudos to big league baseball.  Growing the game is good for everyone.

Let the Reds use their farm clubs to inspire little leaguers and teens to do more in their farm areas like Dayton and Louisville.  Sometime into the future I could even see college programs inspiring kids to play more.  Ian Happ was a Bearcat.  Ditto homegrown Josh Harrison.

But here's why I'm thinking more along these lines of "not necessarily the big league clubs".  Let's be realistic - that's why.  Aspire to be Red, sure.  But what's wrong with being a Bearcat?  Or a Bat.  Or Dragon for these kids.  Pro players at the farm teams get a lot of development.  And they can part some of that wisdom.  Might even discover they want to be a coach at any number of levels of ball, pro or amateur.  More kids might be able to leverage some DI, II or III level to get into the books.  Aiming for the highest is great.  But the town is at the base of the mountain for most.
Indoor........... all year long.
I'd say, have the minor league teams sponsor knothole teams.  Make the kids feel part of the farm.   
ie.  Dayton Dragons have age groups, each one having a Bravo, Charlie and Delta team, etc for signups.

1 comment:

  1. MLB announces new girls baseball camp: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-announces-new-girls-baseball-camp-plus-return-girls-trailblazer-series-162654801.html

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