Baseball may add a roster spot at ESG, but…

January

I wrote a story today about apparent changes to the Empire State Games due to New York state’s budgetary cuts. Two key elements for baseball fans: 1) competitors would have to fork out $300 a piece to play, 2) baseball (as well as lacrosse and volleyball) would be able to add a roster spot.

You’ll see if you read this story that baseball was one of three sports that was hurt the least. That’s saying something considering athletes will now have to play to play, if, of course, the proposed plan goes through.

If you’ll read the story you’ll realize that is more than a possibility. It seems like just a matter of time.

Hudson Valley regional director told me the ESG’s will never be the same. That remains to be seen, but this certainly won’t help them prosper.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 8th, 2009 at 4:28 pm by Josh Thomson. Print | Email

5 Responses to “Baseball may add a roster spot at ESG, but…”

Empire January 13th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
We have heard in the past that the competition from other areas, like L.I. was watered down recently with many of the top players choosing to sit it out. Can any parent or coach who may have been involved this past year comment on whether the presence of a player on the HV team in 2008 led them to being recruited and signed by a particular school ? If so, I’d like to hear about it ? ? Otherwise , the addition of a $300 fee added on to costs to play on one of the better travel teams , that in all likelhood run to $3000+ all told, will cause many families to think twice about participating in this tournament especially if it continues to decline as a venue for showcasing top talent.
HVDAD January 14th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Empire-

I am the father of an ESG player from a few years ago who’s son also played for an “elite” summer travel team. His experiences were great in both. Regardless of the ESG recruiting results, the games were perhaps the greatest experience of my son’s baseball experiences. I think that the fee to play is a travesty and will most certainly detract for the games in general and in baseball specifically. However, don’t downplay the experience.My son will cherish his memories of the ESG for a lifetime.
baseball 101 January 18th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
i would absolutely concur that the esg games are a unique opporunity that will result in a lifetime of memories for serious baseball players who can make the cut. even at $300 per player, which sucks and is quite unfair, it is still a much better value, and will offer more for the dollar than any $3,000 elite summer program team will be able to.
elite teams are very good, but pale in comparison to the esg exposure and experience in my opinion
New Team on the Block January 19th, 2009 at 9:24 am
They are a very unique opportunity for those that make the team or care to tryout. The gathering of athlete’s is a great time and lifetime of memories. Even when it was free you didn’t get more for your money then the travel programs. The exposure of playing in front of 25+ coaches vs below avg competition as compared to playing in front of hundreds. Being on the road where evry game means something to your baseball future and playing against the best players in the country as compared to playing against the best players from the Adirondacks or Western NY?

Every program serves a purpose to the individual player. How many of the HV players were recruited from the ESG as compared to their travel teams was the question. Tough to figure I’m sure
BBDAD January 19th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Just heard that the games might be cancelled altogether. That would be a travesty. The games are a unique opportunity for a fortunate few to carry with them great memories, new friends, not to mention getting in front of some of the better northeast college coaches (They’re not stupid, they let the ESG coaches do the sifting for them). Matt McGovern was seen by BC in the first game last year where tore-up the bases. Yes, it helped him. To New Team on the Block, I agree that playing on an elite summer/fall travel team is a must for any player these days determined to play ball at the next level, but the competition ain’t bad at the ESG’s, and it certainly doesn’t hurt putting it down on a kids resume. I’m sure all the kids from the Gold Medal Winning Hudson Valley Team from ‘08 will benefit in many ways. I hope they have them this summer. It would be a great loss to those players who would have made the team, not to mention a great NY tradition.

It is a condition of your use of the comment features associated with the blogs that you do not: Use the site to post or transmit any unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind, including without limitation any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law. You alone are responsible for the material you post or send. Refer to the Terms of Service.