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Post by Andrew on Dec 18, 2009 16:26:08 GMT -6
Well put together list, Johnny.
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Post by sheenestevez on Dec 18, 2009 18:39:14 GMT -6
The MINK, California and Eastern Collegiate(I may be a little biased on that one) should be considered for possible Tier IV consideration. Just my opinion. I know it's not easy to follow every league closely and I will not pretend I know everything about all the leagues. I'm pretty sure many of you, including jonnymac who made the list, knows more than I do. Fine job!
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Post by johnnymac on Dec 18, 2009 21:49:19 GMT -6
The MINK, California and Eastern Collegiate(I may be a little biased on that one) should be considered for possible Tier IV consideration. Just my opinion. I know it's not easy to follow every league closely and I will not pretend I know everything about all the leagues. I'm pretty sure many of you, including jonnymac who made the list, knows more than I do. Fine job! I agree that those three should probably be in Tier IV. I was just going off of memory.
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Post by necblfan on Dec 19, 2009 4:33:33 GMT -6
That's a good looking list johnnymac. I especially like the NYCBL in there in Tier III. I think its a strong 14 team league that doesn't get enough credit.
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Post by Andrew on Dec 19, 2009 5:37:53 GMT -6
The California League is a tier II or tier III league, with little publicity, they attract a ton of prospects.
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Post by johnnymac on Dec 21, 2009 16:53:47 GMT -6
Have to admit, I don't know much about the CCL. After some research, looks like a possible Tier II league with some of the talent that they have or a high-level Tier III. Not a bad league.
As for the NYCBL, it's a unique situation where you almost have two different leagues under one umbrella. I think the teams in the Eastern Division are very good clubs and they've had a decent amount of talent come through larger schools like Braden Kapteyn from Kentucky last year with Amsterdam. The talent level in the league and the competition level has certainly increased over the last few years.
While the West is competitive, I don't think the overall talent level is there like in the East. Hornell and Allegany County have made a living finding great diamonds in the rough from solid D-II programs, the other teams in the division rely on smaller school and mostly local talent that isn't on the same level as the East most years.
The philosophy also seems different. The Eastern teams seemed more designed on a Northwoods-league type model with lots of promotions, big crowds and fancy web sites (for the most part) while the Western teams are still caught up a little in how the league used to be, before the recent business-like geared trends from the East.
(Full disclosure: I've been involved with the NYCBL since 2005.)
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Post by nycblnut on Dec 21, 2009 18:20:06 GMT -6
As for the NYCBL, it's a unique situation where you almost have two different leagues under one umbrella. I think the teams in the Eastern Division are very good clubs and they've had a decent amount of talent come through larger schools like Braden Kapteyn from Kentucky last year with Amsterdam. The talent level in the league and the competition level has certainly increased over the last few years. While the West is competitive, I don't think the overall talent level is there like in the East. Hornell and Allegany County have made a living finding great diamonds in the rough from solid D-II programs, the other teams in the division rely on smaller school and mostly local talent that isn't on the same level as the East most years. The philosophy also seems different. The Eastern teams seemed more designed on a Northwoods-league type model with lots of promotions, big crowds and fancy web sites (for the most part) while the Western teams are still caught up a little in how the league used to be, before the recent business-like geared trends from the East. (Full disclosure: I've been involved with the NYCBL since 2005.) Very well said.I'm hoping to own my own franchise in the future and have done very extensive research.I live in Western NY so would like to stay close to home so the team would be in that division.I would like to run the team like a business and hope to make a living off it, like NWL and the CPL.However it seems like the NYCBL is not the right league in which you could make a team very profitable and run it like a business.I think one problem is the league doesn't release the schedule until right before the season leaving very little time for advance ticket sales.It seems like most of the teams in the west just are getting by and thats why some teams move/fail.What's your affiliation with the league?
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Post by johnnymac on Dec 22, 2009 2:00:32 GMT -6
Check your PM's.
Teams move and/or fail for lots of different reasons. Some aren't the right situation to begin with and are destined to fail, other times, management doesn't get the job done or people just aren't interested in the product and don't go out. Really, it could be any of those or all of those. And, this happens in every league.
While there are numerous teams and leagues sprouting up across the country, Andrew's also had stories of a decent number of teams folding - and those are just the ones we're hearing about.
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Post by troy2323 on Dec 31, 2009 22:22:25 GMT -6
I have to say, from some experience, that a league that get overlooked is the Western Major Baseball League(WMBL). Probably mostly because it is in Canada, but the majority of all rosters are made up of American and Canadians playing ball in the States. I have had experience in numerous leagues throughout the U.S. and have also had experience in the WMBL. From what I have seen the WMBL could be in the top dozen in the U.S. and Canada. As has been stated earlier though, after the top 4 or 5, the talent pool levels off and parity sets in. When you begin talking about leagues such as the Valley, Great Lakes, Jayhawk, and New York I have to put the WMBL right up with them or above them. I think it deserves a little recognition as a legitimate summer league and one that has not only improved greatly in the last 3 year, but one that is improving rapidly every year.
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Post by nellie on Feb 3, 2010 20:55:57 GMT -6
Have you heard of the Arizona League? And is it any good?
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Post by Andrew on Feb 4, 2010 5:32:49 GMT -6
I honestly haven't ever heard of the Arizona Collegiate League, but I will look into it further.
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Post by chickenman on Feb 25, 2010 16:16:44 GMT -6
I think that the Cape Cod league is what most strive to be, however i also think that other leagues are growing in talent and team locations that will compete with them Northwoods and Alaska
Such as Prospect League ( formerly CICL) playing in Midwest Illinois,Indiana,West Virgina,Ohio and Tennesse , along with the Texas and California leagues
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Post by slider06 on May 12, 2010 7:41:54 GMT -6
I was checking in to see if there was any new info.or opinions about the California Collegiate League.My son played for Southern Col.,Cal Ripken Sr. ,then last year Coastal Plain league.He has an opportunity to play in the CCl this summer .Not being too familiar with the CCL I was inviting any info Thanks!
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Post by slobluesbaseball on Jul 14, 2010 7:43:49 GMT -6
Ok, I am biased, but the California Collegiate League should be getting more recognition for the level of its play. The SB Foresters are the benchmark out west, which their current #2 ranking should show. The Foresters were also NBC Champions in 2006 and 2008, and are always competitive in Wichita. I am not going to argue with the Cape Cod league, as they are by far the best league around. But calling the CCL tier VI or V?? Really?? The Blues recruit talent from all over Division I baseball, Conejo was competitive in Wichita last summer, and the MLB Urban Academy is doing great things down in Compton. Not knocking anyone else, but the CCL is worth a closer look at by all.
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Post by Andrew on Jul 14, 2010 19:03:11 GMT -6
I totally agree with you. At this rate, the CCL is (in my opinion) just below the Northwoods league in terms of talent. The CCL also does a great job of attracting some of the top Texas players as well.
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