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Post by liberalbeejays on Aug 21, 2010 22:53:32 GMT -6
Well, the Cape is certainly the top. After that, I'd say Northwoods, then I think it gets really muddy among several good/solid leagues. For example, I'm with the Liberal Bee Jays of the Jayhawk League and the National Baseball Congress. We compete regularly with teams in the NBC from CCL and the Alaska League, MINK and several others. Sometimes we beat them and sometimes they beat us. We won it this year (5th overall), and last year El Dorado, also with the Jayhawk League won it. So, first, I guess I'm not sure why one poster made the comment that the Jayhawk is in trouble. Second, it's easier to judge the leagues that have teams who play against each other in tournaments like the NBC, but harder to place them against leagues like the Cape and Northwoods who have their own internal tourneys and don't compete in a tournament with many other leagues.
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Post by northof60 on Oct 13, 2010 11:30:49 GMT -6
I have really enjoyed this thread and will offer my two cents here as my first post. As i read through the posts everyone seems to agree on a few things - The Cape and Northwoods are clearly the number 1 and 2. I would venture to say that every other league in North America strives to be like one of these leagues - interestingly enough these 2 leagues represent the dichotomy of Summer Collegiate Baseball - MLB funded leagues and non MLB funded (for profit) leagues. The Cape being funded and the Northwoods not. Your top tier of MLB funded Summer Collegiate Leagues can be found in the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball nacsb.org/ and some of the National Baseball Congress featured leagues (although some of the NBC leagues can't be considered Summer Collegiate Leagues under the definition - many take former pro players and players with no college eligibility). In bringing a topic from another discussion i feel in this day and age many of the leagues should be graded/evaluated on their usage of technology. There are many interested stakeholders in a college summer league community (players, college coaches, scouts, parents, fans) and to look at what some leagues are offering their communities is....well....cheap and insulting. Although we have determined that the Northwoods and the Cape are different in their business models please look at the common link that connects them - Up to date web content! Both leagues mandate the use of Pointstreak Baseball real time stats - the system delivers all of the game information in real time to the leagues website and all you have to do is score the games? It updates everything for you... They even have a mobile app so people can follow the games in real time from their smart phones... Others using this state of the art system include Ripken, Western Major, West Coast, Florida, New England, Great South (2011)...So, now lets look at the other end of the spectrum where you have your Easterns, Jayhawks, etc. Seems as though many of the leagues don't mandate the usage of any unified system - so why even be in a league?.. What about scouting? How do the players get found? How are they evaluated? And your websites - i agree with another poster in saying i will not visit many of them again! Ugly, outdated, no content.. give us a break - it's 2010. Baseball is a business and you are obliged to those kids... At the end of the day i know these are 'baseball guys'. but MLB are baseball guys and they have created the epitome of online presence and as such, have created lateral revenues for the league we can't even imagine. That was a long seg way but here is my list using my web presence and other criteria. Northwoods - great site, great marketing, pack stadiums, tv and radio broadcasts as well The Cape - rely a little much on their history but have a good site with a new one on the way, real time stats and broadcasts NECBL - well run league with some great franchises - great website technology has been embraced in all areas Coast Plain - could have a more navigable site but it looks good - great competition and awesome league There are several i could put in the 5 spot but i think i will stop there. NOTE - Alaska doesn't even get on my radar - they are just a little further north of the WMBL but if i was playing college ball again i would choose the WMBL anyday of the week. What Alaska and their teams have up for a website and content is insulting and they should be embarrassed. There are several other leagues around the country i would put in that category as well. As far as who is best and who is worst - i believe over the next few years as technology becomes more and more of an integral part of the summer collegiate baseball business model we will in fact see the good leagues put the bad ones out of business. Thanks!
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