Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Tue Jan 14 05:46:41 2003

Of course it doesn't make this room, nor any practice a moot point. I didn't say that if a kid doesn't have the ability to play at the MLB level, or even the D1 level, he shouldn't practice. What I AM saying, is that all things being equal, that it's very apparent by a particular age, how much gas a kid has in the tank. Does that mean they should stop playing ball? Of course not, but at the same time, we have to come to terms with the fact that even if that kid were to be exposed to every known way of explaining"rotational anything, it aint gonna matter..."HE IS WHAT HE IS" I mean up until what age do you work with someone before it becomes very apparent that there's only so much there?

THere is an assumption in your statements. I don't know what it is. But I'll get to that.
EVERY PLAYER has only so much gas in their tank. In the end, every player reaches their limit. Whether that limit is the Hall Of Fame, MLB starter, MLB journeyman, AAA, AA, A, Div 1, 2 or 3, HS, Babe Ruth, LL. Every 'career' reaches its peak. Some go farther, some don't go very far at all. Millions of kids play youth baseball. While many profess to wanting to be pros some day, they have many different goals and aspirations.
"even if that kid were to be exposed to every known way of explaining"rotational anything, it aint gonna matter..."HE IS WHAT HE IS"" what isn't going to matter? Depends on the team the kid wants to play for, the levels he's trying to reach. Everyone can improve. Everyone can try to reach their potential - no matter how great or how low.
What I hear in your posts is an undercurrent of 'if you don't have the talent to make the big time, why are you still bothering'.
If you coach a national caliber Jr team, you have to reject those without enough talent to make the team. If you are an MLB organization, you won't draft a player who doesn't have the potential in your eyes to have a potential future.
But those are coaches' decisions. A team coach works with someone until that player can't keep up with the program. A private coach works with someone as long as both parties are interested in continuing.
I don't get your point - so at some point (and its different ages for different kids) YOU realize they are limited. Does that mean they can't learn anymore? If you are what you are, that's it? No more improvement? Too fatalistic to me.
Some players go for the brass ring and keep improving until they fail. Then they move on to something else. Others play to enjoy and improve and if they level off, they play at that level as long as they enjoy it.
I don't get the part where you seem to require writing someone off. What's the agenda/assumptions behind your statements?