“Why not accept and celebrate what the Big Ten does do well? We play football and basketball, and at a level that you can’t blame on climate.” (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Overdue with responding to readers’ opinions, we’re pleased to hear from those who’ve opined on, among other things…community baseball, Ohio State and college baseball, “what’s wrong with beating Otterbein”, and…”is anyone noticing in small school football?”
With the end of the high school sports season there’s always a short lull in a summer schedule of events and individuals to cover.
And for that reason we’ll share with you some of the recent comments of readers across Ohio who’ve been kind enough, and committed enough, to let their feelings be known about Press Pros content during the spring sports season.
Starting with…is there really priority for so much Ohio State and Big Ten baseball?
“To whom it may concern…while I’m an Ohio State alumnus and sports fan, I cannot understand why you spend so much time pushing a baseball program that hasn’t won significantly since 1966. If northern baseball is limited because of cold weather, why not accept it as that because time has taught us that apparently no one cares. NCAA politics prove that baseball will always be a sport dominated by schools who play in warm climates. How much whining have we heard about playing in the cold, while asking for NIL money to lure players to shiver and freeze? I would remind that the age-old definition of insanity is to ignore the obvious and keep doing the same thing. In the meantime, one national title in 143 years? Why not accept and celebrate what the Big Ten does do well? We play football and basketball, and at a level that you can’t blame on climate.” … Jonathan Bohlander
(Ed. Note: The definition of success is to not keep doing the same thing, and to not accept being limited. If we’re told we have to recognize climate change, why can’t baseball change with the climate?)
“It would appear that the same issues with winning that got Greg Beals fired were not resolved with the hiring of Bill Mosiello. In addition, with the upheaval caused by NIL and the transfer portal, what’s changed? Beals is now at Marshall, anything but a baseball landmark, and Mosiello couldn’t keep his best pitcher from riding the portal out of town. And speaking of the portal, I wonder if anyone goes to school nowadays for an education. Do they ever take the time to compare the academic standards when they leave? I doubt it.”… Donald Motz
“I notice that no one else takes the time to write about Ohio State baseball, so why do you?” … Jack Grote
(Ed. Note: Diversity, equality, and inclusion)
Over the past month we’ve heard from all parts, good and bad, about the state of community, amateur baseball:
“Part of the problem is that baseball is not about boys anymore. It’s about teams. When I was young we all got together in the morning and threw and caught the ball until dark. Now everything is organized (because there’s money in it) and kids don’t get enough opportunity to just play and learn from each other.” … Marc Crandall
“People are going to claim that it’s never as bad as someone else thinks, so keep preaching the gospel about community baseball.” … Danny Burcham
“To illustrate your point our community baseball center sits empty all day until organized games begin in the evening. A lot of time lost for the sake of kids learning to love baseball.” … Ed Penalli (via Facebook)
(Ed. Note: That’s exactly how we learned at Jim Hardman’s baseball school. One skill at a time, one day at a time, and then everyone came to watch the big kids play Legion Ball at night.)
A lot of people took note of our recent post on the impact of former major leaguer Craig Stammen, and how he’s making an imprint on the state of baseball in his hometown:
“Thank you for what you do for these young boys. It is always well supported in our town.” … Larry and Diane Prenger (via Facebook)
“We’re lucky to have a man like that in Versailles.” … Scott Peters (via Facebook)
“Very happy to read this and point to the fact of his impact on the ones just starting out in baseball. You can’t have prospects without young kids and Craig Stammen is putting his focus where it matters most.” … Bobby Wilson
“The photos you had with the article prove that his work there is about love for kids and the game of baseball. How cool!” … Ed Montgomery
“Proof that there’s more for kids to do besides football. Wonderful story.” … Ken Marko
“This is why those MAC communities have the success they have in nearly every sport you can name. They start young, and they have committed, experienced adult participation. I liked that you wrote about the importance of ‘dads’.” … Terry Clymer
From an Otterbein alum (we guess), who wrote, “What’s wrong with beating Otterbein?”:
“In your June 11 post (Final Thoughts) you wrote that you never cared much about beating Otterbein. So what’s wrong with beating Otterbein?” … Eric Courtney (Via Twitter)
(Ed. Note: The problem was…we never actually beat Otterbein. Played them as a mid-week game and the Cardinals were always jacked. The Buckeyes? Not so much.)
Finally, it wouldn’t be June without conversation of high school football amping up, and whether competitive balance actually works:
“I see that Marion Local and their 48 game win streak is again in Division VII. How the hell can that be? If OHSAA is concerned about the smaller Division I schools not having a chance against the big schools, how is it that no one notices that Marion Local doesn’t belong with the rest of the small schools. What competitive balance?” … Kevin Trepanier
(Ed. Note: You failed to offer a suggestion on how big, and how far they should go to make things equal, or competitive, of course. Marion Local graduated about 50 this spring, and there is the question of who you would want them to play, and how far should they drive for the sake of a non-conference high school football game? Or, should you encourage others to follow the formula that makes them so successful – two parent homes, a generational work ethic, high academic standards, and high expectation in everything they do…and no excuses!)
Precision Strip, in Minster, proudly sponsors your favorite sports coverage on Press Pros Magazine.com.