Could the AAABA format be changed?

[ram]

Brian, I agree. There has been no real growth or expansion. Just in the last year since I've had my website up and running I've received several requests from people interested in franchises and more information. I remember years ago there was talk of a team or league in California but I guess that obviously never came about. There has been a major geographic shift in baseball talent over the last 30 years. Most of the young talent is now in Texas, Florida, California, South Carolina etc... The northern urban areas just arent producing the levels of talent they once did.

I actually like the fact that Johnstown has recruiting restrictions even if it does hinder their chances of actually winning a tournament. First, its much more fun to root for hometown kids that grew up with aaaba and know what the tourney means to the city. Every year you read about kids from the jtown entry that say how they dreamed of playing opening night since they were kids...and thats pretty special. Second, when Jtown does finally win one and I believe they will...it will be nice to say we did it with our boys...unlike Baltimore and Washington that have kids from all over the country.

aaaba 2009 just a few weeks away!

[ram]

By the way, if anyone pays close attention, I am adding about 25 to 30 new cards to the aaaba baseball card display this year.

[BrianV]

Personally, I like restricting Johnstown to locals because we already get:
- national host every year
- automatic berth every year
- perpetual home field advantage
- no double-headers (unless it rains)
- all night games
- always in the lower bracket

Seems like we deserve *some* kind of restriction. On the other hand, I've got to believe that for the visiting teams, it makes for a nicer tournament to have that one home team to play against. It's not like going to NABF or something, where they change cities each year (I think they do?) and none of the games really stand out. With the AAABA, there's a definate highlight game and it helps draw a lot of attention from the locals. I think it's a good set-up.

You're gotten requests for franchises? Man, I've only gotten them for teams I would certainly like to see more franchises competing, like the new Toledo franchise this season.

As for talent, I don't think it's that we're producing less talent, but rather that we're producing less kids. A lot of the population is moving to those states you mentioned. For example, while they're closing 4 of our 5 ethnic Catholic parishes in Johnstown, they're opening some mega Catholic churches down south. That's where everyone is living now. So with a larger population base, they have more talent to draw from. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it)

[ram]

population may be a factor but weather is too. In johnstown there is about 4 to 5 months of baseball weather, in the other states like TX and FL they are playing in year round leagues. I believe it has officially changed that football is the northern sport and baseball is the southern sport. Take a look at the back of new baseball cards sometime, it seems ike 75% of the kids are from Cal, TX, FL, the Carolinas or the Dominican.

Has anyone heard any rumors or confirmations of who is going into the 2009 hall of fame class? I heard rumors last year but nothing since...

[jkinger26]

I know for sure that Dean Albany former Baltimore Manager is being inducted.

[nolawinner]

The regional format and the slotting of the teams in the AAABA is antiquated and obsolete. With 3 decent teams and 13 clunkers the focus of the tournament should be to attract teams that are good and stocked with prospects. Baltimore and Washington are the only teams that have brought consistent prospect full rosters for the last 15 years. New Orleans has become a development team for Delgado Junior college with some good High School players from time to time.

This tourney is no longer a showcse for top talent and has not been for years....it is dying on the vine.

[BrianV]

How 'antiquated and obsolete'? There are lots of tournaments that use regionals, such as the NABF and Little League World Series. The Johnstown Boilermakers just qualified for the Pony League World Series after winning a regional. With AAABA, we need a way to get those 23 teams down to just 16.

And I guess you're not too keen on the talent at the tournament if you consider Baltimore, Washington, and New Orleans to be only 'decent' teams. My general impression has been that talent has waned over the decades, but we just recently had a 2003 alumni pitch for the Pirates. I think there's still plenty of talent at the tournament, but I think the scouts have been fewer and fewer. Good players are playing here, but very few are being discovered here. (Which is also a product of how scouting has changed over the decades)

I agree that the tournament is dying, though, and its because all the people in charge of it are dying, too. How many people directly involved are under 60? There needs to be a greater push to attract new teams and franchises to the tournament. (Which would only increase the regional process, of course) Beckley was a great addition, but they folded. Hopefully Toledo will stick around.

Brian_V

[nolawinner]

Jul 9, 2009 16:42:01 GMT -4 jkinger26 said:

The Clark Griifith League is a AAABA qualifier league. The Senators decided not to participate after the 03 tournament when they lost to Johnstown in the semi-finals. Yes, they did believe there were some questionable calls. The Mc Clean Raiders from my understanding were operated by the same guy who operates the Senators. I guess they want to come back and become a force in the AAABA again.

Why don't you go back to see the films of the 2003 coverage on your news stations, the game was an out right cheat job!!! This year the oldtimers screw Baltimore after cheating Washington, this tournament is going to have more girl scouts watching it than pro baseball scouts. Johnstown can thank the oldtimers for this one.

[BrianV]

How did the Old Timers screw Baltimore and cheat Washington this year? I'm especially curious about the Washington part . . .

Brian_V

[smalltown]

AAAbA has lost some of its luster do to many college summer leagues springing up around the country over the years. The oldtimers didn't have any control over that. The WBC attracts most of those better teams for their tournament.

[smalltown]

The regionals have been part of the tournament for years. There is a national board of governors that vote on the national tournament structure. This is not determined by the oldtimers.