I created a thread a couple weeks back asking for coaches to send stats because I'm bringing back the Tribune hitting and pitching Leaderboard. I also felt posting stats helps keep everyone honest, creates more interest in the area, and helps to publicize our players. A few schools have sent stats to our office and some have started posting them on MaxPreps, however I got an email from Northview coach Darren Murphy, asking that I talk to their team captain about this subject. I'm not revealing his name, but the captain said the Vikings had a team vote, and voted not to have their stats posted either on MaxPreps or in the Tribune. He said they're focusing on the team goals and not the individual achievements. He said the players don't care what their stats look like, as long as their winning, and by posting them it could serve as some distraction.
Fred's thoughts:I respect the players vote but don't agree with it. With winning comes more exposure, more pressure, more articles, and a higher profile. I don't think posting stats is a distraction, and if it is, great teams need to learn how to deal with distractions, and so do the area's best players. I'm watching 16-year-old kids on American Idol get blasted by Simon every week, yet they learn how to deal with it in front of millions of people and hundreds of blogs. Think of the pressure teenage gymnasts or figure skaters go through during the Olympics, or teenage actors that become famous way to quick. It's the territory that comes with being talented. I don't think in our little universe called the San Gabriel Valley posting stats should be such a HUGE deal. And by coming out and declaring they will not post stats the way they did, it probably brings more attention that simply sending in the stats. After all, we're just posting the leaders, not the guys batting .225. But hey, I respect it, it's their decision.
To read my comments on this subject two weeks ago, click thread.
Tribune Area Leaders
HITTING
Player, team, Avg., AB, Hits, RBI
Jordan Fox, Bishop Amat, .667, 30, 20, 8
Mark Reynso, Western Christian, .621, 29, 18, NA
David Munoz, Sierra Vista, .594, 32, 19, NA
Darren Dworak, Damien, .560, 25, 14, NA
Michael Edwards, Glendora, .552, 29, 16, NA
Adam Brenes, Rosemead, .550, 20, 11, NA
Miguel Lopez, Sierra Vista, .548, 31, 17, NA
Mark Garcia, Damien, .524, 21, 11, NA
Tommy Reyes, Bishop Amat, .500, 26, 13, 8
Oscar Moreno, Duarte, .480, 25, 12, NA
Danny Pertusati, Damien, .478, 23, 11, NA
Michael Lomelli, Sierra Vista, .467, 30, 14, NA
Andrew Mistone, Bishop Amat, .462, 26, 12, 10
Ray Ortega, Damien, .458, 24, 11, NA
Ryan Daniels, Duarte, .440, 25, 11, NA
Carlos Camerena, Rosemead, .429, 28, 12, NA
Jiovanni Mier, Bonita, .429, 28, 12, NA
Tony Llorens, Western Christian, .423, 26, 11, NA
Matt Orosco, Wilson, .400, 25, 10, NA
Andy Tomsio, Wilson, .385, 26, 10, NA
Jordan Leyland, San Dimas, .375, 24, 9, 7
Note: Minimum 20 at bats.
PITCHING
Player, team, ERA, IP, SO, W-L
Chris Drossel, San Dimas, .000, 8, NA, 0-1
Nick Amerhein, Damien, 0.87, 16, NA, 3-0
Brandon McNitt, Bishop Amat, 1.16, 12, 6, 2-0
Mark McMahon, Western Christian, 1.40, 15, NA, 2-0
James Janclaes, Glendora, 1.41, 24, NA, 3-1
Jason Plowman, Bonita, 1.52, 18, NA, 2-1
Michael Faram, Duarte, 1.75, 28, NA, 4-0
Brady Zuniga, Bishop Amat, 1.84, 19, 22, 4-1
John Molina, Rosemead, 1.86, 15, NA, 1-1
Drew Kreimann, Wilson, 2.69, 26, NA, 2-2
To post stats, submit to MaxPreps, email them to fred.robledo@sgvn.com or fax to 626-856-2758.
The debate is whether baseball or softball coaches should post their rosters and stats to Maxpreps, which is where most of us find our statistical information on the high school sports scene. At the Star-News I always applauded the Rio Hondo league, because with the exception of Blair, everyone reported everything on a regular basis. I knew how to compare pitchers, infielders, and it made it so easy to list the top performers in the West San Gabriel Valley, and it was valuable when picking all-area teams. I also thought it kept everyone honest, because you could see how players are doing on a game-by-game basis, instead of being surprised at the end of the year when a coach turns in final stat numbers that you think are questionable. Baseball and softball stats aren't only important to newspapers and fans following the sport, but it's great publicity for the athletes, especially when so many community college and major universities surf Maxpreps on a daily basis looking for that diamond in the rough. Today I wanted to breakdown the Valle Vista League, arguably the most competitive in the valley. I went to Maxpreps to look at the Valle Vista League standings and it was pathetic. The only team providing stat information was Pomona. Nothing from San Dimas. Nothing from Covina. Nothing from Baldwin Park. Nothing from Ganesha. Not even a roster from Northview. The reasoning I always hear is that coaches don't want to be scouted. It's such a poor excuse when they all know each other so well anyway. I'm so tired of this over-thinking and silly gamesmanship. Is it a level playing field when other schools provide information and some don't? Good for Pomona, at least they don't hide from anyone. The bottom line is that this is about the players (which is what the coaches keep telling me), and if you polled the players, I'd bet anything they would want to be on MaxPreps, especially those who work so hard and deserve their recognition. C'mon coaches, it's so much better to know how our local heroes are doing. Don't deprive us of that. Back in the day coaches faxed their weekly stats to us, but those days are so long ago. It's all about the web
