Saturday, December 5, 2009
Why the Alaska Baseball League Rules.
Over at the Summer League Forums we have been having a little discussion about how the various collegiate summer leagues rank in comparison to each other. It seems that a lot of the other summer leagues are really kicking it up a notch and giving the ABL (and maybe even the mighty Cape Cod League?) a run for its money.
Let's face it, there are lots of other great summer leagues out there now, something that couldn't be said ten years ago. And while that might mean more people dipping into the talent pool, I don't see that as a bad thing. It means more choice for top-notch players, more opportunities for talented guys from lesser-known schools or who haven't been hyped as much, and a chance to bring collegiate summer ball to more fans across the country. It's good for the game.
But does that mean that the ABL is in decline? Are the glory days of Alaskan summer ball well behind us now? Is it time to just get out of the way and let the new blood take over? You've got to be kidding me!
There may be a lot of other top-tier summer leagues out there now. Maybe some of them crank out more high draft picks, draw more scouts, or have a more "professional" appearance. But none of them will ever replace the ABL. There are too many things unique to the Alaska League that no one else can ever emulate.
First of all, the ABL is the tough league. The Cape Cod League might be a lot more glamorous, but those guys are coddled (maybe they should change the name to "Cape Coddled League", right?) They're put up in some millionaire's vacation home and have a 15 minute commute to road games. In Alaska, it's all about staying some host family's basement and cheap motels. It's about taking all-day bus trips halfway across a state that's bigger than most countries. It's kinda like playing in the low minor leagues, which is why -- moreso back in the old days, but still -- college coaches are sending their top prospects up north to toughen them up a little bit.
Need another reason? How about the history? The Alaska Baseball League is one of the original collegiate summer leagues. All of these up-and-comers might feature a lot of flashy prospects and cool logos or whatever. But when an ABL player steps onto the field, he's walking on the same grass as some of the greatest players to ever pick up a bat or ball.
Is there any amateur baseball club in America that's as legendary as the Goldpanners? If there is, I haven't heard of them. And that's pretty big coming from me, because as an ardent UAA Seawolves fan I am inherently programmed to hate all things to come out of Fairbanks.
Finally, no league will ever be the same as the ABL because no league is Alaskan. If I were a college player, and my coach said to me "I'll recommend you to a summer ball team. Where do you want to go? Texas? Florida? New England? Alaska?" there would be no doubt in my mind which one I would choose.
I guess I can't speak for everyone. Maybe some young men would rather go play somewhere that's exactly the same as every other suburban hell in America. Maybe it's the league that draws the most big-league scouts that they choose. Maybe they want to stay closer to their mommies or their girlfriends. But Alaska is one of those places that people dream their whole lives about visiting. Who dreams about visiting Hyannis? Anyone?
The other leagues are becoming a lot more popular, and drawing a lot more attention from players and scouts. And of course the Cape Cod League is the big thing. It always has been and it always will be. But for players and fans who are tough enough, who have a reverence for the history of the game, and who have a sense of adventure, the choice is clear. The Alaska Baseball League is king.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Spot on with the "Cape Coddled" remark. How are guys going to get prepared for long minor league bus rides with the Cape's miniscule travel times? Give me the ABL, Northwoods, Coastal Plain, or NECBL any day of the week.
ReplyDeleteWord. The Cape Cod League is where future first-round picks go to work on becoming snobs or decide what to blow their signing bonuses on.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate this ABL Blog. The Alaska Baseball League is rugged with a gruesome schedule. 54 Games in less than 6o Days. Including Long Road Trips.
ReplyDeleteAlaska is extreme and beautiful. You like to fish? ABL is highly competive. A great place to be discovered. And many have!
Go ABL
Yeah nothing I have said should be taken to mean that there aren't top prospects in the ABL; we've turned out roughly as many Major Leaguers as the Cape Cod League has.
ReplyDeleteAnd the 54 games in 60 days is a good point; part of the appeal of summer baseball is to get college prospects use to the pro game...wood bats and playing almost every night are a part of that. The ABL really separates the men from the boys as far as potential to survive A-ball.
I appreciate and respect the Alaska League. The tradition is second to none and the experience those kids get is as realistic to minor league baseball as you can imagine.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the league is slipping. Other leagues such as the Northwoods are doing a much better job of providing players with a better overall experience. Fans, facilities, exposure are all things players seek. The ABL does nothing as a league to work on this.
I think the ABL is stuck in 1970. However pioneering certain people have been to the ABL, at some point they need to realize that it is about to be 2010.
Anon:
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comments; I disagree on some points but agree on others.
I think it's unfair to criticize their facilities for two reasons. First of all, I try to catch some Pioneer League games (rookie level, which I think is roughly on par with ABL talent-wise) every fall and their facilities aren't any better. I think the ABL's facilities are consistent with the low minors, which is an advantage in some ways. Second, I know a lot of the ABL clubs have been doing major upgrades to their parks lately, so it's not fair to claim that they aren't putting any effort into that.
I think there is room for constructive criticism, though. A couple things I would like to see: all the teams that haven't done so, and especially the main ABL site, bring their websites into the 21st century, including a centralized stats databse on the ABL site. That's one. Another thing: do more to reach out to the fans during the winter to stimulate the "die-hards". All the other leagues are firing out press releases all winter long. Look at the Summer Ball blog. The ABL is oddly silent compared to other leagues. I know there's stuff going on...throw us a bone here!
Just my two cents. Obviously I'm a huge fan so I mean everything constructively, because I want the league to have success.
Have you seen these facilities first hand?
ReplyDeleteAnchorage just had field turf put in, but, have you seen the rest of that place?
Kenai, nice playing surface but the stands are terrible.
Mat-su......enough said.
Fairbanks, seriously? A public bathroom is a better facility then that!
I agree on the web site and promotional stuff. They do need to get into the 21st century.
Haven't been to Kenai or Fairbanks.
ReplyDeleteThe other two I have been to and, while I haven't inspected every square inch inside and out, I still believe they're on par with the low-minors stadiums I've been to.
Mat-Su just installed a new outfield fence and, I believe, has been working on building a new concession stand. I should add that, while this is going on, they are predicting a $48,000 shortfall on gaming profits vs. last year. In a league of this nature I believe that is a significant amount of money.
I don't know what the financials of the league are but I imagine if we want to see these type of improvements it's up to us, the fans, to help out when asked. If I can get some info from GM's of the teams I'd like to run an article, or series of articles, about how the local communities can get more involved in supporting the teams.
The Alaskan Frontier, The Mountains, Wild life & The People are Great. All this with a hunk of Southern Hospitality! I loved going there last year to see my son while he played for the Anchorage Bucs in the ABL. As a Player he had a chance to play for some of the other Great Programs in the US. The Virginia and North-woods League. He Picked the ABL once more because of Baseball Program and the People. The Alaskan Frontier nor the ABL can be replicated. Go Bucs, Go Alaska!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, and thanks to your son for choosing to come play for us up north. Part of the fun of the league is seeing players from all over.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the things that will help the ABL is to get some more sponsors. Upgrades cost money and sponsors are the best way to get that.
ReplyDeleteI love the ABL and attend many games with my family. It is fun to watch future MLB stars in their early years. Go Bucs!
That's a great point, Mike. Since I've started writing this blog I've learned that many of the other summer ball leagues around the country are "officially sanctioned" by the NCAA and allowed to be sponsored by Major League baseball. The ABL is not one of these leagues.
ReplyDeleteThat seems a little fishy to me. It's as if MLB has bought these leagues off -- with the blessing of the NCAA -- to operate as an amateur-level minor league. Whatever the case, I think that has to do with why leagues with less history to their names seem to be more glamorous than the ABL.
In any event, I don't think it matters that much. Alaskans are fiercely independent and we do things our own way even if the money isn't in it. When I think of the type of player that exemplifies the ABL, I don't think of bonus babies and future Boras clients like they have out in the Cape (though we do get some of those). I think of scrappy players who grind it out every day and put their heart and soul into the game. As long as there are players, coaches, scouts and FANS who value that type of work ethic, I think there will always be room for the ABL.
Thanks for reading Mike! Glad to hear your input. If this blog ever becomes profitable I'll sponsor every team!