Rants & Raves: Is Our Baseball Preview Right On or All Wrong?

Editor's Note: The 2009 baseball/softball preview in our March magazines generated some passionate Rants & Raves e-mails this month. Here are some samples: Your Preview Was a Joke I wish to cancel my subscription. In reading the baseball preview for DFW-TX, I saw your ranking of top players and top hitters. Clearly, you do almost no research. There were several players, including my son, who had better statistics both last spring and during the summer than several of the players you listed. It is easy to grab Coppell and Southlake Carroll players without really spending any time researching. The preview was a complete joke. My son has signed with Baylor and (name withheld) of Southlake Carroll hasn't signed. He had worse numbers, but since he plays for Carroll, he gets the love from you guys. Just call your magazine the Southlake Carroll Gazette. Scott C. Trophy Club Thanks, But No Thanks First, congratulations on a fantastic product! It's about time someone published a first-class magazine focused on high school sports. Your commitment to covering the so-called minor sports like tennis, wrestling, swimming, and fast-pitch softball is awesome! Just a word of advice, however. Unlike some other "major" sports like football, when reporting on girl's fast-pitch softball, you can not rely on high school softball coaches or local hitting/pitching facility instructors to know who the "best" players are. Most high school coaches can't name anyone outside their own district and definitely do not have a clue who the "best of the best" fast-pitch softball players are in the city. As an example, your recent Top 10 list and players to watch for girl's fast-pitch softball made most of us involved in North Texas ASA Softball roll with laughter...Your list of top pitchers wasn't even close. Anonymous If you agree or disagree with these readers, sound off with a comment. Registration is quick and easy, and will give you the power to voice your opinion for the VYPE Nation.