Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com

Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com
[ Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com ]

Athletics Mercado

Posted by SwizzleStick on January 17, 2026, 9:54 am

Heard Athletics Mercado are coming to town. Great just what we need another organization to further weaken all the teams.

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by Wherever you may roam on January 22, 2026, 8:40 pm, in reply to "Athletics Mercado"

Finding success on the field without being just another watered down “franchise” team can be done. Right mix of hard working athletes and good families with a common goal. The most recent Athletics Mercado Ohio 14u Midwest team found a way to be competitive finishing the Fall 3rd in the Heartland and 18th Nationally in the Alliance rankings with 13 new athletes and 2 Mom coaches. There are plenty of hard working talented athletes in the Chicagoland area and thru out the Midwest. At the end of the day it is 100% about finding the right fit wherever that may be.

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by New rumor on January 22, 2026, 11:20 am, in reply to "Athletics Mercado"

Let's water down another great organization lol. How about IMG - Southwestern, MI?

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by @New on January 22, 2026, 3:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Athletics Mercado"

From your perspective it may be watering down a great organization. From their POV, it's an income stream. Maybe they have a better plan that will allow it to work. Who knows.

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by Jerry maguire on January 22, 2026, 3:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Athletics Mercado"

Show me the money!!

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by Not watered down - fertilized! on January 22, 2026, 2:42 pm, in reply to "Re: Athletics Mercado"

While we're looking at this from the bottom up (i.e., that local talent will get disbursed across more teams), that's not how the national orgs look at things.

Every new franchise is fertilizing the national team - the one team per age level in each org - and its ability to win T25, IDT and PGF/Alliance.

How do they do that?

Those national teams - the real ones, loaded with P4 commits - are partially or completely subsidized by the other franchises. Many of those rosters don't pay anything - fees, equipment, travel.

It's a great deal if you're the type of player that can make it to that level, and you can argue that the prominence of the org or the national team is what helps some franchises get into tournaments or get a college coach's eye.

But if you're playing for XVZ Big Boy organization and not even seeing your org's national team in the tournaments you're playing in, you should know that your experience is just not the same.

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by Hmm on January 18, 2026, 10:03 am, in reply to "Athletics Mercado"

It would make more sense for some of the one off teams or orgs that have one or two teams to merge under Mercado but they will not. If it was for the kids that would be a no brainer but it’s not for the kids it’s for the money. Mercado might not want them anyway.

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by Well on January 17, 2026, 8:31 pm, in reply to "Athletics Mercado"

Who’s coaching?
Who’s handling recruiting?

Until you have these answers, nobody cares.

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by What about on January 17, 2026, 6:32 pm, in reply to "Athletics Mercado"

How about the Indiana Chill?

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by Blue wave on January 18, 2026, 12:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Athletics Mercado"

This is no different from
Blue wave/ Batbusters/ wildcats
RUN AWAY

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by Thunderbolts? on January 18, 2026, 10:33 am, in reply to "Re: Athletics Mercado"

Wisconsin - Birmingham Thunderbolts?

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by Eric Cartman on January 17, 2026, 4:21 pm, in reply to "Athletics Mercado"

I hope they got Georgia six or seven times

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by Right on January 19, 2026, 12:44 am, in reply to "Re: Athletics Mercado"

Those would be great tournaments!

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by KB on January 19, 2026, 5:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Athletics Mercado"

Rumor is Bauer purchased another name

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by Effect on January 21, 2026, 6:57 am, in reply to "Re: Athletics Mercado"

This will most likely only effect
The cheetahs
Sluggers
Windy City
Not a real big deal

Re: Athletics Mercado

Posted by @KB on January 20, 2026, 8:03 am, in reply to "Re: Athletics Mercado"

ahhhhh, yes. but does he have the coaches?

« Back to index

[ Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com ]