Ok I have a beef with the LL championships on ESPN

[Liter22]

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They have nice uniforms lol
Who are these umps? are they just blind, near sited, far sited or what! I mean GOD a ball a foot high and 5 inches outside called a damn strike!
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:angry::angry::angry:............................. O < the last pitch of the game
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:angry: :angry: :angry:

[GiveHyzduashot]

My only beef is that idiotic coach from Virginia who let a 12 year old throw 140 pitches last night. That's way too many for a major leaguer, let alone a 12 year old. It's tough to figure out why there are so many arm problems these days. :hmm:

[Misha77Piazza]

Originally posted by GiveHyzduashot
My only beef is that idiotic coach from Virginia who let a 12 year old throw 140 pitches last night. That's way too many for a major leaguer, let alone a 12 year old. It's tough to figure out why there are so many arm problems these days. :hmm:

:yikes:


140 PITCHES?!? THAT'S F*CKING NUTS FOR 12 YEAR OLD KID....HELL, EVEN FOR A MAJOR LEAGUER, TOO! I WOULD HAVE THROWN TOMATOES AT THAT IDIOTIC COACH! :angry: Hope that pitcher's arm won't be damaged badly in future. :ohno:

[GiveHyzduashot]

Yep ... actually, it was only 139, but I didn't want to sound too specific. :P

He threw 122 in five innings, so then I counted the pitch count for the sixth inning.

The kid was bigger than most 12 year olds, but that's still no excuse for a 12 year old to throw that many pitches in 6 innings.

He'll almost definitely have arm problems. Chances are this wasn't anything new for the kid, he's probably thrown over 100 a good bit. If I was the parent of that kid, I'd be in the dugout demanding he be taken out of the game. That many pitches is just an insane amount.

[Liter22]

I found this web site that says that a kid 12-14 should not even throw anything over 70 pitches at the most. It's a preety niftey site if you want to learn some things or ask some people about pitching. www.pitching.com:biggrin:

[Misha77Piazza]

Originally posted by GiveHyzduashot
If I was the parent of that kid, I'd be in the dugout demanding he be taken out of the game. That many pitches is just an insane amount.

I would have done the same thing if that happens to my kid or would have gone to the mound to yank him! ;) Just kidding about going to the mound. But I would have done that. Luckily, my kid isn't really a pitcher even though he pitched mostly in relief once in a while. It is wrong to push the young pitchers over the limit.


Yeah, Liter, I recalled 70 pitches or under is the right number for Little Leaguers.

Some Little League coaches sometimes are going overboard with the players by keeping them in the game a bit too long rather than replacing some every few innings just because all they want is winning the whole thing. :hmm: I believe in giving every kid his/her playing time no matter how bad or good they are in order to help them improve their skills. But the most important for the kids is TO ENJOY PLAYING THE BASEBALL AND HAVE FUN regardless whether they win or lose. That's my belief.

[rockin500]

did this manager learn from the Cubs? lol. The cubs managers over the years havent been too kind to pitchers (just ask Wood).

[et2007]

Yea i throw only about 70 when i pitch.(i'm 13) 140 is crazy though. My coaches would never let me or my teammates throw that many. I wonder if the kid wanted to get out of the game?

[Trots]

Sorry, but it's apparently time for my annual refrain. I have a beef with the LL Series, too. There is no reason for it to be on ESPN. In fact, it has no reason to be on tv period. I'm sorry, it was cute when the championship game came on once a year, but this extended coverage is somewhere between stupid and exploitation.

The reason we are seeing overage players, ridiculous pitch counts and the like is because we've made this event too important. It's perceived significance has only been elevated by this prolonged tv coverage.

I remember hearing about "Little League Parents" thirty years ago when no one but them watched these games. Does anyone really think that putting regional coverage (I can't even believe the sound of that) of the Series on tv will curtail the overzealous parents, coaches and kids? For 99.9% of them, this is their shot at celebrity. None of them is going to pass it up. (For the handful that have some common sense and refuse to tolerate the nonsense, there are hundreds more willing to take their place.)

As I stated, there always has been and there always will be obsessed parents, coaches and players. However, by broadcasting these games on the same network, in prime time, right along side pre-season NFL, MLB and NASCAR, we are only validating these peoples' notions of the event's importance.

I'd love to see these games removed from the broadcast schedules, but I realize Pandora's Box has opened and there is nor turning back.

(Do we keep threads in the system for a year? If so, I can just cut and paste in 365 days.)

[Hurricane Floyd]

Originally posted by GiveHyzduashot
Yep ... actually, it was only 139, but I didn't want to sound too specific. :P

He threw 122 in five innings, so then I counted the pitch count for the sixth inning.

The kid was bigger than most 12 year olds, but that's still no excuse for a 12 year old to throw that many pitches in 6 innings.

He'll almost definitely have arm problems. Chances are this wasn't anything new for the kid, he's probably thrown over 100 a good bit. If I was the parent of that kid, I'd be in the dugout demanding he be taken out of the game. That many pitches is just an insane amount. most parents aren't like that though. They'd be pissed the minute you took him OUT of the game.

[GiveHyzduashot]

Brian, I agree with you for the most part. I don't care if I don't see a regional finals, but I do like it when the actual tournament is televised. That's some pretty good baseball for players who play just because they love the game. Too bad MLB can't take notice. :hmm:

Floyd, I'm sorry, but if I am the parent of that kid, as soon as he reaches 80-90 at the absolute most I'm taking him out of the game. I know most parents wouldn't do that and would be mad if the kid was taken out of the game, but I don't think they'll be especially happy three or four years from now when their kid needs to either have reconstructive arm surgery if this continues, or quit baseball to prevent arm surgery. I don't think the kid will be too happy either, when he's old enough to have kids of his own and realizes he has permanent arm damage because, as a 12 year old, his coach let him throw over 100 pitches consistently and 140 in one night.

[Misha77Piazza]

Originally posted by Hurricane Floyd
most parents aren't like that though. They'd be pissed the minute you took him OUT of the game.

Obviously, most parents do get pissed when their kids are taken out of the game but they DON'T REALIZE the real reason that the kids do NEED a break from time to time to prevent some further injuries that may come up one day. What do the parents do to their kids has me turn off completely are: They keep pushing their kids over the limit on the practice. They chew off the coaches' ears to keep the kids in the game or put them in the correct position, etc. When they have the two hours practice, once the practice is over, some parents (most of them are fathers) stayed on the field to keep playing with their kids. That infuriates me the most. I usually talk with my kid after the practice to figure out what was wrong with his fielding, batting, catching and pitching and the NEXT DAY I'd take him to the field to work on his skill that he has a problem with. I always have no problem seeing my kid taken out of the game or putting him in at later innings. I remembered last year when he was with All-Star, he was sick but insisted on playing the game. He told me not to tell his coach. But when he pitched a bad inning and looked so tired and rubbery, I told his coach to yank him out so I can take him home to get him in a bed, LOL. Sure enough his coach listened to me and yanked him out. My kid was relieved when he got in a bed. :hmm: He only had a swimmer's ear but recovered from cold flu a few days before that game.

I agree with Trot on too much coverage of Little League on TV. I don't think that is a big deal to have them on TV. Even though my son likes watching it but not to watch the whole game though. Just keep the kids out of limelights. Being on TV would put too much pressure on the kids and coaches as well. IMO

[Misha77Piazza]

Originally posted by GiveHyzduashot


Floyd, I'm sorry, but if I am the parent of that kid, as soon as he reaches 80-90 at the absolute most I'm taking him out of the game. I know most parents wouldn't do that and would be mad if the kid was taken out of the game, but I don't think they'll be especially happy three or four years from now when their kid needs to either have reconstructive arm surgery if this continues, or quit baseball to prevent arm surgery. I don't think the kid will be too happy either, when he's old enough to have kids of his own and realizes he has permanent arm damage because, as a 12 year old, his coach let him throw over 100 pitches consistently and 140 in one night.

I agree with you on that!

[Trots]

Josh, I guess I'm just too cynical, but I don't believe for a minute that these kids are all playing for the love of the game. Much in the same way, I don't think kids (or adults, for that matter) collect baseball cards for the love of the game.

I'm sure many kids do play because they love it, I just am dubious of how many of them get as far as the LLWS.

[GiveHyzduashot]

Your point is well taken, Brian. Maybe at the LLWS level they don't play because they love the game, but I do think most little leaguers play because they like the game and not because their parents force them into it.

Also, I do think kids collect baseball cards because they love the game. I don't think at 12 years old (not yet) they collect for the money in them IMO.

[Hurricane Floyd]

Originally posted by GiveHyzduashot

Floyd, I'm sorry, but if I am the parent of that kid, as soon as he reaches 80-90 at the absolute most I'm taking him out of the game. I know most parents wouldn't do that and would be mad if the kid was taken out of the game, but I don't think they'll be especially happy three or four years from now when their kid needs to either have reconstructive arm surgery if this continues, or quit baseball to prevent arm surgery. I don't think the kid will be too happy either, when he's old enough to have kids of his own and realizes he has permanent arm damage because, as a 12 year old, his coach let him throw over 100 pitches consistently and 140 in one night. I agree that they should be taken out probably before 80 pitches. but like i said I don't think that is how a lot of parents feel. But if the kid has had enough why not tell the coach then that you've had enough? your the only one to blame. I know when I played LL our coach would ask us how were doing if we could pitch more etc. If you want to be the hero fine then you may have to suffer in the end.

[Liter22]

Originally posted by Hurricane Floyd
I agree that they should be taken out probably before 80 pitches. but like i said I don't think that is how a lot of parents feel. But if the kid has had enough why not tell the coach then that you've had enough? your the only one to blame. I know when I played LL our coach would ask us how were doing if we could pitch more etc. If you want to be the hero fine then you may have to suffer in the end.

The only problem with that is some kids 10 -14 may not really not know their limits or the team may be playing with no bench which has been an experiance of my team this year. The pitcher would always tell coach that he was ok and then by the 4th inning he would be walking people left and right and giving up huge line drives since he odvisoley didn't know his limits:hmm: one reason why my team was .500:hmm: :pout:

[Hurricane Floyd]

Originally posted by Liter22

then by the 4th inning he would be walking people left and right and giving up huge line drives since he odvisoley didn't know his limits:hmm: one reason why my team was .500:hmm: :pout: well then it should be time for him to sit down. But usually there is always enough people to play since like everyone plays everywhere. Pitcher may go to first base and then the first basemen then goes to pitch.

[Misha77Piazza]

A play stoppage

Little Leaguers should have their demands heard, too
Posted: Monday August 05, 2002 12:01 PM

It's time for the players to go on strike. We all know how damaging it could be to the game, especially coming so close to the World Series, but a strike is the only way for the players to get what they want, what they need, what they deserve. When it comes to baseball, I'm on their side all the way, because, let's face it, the players are the game.

Not major league players. Who cares about them? I'm talking about Little Leaguers.

The Little League World Series will be nationally televised later this month, which means the youngsters have leverage right now. Listen carefully, kids: Walk out. Take a hike. Tell your parents and coaches that until they give in to your demands, you'll be spending your free time skateboarding without a helmet, zoning out on your PlayStation 2 and sitting really close to the TV so you strain your eyes. (Parents hate that.)

You kids should form a union and get yourselves a smart, charismatic leader, not like that sourpuss, Donald Fehr, who's the head of the big leaguers' union. Bill Cosby would be a wise choice because he's good with kids. He'll make sure the public stays on your side, and for long negotiating meetings he'd probably have those Jell-O Pudding Pops for everybody. Here's the list of demands he should present on your behalf:


Less television exposure: There's no reason for ABC and ESPN to televise the LLWS, as they will again this year. Eleven- and 12-year-olds don't need the pressure of performing in front of national television audiences. They run the risk of developing swelled heads if they succeed, or suffering lasting embarrassment if they fail. My son's team won the city Little League championship last month -- Yeah, I'm bragging. It's one of the perks of having a column -- and it got a nice write-up in the local weekly paper. That's all the recognition a kid that age needs.


More parental self-control: In youth sports, it's the parents who should be seen and not heard. At least, they shouldn't be heard disputing umpires' calls, arguing with parents from the other team or yelling at their kid to change his batting stance while the pitch is on its way to the plate. According to the New York Post, three New Jersey fields no longer have bleachers along the first- and third-base lines or behind the backstop. All the seats are beyond the outfield fence. Great idea. If parents and other spectators can't just cheer positively for the kids, they should be kept as far away as possible.


Lessons in sportsmanship for every adult: Last year it was the Danny Almonte fiasco. This year, coaches of one Little League team that had no chance of advancing in a tournament allegedly told their players to intentionally lose a game in order help another team from the same town that did have a chance to advance. If the grownups don't understand the concept of playing hard and playing fair, how are the kids supposed to?

Obviously there are an overwhelming number of mature, responsible adults involved with Little League who set nothing but the best example for young players. But maybe the only way to get the message across to the minority who suck the fun out of the game is to have a work -- or, rather, a play -- stoppage. The fear for the major leaguers is that another strike or lockout will drive more fans away from the sport, that eventually, aside from the players, there will hardly be anybody at the games. For Little Leaguers, that might be the best thing that could happen.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Phil Taylor writes about a Hot Button issue every Monday on CNNSI.com.