LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

[Old Pio]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

Okay, this Mexican kid just threw the first three pitches 75-78-78. What are the California kids going to do with that? That's the $64,000 question of this tournament. What are they going to do when they face a kid that throws fire from 46 feet?

Good question. 'Course those teams have to meet before we can have an answer. BTW, there's no truth to the rumor this guy is available to pinch hit for the Japanese.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABuLMaf4zFg

 

[Hammer]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

Well, one of these two, or Taipei, is likely to come out of the International bracket, and frankly, I don't see anyone beating the Californians in the American bracket this year, so we're probably going to find out the answer pretty soon. This Californian team reminds me of the Hawaiians a few years ago, only this group is flat-out mauling teams so far. We'll see...

 

[Old Pio]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

Well, one of these two, or Taipei, is likely to come out of the International bracket, and frankly, I don't see anyone beating the Californians this year, so we're probably going to find out the answer pretty soon. This Californian team reminds me of the Hawaiians a few years ago, only this group is flat-out mauling teams so far. We'll see...

Yup. Terrific play by the Japanese short stop and 2nd baseman. Very fundamentally sound. IIRC, that Hawaiian team had about five or six bangers. Although since then LL has amended the age rules again and I think some of those guys would not be eligible now.

 

[Hammer]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

That was smooth.

Apparently the Mexicans have three kids that can pitch. Japan may have to beat these kids twice to get to the final.

 

[Hammer]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

That piece of base-running might have cost Japan the game.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

Yup. Terrific play by the Japanese short stop and 2nd baseman. Very fundamentally sound. IIRC, that Hawaiian team had about five or six bangers. Although since then LL has amended the age rules again and I think some of those guys would not be eligible now.

What did they change with the age rules?

I remember it was a common occurence for teams to have some 13 year olds during the LLWS.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

This has been an outstanding game of baseball period.

Outstanding stuff on both sides. Sure some mistakes have been made, but it takes great plays sometimes too to force teams to make mistakes and both teams have certainly done that.

Tough to have a loser with this one.

 

[Hammer]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

What did they change with the age rules?

I remember it was a common occurence for teams to have some 13 year olds during the LLWS.

There are some 13 year-olds. I think I read yesterday that you cannot be 13 on May 1st.

 

[Hammer]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

Well, I wasn't rooting for Mexico, but I don't have a beef with how it ended.

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

Outstanding baseball game.

Hats off to both teams.

Mexico is certainly going to be a tough out. I don't know if anyone can match their pitching. I don't think Japan has quite the depth that they normally do. Still play tremendous fundamental baseball however.

 

[MountieBoyOz]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

My dad has been a youth baseball coach/official for nearly 30 years. Some of the parents are pushy and take things WAY too seriously. However, he says it's the most rewarding thing he can do for the community. It gives him great joy knowing that he's helping the community out and giving the kids something to do. That's why I can get past the coverage and enjoy the action.

 

[Hammer]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

And just like that, Taipei has been eliminated..........by Canada.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

My dad has been a youth baseball coach/official for nearly 30 years. Some of the parents are pushy and take things WAY too seriously. However, he says it's the most rewarding thing he can do for the community. It gives him great joy knowing that he's helping the community out and giving the kids something to do. That's why I can get past the coverage and enjoy the action.

He and you are right

 

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

Another tremendous game going on right now between Kentucky and Georgia.

Going to the 9th inning now.

 

[Hammer]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

If that turns out to be the game winner, that's a ***** of a way to lose a game.

 

[Hammer]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

I suppose that bomb to dead center kinda made that WP irrelevant.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

Props to Canada. Taipei has been beating them like a rented mule for years.

 

[RaceBoarder]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

Well, to back up my earlier post, here is why I hate the LLWS and why others give it way, WAY too much credit...

Reason 1: These "All-Star" teams are basically a lie... LL likes to play the "Anyone can make it" card... Not a chance! Most of them play together as full time travel teams outside of their "LL District" or whatever the basic zone/division is called... Sure, the kids show up for their required league games and then attend the "All Star Tryouts" that LL requires... But everything after that is pretty much set in stone before these events... These teams are put together when the kids are 8 or 9 and are polished each season until they are 12 year olds... Very few additions are made from the original core team usually... Sure, a better player might come along, but for the most part, if you aren't the "best of the best" by the time you are 9 or 10, say goodbye to hopes of playing in Williamsport...

Reason 2: These kids aren't even playing real baseball.... For the most part, the little league game is a shell of what baseball really is... For the most part, across the country at 12 years old, kids are playing full on baseball... They play on bigger diamonds (70' bases, 50' mound) with dropped 3rd strike, stealing, lead offs, balks, and "real" strategy.... The game in Williamsport is a step back from what these kids are playing in every other tournament they enter (cause remember, all these teams are full time travel teams)... They are forced to swing tiny, detuned bats as well... Again, for pretty much every kid in the US, the LL 2 1/4 inch barrel bats that LL requires are ditched by the time the kid is 10 unless they are small for their age... From age 10 and beyond, these kids are swinging full bore with a 2 5/8s inch barrel, same as HS and College... The tiny field and ubsurd rules passed these kids up many moons ago... This isn't 1970 anymore... The kids are bigger, stronger, and faster.... Let them play the real game...

Reason 3: LL somehow seems to not mention that they have just as much BS in their regional tournaments as evil travel baseball does... A team coming up to bat, trailing, in the bottom of the last inning... Seems like the kids should hit away, right? Not in LL! The past 3 years have seen numerous instances where teams have intentionally lost games because they knew the other team would lose upon protest... Things like not getting a kid an at-bat, or not having him play the field enough... The team would just go up, swing at anything, and lose after the 9 pitches... Daddy coach then runs to the tournament director and protests... Other team forefits and losing team advances... Seems like some pretty foul smelling BS to me...

Reason 4: Again, more parents here: So LL is all about protecting the kids, right? Well, why exactly do the kids need protecting? Oh yea: PARENTS! Let's look at the reason we have exact pitch count rules: Daddy Coach will come in and make Johnny throw till his arm falls off.... No 12 year old should have a full arsenal of 6-7 pitches... There is a reason why more and more teens are getting Tommy John surgery among other throwing related fixes... Here's an idea" Don't have Johnny throw a curveball every time he gets 2 strikes on a hitter... Or better yet, don't have Daddy Coach calling pitches at all... Just let the kids throw... At 12 years old, the catcher shouldn't have to wear an Under Armour sleeve with a full on pitching playbook in it... If he can't remember the 29 different signals you have for pitches/location, then don't friggin have that many calls!

Each reason I listed is a direct contradiction to what LL shows themselves to stand for during the LLWS... Yet the parents, players, and others associated with these teams flaunt it... The big thing is the travel teams and the game itself... Just admit that you are using a game that is outdated by 30+ years, and most of the beef I have goes away.... Travel baseball is part of reality, despite your best efforts... It's not something evil like you make it out to be... Just admit that is where you pull your best talent from there, and I will forgive you...

 

[Old Pio]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

Well, to back up my earlier post, here is why I hate the LLWS and why others give it way, WAY too much credit...

Reason 1: These "All-Star" teams are basically a lie... LL likes to play the "Anyone can make it" card... Not a chance! Most of them play together as full time travel teams outside of their "LL District" or whatever the basic zone/division is called... Sure, the kids show up for their required league games and then attend the "All Star Tryouts" that LL requires... But everything after that is pretty much set in stone before these events... These teams are put together when the kids are 8 or 9 and are polished each season until they are 12 year olds... Very few additions are made from the original core team usually... Sure, a better player might come along, but for the most part, if you aren't the "best of the best" by the time you are 9 or 10, say goodbye to hopes of playing in Williamsport...

Reason 2: These kids aren't even playing real baseball.... For the most part, the little league game is a shell of what baseball really is... For the most part, across the country at 12 years old, kids are playing full on baseball... They play on bigger diamonds (70' bases, 50' mound) with dropped 3rd strike, stealing, lead offs, balks, and "real" strategy.... The game in Williamsport is a step back from what these kids are playing in every other tournament they enter (cause remember, all these teams are full time travel teams)... They are forced to swing tiny, detuned bats as well... Again, for pretty much every kid in the US, the LL 2 1/4 inch barrel bats that LL requires are ditched by the time the kid is 10 unless they are small for their age... From age 10 and beyond, these kids are swinging full bore with a 2 5/8s inch barrel, same as HS and College... The tiny field and ubsurd rules passed these kids up many moons ago... This isn't 1970 anymore... The kids are bigger, stronger, and faster.... Let them play the real game...

Reason 3: LL somehow seems to not mention that they have just as much BS in their regional tournaments as evil travel baseball does... A team coming up to bat, trailing, in the bottom of the last inning... Seems like the kids should hit away, right? Not in LL! The past 3 years have seen numerous instances where teams have intentionally lost games because they knew the other team would lose upon protest... Things like not getting a kid an at-bat, or not having him play the field enough... The team would just go up, swing at anything, and lose after the 9 pitches... Daddy coach then runs to the tournament director and protests... Other team forefits and losing team advances... Seems like some pretty foul smelling BS to me...

Reason 4: Again, more parents here: So LL is all about protecting the kids, right? Well, why exactly do the kids need protecting? Oh yea: PARENTS! Let's look at the reason we have exact pitch count rules: Daddy Coach will come in and make Johnny throw till his arm falls off.... No 12 year old should have a full arsenal of 6-7 pitches... There is a reason why more and more teens are getting Tommy John surgery among other throwing related fixes... Here's an idea" Don't have Johnny throw a curveball every time he gets 2 strikes on a hitter... Or better yet, don't have Daddy Coach calling pitches at all... Just let the kids throw... At 12 years old, the catcher shouldn't have to wear an Under Armour sleeve with a full on pitching playbook in it... If he can't remember the 29 different signals you have for pitches/location, then don't friggin have that many calls!

Each reason I listed is a direct contradiction to what LL shows themselves to stand for during the LLWS... Yet the parents, players, and others associated with these teams flaunt it... The big thing is the travel teams and the game itself... Just admit that you are using a game that is outdated by 30+ years, and most of the beef I have goes away.... Travel baseball is part of reality, despite your best efforts... It's not something evil like you make it out to be... Just admit that is where you pull your best talent from there, and I will forgive you...

Nobody cares what you think, bub. Obviously you've swallowed Travel Team propaganda hook, line and sinker. Consequently, you're jealous of LL's success. Well, maybe you're right. But all of your references to esoterica ("detuned bats") doesn't change the facts on the ground. To most of us, who haven't studied and don't care, it sure looks like these kids are "playing baseball." And we enjoy watching the games. Jealousy, especially when used to criticize kids, is an especially ugly emotion. You don't like LL? You "HATE" LL? Strikes me as a bit unbalanced. And all LL has to do is do it YOUR way, and you'll FORGIVE them? Who the eff do you think you are, anyway? Do you have any idea how creepy you sound? Please peddle your conspiracy theories somewhere else, you'll not win any converts here. Because we just enjoy the games and if that makes us fools or suckers, then so be it.

This is obviously a tough time of year for you. I'd recommend takng a valium and changing the channel.

 

[Spartanforlife4]

Re: LLWS 2011 - Nothing like watching 12 year olds sob on national TV

Well, to back up my earlier post, here is why I hate the LLWS and why others give it way, WAY too much credit...

Reason 1: That didn't happen in my Little League. There was no travel team, they had the best 12 or 13 or however many we had on the team that year. Although maybe that's why we got knocked out in the 3rd round of districts.

Reason 2: The field could be made bigger if it was only the all-star teams playing, but for the regular season leagues at the local level where most are out there to have fun with their friends, the field works out perfectly. I do agree with the drop third strike rule though, that should be put in.

Reason 3: Yes, I have heard of instances like this happening, but it's not like every team from Williamsport made it there because they got the other team to forfeit five times.

Reason 4: What does this have to do with Little League? There are parents that coach in other baseball leagues, and the all mighty travel ball. Heck, the dad who coached on the travel team I was on nearly threw his kid's arm off by throwing him even after his kid told him his elbow hurt.