Little League World Series...

by JW on Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:37 am

I was watching Sportcenter one night and started wondering why in the world there is such a thing as a little league world series. As for my background, I played baseball for 15 years and was a part of a couple of all star teams. While I enjoyed playing those games and playing baseball, I did not enjoy when some kids parent would be yelling at him (or me for that matter) from the stands. The Little League World Series has taken the importance of winning to a whole new extreme, as opposed to the importance of fun (especially for that age). I was watching this highlight of a walk-off home run (which I think is pretty ridiculous how many home runs these kids hit. It makes me wonder if they are playing on the right size field for their age group. Another discussion) and the kid's were no doubt excited as they would be. But the thing that got me was the parents jumping around and yelling at the top of their lungs. It was a crazy sight for me.

Should there be a Little League World Series? who remembers the team that won it last year?

I think it has become ridiculous how much emphasis we have on winning in sports. People say becoming a winner in sports will make you a winner in life. Not true. How many of us would say that we have been successful in life. Now how many of us would say that we were on winning little league teams (football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, hockey). The only winning teams I was on were my Lacrosse teams in college. i would consider myself a winner in life.

When did winning your league not become good enough. If you want to have a High School World Series by all means. But these Kids are too young to be on ESPN.

I for one am boycotting the LLWS.

But just do your best kids and have fun.

**Sponsor**

by **bste_lax** on Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:54 am

I understand your point but the LLWS is honestly one of my favorite things to watch. No egos, no big contracts, just kids playing baseball plus the games are always crazy with some 5-run bottom of the sixth inning with 3 errors causing the game to go into extra innings.

by JW on Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:40 am

bste_lax wrote:I understand your point but the LLWS is honestly one of my favorite things to watch. No egos, no big contracts, just kids playing baseball plus the games are always crazy with some 5-run bottom of the sixth inning with 3 errors causing the game to go into extra innings.

Why are those games like that? Pressure. The pressure to win is so great that the routine plays that these kids would normally make don't.

It isn't just about the kids. They show more shots of the parents and friends and families of the players than in any sport i have ever watched.

I think asking 11 and 12 year olds to be on ESPN is ridiculous. We talk all the time about marketing college athletes and taking advantage of them.

Do the leagues represented in the LLWS see in funding from the advertising dollars that ESPN makes, or does ESPN get to simply profit at the expense of 11 and 12 year olds.

by **bste_lax** on Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:43 am

JW wrote:
bste_lax wrote:I understand your point but the LLWS is honestly one of my favorite things to watch. No egos, no big contracts, just kids playing baseball plus the games are always crazy with some 5-run bottom of the sixth inning with 3 errors causing the game to go into extra innings.

Why are those games like that? Pressure. The pressure to win is so great that the routine plays that these kids would normally make don't.

Or it could be the fact they are 11 and 12 and don't have the skills of a major league player to make plays on a routine basis.

Heck, when I played on a rec team in high school, we would commit about 2-3 bad plays/errors a game.

by **sohotrightnow** on Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:56 am

Why are those games like that? Pressure. The pressure to win is so great that the routine plays that these kids would normally make don't.

Ever hear of Alex Rodriguez? That guy is good for at least one of these a game.

by **shrekjr** on Sun Aug 20, 2006 10:52 am

JW wrote:Do the leagues represented in the LLWS see in funding from the advertising dollars that ESPN makes, or does ESPN get to simply profit at the expense of 11 and 12 year olds.

The individual leagues around the country get nothing but their city's name mentioned a lot.

by JW on Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:35 am

shrekjr wrote:
JW wrote:Do the leagues represented in the LLWS see in funding from the advertising dollars that ESPN makes, or does ESPN get to simply profit at the expense of 11 and 12 year olds.

The individual leagues around the country get nothing but their city's name mentioned a lot.

Yes, but what does that do for the city. No parent is going to move their family to a spare suburban town so that child can play little league baseball in that city. At least in College athletics the advertising aids in recruiting for athletics and the school in general.

by **mholtz** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:42 pm

I might make an argument that an emphasis on winning, as opposed to just playing the game is a good thing.

The kids these days that are coming out of college have been in the "everyone gets a trophy" leagues for years now. They get to their job, and don't understand why their boss doesn't appreciate them just for being there. They don't understand that they have to work hard to compete in real life.

I'd have to say that I think that competition, not winning, prepares us for life.

just my $0.02.

by **TexOle** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:18 pm

I am not a fan of televising all of the LLWS games. As someone going in to education I can tell you that many of these kids will miss school for baseball. One of my biggest complaints is the pitching. I have never seen so many curveballs. There is little strategy. Others place the focus on winning at all costs. I am not really sure how this affects a players mental and physical health.

A few observations from this year:

That kid from Saudi Arabia is huge. Barry should look to him to see what can happen without the juice.

Did anyone see the coach hit the kid who dropped the f-bomb in his microphone?

by **mholtz** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:50 pm

From what the coaches will tell you, they only "grip the ball properly" to throw a curve. If you believe that, I have a bridge in New York with your name all over it.

I think I heard somewhere that only 3 or 4 players from the LLWS have ever made it to the majors.

If you watch the games, you see the pitchers are usually the best athletes.

Curve balls at age 13, and the pitchers being the best players, and only 3 players ever making it to the majors... coincidence?

Overall, I think that competition for kids is good, but I do think there is a point to be made about blowing kids arms out before they hit puberty.

I've heard a sports doctor say that he would like to see curve balls banned in high school. These kids shouldn't be throwing those pitches until their body is fully matured.

by **bste_lax** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:57 pm

I'm not arguing kids shouldn't be throwing curve balls at this age, I agree with that.

But I believe more than 3 players have made the majors. 22 according to this article - http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/statit ... le_league/

It also talks about players from other sports as well.

Chris Drury of the Buffalo Sabres (won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche) played in the LLWS.

Iowa has a freshmen on their football team which was on the Davenport, Iowa team 6 years ago. He was their "big" 6 foot guy for those that watch and might remember some of these teams.

by **Danny Hogan** on Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:41 am

i have heard that the entire LLWS teams are made of of kids that pitch for their normal teams. I guess it makes sense that the best kids are pitchers at that age?

by JW on Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:52 am

I am not against having the Kids play for a league or city championship, or even a state championship at that age. But to take them out of school and have them play in a World Series is a bit extreme. I am not against pushing kids to excel in a given activity. I don't like the everyones a winner mentality, but I don't like 11 and 12 year olds being put through this much at this age. I have 11 and 12 year old brothers and I couldn't imagine the stress that they would be going through having to keep up with school and baseball.

As for the Curveball thing. The greatest thing my dad ever did for me was not teach me how to throw a curveball. It taught me how to be an accurate thrower and strengthened my arm. If they taught kids how to throw a fastball and a good changeup, they would be just as unhittable. Kids who throw hard would still throw hard. The most important thing about pitching is accuracy. If you can hit the corners and change speeds you will get people out. You don't have to throw curveballs.

Even if 22 kids have made it to the Bigs, that is still not a lot comparitively. What would it be like if the best 11 and 12 year old hockey teams or the best 11 or 12 pee wee football teams met up for something like this. I think it would be too physically and mentaly straining.

by **StrykerFSU** on Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:59 am

I agree with just about everything that has already been said. I find no need to watch 27 preliminary games, just televise the final and let's be done with it. And enough with the parent interviews, I couldn't care less that Susie Stagemom thinks her son is the best baseball player out there...cut the oranges and shut up!

by **Sonny** on Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:04 am

StrykerFSU wrote:I couldn't care less that Susie Stagemom thinks her son is the best baseball player out there...cut the oranges and shut up!

LOL!

Public schools have already started here in GA. If the LLWS team from Columbus, GA makes the final game - their kids will miss 3 weeks of school at the beginning of the school year.