Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich Ives
And you got your MD degree and orthopedic certitfication where?
The reports and studies from the medical community are not fully completed but the preliminary findings are that it's overuse and fatigue that are the problem. Seek them out yourself.
In the meantime, who invented the batting helmet? Who requires breakaway bases? Who was first to require ear coverage on catcher's helmets? Who banned head first slides while advancing? Who requires fencing in front of dugouts? Who requires background checks? Who prohibits on deck batters, including swinging the bat before going to the plate? Who has lighting standards for lighted fields?
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Sorry Dr. Ives, how ignorant of me to have an opinion on this matter sans an MD degree / orthopedic certification.
1) Find me a study that indisputable proves that throwing curveballs prior to age 14 does no damage to an arm. I'll help you with this.....there isn't one. But that's ok, we'll risk blowing a ligament on Bert Blyleven Jr.'s 12 year old arm because having him throw all those sweepers to the other 12 year olds will certainly lock up that scholly to LSU in 5 years, or for that matter, insure that high draft pick and weekly visits from Scott Boras.
My opinion is my own, backed up by personal experience and shared by Dr. James Andrews. (I think he meets your criteria listed above)
2) The batting helmet was invented and first used in 1905. Not sure what that has to do with Little League.
3) The other items you refer to are not exclusive to Little League. As a side note to that, I find it odd that after 85 pitches, they will allow for the pitcher to go to 3rd, SS, or the OF....... yet they had to create a "special pinch runner" so they can participate more than the "minumum".