LL All Stars & Travel Team Question

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

I was there, Rich, so if I tell you it sucks, I am telling you the truth and at almost 60 yrs old, I am not changing my tune for you or anyone.

I'll be 67 in a couple of weeks so don't try that "old and wise" bit with me.

I started in LL in 1974. Did NOT leave after 5 years. You can work to keep things "in order" or run away and whine. You made your choice. I made mine.

So at what age should humans have to start fending for themselves versus just being in learn mode about things? Do we throw kids out of school because they aren't learning as fast as others? Should we? "Sorry kid - 3.0+ or hit the streets"!

You want competition, go elsewhere. LL is designed to let everyone play.

"Different" and "Wrong" are not synonyms.

[MD Longhorn]

Leaving an organization that is a mess is not running away. Telling others of the mess when that organization comes up in conversation is not whining.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Leaving an organization that is a mess is not running away. Telling others of the mess when that organization comes up in conversation is not whining.

REALLY?

You can stay and work to fix it or leave. But leaving isn't running away?

Bad mouthing it instead of trying to fix it is OK? Why?

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

I'll be 67 in a couple of weeks so don't try that "old and wise" bit with me.

I started in LL in 1974. Did NOT leave after 5 years. You can work to keep things "in order" or run away and whine. You made your choice. I made mine.

So at what age should humans have to start fending for themselves versus just being in learn mode about things? Do we throw kids out of school because they aren't learning as fast as others? Should we? "Sorry kid - 3.0+ or hit the streets"!

You want competition, go elsewhere. LL is designed to let everyone play.

"Different" and "Wrong" are not synonyms.

I really don't give a crap how old you are and I did not "run". Several of us tried to hang on and teach but when you are not wanted, you do not hang around. I moved on to real baseball at higher levels.

You see, LL is just like anything else on this board, Rich. There are those who like it and those that do not. I happen to be one that does not and I will express my opinion any damn time I feel like it. All I was saying is that I was there - I am not one who just bashes without knowing. And as far as that "everyone plays - no competition" crap..... yeah - go to any LL field and watch a game and tell me there is no competition between the teams, the parents, the coaches and then there is All Stars. Maybe in your little corner of NY State it all works wonderfully but it doesn't work that way from what I have seen. Please continue to revolve in your little realm, I will remain umpiring and teaching umpires doing real baseball.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

I really don't give a crap how old you are and I did not "run". Several of us tried to hang on and teach but when you are not wanted, you do not hang around. I moved on to real baseball at higher levels.

You see, LL is just like anything else on this board, Rich. There are those who like it and those that do not. I happen to be one that does not and I will express my opinion any damn time I feel like it. All I was saying is that I was there - I am not one who just bashes without knowing. And as far as that "everyone plays - no competition" crap..... yeah - go to any LL field and watch a game and tell me there is no competition between the teams, the parents, the coaches and then there is All Stars. Maybe in your little corner of NY State it all works wonderfully but it doesn't work that way from what I have seen. Please continue to revolve in your little realm, I will remain umpiring and teaching umpires doing real baseball.

Of course there's competition. But it's really about how many throats get cut doing it that's the issue. Knives don't belong in youth sports. Kids deserve the chance tp PLAY and develop, not get tossed aside at 8 or whatever. Most people understand that kids develop at different rates and that until 15 or 16 you really don't know how an athlete will end up.

The other problem is within the local organization (whether LL, Ripken, Dixie, Babe Ruth, PONY, or whatever) not the national group. You can find good and bad groups under any of the various flags. So if you want to bash - bash your local league - they are (or were) the proiblem.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

I really don't give a crap how old you are and I did not "run". Several of us tried to hang on and teach but when you are not wanted, you do not hang around. I moved on to real baseball at higher levels.

You see, LL is just like anything else on this board, Rich. There are those who like it and those that do not. I happen to be one that does not and I will express my opinion any damn time I feel like it. All I was saying is that I was there - I am not one who just bashes without knowing. And as far as that "everyone plays - no competition" crap..... yeah - go to any LL field and watch a game and tell me there is no competition between the teams, the parents, the coaches and then there is All Stars. Maybe in your little corner of NY State it all works wonderfully but it doesn't work that way from what I have seen. Please continue to revolve in your little realm, I will remain umpiring and teaching umpires doing real baseball.

I work as much HS and Legion and adult baseball as I want, so I have a perspective on "real" baseball. Little League is still baseball, no matter how much you and people like you try to put it down. I'm proud of my association with Little League and for every time you continue to bash it, I'm happy to be around to tell you and everyone else here how much joy I've gotten by being involved with the local district and with the people I've met across the country.

[kylejt]

LL is only as good as the local folks bustin' their *** at the local level.

The park I work at isn't perfect, but it's pretty close. Run by the book by a pretty hard working core of people. You'd be hard pressed to find a better place for kids to play ball.

To the north of us it's not like that at all. Hell, one league wants to leave LL altogether, and go to PONY. (They got bent out of shape because they got excluded from a post season tourney. Not paying district dues, and not attending meetings will do that). So they blame LL for not letting their kids play. Oh yeah, and their treasurer did time for grabbing $40K. Oh wait, that was the league on the south of us.

To our east and west, the play PONY. For years they've struggled to produce good high school players. And this has zero to do with the rule set, or field size. They just have poor organizations, and even worse coaches. It's that simple. Oh yeah, they're leading off, and calling balks at 9, but it doesn't seem to making a difference at age 14.

Look, LL, PONY, Dixie, Ripken, etc., it just doesn't matter what patch the kids wear on their shoulders. They're all only as good as the folks willing to step forward and make their organization work.

Oh, and "real" baseball is played at 90 feet, with wood bats, metal cleats, beer in the stands and rules that let you steamroll the catcher. Everything else is compromise for age and ability.