I’d rather see 12 year olds mashing on the traditional youth field than watch younger kids struggle on a larger field.
4 Likes
In my almost 30 years of observing that group I would say there’s little chance of that happening. They wouldn’t let me into that club and, ala Groucho Marx, I wouldn’t want to be a member of it.
4 Likes
My son played in the Cal Ripkin 10U World Series years ago. Took third. Good times & great memories.
1 Like
Disclaimer: I have volunteered at the District Level for Little League International for 20 years and have managed LLI sponsored teams in my local league for those 20 years ranging in age from 8yo to 16yo.
-
I agree that 50/70 is too much for 10 year olds. LLI allows 11yo’s to play the 50/70 version, but most are 13yo. In all leagues in our District, 11 and 12yo’s have to be ahead of the curve in talent to even have a chance of making any team at the 50/70 field competing against that older age.
-
Leading-off should not be allowed for any league where the majority of players are at or below 12 years old. I am currently managing a 12 yo team, and the 45/60 is just right for that age, even all-star level players (which are a small minority of the kids anyway).
-
The main goal of baseball for any kid 12 or under is to have fun, learn sportsmanship, and learn teamwork and cooperation with others, and that’s it. If you make the game too difficult, well, the kids just don’t play. The game needs to more inclusive for kids who don’t have a lot of talent, but want to play.
I have A LOT of opinions about youth baseball, so I won’t bore you with most of them.
4 Likes
One of my favorite baseball stats is that “Joe DiMaggio struck out only 369 times across his entire career, which included 6,821 times at bat. Only 5.4% of his at-bats resulted in a strikeout.” This put him in the “top 1,000](Strikeout Percentage All Time Leaders on Baseball Almanac), one strikeout every 18.5 times at bat.” Joe ranks 66th all-time but I don’t see any names above his that are true sluggers (power hitters) like he was. Other long-ball hitters: Ted Williams (a pure hitter) struck out 709 times, 9% of his at-bats. Mickey Mantle was at 1,710. Reggie Jackson struck out 2,597 times.
Among modern pure hitters Tony Gwynn is impressive too, striking out only 4.7% of his at-bats. He ranks 42nd.
1 Like
One thing to keep in mind is the era in which DiMaggio and Gwynn played. Not a lot of five reliever games where each guy could throw over 100 with nasty sliders and sweepers.
That is why I love watching a new kid on the block (first season 2019 and 26 years old) that reminds me a bit of Rod Carew, Luis Arraez of the Marlins, formerly of the Twins and last years AL batting champion. Currently, as of this posting, hitting .400. His career to date K to Plate Appearance percentage is 7.8%, about as well as you can do in this particular era of nasty relievers.
His career slash line is .326/.384/.421/.939 with an OPS+ of 159. Astounding.
1 Like
True. We always have to keep that in mind when comparing old-time records with the modern ones.
About Jackie Robinson:
In 1949, Jackie took over, and from '49 on he was what he wanted to be. He was the most exciting player I had ever seen. Not the best, but the most exciting. If you had a chance to win in any way and you put him up there, you had a chance. A definite chance. Jackie was the most exciting player by far. I never saw anyone like him.
We’d go to other ballparks and pack the house. Having a black player, people came to see if he was a freak, to boo him or to cheer him, whatever, but the second he got on base, you could feel the whole ballpark was on the edge of their seats. Because they knew he was going to do something. It was just a matter of time.
Jackie played baseball with such abandon. Jackie was going to do something. Steal a base. He’s the only player I’ve ever seen if he was the runner on first, and a sacrifice bunt was in order, he didn’t go to second and stop. He kept going to third. On a bunt.
It got to where on a sacrifice bunt and he was on first, the third baseman would pick it up, and instead of throwing it, he’d stand there and hold it to stop him from going to third. He would get such a big lead that if they threw to first, he’d go to second.
He was not fast. He…was…not…fast, but he was quick. Jackie’s first fifteen or twenty feet was the quickest you’ve ever seen. If you tried to pick him off first, he’d go to second. I’ve seen him hit the ball to right field, and if the right fielder bluffed a throw to first, he’d go to second. He was that quick.
And when he played, the ballparks came alive. Because they knew he was going to do something. It was sad he didn’t get to the major leagues until he was twenty-eight." - Rex Barney, Dodgers pitcher
(‘Whispers Of The Gods’, Golenbock, p.46)
I wear a number 42 Dodgers jersey to all Dodgers games I attend.
4 Likes
2 Likes
7 Likes
For those who love Tommy Lasorda, and for those who hate him.
Growing up a fan of the Big Red Machine, the Dodgers were the Reds’ fierce rivals in the 70s so I always cheered against them, but have lots of admiration for Tommy Lasorda.
The Red’s (my local team in HS when my parents kidnapped me from LA to move us to Kentucky) have won 12 in a row. My Dodgers are 6-6. It’s basically Freaky Friday and all our pet’s heads are falling off.
1 Like
We went to the Mariners game on Father’s Day. Sitting in the upper deck T-Mobile version of the NEZ found some super-fan know-it-alls who were bemoaning every single Mariners batter who obviously was terrible.
What I’ve learned is that no fan base is capable of giving the other team credit. Sorry, not sorry, I stood up and clapped when they pulled Lynn. It was an impressive performance.
6 Likes
Didn’t want to jinx the Reds by mentioning the streak. But now they ran into Atlanta (top team in the NL). and Braves took 2 out of 3 (all games were by one run). Wish Reds could make a playoff run this year as they had a long period of rough seasons.
So, went to New Yankee Stadium last week for the 4th of July game. Great place, with decent food, I enjoyed the fanbase.
That said, it doesn’t hold a candle to a day spent at the most fantastic stadium in baseball, Dodger Stadium.
5 Likes
Dodger dogs and a beer. 
3 Likes
Absolutely. I hold off on the beer and add a Chocolate Malt.
A little something about Chavez Ravine, and hoe all the residents there, Mexican Americans, were removed over a ten year period. What do you expect from carpetbaggers?
1 Like