Little League World Series

[wilson]

As you may have noticed, the LLWS is kind of a big deal these days, with a fairly prominent place on ESPN for a couple of weeks this time every year. Some worry that it's too much for eleven and twelve year-olds. I'm still in the camp that thinks it's a fun, exciting thing for the kids, but much less so than I once was.
What do you think?

[Bostondevil]

They cover the National Spelling Bee too, now that's pressure!

[Lavabe]

As you may have noticed, the LLWS is kind of a big deal these days, with a fairly prominent place on ESPN for a couple of weeks this time every year. Some worry that it's too much for eleven and twelve year-olds. I'm still in the camp that thinks it's a fun, exciting thing for the kids, but much less so than I once was.
What do you think?

Coverage? Shmoverage!
1) Do we REALLY need to know each player's favorite TV show?
2) The substitution rules are really hard to follow.
3) How do we know they're 11 & 12 year olds?
4) It's big in Cobb County and Warner-Robbins, GA every year, where kids go to baseball camp in their spare time. Otherwise, I'd rather watch something else... like NHL reruns.
5) There's something not right about listening to the ping of the bat.
6) Every time they give the graphic about a kid's favorite MLB player, I keep wondering what performance-enhancing drug that kid's idol uses.
7) The only thing worse than watching LLWS game coverage is watching LLWS coverage in an extra inning game.
8) I guess it beats coverage of high school football. That's not saying much.
9) Breaking away to listen to the Mexican coach's instructions to his pitcher... WTF? They gave neither subtitles nor a translation afterwards. Instead, the commentator said something like he could pickup that the coach wanted a good pitch. BRILLIANT!! At that point, I turned off coverage ... after a grand total of 2 minutes 30 seconds.
10) I wonder how much ESPN paid for rights to broadcast the LLWS?

[Bostondevil]

The kids in my town made it to the Massachusetts state final before losing to Peabody. I'm still rooting for the Peabody kids but it was almost Newton Central, darn! I'm just hoping Ben Porter has a summer birthday so he has one more year. If he does, watch out for the Newton Central kids next year.

[Lavabe]

5) There's something not right about listening to the ping of the bat.

A correction here. I could swear I heard nothing but pings the other day. Right now, I am watching Mass lose to California, and Mass isn't using metal bats. Some of the Cali players sound as if they ARE using metal.

[Lavabe]

The 10-run rule... nice thought, but it's not as simple as it seems. The Mass - Cali game got WAY out of hand, with Cali going up by 14 runs.

[DukeUsul]

As you may have noticed, the LLWS is kind of a big deal these days, with a fairly prominent place on ESPN for a couple of weeks this time every year. Some worry that it's too much for eleven and twelve year-olds. I'm still in the camp that thinks it's a fun, exciting thing for the kids, but much less so than I once was.
What do you think?

Coverage? Shmoverage!
1) Do we REALLY need to know each player's favorite TV show?
2) The substitution rules are really hard to follow.
3) How do we know they're 11 & 12 year olds?
4) It's big in Cobb County and Warner-Robbins, GA every year, where kids go to baseball camp in their spare time. Otherwise, I'd rather watch something else... like NHL reruns.
5) There's something not right about listening to the ping of the bat.
6) Every time they give the graphic about a kid's favorite MLB player, I keep wondering what performance-enhancing drug that kid's idol uses.
7) The only thing worse than watching LLWS game coverage is watching LLWS coverage in an extra inning game.
8) I guess it beats coverage of high school football. That's not saying much.
9) Breaking away to listen to the Mexican coach's instructions to his pitcher... WTF? They gave neither subtitles nor a translation afterwards. Instead, the commentator said something like he could pickup that the coach wanted a good pitch. BRILLIANT!! At that point, I turned off coverage ... after a grand total of 2 minutes 30 seconds.
10) I wonder how much ESPN paid for rights to broadcast the LLWS?

+1

[DukieInKansas]

5) There's something not right about listening to the ping of the bat.

A correction here. I could swear I heard nothing but pings the other day. Right now, I am watching Mass lose to California, and Mass isn't using metal bats. Some of the Cali players sound as if they ARE using metal.

I haven't tuned in, but I heartily agree with #5. I don't like metal bats. It should be the crack of the bat - not the ping.

[Turk]

Funny enough, the topic made Sunday's Philly Stinky. I've coached 10 years in the same little league as the author of this piece:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/54227142.html

I'm ambivalent about the TV exposure; it only encourages parents to act like idiots and there's enough of that without ESPN egging them on. I do know the young Turks like watching it. However, they need to turn off the TV and go play outside once in a while. BTW, did you see the size of some of these kids? I think the California team had a kid that was 6'2". That's pretty big for a 12-yo.

As for the bats, they're making these composite things now that sound more like wood and don't "ping" like the all-metal ones. They go about $100-$250 apiece.

[Lavabe]

Funny enough, the topic made Sunday's Philly Stinky. I've coached 10 years in the same little league as the author of this piece:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/54227142.html

I'm ambivalent about the TV exposure; it only encourages parents to act like idiots and there's enough of that without ESPN egging them on. I do know the young Turks like watching it. However, they need to turn off the TV and go play outside once in a while. BTW, did you see the size of some of these kids? I think the California team had a kid that was 6'2". That's pretty big for a 12-yo.

As for the bats, they're making these composite things now that sound more like wood and don't "ping" like the all-metal ones. They go about $100-$250 apiece.

The size difference in the Mass Cali game was obscene. The pitcher who gave up 8 runs or so was about 5', and his teammate coming to the mound is like 6'2". Trouble is, they're so young, they have real human growth hormone coursing through their system anyway.

But 6'2"? EEK!!

Thanks for clarification on the composite bats. They looked metallic/shiny, but no ping. That must be the issue. How fair is it to have one team afford these bats when their competition may not have the funds for the same bats?

[Lavabe]

I'm ambivalent about the TV exposure; it only encourages parents to act like idiots and there's enough of that without ESPN egging them on.

I DO like the Mexican coach. No translation offfered by the commentators, but he seemed really calm. And after every two sentences, he'd tell his pitcher...
Okay?

Very calm and reassuring.

[Bostondevil]

Funny enough, the topic made Sunday's Philly Stinky. I've coached 10 years in the same little league as the author of this piece:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/54227142.html

I'm ambivalent about the TV exposure; it only encourages parents to act like idiots and there's enough of that without ESPN egging them on. I do know the young Turks like watching it. However, they need to turn off the TV and go play outside once in a while. BTW, did you see the size of some of these kids? I think the California team had a kid that was 6'2". That's pretty big for a 12-yo.

As for the bats, they're making these composite things now that sound more like wood and don't "ping" like the all-metal ones. They go about $100-$250 apiece.

The size difference in the Mass Cali game was obscene. The pitcher who gave up 8 runs or so was about 5', and his teammate coming to the mound is like 6'2". Trouble is, they're so young, they have real human growth hormone coursing through their system anyway.

But 6'2"? EEK!!

Thanks for clarification on the composite bats. They looked metallic/shiny, but no ping. That must be the issue. How fair is it to have one team afford these bats when their competition may not have the funds for the same bats?

It wasn't the Peabody kids with the composite bats, was it? I was going to add to the discussion by saying that aluminum bats don't break so you need fewer of them and overall they cost less. Little League, where you chase down the foul balls because you need them to keep playing.

[Miles]

As you may have noticed, the LLWS is kind of a big deal these days, with a fairly prominent place on ESPN for a couple of weeks this time every year. Some worry that it's too much for eleven and twelve year-olds. I'm still in the camp that thinks it's a fun, exciting thing for the kids, but much less so than I once was.
What do you think?

In times when I had a television and cable, I loved watching the LLWS. I'm still in the camp that thinks it's fun and exciting. It is really powerful to watch a twelve year old bawl his brains out on the mound after losing the big game, while his counterparts jump and scream with pleasure. Lots of life lessons being learned in that moment. I just hope the coaches and parents take advantage of the moment.

[wilson]

Little League, where you chase down the foul balls because you need them to keep playing.

At my Little League, you got a free Coke if you turned a foul ball back in. I saw some serious scrums for fouls over the years.
I have exceedingly fond memories of playing Little League. I would not be the person I am today had I not played.

[Turk]

More I think about it, the more I'm against the TV coverage. Even during the regular season games, the kids will pour their heart and soul into it. And I have to admit I've gotten chills during tournament games when they play the anthem and the kids do the Little League pledge. Such a great reminder about being in the moment...