disappointed in "awesome performance" posters

I think that there are two separate issues here and it is difficult to comment on one without recognizing the other. Congratulations to the young man who has a consistent swing that allows him to get the ball in the air and demonstrate his power. He has to be gifted, and although his BA was .200 going into this game, he should see much better success as the season wears on.
The other issue is the coach; many here find it indefensible that a coach could allow a score to be run up that way against any opponent.
Although most would acknowledge that a 275’ fence creates opportunity, that opportunity still needs to be seized, which this young man did.

Charlie0103,

I am not really sure what you are disappointed in, that not everyone agreed with your opinion? You are going to find that here and on any message board, not all will see it the way you do and that's ok, that's what discussions are all about.

When it becomes nasty and personal, that is another issue.

I wish I myself could say that this was an amazing accomplishment, but under some of the circumstances, I don't agree 100%.

The ball went over the fence 5 times but the fence was 275 feet. Yup, for sure the other team could have walked with him coming up with men on base. As Dad04 said stuff happens and in this case a lot of stuff did (happen).

I remember back in HS, my son was pitching against an extremely weak team in our district, the game was getting out of control against their weak pitching, and my son just kept striking out hitter after hitter. It was a cakewalk for him. Now it wasn't his fault that game fell in his rotation, and it wasn't his fault his team was taking apart the pitcher (who was the teams best).

Looking back in the rear view mirror, my son should have been removed earlier from the game (IMO, he had no business pitching against the weakest team in the district). The high number of strike outs that game were not an amazing accomplishment, and to be honest, I felt embarrassed. We never talked about that game after that night.

Perhaps you or some others might not understand, but as your journey continues with your son, you will come to realize what true amazing accomplishments are in this game and what is what some call, being in the right place at the right time.

I am not taking away that this player obviously had the game of his life, and as FF said seized the moment, I am just not so sure that he had really tough obstacles to overcome for this achievement.

JMO.

As TPM said, differing opinions are what discussions are all about.

With that said, I don't necessarily agree with many of the posts against this kids accomplishment or against the coach for not taking him out. I admit I didn't read all of the posts in the original thread, but I read enough of them to know that I had a different opinion.

From watching the video in the link, the kid has a pretty good swing and is a descent size kid. But it also said that he only had hit 12 Hr's in his life prior to this game. Keeping this in mind, what would make the coach think that with each approaching AB, the kid was going to crank another one. Plus it said he had a dbl in another AB. I have to believe that if the coach had that crystal ball prior to the game, he may have altered his AB's and possibly taken him out after the 2nd or 3rd inning. But, based on the kids history of NOT being a HR hitter, I don't see any reason to take him out. Plus, who says that he hadn't alread cleared the bench with his subs?

From a point of defending the kid and the short porch, who says that the bombs he hit weren't 400 ft shots? I agree with the OP that squaring up that many balls in a single game is something to be proud of regardless of the competition or fence distance.

But I agree with TPM in that the accomplishment should be put into perspective and the kid should see it for what it was. He probably was facing inferior pitching, and he just had a day... nothing more, nothing less.

TPM,

Good post! I agree with most everything you said! The reason i was disappointed was that i thought it was a pretty amazing night for a young man. Did the stars line up for him? They sure did! I thought the post would turn into a congrats to a young athlete. When I saw the posts and realized that it was turning into "they should have done this and they where playing an inferior opponent" i quickly regretted posting.

The pitching could have been better and the porch could have been deeper! He still went yard 5 times! The coached could have pulled him but he didn't. According to FF he was only hitting 200 which makes it even more amazing in my opinion!

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie0103:
TPM,

Good post! I agree with most everything you said! The reason i was disappointed was that i thought it was a pretty amazing night for a young man. Did the stars line up for him? They sure did! I thought the post would turn into a congrats to a young athlete. When I saw the posts and realized that it was turning into "they should have done this and they where playing an inferior opponent" i quickly regretted posting.

The pitching could have been better and the porch could have been deeper! He still went yard 5 times! The coached could have pulled him but he didn't. According to FF he was only hitting 200 which makes it even more amazing in my opinion!

You should not regret starting the topic. Your son is only 9, I understand how it was having a 9 year old player. I respect that point of vies, but I also respect the others, whether I agree or not.

BTW, ror me, an awesome performance is when David beats Goliath.

Nearly as unbelievable as 5 HRs and 17 RBI is just to have the opportunity for 17 RBIs in a game.

5 HRs is unbelievable, but many have 5 opportunities (ABs)in a game. But I wonder how many in baseball history (any level) have had the opportunity to drive in 17 runs. That is a ton of baserunners.

I am disappointed you started this thread frankly. Why do we have to agree with your take on things? You stated your feelings and we said ours - nuff said eh?

Now that you posted this are we all supposed to see things your way and concede to your way of thinking?

Sports means different things to different people. To many these days, it is about feelings and feeling good about yourself where winning is secondary. Political correctness if you will. To me, true sports is the antithesis of that. Competitors want to beat the tar out of someone who has a "chance" to beat them - otherwise there would be no meaning in winning. There would be no "achievement."

Lets extrapolate a little. Use our imaginations. Lets suppose that the team that was beaten 38-0 was sick that day and they sent the middle school team in their place. Is it still an awesome achievement? What if they sent the 7-8 year old midget league team in their place - would that be an awesome achievement? High schoolers against 7 or 8 year olds? Of course not obviously.

The same analogy applies here imho. By definition (38-0, 5 inning, run-rule game), the kid hit 5 homeruns and 17 rbi's against the "weak sisters of the poor." I don't get the "awesomeness" about that and you starting this thread has not changed my mind. That is not competition or even sports in my view but others, including you, are entitled to see things differently.

I am sure I am going to get slapped around for my take on this one but I am not changing my opinion. Your definition and my definition for achievement are obviously different. There is no right or wrong in that imho - just different.

Starting this topic was ok, I have seen much worse than this.

FWIW, I don't see this as beating up on the sisters of the poor, would appear to me that both teams might be evenly matched. The game got a bit out of hand, I just don't get playing on a field with a 275 ft porch.

A local HS Varsity sophomore last week here hit 2 grand slams in 1 inning!

2 slams

I am more impressed with THAT than a kid hitting against inferior pitching on a short porch. IMO

YGD

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"I just don't get playing on a field with a 275 ft porch."

Some 275' porches are more impressive than others!






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Woodie,
You are the man!

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What can I say? When it comes to porches I'm sort of a Jack-O-Lantern of all trades ...







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Well, not being there and having all the facts, I will not past judgment. But, if the kid feels like he accomplished something and no one got hurt, more power to him and congrats.

Even well respected posters kids here have probably faced batting practice pitchers at the next level and had career days posted and praised on this site.
Nothing wrong with it at all!

Yankee Stadium RF was 296Ft when Babe Ruth was clubbing 714 HRs so the argument that the fence was about 275Ft don't fly. Who's to say those HRs barely made it over.

5 HR 17 RBI is a great day and a great season for most high schoolers since it's typically a 20-25 game sked with a few more if they go deep in playoffs.

Any other opinion to lessen the acheivement or justify somehow the feat should be minimized has some issues.

It was a great day with the bat. Period.