LLWS, Here We Go Again

quote:

Originally posted by Dad04:
My son's LL coach drank screwdrivers during Saturday morning games...in the dugout.

A long, long time ago, my coach picked me up for LL practice. I can still hear myself saying, "Smells like my dad's beer in here."

That Kentucky Pennsylvania game was really good.The double that was ruled foul really changed that game.Pennysylvania had so many opportunities to score.Thought some of the base running decisions were not the best.But what do I know.When there was the base hit that first basemen bobbled, runnner came home, thrown out at plate for first out.If he stays at third there are runners on 1st and third with no outs.Next guy got a base hit.Bummer, as overall it was a good game.The pitcher for kentucky 6'0 (crazy),but boy he pitched well.

Apologize if this has been vilified already, but the thing that drives me nuts are the 65mph fastballs "that are like 90mph in MLB".

Please...

Does that also mean that the 25mph front toss pitches from 15' are like 100mph fastballs? Does that mean a ball projected from a cannon 600' away at 900mph is just as easy to hit as a 90mph fastball in MLB?

I don't think so, but that's just me...

The Kentucky Pennyslvania game had and estimated crowd of over 40,000. Wow what a stage for your first LLWS game - even though some of these kids are huge for their age - they are still only 13, and to play in front of a crowd like that and do well is pretty cool for them!

is it 60ft bases, no lead offs, no straight steals, no drop 3rd strikes for 12-13 year olds???

quote:

Originally posted by JMoff:
Apologize if this has been vilified already, but the thing that drives me nuts are the 65mph fastballs "that are like 90mph in MLB".

I don't think so, but that's just me...

It would be fun to watch you (or me) try to hit a 75 mph Hagen Danner pitch from 46 feet away.

quote:

Originally posted by SultanofSwat:

It would be fun to watch you (or me) try to hit a 75 mph Hagen Danner pitch from 46 feet away.

I'd have just as much chance of hitting the 900mph from 600' and only slightly better chance of hitting the 25mph from 15'.

I'm not saying these kids aren't good, I'm just saying the faster it moves the harder it is to hit.

.

"It would be fun to watch you (or me) try to hit a 75 mph Hagen Danner pitch from 46 feet away."

Serve it up from 46 feet or two feet, curve, slider, fastball, or change up...I can hit it!






.

quote:

Originally posted by fillsfan:
I enjoy watching the games but the two things that make me turn the channel after an inning or so are the lunatic parents and the strike zones.

Sometimes these kids have no chance of hitting the ball when a pitch a foot off the plate is a strike. I guess you have to give 12 yo kids a little wider zone but some of the zones are ridiculous. After couple of batters, and I have to go back to watching Storage Wars or American Pickers.

And does a parent really have to jump up and down and scream for 2 minutes when junior hits a single with nobody on base. Tough to watch.

I have to admit...some of the worst umpiring I've seen this year. LL needs to put performance above politics when assigning umpires to the WS.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy03:
I have to admit...some of the worst umpiring I've seen this year. LL needs to put performance above politics when assigning umpires to the WS.

I'll be the one to say it.

LL needs to allow its umpires to be paid. (Yes, I know umpires can be paid, but LL's selection criteria for regionals and WS...)

It is the same argument I make when it comes to PBUC/MLB. If you want the best at the top, then you need to make it so your pool of candidates is the biggest possible at the bottom. The best umpires that could otherwise do LL are elsewhere, since there is a significant personal investment in being a competent umpire, and expecting remuneration is not out of line.

I was 17 years old, doing a LL state tournament, with $800 invested in my equipment, uniforms, training, etc. I chose to have those tools. I chose to go to advanced clinics. I would not have been able to do it had my local league not given me $20 a game and as many games as necessary. They didn't expect me to do that with my game fees, but I loved doing it and wanted to get better so that I could do it the best I could. By LL's logic, that makes me inferior, ironically; the umpires and leagues that foster the sense of mutual commitment were the ones that were (and still are) in the wrong.

LL is correct when it says that paying umpires does not guarantee a better job. Seeing through that (technically correct) statment is the one thing LL doesn't want people to realize when it comes to umpires: paying umpires improves the chances that there is someone there who is competent.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy03:

quote:

Originally posted by fillsfan:
I enjoy watching the games but the two things that make me turn the channel after an inning or so are the lunatic parents and the strike zones.

Sometimes these kids have no chance of hitting the ball when a pitch a foot off the plate is a strike. I guess you have to give 12 yo kids a little wider zone but some of the zones are ridiculous. After couple of batters, and I have to go back to watching Storage Wars or American Pickers.

And does a parent really have to jump up and down and scream for 2 minutes when junior hits a single with nobody on base. Tough to watch.

I have to admit...some of the worst umpiring I've seen this year. LL needs to put performance above politics when assigning umpires to the WS.

Pretty hard to see where the ball hits the zone from the camera's perspective. Same in a major league game. Interesting when they superimpose the zone box and what looked like a strike to the viewer was actually a ball when it crossed the plate. And I don't believe that paying guys comes close to getting umpires to do it for the honor of the experience. Are there mistakes made, far and few between, but overall they are calling a pretty good series. I've seen worse in college and especially in HS.

Wow. I don't see the problem with parents at this event whooping it up for their kids and team. I'm sure for this venue it's even encouraged. These are little guys playing on ESPN and network TV for crying out loud. It's not your local tournament at the LL fields down the street. This is a big deal and a rare event for parents and kids. If I was there I'd be full throttle too. This is a week or more of celebrating youth baseball nationwide and who is going to sit in the stands on their thumbs when there kid gets a hit in any situation with millions watching. Have to say, when the LLWS is running I don't watch MLB. Very refreshing.

quote:

Originally posted by WinBuc44:
And I don't believe that paying guys comes close to getting umpires to do it for the honor of the experience.

There are plenty who would do it for free, but LL forbids any umpire who gets paid for any LL game to work Regionals or LLWS. They are not getting the best they can because of that short-sighted policy.

CAn WE SAY CHILLD Abuse

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
CAn WE SAY CHIlD Abuse

Really? The game I am watching between Japan and Mexico looks like a bunch of kids having a great time. What planet do you live on?

quote:

Originally posted by WinBuc44:

Pretty hard to see where the ball hits the zone from the camera's perspective. Same in a major league game. Interesting when they superimpose the zone box and what looked like a strike to the viewer was actually a ball when it crossed the plate. And I don't believe that paying guys comes close to getting umpires to do it for the honor of the experience. Are there mistakes made, far and few between, but overall they are calling a pretty good series. I've seen worse in college and especially in HS.

Thank God you aren't an umpire evaluator. Far and few between? In some games, every inning. Balls bouncing before being gloved by the catcher being called strikes...see that much in the CWS?

Base umpires making calls that belong to other umpires AND getting them wrong...

Horrible mechanics by Plate Umpires...stances that won't allow views of outside or low pitches...PU's calling the pitch before it hits the glove.

This is one of the worst years in LLWS umpiring since 2005. And it's a shame. It had been getting better.

Japan vs Mexico. Hell of a baseball game. Had everything. Absolutely great baseball.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy03:

quote:

Originally posted by WinBuc44:

Pretty hard to see where the ball hits the zone from the camera's perspective. Same in a major league game. Interesting when they superimpose the zone box and what looked like a strike to the viewer was actually a ball when it crossed the plate. And I don't believe that paying guys comes close to getting umpires to do it for the honor of the experience. Are there mistakes made, far and few between, but overall they are calling a pretty good series. I've seen worse in college and especially in HS.

Thank God you aren't an umpire evaluator. Far and few between? In some games, every inning. Balls bouncing before being gloved by the catcher being called strikes...see that much in the CWS?

Base umpires making calls that belong to other umpires AND getting them wrong...

Horrible mechanics by Plate Umpires...stances that won't allow views of outside or low pitches...PU's calling the pitch before it hits the glove.

This is one of the worst years in LLWS umpiring since 2005. And it's a shame. It had been getting better.

Jimmy...Probably won't hurt LL or anyone else's feelings if you watched another channel. As for me, I've been watching some pretty good 12 year old baseball. Sorry it's not up to MLB or CWS or your standards but good baseball non the less.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt13:
LL needs to allow its umpires to be paid. (Yes, I know umpires can be paid, but LL's selection criteria for regionals and WS...)

How do umpires get selected? Is it a lottery? Letter from congressman? Waiting list? Just show up with your clicker?

quote:

Originally posted by WinBuc44:

Jimmy...Probably won't hurt LL or anyone else's feelings if you watched another channel. As for me, I've been watching some pretty good 12 year old baseball. Sorry it's not up to MLB or CWS or your standards but good baseball non the less.

Who said anything about the players? Trying putting words in your own mouth.

I've enjoyed the heck out watching the kids play. It's just a shame that the umpiring, at times, is not up to their calibre.

quote:

How do umpires get selected? Is it a lottery? Letter from congressman? Waiting list? Just show up with your clicker?

Jimmy03 picks them. Seriously, I tuned in and caught the Japan/Mexico game...GREAT game. Those kids can play. The double play by Mexico in the top of the 6th was incredible.