LLWS is really cool, but there's better youth baseball out there...

Coach PR


Appreciate your enthusiasm and excitment. I agre that Ripken basbeall offers players the opportunity to play baseball closer the real game with the longer base and pitching distance, ability to take leagues and the larger field size.

However before you can have true national championship you would have to have some kind og orginization that encompasses all teams playing under the rules. However that will never happen (nor do I think it would be a good thing).

Best of luck as you move on.

Agreed.
Not sure why you posted this more than once.

The biggest problem I see with any of these league world championships is that the teams are all geographically limited. Therefore, you will never get all of the best players involved in the tournaments.

In my geographic area, there are no LL, Cal Ripken, Dizzy Dean or any of the other organized leagues available. There have to be thousands of kids who live outside of geographic regions for these organizations.

I'm sure there's some kid living in the back-woods of some state that could be the next Babe Ruth, but these are the kids & teams from Organizations that are actually playing...

Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth is not geographically/boundary limited... Neither is AAU, USSSA, Super Series... Not sure about NABF, AABC or Dixie... I know PONY does accept Travel-Teams for League play...

Your right that it may not be the "best" baseball. That is for another thread as there are lots of arguments for and against the format. That is not the point. No other organization takes a local community and allows them to move up through districts, sections, state, etc.

These kids are playing with their local buddies and having a great time. No other group develops the "community" approach like Little League. It is what it is, and frankly I like the approach. It may not be perfect but it is fun to watch.

Yes I love it. For kids that age to play on a televised venue like that and against foreign players is priceless. I am sure there is a price but it is still priceless.

Bolts, I'm saying that not everywhere are these "leagues" available. My son did not have the opportunity to play LL, Cal Ripken, Dizzy Dean because there are none of those leagues close to where we live.

USSSA, AAU, Super Series, Triple Crown, Grand Slam, etc... are all basically tournament organizations holding a World Series for "travel teams". They, at least in my mind, are different than the other "leagues" playing for a World Series.

School started for some of the kids. I hope Pony Bronco 12U World Series Champs from Simi Valley CA go. The Bronco World series included Florida, New York, Taipei, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

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Again...don't forget Pony/Bonco...Untelevised but also a much better Bigger game...great national and international event...mine played Puerto Rico, and Tiawan in the World Series. Traded hat's pins, and culture. Great competition and a pretty darned cool experience.


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quote:

I'm sure there's some kid living in the back-woods of some state that could be the next Babe Ruth, but these are the kids & teams from Organizations that are actually playing...

Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth is not geographically/boundary limited... Neither is AAU, USSSA, Super Series... Not sure about NABF, AABC or Dixie... I know PONY does accept Travel-Teams for League play...

Coach PR

Babe Ruth does have geographic boundries.

"Leagues chartered with Babe Ruth Softball operate with simplicity, democracy, and much autonomy within the framework of Babe Ruth League, Inc. rules and regulations. Leagues are formed within defined and registered geographical boundaries.
defined and registered

quote:

Babe Ruth does have geographic boundaries.

It looks like you are correct. I was told a few seasons ago by our League's Board Members that the Geographic Boundary was eliminated. Some kids from neighboring leagues joined ours and were allowed to play in both leagues at the same time, although they were only allowed to play on one All-Star team... I thought it was weird at the time, and asked... apparently I was given wrong info...

I found this on the web after you brought it up: Babe Ruth baseball has no limit on the population an all star team is drawn from, only that the players live within the leagues boundaries and participate in the program.

The rule listed below is certainly not a new rule, but one of the most significant rules in Babe Ruth League, Inc. Its meaning and intent are of paramount importance and it follows suit with the mission of Babe Ruth League, Inc., which is to provide every child with a desire to play baseball or softball an opportunity to do so.

* Babe Ruth Rule 0.01, Paragraph 5 – Geographical Boundaries – State Commissioners shall approve geographical boundaries established by each league in conjunction with the District Commissioner in whose district that league exists and operations. Appropriate written descriptions, maps or specifications of boundary limitations must be certified and filed with the State Commissioner and submitted to Babe Ruth League, Inc. for final approval. A player must play within the league’s geographical boundaries in which the player resides. This is determined according to the legal residence of the player’s parents or legal guardian. WAIVERS PERMITTING A PLAYER TO PLAY OUTSIDE OF HIS/HER GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN BABE RUTH LEAGUE. The only exception would be if a player rostered on a SB 12U, SB 16U, SB 18U, Cal Ripken, 13-15 baseball or 16-18 baseball team moved outside of that league’s geographical boundaries. In this case, the player may finish his/her playing career in the respective division of that league.

League geographical boundaries shall be subject to review and adjustment by the State or Regional Commissioner and Babe Ruth League, Inc. whenever it is deemed advisable. Geographical boundaries are established to eliminate competition of an undesirable nature but shall not be established to prevent healthy expansion of teams and leagues within any given area.

Even if a town or city next to or near your league is NOT involved with Babe Ruth League, or does not offer a baseball or softball program to the youth in their community, players from that area are still NOT ELIGIBLE to participate in your local league, unless your league boundaries are formally changed, signed by the State Commissioner and filed with Babe Ruth League, Inc. as including that town or city. Only the State Commissioner may approve that change and it must be in writing and on file at International Headquarters. Babe Ruth League, Inc. will make final approval of boundaries once received. Note that geographical boundaries will not be adjusted to include only a few select players. Once a boundary is approved to be expanded, ALL players from within the expanded area must be given the opportunity to play for that league.

I played Pony and LL. Never close to the WS level, but in rec leagues, and district all star tournaments. Pony > LL In my opinion.

Boltsie, how many sites did you post this drivel?

I see it two forums here over at PCR-Fever (err Baseball-Fever I mean)...

Who cares about which org is better. It means jack. We get plenty of real baseball in USTBA, Triple Crown and USSSA tourneys. It's actually nice in rec to not have to worry about that kid who gets a triple basically after every single. At 60 feet and no lead-offs there are no steals unless you have a real stiff behind the plate.

quote:

I always see great things that come from the Little League World Series... National & International coverage and the celebration of youth baseball, camaraderie, the message that the teams and families have sacrificed to get there... There's a ton of awesome stuff going on in Williamsport...

I agree 100%!

If I want to watch the "best" baseball, there's a major league game on almost every night. Those MLB games are somewhat boring compared to watching young kids playing and showing their emotions to a world wide television audience. The best thing about LLB is that it is very good for the game of baseball. That coach from San Antonio deserves a big thank you from everyone who loves the game. Nothing better than seeing young kids have fun playing baseball. That's really what it is all about!

Two words: Luke Ramirez
I have never seen a 12/13 year old that big, I mean he is big league size and hits like one! Be interesting to see where he ends up. Remember Randall Grudlik from Texas, saw him last year at Area Code games, now he is a millionaire.

quote:

Originally posted by Pronk:
Boltsie, how many sites did you post this drivel?

Sorry I wasted your time.

I've known Luke Ramirez types who grew huge, others who just turned out to be early maturers who never got any bigger. Only time will tell.

Do remember this: He is 13 and entering 8th grade. If he lived around my neck of the woods, he'd be trying out for his HS JV team in less than 6 months. And those 250-280' moon shots would be ...

Cans of corn.

Moral: We don't know yet if this kid is really a future stud, or just the product of Williamsport's keeping older kids on the small field. In about 2-3 years you'll know better, unless he disappears from baseball and your awareness.