LLWS

Pimental is a beast. He is getting screwed on alot of pitches. And the CF/RF is an animal. He is like Willie Mays. He has made two fantastic grabs. Gotta feel for the LF ump. Harold Reynolds does, saying that he jus "slipped on the shirt and decided to ump". Really funny HR. It is kinda amazing how short some of the LL 1st basemen are.

Was disappointed to see FLA loose only becasue we won't get anymore shots of Bichette's mom. She gets the best GLM of the LLWS award.

I watched the game. That was the first time I'd seen that Pimentel pitch. I thought he was throwing close to 80mph? He was low-to-mid-70's all game long. Pretty tough to hit that at 46'. Florida certainly gave it their best shot.

Two plays changed that game in my opinion... The robbed HR by the California centerfielder, and the blown Florida HR call. But that's baseball. The California team doesn't look as strong as last years California team.

Without Pimentel pitching I'd say Hawaii has to be the US favorite, assuming they win tonight. I haven't seen any of the non-US teams play. Japan appears to be the favorite there.

Jason

Dante does have the hottest mom. What did you expect though?

Who will RBV throw on Saturday? Can they use Pimental? Doesn't he have to skip a day AND a game? Does the Lafayette team have a chance tonight? They don't look as strong as the other two teams left. jmo

Flipp,
Pimental was throwing 2 to 3 mph slower than in his first LLWS game. Even then he wasn't anywhere near 80. I don't know if the difference was simply due to a bit tighter strike zone or not.

Dad04,
I think you're right. A day and a game. Lewis is well rested since the regional final but could be a bit rusty. I don't think Lafayette has much of a chance but there's a reason why they play the game.

I think Hawaii has the advantage tonight and in the US final.

Pretty obvious that Flipp was right. Vista had to throw Pimental against Maitland otherwise they probably wouldn't have won that game.

Maitland was in the game longer than I expected because they hit very well and pitched well for 5 innings. I think it was 3-2 going into the 6th.

Lafayette has gotten by with clutch hitting and errors. I doubt they will get many breaks from Hoowaii.

Saw this pic online. I thought Pimental was only throwing FB and CB. Was he throwing knuckles/knuckle-curves?

Well thats better than the curve for Pimental's arm. Reynolds and Thorne were bringing up a limit for curves in LL. How could that be implemented? Couldn't some kid just say that his change has a lot of movement?

Little League is not a bad orginization for the youth of the WORLD. Baseball is a [B]GAME[/B that is meant to be fun for kids. Since I have been a coach at the HS and Collegiate level I cringe at what some of the coaches do on the LL field. But, most are there for their kids and simply try the best they can. So what if they do not play competetive ball like your son or you did. Not all kids are even capable of playing at that level. That is why these travel tournaments were created, for kids that want to play at a different level. Some of the coaches might be there for the glory but it is a very small percentage.

Question: Is it me or does Hawaii have a lot of arrogance? They repeatedly throw their bats and watch dingers go over the wall like Barry Bonds. They roll their eyes when the ump calls a pitch they don't like. They seem to have little respect for who they are playing. For instance, tonight when asked what they thought of the kid that threw a one hitter against them they couldn't give him is due. They responded with the only thing that he did that hurt them was his pace of pitches. They were referring to being quick pitched. Then asked what they thought of the big kid from CA and they responded, we can hit him. I don't even think the kid is pitching against them. I don't know if I am right are there any opinions?

As an umpire, I am mortified at the quality of umpiring that LL allows in its championship tourney.

How can 3 umpires miss the HR call on a 200' field...

PIAA_ump,
I think you are plenty qualified to umpire there. Why not? Although I think they are purely volunteers.

LL is a strictly volunteer organization and I have never done a little league game...Thats mainly because of the years I have been umpiring I have not worked in areas where LL is prevalent. Also I do not not umpire for free.

On the other hand, I ahve already been on the PONY World Series Crew and my goals have been to do higher baseball rather than younger.....

And no, I would never dance with the mascot.....

Small Potatoes,
You stated:

quote:

Question: Is it me or does Hawaii have a lot of arrogance? They repeatedly throw their bats and watch dingers go over the wall like Barry Bonds. They roll their eyes when the ump calls a pitch they don't like. They seem to have little respect for who they are playing. For instance, tonight when asked what they thought of the kid that threw a one hitter against them they couldn't give him is due. They responded with the only thing that he did that hurt them was his pace of pitches. They were referring to being quick pitched. Then asked what they thought of the big kid from CA and they responded, we can hit him. I don't even think the kid is pitching against them. I don't know if I am right are there any opinions?

YES, I've noticed it too.

I agree with you. Especially the arrogance displayed after hitting the homerun -- but, guess what - they've probably been watching their idols on tv! Who knows?

One thing for sure is that sooner than later, the Baseball Gods will remind each of them that the game is to be respected. I hope they have the opportunity to see that day and that they have the opportunity to play ball in HS --- as I am hoping that these ridiculous pitch counts are only happening due to the WS tourney and that the rest of the season they've been pulled at 50 or so...(right!)

TXCubFan,

I completely agree with you on both points. Little League will have to step in and limit pitch counts if they are smart.

quote:

Originally posted by mtownfan:
Danny Almonte throws mid 80s with a good curve and change. In his freshman and sophomore seasons on VARSITY he was 22-2 with an ERA under 2.00. As a sophomore he pitched a shutout in the City Championship. He also had two no hitters. Those numbers sound good to me just because he doesn't have ML speed he is getting batters out. BTW he also batted .500 as a sophomore.

There seems to be some confusion about Almonte in this thread. Here are dannys Almonte's HS stats http://www.psal.org/psalsports/player/psal_playerprofil...00109015&csport=006#
He was not 22-2! NYC highschool schedule only consists of 16 games. As for all of this happening in his Freshman and Sophmore season he was a year older then the rest of his grade.
Despite all of this, Almonte is a tremendous talent who definitly has MLB potential.

Also, he was recently featured on Sportcenter and they said his fastball was hitting 88-91 now.

That was a very entertaining WS! The final game couldn't have been scripted any better. I really enjoyed the "show".

As far as real BASEBALL, however, it was anything but. Please don't try to compare this with AAU/USSSA baseball. LL is little more than a modified form of real baseball with tremendous hype from TV. Heck, I enjoyed it. But it is hardly baseball.

Next year should be even more entertaining with 13yo's hitting pop-ups over the 205' fence. Oh boy! Imagine how exciting it will be to see 13yo's run the 60' bases.... Wow, that pitch was 123mph by Major League standards! Give me a break!

It would be far more enjoyable (and beneficial) with lead-offs, realistic mounds, bases and fences.

JMO.
R.

they should move the mound to 50 ft the fence to 220 Ft and the bases to 70Ft. That would be alot better. I dont think most these kids get it but they arent going to throw 95-100 mph in high school. What are they going to do when they have an average fastball. The kids from hawaii arent 12. 1/2 of them have mustaches and acne. What a coincidence.

I've been arguing for years that LL is behind the time as far as field dimensions and rules. The effect will be that more and more local communities drift toward other youth baseball organizations. The trend is well on its way in Oregon already.

I certainly agree that it's not real baseball but it was VERY entertaining. The problem LL is faced with is the logistics of having bigger fields. A lot of LL's in older areas don't have the 30-50 feet to move the fences back not to mention the cost of making infields bigger. Based on what I've read on other message boards I don't think the field size will change anytime soon.

Almonte WAS 22-2 in two seasons.

I had the pleasure of watching the championship and third place game in person and all I can say is WOW! Two great games that came down to walk off wins. Say what you will, but I think the LLWS is great. You really have to see it in person. BTW I also got to meet Pimentel and the kid is as big as me and he is 3 years younger. He was really nice and down to earth too. Hopefully he never gets caught in the hype because he hasn't yet.

Pimental will be an absolute star if he can stay away from injuries and grow physically some more. His stuff is just electric and the umps there weren't giving him his props. There were so many pitches that were strikes all year long untill the LLWS umps shruk the zone. Good year for the Series though.

Yeah it was real cool to meet him because he could be in MLB someday.

Other than the fact that ESPN/ABC makes a ton of money on the LLWS I see no reason to even hold it--- it is not my cup of tea not do I think it is good for the kids---the parents get off on it more than the players--I read where one Dad even quit his job to spend the time in Williamsport---now I ask you--is that common sense and logical?

Also notice how many DADS are the coaches of the teams

C'mon LL is a good organization no matter what you think. The fields are too small, the kids throw too many curves, Dads coach the teams, there not competitive enough, ESPN/ABC make too much money off of it, and the quality of play is lacking. These are the main arguments we've heard on this web. IT IS A KIDS GAME. Let's compare to "TRAVEL BALL." Field dimensions are irrelevant at Twelve Years Old. Players like Sheffield, Ripken, Ryan, Schmidt, Seavers, and numerous current Big Leaguers played LL. Now are you saying those players sucked at Twelve because they played LL and Johnny Nobody was better because he played Travel Ball?
I've been to numerous Travel Tournaments and guess what Dads your kids at that age throw too many curve balls as well. A kid should not even throw a curve until at least 14.
Where I am from most travel teams have Dads coaching too. Most of them only played HS ball.
I have seen MANY, MANY travel teams that SUCK! Usually each tournament has 3-4 good teams and the rest pale in comparison.
You think LL makes a lot of money, yea right, you spend thousands of dollars a year on travel ball. Where do think it is going, the air?
TRhit, you are right the parents take it much more serious than the kids at LLWS. But if you think for minute that TRAVEL BALL parents don't take it more serious than their kids at the age of 12 and 13 you are nuts.
Just because you think it is right, does not make it true.

TRHit,

The dad that quit his job did so because his son was a member of the Hawaii team and his company wouldn't give him time off to make the trip. Say what you want about LL baseball, but the opportunity to play in Williamsport is a once in a lifteime opportunity that every little leaguer dreams of. I don't fault the dad for doing what he did. I would have done the same.

Jason

TR:

I'm in favor of two things:

1. Great baseball

2. Lots of fun.

Each can have many, many meanings and not every player is preparing or planning to play in college.

The LL World Series is about so many things way beyond baseball and almost every one of them very, very good.

I hate to say it, but you have clearly missed the boat on this one.

This is an addendum, but I must say that some of the greatest times of my life has been coaching my sons, sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a way that needed great improvement. But always in a way that forged a bond that will not soon be broken.

If someone has a problem with that kind of thing (and nearly every Dad I have known has had the same intent if different method) then it is their problem. I would not trade the experience for anything in the world.

Jemaz, I agree with you completely. I coached my sons until they were 14 then turned them over to someone that knew alot more than me. During those earlier years, we had alot of great experiences that I will never forget and my sons at 20 still talk about some of them.

I enjoyed watching the LLWS mainly because you saw true joy and excitement on the kids faces. That is what youth baseball should be all about. There is plenty of time later in their development to get more serious.

There is no boat that I missed

You and others see joy in their faces but I see highly stressed kids in a setting that would be unnerving for adults

And to say it is ok for a father to quit his job because his kid is in Williamsport is a bit off my path--perhaps I see things differently but to quit ones job for this event is a bit nuts to me.

Also look at the "crazed faces" of the parents

Sure it is fun but is it good?

TR

I don't disagree with you often, but I do here.

We had a team make the LLWS a few years ago and THE ONLY complaint we got from a kid of parent on the team was the number of nights on the road.

Almost all the parents looked on it as a maturing thing, somnething the kids could use down the road. The kids loved being treated like stars, loved the attention. And they may have cried after the game, but it really was forgotten about 15 minutes later.

Until somebody whipped out the pictures.

I understand what you're saying about pressure. Pressure comes after winning a few games and getting close, but having nothing to show for it.

By the time they get to Williamsport, it's a different deal.

quote:

Originally posted by FlippJ:
TRHit,

The dad that quit his job did so because his son was a member of the Hawaii team and his company wouldn't give him time off to make the trip. Say what you want about LL baseball, but the opportunity to play in Williamsport is a once in a lifteime opportunity that every little leaguer dreams of. I don't fault the dad for doing what he did. I would have done the same.

Jason

If a travel ball coach had quit his job to attend a WS or National event, he would be branded as a moron. What is different now that it is LL?!?

To me, there is no lure for the LLWS.

As for Pimental, there is a kid like him every year. To say he is "going to be a star" is irrational.

Old Vaman

LL is good up to a point---where it has gone with the LLWS to me is wrong

As for the "going to be a star" I wonder how many will even make their HS team when the time comes

Redbird5,

Why did you quote me and respond by implying that I said a travel ball coach is a moron if he quit his job to atted a WS or National event? Did I say LL should be treated differently than travel ball? I've read my post over and over and I don't get that impression so why did you?

Jason

quote:

If a travel ball coach had quit his job to attend a WS or National event, he would be branded as a moron. What is different now that it is LL?!?

Redbird5

I think the difference is TV! It amazes me that he quit his job, however with all of the attention, he probably has a job waiting for him when he gets home.

As an aside, one of the players that I was recruiting for our travel team decided that he was going the LL route next spring. As his father stated, "...the allure of TV."

R.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
Old Vaman

LL is good up to a point---where it has gone with the LLWS to me is wrong

As for the "going to be a star" I wonder how many will even make their HS team when the time comes

Some of the kids like Pimental will do alright but three quarters of these kids are like 4 1/2 to 4 3/4 feet tall and they won't be physically mature enough to play higher levels. Look at Varitek or Burroughs when they were young and they seemed like genetic freaks compared to the rest of the runts.

TR,
I believe that 6 to 8 of the kids from our league's LLWS team went on to play college baseball. These kids typically aren't better than a good select team but for a group from a local area they are very good and that tends to feed over into HS baseball although there are certainly exceptions.

A few years ago there was a team from Ft. Worth Texas that won the LLWS the team was West Side Lions. They had a pitcher named Walker Kelley, hard throwing lefty. Everyone said lets see where he is in a few years.

UPDATE: Walker Kelley was a starting pitcher on his varsity team as a Frosh. His H.S. lost in the semi finals his record was 10-1.

I have talked to this boy, he said that the LLWS experience is something that he would never forget. "It was freaking awesome"

quote:

Originally posted by FlippJ:
Redbird5,

Why did you quote me and respond by implying that I said a travel ball coach is a moron if he quit his job to atted a WS or National event? Did I say LL should be treated differently than travel ball? I've read my post over and over and I don't get that impression so why did you?

Jason

Jason,

I was not trying to attack you. I apologize if it came out otherwise.

What makes the opportunity to play in Williamsport greater than playing for any other National Championship? The fact that it is on TV?

For the most part playing in Williamsport is different, because the kids earn their spot there. They earn it by winning, in SoCal, District, Section, Division, and Region. Every team that is in every tournament is thre because they won the tournament before, except for District. These teams are made up of kids from a fairly strict geographical neighborood. The kids are usually friends, classmates and neighbors. In our LL we play 20 to 24 games in season. To get to the Regional, San Bernadino, a SoCal team probably has to play 14 to 16 games. In San Bernadino you play pool play, 3 games, a semi, then a final. I don't know anyother youth championship that tests a group of kids as much.
Most others you win one tournament to advance to the World Series. Sometimes it is if you are willing to pay the tournament fees.

Of course there are things that should be changed in LL. But it is still a great organization for the kids and the All Star Tournament is a great experience whether the kids go 2 and out or end up in Williamsport.

Redbird

Asked and answered.

Of course TV makes it very different. And for the record, the year we covered a LLWS team, the kids thought the TV stuff was a blast. They're not worried about the scrutiny and, in some ways, not worried about the pressure. You can tell them a million people are watching them right now and many of them can't comprehend it, so they don't worry about it. They're still trying to get their minds around the number of people right in front of them.

One of my kids played in the national championships in another sport last year. No TV. But the big deal was that the games were audio webcast. Right after one game, one of my son's teammates got a call from his sister roughly a thousand miles away. They spent a half hour talking about how the game sounded on the "radio."

These were 18- and 19-year-old kids.

Now back it up a few worlds, add the cameras and about 20,000 people. That's the LLWS.