NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080826/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bby_too_good_to_pitch;_ylt=AoXzTASNIZZC_z4s3zLi3ZkZ.3QA

Heard about this on the radio on the way to class this morning.

This is disgusting. Not only is it totally unfair to the boy, but it sends a terrible message to all the other kids.
"Oh, the other guy's too good for you? Well, complain about it! Somebody will make it go away."

The bit about the sponsor really got me. Its bad enough that the soccer moms got their way (Shocking to consider that there's a risk of injury while playing sports!), but that may've had corporate backing makes it twice as bad.

Unless they can prove that the kid was doing steroids or something, its completely unjustified. Haven't any of these people heard of the Miracle on Ice?
(Not that I expect many NSGers have. Bunch of crazy liberal-hippy-european-leftist-commie-all-sports-except-soccer-hating....people that you are. :p )

So, NSG, opinions? Similar stories? Random attempts to blame this all on a political faction?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080826/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bby_too_good_to_pitch;_ylt=AoXzTASNIZZC_z4s3zLi3ZkZ.3QA

Heard about this on the radio on the way to class this morning.

This is disgusting. Not only is it totally unfair to the boy, but it sends a terrible message to all the other kids.
"Oh, the other guy's too good for you? Well, complain about it! Somebody will make it go away."

The bit about the sponsor really got me. Its bad enough that the soccer moms got their way (Shocking to consider that there's a risk of injury while playing sports!), but that may've had corporate backing makes it twice as bad.

Unless they can prove that the kid was doing steroids or something, its completely unjustified. Haven't any of these people heard of the Miracle on Ice?
(Not that I expect many NSGers have. Bunch of crazy liberal-hippy-european-leftist-commie-all-sports-except-soccer-hating....people that you are. :p )

So, NSG, opinions? Similar stories? Random attempts to blame this all on a political faction?

hey,i don't hate all sports exept soccer!i hate soccer!but i also hate baseball!

hey,i don't hate all sports exept soccer!i hate soccer!but i also hate baseball!

You're from Finland, so you don't count. It was your hockey team we beat at the time, anyway ;)
(I think? Or maybe your allies team. Same difference :P)

You're from Finland, so you don't count. It was your hockey team we beat at the time, anyway ;)
(I think? Or maybe your allies team. Same difference :P)

Finland is in Europe too!and we can kick your ass at ice hockey any time!(or at least some time!)

Sounds like the sort of thing one might find in a short story by Kurt Vonnegut...

That's startlingly counter-intuitive. Sports, where you compete to win, is where you would expect everybody to try to be their best, not limit them from achieving their best.

My only concern is that the kid could cause himself permanent injury by over doing it. Otherwise play ball. Miracle On Ice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_on_Ice).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080826/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bby_too_good_to_pitch;_ylt=AoXzTASNIZZC_z4s3zLi3ZkZ.3QA

Heard about this on the radio on the way to class this morning.

This is disgusting. Not only is it totally unfair to the boy, but it sends a terrible message to all the other kids.
"Oh, the other guy's too good for you? Well, complain about it! Somebody will make it go away."

The bit about the sponsor really got me. Its bad enough that the soccer moms got their way (Shocking to consider that there's a risk of injury while playing sports!), but that may've had corporate backing makes it twice as bad.

Unless they can prove that the kid was doing steroids or something, its completely unjustified. Haven't any of these people heard of the Miracle on Ice?
(Not that I expect many NSGers have. Bunch of crazy liberal-hippy-european-leftist-commie-all-sports-except-soccer-hating....people that you are. :p )

So, NSG, opinions? Similar stories? Random attempts to blame this all on a political faction?

FAIL.

Some of us are crazy liberal-hippy-CANADIAN-leftist-commie-all-sports-except-HOCKEY-hating people. Therefore, I know what the Miracle on Ice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_on_Ice) was :p

Anyways. Yeah, that's stupid. Poor kid.

My only concern is that the kid could cause himself permanent injury by over doing it. Otherwise play ball. Miracle On Ice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_on_Ice).

the moment,i read that it was about a match before the defeat of Finland in the final,i thought:''oh my god,Finland!we could have won!Damn yanks!''and,i haven't heard about it because it happened in 1980

If you don't want kids to get hurt because of physical activities, you should lock them up in padded cells permanently, with straitjackets. It's the only way to be sure!

So, NSG, opinions? Similar stories? Random attempts to blame this all on a political faction?

You are to good so we don't want you? You are to good so we are going to walk off the field instead of playing against you? What the hell kind of a message are they trying to send to the kids anyway? :(

Isn't there some sort of league for older kids that he could play in? That would make more sense because if he's not challenged enough playing against kids that he's obviously better than then it will prevent him from developing as a player.

You are to good so we don't want you? You are to good so we are going to walk off the field instead of playing against you? What the hell kind of a message are they trying to send to the kids anyway? :(

that they shouldn't compete in this stupid sport?

I think this really sucks for the player...but I can, to a certain extent, understand the concerns of the other players' parents. A solid strike to the chest with a baseball has killed kids before. This is a developmental league, a place for beginners. Generally, when a kid is so fucking good at a game like this, there is somewhere more advanced for that kid to go...you don't keep an amazing swimmer with the level one kids just because they're of the same age.

Sounds like the sort of thing one might find in a short story by Kurt Vonnegut...

Harrison Bergeron, good for you! :D

I think this really sucks for the player...but I can, to a certain extent, understand the concerns of the other players' parents. A solid strike to the chest with a baseball has killed kids before.

If they are worried about it they shouldn't let their kids play baseball...oh, kids have died playing football so they can't play that either. Maybe their kids shouldn't play any sports...no wait, kids have been killed riding on school buses so maybe they shouldn't go to school...

I think this really sucks for the player...but I can, to a certain extent, understand the concerns of the other players' parents. A solid strike to the chest with a baseball has killed kids before. This is a developmental league, a place for beginners. Generally, when a kid is so fucking good at a game like this, there is somewhere more advanced for that kid to go...you don't keep an amazing swimmer with the level one kids just because they're of the same age.

Indeed.

And even beyond the safety concerns, if this kid is so much better than everyone else that he strikes every player out, that doesn't exactly make for much fun for anyone else playing - and yes, when we're talking about beginners' Little League games, the point should be for everyone to have fun, not for one team to kick everyone's butts. I really do think it makes sense either to bump the pitching prodigy up to play with older kids or suggest that he try playing a different position for a year or two until his peers start catching up to him a bit.

If they are worried about it they shouldn't let their kids play baseball...oh, kids have died playing football so they can't play that either. Maybe their kids shouldn't play any sports...no wait, kids have been killed riding on school buses so maybe they shouldn't go to school...

Then there are those kids that read comics and tried to emulate the characters, so off comics go. And of course, those kids without nothing to do killed themselves to end the boredom. So...

Indeed.

And even beyond the safety concerns, if this kid is so much better than everyone else that he strikes every player out, that doesn't exactly make for much fun for anyone else playing - and yes, when we're talking about beginners' Little League games, the point should be for everyone to have fun, not for one team to kick everyone's butts. I really do think it makes sense either to bump the pitching prodigy up to play with older kids or suggest that he try playing a different position for a year or two until his peers start catching up to him a bit.Exactly.

It doesn't provide him with the challenge he needs to continue his own growth, and it doesn't help the other kids if there's no chance for them up against a pitcher like him.

Then there are those kids that read comics and tried to emulate the characters, so off comics go. And of course, those kids without nothing to do killed themselves to end the boredom. So...

Sorry, bad argument.

We're talking about a program that is intended to teach certain skills to kids. Think of it like school. If you're in a class, totally kicking ass in all the subjects, bored with the level, not being challenged...is that any good for you? If you're in a situation where you're graded against the other kids, and you are so obviously above them in terms of your skills...it means yes, you get top grades all the time, while the rest of the kids do poorly, great for you. It's not fair though. Not when you're working grade levels above them.

Sorry, bad argument.

You do realize I was being sarcastic?

Isn't there some sort of league for older kids that he could play in? That would make more sense because if he's not challenged enough playing against kids that he's obviously better than then it will prevent him from developing as a player.

I heard this on the news (I live in CT), and the kid was extended an invitation to play in the older league. The problem is, all his friends are in the younger league, so he wants to stay there. The funny thing is, according to the news story I saw, apparently baseball is his second love (basketball is his first).

If they are worried about it they shouldn't let their kids play baseball...oh, kids have died playing football so they can't play that either. Maybe their kids shouldn't play any sports...no wait, kids have been killed riding on school buses so maybe they shouldn't go to school...

Kids playing sports wear appropriate protective equipment. They don't play against adults with superior skills and strength. Nor should they be expected to play against a child their own age with vastly superior skills and strength...unless the level of play calls for it.

Once again, you don't stick a child prodigy in with a class of beginners...it serves neither the prodigy or the beginners.

You do realize I was being sarcastic?

Fair enough, I hadn't really read the post you were responding to until after. :)

I think this really sucks for the player...but I can, to a certain extent, understand the concerns of the other players' parents. A solid strike to the chest with a baseball has killed kids before. This is a developmental league, a place for beginners. Generally, when a kid is so fucking good at a game like this, there is somewhere more advanced for that kid to go...you don't keep an amazing swimmer with the level one kids just because they're of the same age.

The article was woefully short on any information about what higher levels there are. If that is anything like my hometown little league, each division is divided by age, so stepping up would still not be good for this kid.

Diana Moon Glampers has a solution for this...

A point that should be considered - the article seems quite clear that it was okay if the boy played other positions. How is this much worse for him than for the child who really wants to pitch but just isn't as good at it as his teammate? It seems to me that there are worse hardships than not getting your first choice of position in baseball...

A point that should be considered - the article seems quite clear that it was okay if the boy played other positions. How is this much worse for him than for the child who really wants to pitch but just isn't as good at it as his teammate? It seems to me that there are worse hardships than not getting your first choice of position in baseball...

"You're too good so cannot do this" is not a good message to send.

"You're too good so cannot do this" is not a good message to send.

And "you're no good, so you cannot do this" is?

(And, again, the boy was given the option of playing on a team at his own level, which hardly equates to "you're too good to be allowed to pitch.")

The article was woefully short on any information about what higher levels there are. If that is anything like my hometown little league, each division is divided by age, so stepping up would still not be good for this kid.

For sure...it's entirely possible and probable that there really isn't a higher level he could get into. He might be prohibited from moving because of strict age requirements or whatever. That sucks ASS.

But, when you have a prodigy for a child, you have to face this issue. Some families move to give their kids more opportunities, others can't.

Something needs to be done so he doesn't have to 'dumb it down' or sit it out, for sure. This bickering and talk of lawsuits...I'm not sure it's all that productive.

I'm not sure what the solution in this case could be, I'm just trying to see it from all sides.

"You're too good so cannot do this" is not a good message to send.

Neither is 'that kid is so much better than you, you might as well just give up, you don't have a chance'.

Not when the whole purpose of the league is to teach all these kids skills.

I read an article about this. They don't move him up because they're afraid that he would be picked on by the much older and larger boys in the next age group. He's only 9 and at the low end of his current age group. If they moved him up, he'd be playing with kids up to the age of 13.

There's also the reported rumor that this edict from the league's administration only came down after the boy rejected an offer to play for the league champion team, a team sponsored by one of the members of the league's board of administrators. So there's the sense that politics might be at play.

The real loser here is the coach of the team that just forfeit, rather than face this kid. We can talk about the message they're sending this kid, "you're too good so you cannot do this," but what about the message that coach is sending his team? "If something seems too hard, don't even try?"

That's what you get for being too good in the Socialist Baseball League.

:p

The real loser here is the coach of the team that just forfeit, rather than face this kid. We can talk about the message they're sending this kid, "you're too good so you cannot do this," but what about the message that coach is sending his team? "If something seems too hard, don't even try?"

Yeah, I can't argue with that. It seems like most of the adults in this story are setting some pretty poor examples for the kids.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080826/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bby_too_good_to_pitch;_ylt=AoXzTASNIZZC_z4s3zLi3ZkZ.3QA

Heard about this on the radio on the way to class this morning.

This is disgusting. Not only is it totally unfair to the boy, but it sends a terrible message to all the other kids.
"Oh, the other guy's too good for you? Well, complain about it! Somebody will make it go away."

The bit about the sponsor really got me. Its bad enough that the soccer moms got their way (Shocking to consider that there's a risk of injury while playing sports!), but that may've had corporate backing makes it twice as bad.

Unless they can prove that the kid was doing steroids or something, its completely unjustified. Haven't any of these people heard of the Miracle on Ice?
(Not that I expect many NSGers have. Bunch of crazy liberal-hippy-european-leftist-commie-all-sports-except-soccer-hating....people that you are. :p )

So, NSG, opinions? Similar stories? Random attempts to blame this all on a political faction?

I'm with Neesika and Poliwanacraca: The goal of little league is for everyone to have fun. If that means that one boy does not get to pitch, then so be it. The good of the many outweight the good of the one.

Now, adults involved should be explaining all this to their kids and stop being the dumbasses I see in the article.

As for your little miracle on ice, you got lucky one time, 28 years ago. Get over it: Russia and Canada are still the powerhouses when it comes to hockey. :p

Sorry, bad argument.

We're talking about a program that is intended to teach certain skills to kids. Think of it like school. If you're in a class, totally kicking ass in all the subjects, bored with the level, not being challenged...is that any good for you? If you're in a situation where you're graded against the other kids, and you are so obviously above them in terms of your skills...it means yes, you get top grades all the time, while the rest of the kids do poorly, great for you. It's not fair though. Not when you're working grade levels above them.
And yet they don't force the student to stop taking those courses

They either find an advanced class for you someplace or you continue to get top grades. Other students don't get to forfeit in those classes just because you set the curve, if so later on in life I would have been fucked there was no where for me to go other then the classes i was in.

I agree ideally there should be a more advanced place for this kid and he should get moved there. Barring that (not sure if another suitable one is available to him) he should continue to be allowed to play the position he is best at.

I'm with Neesika and Poliwanacraca: The goal of little league is for everyone to have fun. If that means that one boy does not get to pitch, then so be it. The good of the many outweight the good of the one.
The goal of little league is to play baseball. Why you play baseball is up to you.

Let the kid play. Excellence should be celebrated. And as for the other kids, being totally outclassed by someone better than you is a good life lesson: Futility happens. Sometimes your best just isn't good enough.

So, nobody has any comment on the possibility that the move to keep the kid from playing was brought on for financial reasons?

As to the other arguments, arguing opinions on NSG (and in real life) is futile, so I wont. I'll just restate that the messages being sent to the kids (both the one who couldn't play, his team, and all the other teams) are not ones which I would want MY kids getting.

The real loser here is the coach of the team that just forfeit, rather than face this kid. We can talk about the message they're sending this kid, "you're too good so you cannot do this," but what about the message that coach is sending his team? "If something seems too hard, don't even try?"
It's a lesson in triage, there are some things not worth wasting your time on. If they were just going to spend an hour or so getting slaughtered, where's the point in that?

It's a lesson in triage, there are some things not worth wasting your time on. If they were just going to spend an hour or so getting slaughtered, where's the point in that?

but...but... playing baseball for fun....for sportsmanship...it's not important to win or lose but to compete...

ahh forget about it...if you can win...stay at home.

It's a lesson in triage, there are some things not worth wasting your time on. If they were just going to spend an hour or so getting slaughtered, where's the point in that?

What is the point in trying to beat an apparently undefeatable obstacle?

Ask Edmund Hillary, ask Lance Armstrong, ask Usain Bolt.

The desire to do what seems impossible means that we transcend our mean little lives and do something that is inspiring.

We shouldn't be teaching kids to walk away at the first sign of difficulty.

The article was woefully short on any information about what higher levels there are. If that is anything like my hometown little league, each division is divided by age, so stepping up would still not be good for this kid.

How would it harm him? Little league here is divided by age but it didn't stop my daughter from moving up. She's 5 on a 7 year old team. It's not harmful.

It's a lesson in triage, there are some things not worth wasting your time on. If they were just going to spend an hour or so getting slaughtered, where's the point in that?Individual acheivement.

That's the great thing about baseball. Sure, it's a team sport, but at it's core it's about individual performance. your team might get dominated by this pitcherm but if you're the one kid on your team who managed to get a hit, or draw a walk, or even work the count full or make him throw more than 4 pitches, then you had a modicum of success, and you can enjoy that.

I'm with Neesika and Poliwanacraca: The goal of little league is for everyone to have fun. If that means that one boy does not get to pitch, then so be it. The good of the many outweight the good of the one.

I think you failed to understand your own point.

I think you failed to understand your own point.

Ha! Nice catch.

Anyway, pretty much everything that happened in this article is stupid; I'm really not surprised that this happened in Connecticut. Most of the people I had to deal with there were whiny, self-righteous pricks.

Still, the kid has some talent. Maybe he'll have a shot at the pros someday; at the very least, this depressingly stupid incedent is sure to grab some attention, I suppose.

It sucks. Maybe the other parents should, you know, work more with their kids to improve their skills -- or get them training, rather than punish the kid who's good.

The goal of little league is to play baseball. Why you play baseball is up to you.

Let the kid play. Excellence should be celebrated. And as for the other kids, being totally outclassed by someone better than you is a good life lesson: Futility happens. Sometimes your best just isn't good enough.
Or, work hard to improve.

Jericho's coach and parents say the boy is being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league's administrators.

I think this says it all.

It's a lesson in triage, there are some things not worth wasting your time on. If they were just going to spend an hour or so getting slaughtered, where's the point in that?

You still can have fun even if you are being slaughtered, though I would like to see the scores this team was racking up against their opposition. I remember being in a team where we lost every game, but I still enjoyed myself and was the reason I rocked up every week.

Though the kids who have to face the pitch get help from this boys arm as well, he is providing a challenge for them and it helps them improve their game.

And what NAS said, it does say it all, because they couldn't get the kid they now want the team which has a good chance of beating them for the league has taken back door steps to ensure they retain the title rather than doing the right thing and beating them.

Or, work hard to improve.

Wrong. The lesson to learn is this,"You tried your best and failed miserably. The point is never try." As always, the Simpson's provide the answers to life's problems.

It sucks. Maybe the other parents should, you know, work more with their kids to improve their skills -- or get them training, rather than punish the kid who's good.

The kid is so good that other teams forfeit when he's pitching. I doubt that extra practices will improve their skills enough that to the degree that they have a decent chance at winning. In a world of imperfect option I'm guessing he should join the next age group unless the situation becomes unsafe.

How would it harm him? Little league here is divided by age but it didn't stop my daughter from moving up. She's 5 on a 7 year old team. It's not harmful.

I'm guessing that 11-13 year old boys are very different from 7 year old girls. I'm unsure if the difference warrants enough concern to stop him from joining the next age group, but I doubt yours experience is reasonably generalizable to this situation.

espn article (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=080827/kreidler&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab8pos1)

Apparently the kid was doing ok in a higher level league, then mid-season moved down to the league to the one he was dominating in.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080826/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bby_too_good_to_pitch;_ylt=AoXzTASNIZZC_z4s3zLi3ZkZ.3QA

Heard about this on the radio on the way to class this morning.

This is disgusting. Not only is it totally unfair to the boy, but it sends a terrible message to all the other kids.
"Oh, the other guy's too good for you? Well, complain about it! Somebody will make it go away."

The bit about the sponsor really got me. Its bad enough that the soccer moms got their way (Shocking to consider that there's a risk of injury while playing sports!), but that may've had corporate backing makes it twice as bad.

Unless they can prove that the kid was doing steroids or something, its completely unjustified. Haven't any of these people heard of the Miracle on Ice?
(Not that I expect many NSGers have. Bunch of crazy liberal-hippy-european-leftist-commie-all-sports-except-soccer-hating....people that you are. :p )

So, NSG, opinions? Similar stories? Random attempts to blame this all on a political faction?

Is there any reason this kid can't join a team in a higher league?

What is the point in trying to beat an apparently undefeatable obstacle?

Ask Edmund Hillary, ask Lance Armstrong, ask Usain Bolt.

The desire to do what seems impossible means that we transcend our mean little lives and do something that is inspiring.
Hm, I'll bet that looked nice in whatever self-help book you plagiarized, and it probably works for experienced thrill-seekers and athletes. However, back in the real world, these are kids with little skill and less experience. They're being slaughtered by a more skilled kid who could (in fact, should) be playing in an older league.

Is there any reason this kid can't join a team in a higher league?

Nope. You can always play "up" in little league, you can't play "down" though.

The stated reason for little league, btw, both when I coached and now that my daughter plays is to teach children how to play baseball. Maybe that's just a local thing though. It's not supposed to be high pressure competition, you are supposed to be learning the rules and improving skills in catching, throwing, hitting, running and team work.

I think you failed to understand your own point.

My point was that the fun of the many outweights the fun of the one pitcher who has other options to find fun in the game.

Nope. You can always play "up" in little league, you can't play "down" though.

The stated reason for little league, btw, both when I coached and now that my daughter plays is to teach children how to play baseball. Maybe that's just a local thing though. It's not supposed to be high pressure competition, you are supposed to be learning the rules and improving skills in catching, throwing, hitting, running and team work.

Then I don't get the fuss. If the boy is that good I would have thought he would be delighted to move up.

They could just smash his little hands

Whenever you have an athlete good enough to kick the ass of every competitor at his level, you move him up until he gets some real competition. Otherwise, he doesn't continue to develop and his skills get stale playing against other athletes that aren't any competition to him. If he and his parents are concernd about helping him grow as an athlete, then he needs to go to a league where he'll get a challenge.

espn article (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=080827/kreidler&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab8pos1)

Apparently the kid was doing ok in a higher level league, then mid-season moved down to the league to the one he was dominating in.

But, it looks like he was already getting challenged, he just didn't want to be. In this case, the kid and his parent don't seem to be concerned with growth as an athlete so much as playing with kids his own age.

Move him up an age category. And shoot the motherfrakkers who said he couldn't compete.

Then I don't get the fuss. If the boy is that good I would have thought he would be delighted to move up.

He wants to play with his friends.

He wants to play with his friends.

At 9 years old I cant blame him ... I was scared enough of the older kids, would have fought to be able to play with my friends

He wants to play with his friends.

And I think he can play with his friend just right if he's playing as a first baseman. Bring some competition into the mix.

How is this a national news story? This kind of shit seemed to happen every year in my old baseball league... Travel team kids would play on normal teams and dominate them, and the normal team kids would get pissy, and the kid ultimately will stop playing in the normal league and start playing at his level when the season ends... The parents in the normal league complain, the normal league says he can't pitch, he continues pitching in the higher league and plays with his friends at a different position in the normal league... No need for lawsuits or national media...

And I think he can play with his friend just right if he's playing as a first baseman. Bring some competition into the mix.
So he has a choice of doing what he is really good at and not being able to play with friends. Or being stuck in a position he does not feel good at but being with friends.

That sucks for him specially when he has done nothing but be good. Seems to me the opponents in a semi competitive support should just grow a pair and not try to gimp the competition unfairly.

So he has a choice of doing what he is really good at and not being able to play with friends. Or being stuck in a position he does not feel good at but being with friends.

That sucks for him specially when he has done nothing but be good. Seems to me the opponents in a semi competitive support should just grow a pair and not try to gimp the competition unfairly.

Sucks to be him, no doubt about it. But from a little league commissioner standpoint it's a no-brainer: One kid unhappy is a small price to pay in that instance.

As far as the others are concerned, there's no way they can improve their game if they're being struck out every at-bat. It's good for competition if he can't pitch.

I've been in a friendly soccer league where one team decided to drop down from competitive level so they can feel good about themselves beating every one. Let me tell you, half the teams quit after the season from disgust. It's just no fun, no chance to improve and a pain to spend good dollars to be humiliated. If you have to kick one guy out to ensure that thirty guys have fun, then so be it.

Sucks to be him, no doubt about it. But from a little league commissioner standpoint it's a no-brainer: One kid unhappy is a small price to pay in that instance.

As far as the others are concerned, there's no way they can improve their game if they're being struck out every at-bat. It's good for competition if he can't pitch.

I've been in a friendly soccer league where one team decided to drop down from competitive level so they can feel good about themselves beating every one. Let me tell you, half the teams quit after the season from disgust. It's just no fun, no chance to improve and a pain to spend good dollars to be humiliated. If you have to kick one guy out to ensure that thirty guys have fun, then so be it.

And I have competed against people in the same position ... instead of giving up we had some fun with it and ended up coming in second ... fine by me its not like we play only 1 team all year long. We may have not been able to knock them out of first but its not like it had any impact on personal improvement.

How many games do they play that are NOT against this kid? its not like him existing runes the chance of any of them winning games, improving, or having some great games against people closer to their skill level

And I have competed against people in the same position ... instead of giving up we had some fun with it and ended up coming in second ... fine by me its not like we play only 1 team all year long. We may have not been able to knock them out of first but its not like it had any impact on personal improvement.

How many games do they play that are NOT against this kid? its not like him existing runes the chance of any of them winning games, improving, or having some great games against people closer to their skill level

Sure but it's frustrating if, say, one game in eight is lost from the get go because someone is not a team player enough to try another position or play at his own level. No one respond the same to adersity. I get frustrated while you try to find some other objective.

There are two lessons parents and coach should teach the players involved: one is to try your best and try to improve and try to have fun. Two is that winning isn't everything and to be a team player sometimes mean biting the bullet and play elsewhere to let other people develop their skills too.

So, in retrospect, I blame the adults who can't stop bitching for a minute and use the situation as a learning experience.

If I was that guy's coach, I'd encourage him to try another position and explain to him that it will help him develop other skills needed to be a good ball player. At the very least, it would teach him team work. The team wins the ball game, not just the pitcher.

bad form.

While I can understand the parent's concerns, to disband the team because one player is "too good" is stupid.

play out the season then allow the kid to go up to the next level of baseball.

Sure but it's frustrating if, say, one game in eight is lost from the get go because someone is not a team player enough to try another position or play at his own level. No one respond the same to adersity. I get frustrated while you try to find some other objective.

There are two lessons parents and coach should teach the players involved: one is to try your best and try to improve and try to have fun. Two is that winning isn't everything and to be a team player sometimes mean biting the bullet and play elsewhere to let other people develop their skills too.

So, in retrospect, I blame the adults who can't stop bitching for a minute and use the situation as a learning experience.

If I was that guy's coach, I'd encourage him to try another position and explain to him that it will help him develop other skills needed to be a good ball player. At the very least, it would teach him team work. The team wins the ball game, not just the pitcher.
I agree with a lot of it but in the end the team wins because of both teamwork and individual skill combined ... Except you are gimping the second part

Not because rules of the GAME say so, not because the kid is doing anything wrong but because the kid is doing his best and is excelling at it. It seems ass backwords to punish him and bring him down to their level rather then working on raising them up to his level

Clearly, if you don't get a hit you can't learn anything.

I think I'm probably in the minority, but I think this might be the best decision. If one kid is so good that none of those on the other team have a chance it destroys the enjoyment for all of the other kids. At that age, enjoyment of sport is paramount, and kids won't get enthusiastic for sports if their earliest experiences are guaranteed complete failure because someone on the other team is so much better than them.

Is there any reason this kid can't join a team in a higher league?
Is there any reason why he should have to?

This sends a message that success is bad and needs to be punished.

I think I'm probably in the minority, but I think this might be the best decision. If one kid is so good that none of those on the other team have a chance it destroys the enjoyment for all of the other kids. At that age, enjoyment of sport is paramount, and kids won't get enthusiastic for sports if their earliest experiences are guaranteed complete failure because someone on the other team is so much better than them.

There are always the "to beat" teams ... there are often teams that ride the top every year. The thing about having a whole season of games 7/8ths of which will never be against the team with this kid on it hardly makes this an entire season of failure

In the end I think it is a rather bad idea to bring anyone else down to the lowest common denominator just so everyone has a chance.