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Post by Randy Edwards on Feb 4, 2007 12:31:09 GMT -8
I would like to personally apologize to all the kids that this affected, their parents and coaches. You have no idea how hard this was to do. We discussed all options that we could think of and all roads lead to the same end. I believe the end result will be in the best interest of the kids and the league. It is my hope that in a the future we will be able to add teams. I believe with inter-league, a city tournament and other upcoming events we should be able to bring more excitement to the leagues.
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Post by Chris on Feb 4, 2007 12:49:17 GMT -8
Randy ~
You gave up your team during this retraction and that had to be tough. Congratulations for acting selflessly to improve your league. I think things will only get better as we move forward with the great new opportunities you cited above.
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Post by crash23 on Feb 4, 2007 12:50:41 GMT -8
Thanks for your integrity Randy. It is often hard to do what is right because it is often not popular... At the end of the day though, when all the other garbage is swept away, the right decision still stares you in the face. I'm glad the Board went with the right decsion, which was based on facts, not emotion. It is also in alliance with everything lined out in the operating manual, which is a better barometer to use (rather than peoples opinions). LL, after all, has been at this for a long time and I believe they have a pretty good idea of what they are doing. They make these recommendations for good reason.
At season's end (if not sooner) I think we'll find this was the right decision, just as it was the last time we did it three years ago. It's too bad it's come to this, but the cold hard fact is we have many more novice players than we do advanced players... Tryouts made that perfectly clear. I hope some day that will change - but for the time being it is what it is.
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Post by lboullion on Feb 4, 2007 14:22:51 GMT -8
Randy,
I respect your decision and commend you for being a class act in the tough decision. LL needs more people like you. It's kind of ironic for me that both teams that were dissolved were the two teams that my son played on. Kind of puts an exclamation point on his LL time.
I need to get my money back for both of my son's. They will not be playing this year in Turlock Amer. LL. $180. Let me know and I will supply my address and info to return my son's entry fees.
I can not support a league where my boy's are not welcome
Randy, Can you explain how the Phillies were chosen to be dissolved?
I wish the league all the best.
L Boullion
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Post by Chris on Feb 4, 2007 15:25:10 GMT -8
Lance -
I can't imagine that your suggesting a team was collapsed to keep your boys from playing. Its always been the standard practice to reduce teams based on the number of returnees. Isn't it different in the case of the Phillies?
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Coop
Full Member
Posts: 73
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Post by Coop on Feb 4, 2007 18:14:49 GMT -8
Lance,
I have know you for last three or four years. Knowing your education background, it saddens me to think that you would say the program does not want your son's to play in the program. You are wrong my friend. Yes things can be diffcult at times and decisions have to be made for the good of the program. Some of those decisions we may not agree upon. You have rasied your boys to be fine athletes and you should be very proud of how they have improved their games. I find it hard to believe that they were not happy playing at times. Maybe a disappointment now then. I remember when your oldest son played on my ten old All Stars and we finished our first game in Los Banos with a win. We had a team meeting after the game and before we could slow him down he slipped and fell which he broke his wraist. I broke my heart that happen to him, but I know he was happy then and every time I would see either of your boys, they always had a smile on their faces. I am sorry that you feel this way and you have to make a decision what is best for your family. I hope that you don't pull them out. I wish you and your boys the best.
Coop
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Post by mflema on Feb 4, 2007 19:01:29 GMT -8
Lance: Are you unaware of the fact, that in the case of a league having to reduce the number of major league teams, that there is a supplemental draft prior to the regular draft. The remaining teams then select the returning major league players from the team or teams that have been reduced, with the same rules, with brother options and so on and so forth, and when all of those players now are on a team, then the regular draft will then begin. The rules are the same for the supplemental draft, that the teams draft in reverse order of last years placings, and the two drafts are separate from each other. Your boys are still major league players. They will just be moving to a different team. All major players must stay in the majors. Mel
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Post by KEITH on Feb 4, 2007 19:21:00 GMT -8
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE AMERICAN LEAGUE COULD SEE THAT REMOVING A TEAM WOULD ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE LEAGUE. WAY TO GOOD AMERICAN LEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE NATIONAL SIDE WAS WORRIED THAT THE LEAGUE WOULD COLLASPE, OR SOMEONES KID OR RELATIVE WOULD NOT GET DRAFTED. SO WHY NOT KEEP 3 TEAMS AND WATER DOWN THE LEAGUE.
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Post by lboullion on Feb 4, 2007 21:54:27 GMT -8
It was not a question about removing a team. I and everyone else knew that a team was going to be removed from the American side. It had to be done.
My question is how was the team to be dissolved chosen?
It sounds like the Giants AE were disolved by the manager gracefully volunteering it. How were the Phillies chosen becuase they did not volunteer to dissolve yet the Dodgers were willing to (Correct me if I am wrong)? I understand a team had to be dissolved, just how was it done and why weren't the Dodgers. Not saying that they should have been disolved because everyone shoud have been on an equal field.
Chris, I am not suggesting that. If I meant that I would have said that. I mean what I say. Michael wasnt even on the Phillies either. You know me better then that.
Paul, you have always been great and we wont forget what you've done for us but I know there are Board members who do not like me and have held a grudge since Fall Ball 2005. They dont like Tony either and they dont like Duane.
I thought things would be different. I should have learned that after being suspended for 5 games and Adrian for 3 that we were not welcome last year by a few people in charge. Adrian has played in over 300 games in his life and hasnt even been warned of being suspended besides that one. I have never been suspended from baseball or anything in my since or before that. After the comments that I broke into the snack bar and stole money by the sour older lady on the board (What a joke) and how my program rented Julien two years ago and people were bitter that we did that because we made a profit. This stuff is still brought up to me by people.
Saturday, I have a manager yelling out at try outs that my son is tanking the tryouts in front of everyone. Repeated comments, at least 5 comments. Degrading my son in front of everyone becuase he drops a few fly balls. There was only one kid who caught them all anyway. It was aimed at my kid. Says he's sandbagging it, throwing the tryouts. Same guy who had a problem with my other kid last year during the above suspension. I talked with my son after and I was not proud of his behavior, I was embarassed, but that is between me and him. Why isn't there some sort of action for this manager. This is a Head Manager. Are they allowed to degrad kids in front of everyone? I want to file a grievance. Let me do this and see how it's handled. Do I think anything will be done? Of course not. If I said that to a kid what would have happened? That is worse then what I did to get a 5 game suspension. If people really care for the kids why is this allowed to happen?
Duane is a great coach. His only problem is having me coach with him and wanting Tony on his team this year. He is what a little league coach should be. I had people around come up to me and say, "you two are the most hated guys in the league." Meaning me and Tony. I can live with that but my kids shouldnt have to.
You know, I really dont care anymore anyway. It's just baseball and there are far more important things in life. Michael doesn't want to play now. Robert wanted to play but he needs to be protected before a problem begins. The easiest solution is to not be a part of the league to avoid future problems. I wish little league was fun.
L Boullion
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Post by Chris on Feb 4, 2007 22:29:13 GMT -8
Lance -
I do know you better than that - sorry. I wish you'd name the manager you're talking about. If he said the things you described to your son you should file a complaint. I would hope he gets what is coming to him.
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Post by lboullion on Feb 4, 2007 23:03:56 GMT -8
I am done being a complainer and I'm moving on. I hope every player has a positive experience this year.
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Post by Mark on Feb 4, 2007 23:09:36 GMT -8
I had people around come up to me and say, "you two are the most hated guys in the league." Meaning me and Tony. BTW i have a really good friend who i think holds the title for most hated man in Turlock LL. Only i am sure you know him and i know Tony knows him well. Believe me, neither of you 2 are the most hated in Turlock LL dont take this as a knock to this person because he really is a good friend and always has been since i first met him
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Post by Chris on Feb 4, 2007 23:14:39 GMT -8
LOL
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Post by trevor9 on Feb 5, 2007 12:08:04 GMT -8
I will not slam the board for their error in judgement. I happen to have a ton of respect for 3 board members who I won't mention because I'd hate to see them be abused for me supporting them. But the rest of the members will never cease to amaze me with their brutality. They preach it's for the kids but these actions are hurting the kids more than anyone. Duane has been nothing more than a positive role model for his team and that is right out of the parents on his teams mouths. I personally couldn't give a rats azz about what they do from this point forward, I have been supportive of Lance, Tony, Duane, Craig and many others who have done more positive for baseball here in Turlock than these people. If the Phillies were retracted because they thought that Duane was loading up than the Padres should have been eliminated as well, if that was the reason. The Dodgers did in fact offer to be cut, with 4 returners it would certainly sell the boards case for eliminating the Giants. We have time and time again supported LL and been looked at as travel ball people, like that is a bad thing. At least in travel ball we have a family of 11 kids who just want to play and there is very little b.s. We shut down for LL and have encouraged our kids to play LL and all-stars, then start back up after. I guess going into this year trying to be optimistic was a mistake. The message I'm hearing from a very small group who just happens to have a little power is......we need more kids and want more kids for our program, just not yours. It must get old screwing the same people over and over. So the next time one of them wonders why the numbers are way down maybe they should look in the mirror......chances are that they can't do it without puking. The national league is wondering what in hell they got into. For their information, we prefer travel ball not because we think our kids are god's gift to baseball and that LL is beneath us but that we don't have to stomach Fortado and Jurevich running around Julien pattin' each other on the back for another job well done. O.K. I might have slammed 2 people but they have certainly had it coming. They exercised their freedom of speech and get pissed when someone calls them on it......well too bad. When it comes to adults, they can defend themselves. When they screw the kids I get a little upset. I'll drop it for now and I think I've made my point that these two individuals should just leave, why should Lance. Go screw up the some other organization not involving kids. Thanks
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Post by crash23 on Feb 5, 2007 13:40:23 GMT -8
The rationale used to eliminate the teams should be consistent from league to league. The most plausible scenarios used to remove a team would seem to be to eliminate the team:
A. with the fewest returning players in each league, that makes sense b/c if effects the fewest kids. I also believe that's what the operating manual suggests.
B. that has no returning manager.
C. that has the manager with the least (overall coaching) experience.
I do believe the players, parents and coaches deserve an explanation. It would (hopefully) give merit and credence to the decision. To date, no one has made an explanation public, therefore the decision comes across as ambiguous, which does nothing but stoke the fire of controversy.
While most understand the reason why a team needed to be eliminated, it seems, in the court of public opinion, the decision as to which team it was (in American), is, at the very least, misunderstood. It would seem a board of a non-profit agency serving the public would want to make the rationale for their actions known.
I think there's great honor when a public board communicates openly with those they serve. There's even greater honor when they let the public know why they do what they do. Though there will always be those that disagree with the decision or the rationale used to make it, they can never question the integrity or intent. Without such communication decisions come across as being made in a veil of secrecy and will be shrouded in controversy – and that’s not healthy for an organization.
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