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Post by Mark on May 16, 2006 20:35:47 GMT -8
I am glad to see new people are joining in on topics. although some might agree and some might not agree i am glad that there is dialog here.
so i just want to say to all posters dont take anything personally if i disagree with you. these are all just opinions and all of us will disagree with eachother from time to time.
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Post by Byrd on May 16, 2006 20:41:55 GMT -8
That is what the page is all about Mark....it is good to debate topics. Always enjoy seeing what others have to say about the baseball world.
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Post by Chris on May 16, 2006 21:26:32 GMT -8
What a load of crap! See we disagree already. [Mark starts crying uncontrollably]
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Post by Mark on May 16, 2006 21:49:25 GMT -8
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Post by crash23 on May 17, 2006 8:56:59 GMT -8
I think the dialogue is great, hopefully it will lead to change. The best ideas I've heard so far is city-wide interleague play (tho Nat'l/NE might need to stop drafting 9s) and the city championship tournament (and ditching the TOC). I hope the leagues can begin work right after all stars to get it done.
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Post by Jim Green on May 17, 2006 10:56:05 GMT -8
What's wrong with drafting 9's?
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Post by crash23 on May 17, 2006 11:16:58 GMT -8
Nothing in particular but if we go to city-wide inter-league play then the Amer/AE side would appear to have an advantage b/c they do not draft nines.
Personally I don't think it does 9 year olds, or for that matter most ten year olds, much good to be facing 12 year olds. I really like the way some of the other organizations split up their age groups in two year intervals. 7/8, 9/10, 11/12. Just my opinion and others see it differently but in the three years I've been involved in majors on the Amer/AE side there's only a small handful (2 - 3 at best) who experience success at the major league level. The vast majority are lucky to hit .200. I just don't see how that's good for the development of these players. I think this is one reason why numbers are decreasing (in a city that has grown significantly). I think they'd enjoy the experience a whole lot more if they facd kids closer in age and talent. Confidence is so important in sports and falure on the scale tht most of these kids experience does nothing for their self esteem. There's always exceptions to the rule and a few of these kids will benefit from the experience but most of these kids would be better served by and age/peer group experience. Even in high school it's generally a two year age span for sports except for only the few players who can play up as a freshmen or sophomores. Little League's 9 - 12 age grouping doesn't make much sense for a lot of reasons... Too often (every year) players are drafted just to fill slots, not becuase they are capable of competing. I think it would elevate everyone's game in Turlock baseball if we had age groupings of two years. I think Little League is one of he rare youth sports organizations that has such a wide range of ages playing together. I think that's why Cal Ripken is growing in popularity so fast. That and they play real baseball.
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Post by Jim Green on May 17, 2006 11:47:18 GMT -8
Last year there where 4 9's drafted in the national side (maybe 5) and 3 of them deserved to be in the majors. It would of been a wasted year for them to go back to AA and destroy everyone down there. I'd rather see them struggle and learn some real baseball up in the majors. As for the 10's, did you see the game Sniezek had lasts week against the Giants... He was intentionally walked. (ever see this happen to a 10?) A nice play by the Giants as they got the next batter. His next time up the Giants must have been sleeping as Alex hit a 2 run homer. Then the Giants were having a nice little rally and getting back into the game when Alex threw out a runner at home From the center field fence!! A beautiful throw that reached the catcher on the fly. Oh and to top it off he got the win.
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Post by scrapper on May 17, 2006 12:28:58 GMT -8
Here, we go with the gotta have the win again. I love how all of us talk about the game and how it is the experience of LL and all that. But the bottom line is we all want to win. Not to say that is a bad things. Back in the day, (late 70's) , you had farm 8-9 yrs. Minors 9-12 and Majors 10-12 and there were no 9-10 AS or 11 AS, just the 11-12 AS.
However over the course of time, things change. I think and I'm a little prejudice regarding about drafting 9 yr olds. On the one hand, I was a little nervous, some of those kids throw pretty hard, but now since he has been up, he has made a positive contribution to his team and he has become a pretty good ball player. (chip off the ole block, ha, ha.) I am just glad that the coaches have given him an opportunity to be able to show he can play at that level. Is he the best play on the team, no, will he be, probably, but learning from the older player has been a very valuable experience. and plus you can unproductive 12 years old hitting 200, so what is the difference.
I agree with Jim, you have to elevate the good player, whether 9 years go to major or not, you need to at least allow them to go to AAA . Putting them in AA is a waste of a year. After all there are travel teams coaches that are looking at the kids and I do not see them at the AAA games looking for 9 and 10 year olds.
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Post by Jim Green on May 17, 2006 12:59:35 GMT -8
Scrapper When I said he got the win I ment he was the winning pitcher. I dont know where you played LL during the 70's cause I played and coached the same period and we had Jr. minors 6-7 Minors 8-12, Majors 9-12 and like today the best of the 9's played majors. I dont really know where you are going with your 2nd. paragraph so I wont respond to it.
The bottom line is you play the game right and you try to win. Things were the same back then as it is now.
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Post by crash23 on May 17, 2006 13:04:35 GMT -8
I can't address what's happening in Nat'l, only what I see in Amer/AE. Every year there is a few tens that are ready compete at the major league level, there's a bunch that will survive and learn something, and there's too many that will get two or three hits on the season and strike out the majority of the time. Dunno how that helps their development. I think it would be better to have four teams where most of the players are similar in talent. I think that makes them all better. Strikeouts would be harder for pitchers to come by and hits for hitters b/c the fielding would be much better. I think players in the majors should be able to perform the basics - play catch w/o fear of getting hurt, catch a fly ball, have enough arm strength to throw that ball across the infield and be able to make contact on occasion against average major league pitching. I see too many players in the majors that lack these basic skills. I think most kids have more fun when they experience modest success. Striking out over half the time would not meet that definition in my book. The youth program I played in (Bronco/Pony/Colt) was a lot different than what we have here. They separated leagues in two-year age spans and I think because of that there was not nearly as much disparity in talent. Whether it’s two-year intervals or four, I think the key is having similarly talented players competing against one another. I believe it’s more fun for the participants and leads to better development of players. Winning has nothing to do with my point ?
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Post by Chris on May 17, 2006 13:09:43 GMT -8
Craig is right. Except for a very few kids, nine year olds don't belong in the majors. It's been debated for years and I wish the league would make the decision to say no to drafting 9s. That having been said, I drafted a 9 and he has contributed in a very big way. He would have been an exceptional minor leaguer and most certainly would have enjoyed much more playing time. I hope we did the right thing but I am glad we got him before anyone else did. BTW, his dad's a pain in the ass.
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Post by scrapper on May 17, 2006 13:49:07 GMT -8
I think there are alot of 10 year olds who do not belong in the majors. That being said, and I agree with crash that to play in the majors you need a basic skill level, which is what tryouts are for. In your case Chris, I firmly believe, that if your 9 would have stayed in the AA, he would not be the player he is now (Great Coaching). Maybe if he would have been if he played AAA, I feel that the main reason he has become a better player is that he playing on the major league level. And with ALOT OF PLAYING TIME, he would be even better. I think just practicing with the older kids and the experience, which is the majority of the time is why he is stepping up.
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Post by Jim Green on May 17, 2006 14:12:56 GMT -8
Chris Not to change the subject but what the hell are you feeding Jenson? He's having a great year and leading the league in HR. You better give your 9 alot more PT and get him ready for ALL STARS! Our 9-10 should go far this year.
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Post by Chris on May 17, 2006 14:17:41 GMT -8
In your case Chris, I firmly believe, that if your 9 would have stayed in the AA, he would not be the player he is now (Great Coaching). Can't argue with that. Seriously, I think our 9 is one of those exceptions Crash was talking about but you already know how I feel about him. He's earned his playing time and there's not a harder worker or more likable player on the team. He also comes with a great family which is so important to team chemistry. Like I said his dad's a pain is the a$$ but his mom's a real sweetheart. I think he's a keeper!
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