Little League question

[CubinNY]

Obviously something is wrong. Making him apologize won't help anything. Sending him home would be a mistake as well. You're in a tough situation. I would talk to the kid's parents to see if he really wants to play. If he does, bat him first in the next game.

[Garwilly]

Maybe if you had managed better, you would've had options on the bench left.

 

 

I keed!

[Garwilly]

Now that the proper context has been revealed, the little league "handshake line suckerpunch" incident makes lot more sense.

[imb]

I was the pitcher in this scenario when I was a teenager.

 

When I was 13 I could really ramp it up on the mound, but more velocity = worse control.

 

I still remember the team we were playing, too - The Miners - I hit two or three kids and then later I hit one in the side of the knee. All of this was on accident, I might add, I just had no control. The last kid cried so hard that when he got up he had dirt streaked all over his face.

 

Later, one got loose and flew over a kids' head. He just dropped his bat and walked back to the dugout before his third base coach intercepted him.

[OleMissCub]

I was the pitcher in this scenario when I was a teenager.

 

When I was 13 I could really ramp it up on the mound, but more velocity = worse control.

 

I still remember the team we were playing, too - The Miners - I hit two or three kids and then later I hit one in the side of the knee. All of this was on accident, I might add, I just had no control. The last kid cried so hard that when he got up he had dirt streaked all over his face.

 

Later, one got loose and flew over a kids' head. He just dropped his bat and walked back to the dugout before his third base coach intercepted him.

 

Haha, you were THAT kid. I swear I've got dents all up and down my shin bones because of kids that were like you.

[Garwilly]

I was the puny kid, and was left handed. I was drilled AT LEAST once per game, usually more. Walked more often than not. First year Pony. I had a .000 batting average. Not a single hit all year. But my OBp was through the roof.

[Vanilla Ice]

I was the pitcher in this scenario when I was a teenager.

 

When I was 13 I could really ramp it up on the mound, but more velocity = worse control.

 

I still remember the team we were playing, too - The Miners - I hit two or three kids and then later I hit one in the side of the knee. All of this was on accident, I might add, I just had no control. The last kid cried so hard that when he got up he had dirt streaked all over his face.

 

Later, one got loose and flew over a kids' head. He just dropped his bat and walked back to the dugout before his third base coach intercepted him.

that was me too

 

i never made a kid just quit

 

but some people would get on the very outside of the batters box, so far that they couldn't even cover 3/4 of the plate

[biittner77]

Maybe if you had managed better, you would've had options on the bench left.

 

 

I keed!

 

We bat all the kids that show up so we don't have any subs.

 

The coach of the other team could have helped a lot by letting us just skip his spot in the order. I was disappointed that he didn't step up and do the right thing given the circumstances. I think he felt that it was better to teach the kid a lesson about commitment to a team than to let him off the hook. I suspect he also didn't want to risk losing the game.

[biittner77]

Obviously something is wrong. Making him apologize won't help anything. Sending him home would be a mistake as well. You're in a tough situation. I would talk to the kid's parents to see if he really wants to play. If he does, bat him first in the next game.

 

If he wants to play I'm going to let him. I wasn't mad at him at the time so much as disappointed. I'm willing to give him another chance.

 

However, he does, I think, need to make peace with his teammates and convince him that they can count on him.

[The Voice of Reason]

Maybe if you had managed better, you would've had options on the bench left.

 

 

I keed!

 

We bat all the kids that show up so we don't have any subs.

 

The coach of the other team could have helped a lot by letting us just skip his spot in the order. I was disappointed that he didn't step up and do the right thing given the circumstances. I think he felt that it was better to teach the kid a lesson about commitment to a team than to let him off the hook. I suspect he also didn't want to risk losing the game.

 

Maybe he felt winning a 9 year old Little League game would serve as a springboard into a job managing in the Big Leagues. :roll:

[Tracer Bullet]

Obviously something is wrong. Making him apologize won't help anything. Sending him home would be a mistake as well. You're in a tough situation. I would talk to the kid's parents to see if he really wants to play. If he does, bat him first in the next game.

 

If he wants to play I'm going to let him. I wasn't mad at him at the time so much as disappointed. I'm willing to give him another chance.

 

However, he does, I think, need to make peace with his teammates and convince him that they can count on him.

 

It's Little League. There's probably 3 "reliable" kids on the team. On my Little League teams, if the ball got past the infield, good night. You were lucky if 1 of the OFs was even facing the plate.

[jkrapfl]

Dr Ease up?

 

He asked for opinions on handling the situation and I suggested one. I'm not trying to call him out - I stated he was in a tough spot - I'm just suggesting that going forward, using guilt might not be the most effective method.

 

I'm not sure where you get off telling people how they should react to a little league coach's treatment of their child. If a parent doesn't think their 9-year-old is treated the way they want them to, the kids shouldn't be involved in sports? Give me a break.

 

 

Ok Dr.

 

 

Ease up.

 

not "dr. ease up".

 

I'm referring to this specific situation and you claiming you'd be pissed if he said what he said to your kid. If it was something where he was out of line or mistreating a kid, absolutely a parent should be pissed. But your overly dramatic reaction to his story is silly.

 

So now I'm a doctor? I guess I still don't get it, but whatever.

 

I don't think being pissed if someone guilt trips your 9-year-old is a "silly, overly dramatic reaction." I think that's a pretty bad lesson to teach a 9-year-old. So yes, I'd be a little pissed. But I think you're overstating my reaction. I probably wouldn't say anything to the coach, though I'd probably talk about it with my kid. But it would upset me. I'm a parent of a young child and I'm constantly amazed at what he picks up, so I'm sensitive to the lessons he's learning from others (whether they know he's learning from them or not). I'm surprised you wouldn't be upset if someone did that to your kid.

 

Why would that be a horrible lesson to teach a kid? Its called life. If, in my job, I have a large project where a team of people is depending on me doing my part and I refuse to do it, I'm going to be letting the entire team down. Its the same thing, and its a good lesson to teach at any age.

[rocket]

I was the pitcher in this scenario when I was a teenager.

 

When I was 13 I could really ramp it up on the mound, but more velocity = worse control.

 

I still remember the team we were playing, too - The Miners - I hit two or three kids and then later I hit one in the side of the knee. All of this was on accident, I might add, I just had no control. The last kid cried so hard that when he got up he had dirt streaked all over his face.

 

Later, one got loose and flew over a kids' head. He just dropped his bat and walked back to the dugout before his third base coach intercepted him.

 

i was the opposite. when i pitched, i had very good control, but not much velocity. i hardly ever walked anyone, so i usually did pretty well. the only problem i had is whenever i faced a kid that had talent, i usually got smoked.

[Tracer Bullet]

Dr Ease up?

 

He asked for opinions on handling the situation and I suggested one. I'm not trying to call him out - I stated he was in a tough spot - I'm just suggesting that going forward, using guilt might not be the most effective method.

 

I'm not sure where you get off telling people how they should react to a little league coach's treatment of their child. If a parent doesn't think their 9-year-old is treated the way they want them to, the kids shouldn't be involved in sports? Give me a break.

 

 

Ok Dr.

 

 

Ease up.

 

not "dr. ease up".

 

I'm referring to this specific situation and you claiming you'd be pissed if he said what he said to your kid. If it was something where he was out of line or mistreating a kid, absolutely a parent should be pissed. But your overly dramatic reaction to his story is silly.

 

So now I'm a doctor? I guess I still don't get it, but whatever.

 

I don't think being pissed if someone guilt trips your 9-year-old is a "silly, overly dramatic reaction." I think that's a pretty bad lesson to teach a 9-year-old. So yes, I'd be a little pissed. But I think you're overstating my reaction. I probably wouldn't say anything to the coach, though I'd probably talk about it with my kid. But it would upset me. I'm a parent of a young child and I'm constantly amazed at what he picks up, so I'm sensitive to the lessons he's learning from others (whether they know he's learning from them or not). I'm surprised you wouldn't be upset if someone did that to your kid.

 

Why would that be a horrible lesson to teach a kid? Its called life. If, in my job, I have a large project where a team of people is depending on me doing my part and I refuse to do it, I'm going to be letting the entire team down. Its the same thing, and its a good lesson to teach at any age.

 

Teaching kids responsibility is great. Teaching them you get others to do what you want using guilt isn't.

[biittner77]

Teaching kids responsibility is great. Teaching them you get others to do what you want using guilt isn't.

 

I wasn't trying to guilt him into anything. I was letting him know what would happen if he didn't do what he was supposed to do.

We're 3/4 of the way through the season. He's played and batted in every game. By now he knows that he's supposed to bat when it's his turn. I didn't know if he realized what would happen if he didn't do what he was supposed to do, what he had done and done somewhat successfully (he did have 1 hit and has drawn his share of walks) for over a month.

[Tracer Bullet]

Teaching kids responsibility is great. Teaching them you get others to do what you want using guilt isn't.

 

I wasn't trying to guilt him into anything. I was letting him know what would happen if he didn't do what he was supposed to do.

We're 3/4 of the way through the season. He's played and batted in every game. By now he knows that he's supposed to bat when it's his turn. I didn't know if he realized what would happen if he didn't do what he was supposed to do, what he had done and done somewhat successfully (he did have 1 hit and has drawn his share of walks) for over a month.

 

"You'll be letting everyone down." Telling him that if he doesn't go to the plate, he's out and the team loses is exactly what I'd expect. But this was guilt.

 

And it's a 9-year-old. Who was apparently crying and hiding. If he'd gone to bat that many times before during the season, I imagine there was something about that game or pitcher or night (possibly wholly unrelated to the game) that was the cause. Whatever it was - it's a meaningless game.

 

I'm really not trying to be a jerk about this. It was a tough situation and it's not like you called him a patsy or punched him in the face or something.

[CuseCubFan69]

We all have our moments when we just want to hide and this young man did his when a lot of people were watching. What I would do is either do something fun at the next practice and get the kids to form together as a group. Or, do something that this young man could succeed in at the next practice, without him knowing you're doing this on purpose.

 

Some kids do not want to be there but their parents have made them play for one reason or another and this might be the case for this guy. You've had him for a few games now, have you got a read on him and try to find out what makes him tick, what intrests he has that you might tie in to playing baseball and a pressure situation.

 

What I like to do with my kids, young and old, is to enjoy a close game (which I truely love!) and make it even more fun. A lot of times a kid sees all the pressure and reacts to it in a negative way. I think this has been a nice life lesson for you as well Mr. Biittner!

[CuseCubFan69]

My sophomore year in high school we had an identical situation in the state playoffs, except that this pitcher was very accurate and was GOING to throw strikes right down the middle to insure he didn't walk in the tying run. Our coach pulled the batter over before the AB and told him what was up and basically told him to swing away because the pitches are likely going to be fastballs right over the heart of the plate. Well the batter, who was a senior, never lifted the bat off his shoulder...1 strike, 2 strike, 3 strike, season over.

 

After the game the coach called him a "gutless coward" in the locker room.

 

High school coaches are fun people.

 

BOMBARDMENT..BOMBARDMENT...BOMBARDMENT! Yeah, a gym teacher but they are often HS coaches as well.

[Bote McBoteface]

I was the pitcher in this scenario when I was a teenager.

 

When I was 13 I could really ramp it up on the mound, but more velocity = worse control.

 

I still remember the team we were playing, too - The Miners - I hit two or three kids and then later I hit one in the side of the knee. All of this was on accident, I might add, I just had no control. The last kid cried so hard that when he got up he had dirt streaked all over his face.

 

Later, one got loose and flew over a kids' head. He just dropped his bat and walked back to the dugout before his third base coach intercepted him.

 

Haha, you were THAT kid. I swear I've got dents all up and down my shin bones because of kids that were like you.

 

I was the opposite...I was the pitcher that got hit by batted line drives a lot. One time I got hit 3 times in the same game. Luckily one never got me in the head, it was mainly leg/foot/hand. Once in the chest. That one was fun. It wasn't like that in little league, only once I got to highschool. Plus I was one of the few dependable pitchers on the team, I pitched just about every other game either as a starter or reliever...always was scared one was gonna find my head.

[biittner77]

After all that he didn't come to the game last night. I think the kids have pretty much forgotten about it.

[CoolHandLuke]

My sophomore year in high school we had an identical situation in the state playoffs, except that this pitcher was very accurate and was GOING to throw strikes right down the middle to insure he didn't walk in the tying run. Our coach pulled the batter over before the AB and told him what was up and basically told him to swing away because the pitches are likely going to be fastballs right over the heart of the plate. Well the batter, who was a senior, never lifted the bat off his shoulder...1 strike, 2 strike, 3 strike, season over.

 

After the game the coach called him a "gutless coward" in the locker room.

 

And people wonder why Adam Dunn is so hated.