Little League World Series

[Dragonbait]

Not really a topic for the major league portion, but it is still cool and people need to see.

 

A team from Burlington, WI is one win away from being in the finals. With how bad the Brewers have been this year, good baseball news for the state is still cool.

 

Its my understanding that no team from WI has been to WILLIAMSPORT.

 

The Great Lakes regional final is Saturday ~4pm on ESPN for those who are interested.

 

 

In the first regional tournament game against IL, Burl. won 10-0 (they no hit IL)

 

Second game against KY, they mercy ruled 10 after 4 innings. (only 3 hits for KY)

[clancyphile]

I really dislike the mercy rule.

 

Play the full game, gosh darn it!

[3and2Fastball]

I really dislike the mercy rule.

 

Play the full game, gosh darn it!

 

 

Without the mercy rule you'd have final scores of 54-2 and 45-0 sometimes

[Dragonbait]

Its also used to limit how many pitches the kids throw in a game.

[Bombers]

Thanks for posting. I haven't had a chance to watch and didn't realize WI had a team still in it ... Will try to tune in on Sat

[MadScientist]

I really dislike the mercy rule.

 

Play the full game, gosh darn it!

 

 

Without the mercy rule you'd have final scores of 54-2 and 45-0 sometimes

 

Yea the mercy rule is much needed at this level. It sucks being on (or watching your son on) a team that is getting blown out, and ending the game just ends the humiliation. Even on the winning side it really isn't that much fun to continue.

 

I'd bet the only reason it isn't part of pro ball is so the vendors can sell more, and TV can still change for ads, even if nobody is watching anymore.

[Dragonbait]

At the Brewers game. If someone could keep us updated in Burlingtons progress

[Dragonbait]

The dream is over. Burlington lost 13 to 0.

[trwi7]

At the Brewers game. If someone could keep us updated in Burlingtons progress

 

They were eliminated, 13-0 final after 4 innings.

[MrTPlush]

The LLWS is embarrassing and an example of how not to do little league. Players showboat, players throw helmets, players complain, players act like babies, pitchers forced into high pitch counts, pitchers forced to throw pitches that destroy their arms. ESPN does a great job to show the good things 10,000 and cover up the bad things.

 

This is something you don't want to be represented in.

[homer]

The LLWS is embarrassing and an example of how not to do little league. Players showboat, players throw helmets, players complain, players act like babies, pitchers forced into high pitch counts, pitchers forced to throw pitches that destroy their arms. ESPN does a great job to show the good things 10,000 and cover up the bad things.

 

This is something you don't want to be represented in.

 

 

http://cdn.meme.am/instances/400x/53797043.jpg

[FVBrewerFan]

I think promoting these kids as stars is not good for them, but who knows. It's just odd that they're on national TV, Sportscenter, etc. being hyped up as stars. That can't be good when reality sets in after it's all over. Especially for the kids that make crucial errors, bad pitching performance, etc. They just lost a game and got their team kicked out of the WS on Natl TV. The coach can say all he wants that we win as a team, lose as a team. Tell that to little Bobby who just had a ball bounce off his knee to let the winning run score.

 

Sports are good for kids. Teaches them how to play as a team, listen to authority, deal with winning and losing. But when you're put on a NAtl stage, I just fear that's too much for some kids to handle.

[jerichoholicninja]

I think promoting these kids as stars is not good for them, but who knows. It's just odd that they're on national TV, Sportscenter, etc. being hyped up as stars. That can't be good when reality sets in after it's all over. Especially for the kids that make crucial errors, bad pitching performance, etc. They just lost a game and got their team kicked out of the WS on Natl TV. The coach can say all he wants that we win as a team, lose as a team. Tell that to little Bobby who just had a ball bounce off his knee to let the winning run score.

 

Sports are good for kids. Teaches them how to play as a team, listen to authority, deal with winning and losing. But when you're put on a NAtl stage, I just fear that's too much for some kids to handle.

 

I agree with all this. Also, are these even the best kids this age? At this age aren't the really talented ones playing on elite traveling teams already?

[bani1717]

Ahh, traveling sports teams... a whole separate can of worms

[FVBrewerFan]

The good ones are on traveling teams, yes. But some of these communities are very good at building LLWS caliber teams, traveling teams season is at a different time. Remember, baseball is a 12 month sport in much of the country.

 

(And yes, don't get me started on traveling sports teams!)

[stoutdude04]

Watched a bit of the American semifinal game and had to turn it off. There was one called strike in the first 39 pitches...

[trwi7]

Watched a bit of the American semifinal game and had to turn it off. There was one called strike in the first 39 pitches...

 

The strike zones in LLWS and softball are notoriously horrible but not in the way where there's only one called strike in 39 pitches. I've honestly seen strike calls that are thrown in the opposite batters box. It's horrible.

[stoutdude04]

Watched a bit of the American semifinal game and had to turn it off. There was one called strike in the first 39 pitches...

 

The strike zones in LLWS and softball are notoriously horrible but not in the way where there's only one called strike in 39 pitches. I've honestly seen strike calls that are thrown in the opposite batters box. It's horrible.

 

Yea. I realize the strike zone is usually huge, but the bit I saw tonight made it seem like this ump needed the ball right down the middle. When pitch counts are so important I'm guessing the winning team burned a ton of pitches to get a victory.

[MrTPlush]

It is my understanding these LLWS team are area all star teams. So that's one of the main ways they get so much talent on one team.

[stoutdude04]

It is my understanding these LLWS team are area all star teams. So that's one of the main ways they get so much talent on one team.

 

Yea. Thats how it was when I played many many moons ago.

[DHonks]

yep, they are all-star teams. I remember making ElmBrook Little League's all-star team all three years for 13-15 year olds. My numbers were sick! I used to dare the other teams to throw more strikes than balls, and I remember one year having something like 35 hits and 40+ walks in a roughly 20 game schedule. Never could make the high school team. I was 5'7" and versatile, but didn't throw hard, wasn't the fastest, and had only singles/doubles power. Didn't help that my vision was slipping and I struggled to see a yellow ball against a green batting cage background in February tryouts in a gym. Put me with a white ball or outside and I would have been fine. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

[molitor fan]

The LLWS is embarrassing and an example of how not to do little league. Players showboat, players throw helmets, players complain, players act like babies, pitchers forced into high pitch counts, pitchers forced to throw pitches that destroy their arms. ESPN does a great job to show the good things 10,000 and cover up the bad things.

 

This is something you don't want to be represented in.

 

I am from the complete opposite perspective as I saw a kid named Farmer from the Texas team basically be the epitome of what Little League is about.

[TURBO]

I saw a lot of kids strike out, followed by a sound pounding of the bat in the dirt... Turned me off to be honest. Yes, I know they are just kids, but kids on a BIG stage. They should be taught that how you act in public goes a long way in how people perceive you in regular, normal life.

[nate82]

I saw a lot of kids strike out, followed by a sound pounding of the bat in the dirt... Turned me off to be honest. Yes, I know they are just kids, but kids on a BIG stage. They should be taught that how you act in public goes a long way in how people perceive you in regular, normal life.

 

Newsflash human beings have emotions!

[MrTPlush]

I saw a lot of kids strike out, followed by a sound pounding of the bat in the dirt... Turned me off to be honest. Yes, I know they are just kids, but kids on a BIG stage. They should be taught that how you act in public goes a long way in how people perceive you in regular, normal life.

 

Newsflash human beings have emotions!

 

Oh yah sure...but in all my time playing baseball I very rarely saw any kid start slamming equipment on the field...and at that age never. Sure in the dugout, but that is a lot different...and if the coach caught you doing that you made good friends with the bench really quick. I can't even imagine what would happen if I slammed something on the field.

 

These kids bahavior is horrible and the coaches do nothing about it. Actually they typically comfort the kids afterwards.