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Kara
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by Arieschick29
Just imagine what sports history would be like if people like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, and the Williams sisters were told when they were younger to quit..... so sad!
I have a feeling it has more to do with that situation where he turned down the offer rather than safety concerns.
The kid wasn't told to quit the sport all together. He was told that he cannot play in this particular league because his skills could prove dangerous to the children in the league -- who all play at a much lower level than he does. I see both sides of the story. I think it was handled poorly, but I understand the safety concern for the other children involved. I feel terrible for the kid, though, and the other kids on his team. I think it was not handled the right way at all...
I was in the same situation with sports as a kid, but instead of disbanding my team, they moved me up to an older kids' team, and I played with kids a few years older than I was. BTW, it wasn't a sign I was a prodigy either -- eventually the other kids caught up and I played with my own age group later on.
Michael Jordan, btw, was cut from his high school varsity basketball team as as sophomore...
Message edited 8/26/2008 2:11:04 PM.
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Posted 8/26/08 2:10 PM  |
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Phyl
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The Mystical Azzhorse! ™
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by MikesWife
You know what, if there was a safety issue, there was one when the team was 5-0, 6-0, 7-0. Now that these kids formed a bond and were undefeated at 8-0 and on their way to the playoffs, they force the team to disband? These kids couldn't finish out there season before they asked the pitcher to step up to a more advanced league? Ludicrous.
Yeah that's just wrong all around. They should have let them finish the season.
Message edited 8/26/2008 2:12:25 PM.
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:12 PM |
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HeathKernandez
Our Ron is an awesome Ron
Member since 4/07 9091 total posts
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baby fish mouth
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by Kara
Michael Jordan, btw, was cut from his high school varsity basketball team as as sophomore...
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:12 PM |
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Kara
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Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by Phyl
Posted by MikesWife
You know what, if there was a safety issue, there was one when the team was 5-0, 6-0, 7-0. Now that these kids formed a bond and were undefeated at 8-0 and on their way to the playoffs, they force the team to disband? These kids couldn't finish out there season before they asked the pitcher to step up to a more advanced league? Ludicrous.
Yeah that's just wrong all around. They should have let them finish the season.
ITA. It was handled terribly.
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:13 PM |
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MrsERod
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
not allowing the kid to pitch = unfair
the league disbanding the ENTIRE team = ridiculous
the parents calling the police = bit of a stretch
moving him to a higher division/level = problem solved
supporting and encouraging this kid to keep working on his skills and maybe someday he'll become a successful athlete = priceless
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:17 PM |
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nrthshgrl
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Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
They aren't telling him he can't play. They're telling him he can't pitch.
I think the parents are ridiculous for wanting to "shut down the league". What grounds? Discrimination?
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:17 PM |
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Kara
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Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by nrthshgrl
They aren't telling him he can't play. They're telling him he can't pitch.
I think the parents are ridiculous for wanting to "shut down the league". What grounds? Discrimination?
Apparently "talented" is now a protected class?
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:19 PM |
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MrsERod
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Member since 5/05 26170 total posts
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by nrthshgrl
They aren't telling him he can't play. They're telling him he can't pitch.
I think the parents are ridiculous for wanting to "shut down the league". What grounds? Discrimination?
i agree - in one breath she's complaining that her son is being punished for being good at something, but then she wants to shut down the league - which would in essence punish the almost 100 other players??? how is THAT fair??
can't they move him UP a level???? 
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:21 PM |
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McSullivan
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Member since 5/05 1573 total posts
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by nrthshgrl
Posted by MarisaK
A private coach is going to cost his parents a small fortune and why should they be forced to spend that kind of money JUST b/c they're son is a talented player? If they CHOOSE to do that in addition to his regular practives, that's one thing - but to forbid him to pitch b/c he's 'too good' ? That is unfair and sets a bad example IMO.
And yes, I agree that advancing him to an older age bracket would help to enhance his 'skills' - but then he doesn't ge to play baseball with his friends ........-
But the league costs them money too. Why should they accomodate him at the jeopardy of other players & their skills? What is wrong with him learning to play other positions? How does that teach anyone to play if the kid strikes out everyone? The only person playing on the kid's team is him & the catcher. The oufield may was well go watch Jimmy Neutron.
That's fine, but why did they wait until the team was about to go into the playoff's to restrict his game play?
I think the entire situation is a disgrace.
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:21 PM |
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Phyl
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by McSullivan
Posted by nrthshgrl
Posted by MarisaK
A private coach is going to cost his parents a small fortune and why should they be forced to spend that kind of money JUST b/c they're son is a talented player? If they CHOOSE to do that in addition to his regular practives, that's one thing - but to forbid him to pitch b/c he's 'too good' ? That is unfair and sets a bad example IMO.
And yes, I agree that advancing him to an older age bracket would help to enhance his 'skills' - but then he doesn't ge to play baseball with his friends ........-
But the league costs them money too. Why should they accomodate him at the jeopardy of other players & their skills? What is wrong with him learning to play other positions? How does that teach anyone to play if the kid strikes out everyone? The only person playing on the kid's team is him & the catcher. The oufield may was well go watch Jimmy Neutron.
That's fine, but why did they wait until the team was about to go into the playoff's to restrict his game play?
I think the entire situation is a disgrace.
ITA reminds me of the IOC
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:23 PM |
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MrsERod
Praying for Everyone.
Member since 5/05 26170 total posts
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MrsERod™®
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by McSullivan
That's fine, but why did they wait until the team was about to go into the playoff's to restrict his game play?
I think the entire situation is a disgrace.
they felt threatened? jealous? doesn't make sense...
maybe it does have something to do with his refusal to join the defending league champion 
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:25 PM |
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MsMBV
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Me
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by MrsERod
not allowing the kid to pitch = unfair
the league disbanding the ENTIRE team = ridiculous
the parents calling the police = bit of a stretch
moving him to a higher division/level = problem solved
supporting and encouraging this kid to keep working on his skills and maybe someday he'll become a successful athlete = priceless
I heart you
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:41 PM |
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HeathKernandez
Our Ron is an awesome Ron
Member since 4/07 9091 total posts
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baby fish mouth
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Ok.. as painful as this is... I am going to admit that I didn't fully READ the article... I skimmed through it and other comments.
While I still stick behind my distaste towards the 'everybody wins' philosophy, now that I have thouroughly read this, and other articles about it... I am understanding the league's stance...
My son is eight, and although he is pretty good at baseball, he's still a beginner and in NO WAY ready to face a 40mph fastball... if this child is pitching in a beginner's league, I can honestly say I understand why they are requesting he not pitch... I'm putting myself in the shoes of a parent whose child is on the league FACING jericho.
however, jericho is on ONE team... so it's not as though these kids cannot play normal games..
I don't see why they don't put him in a more experienced league though...
but yeah, I'm on the fence now... I can see both sides of the story..
I have also learned a valuable lesson about reading comprehension and jumping to conclusions
Message edited 8/26/2008 2:57:14 PM.
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| Posted 8/26/08 2:55 PM |
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MarisaK
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Marisa
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
I can agree that there are other options for him like being bumped up an age or two, or learning to play other positions .......However, those other positions should be IN ADDITION to pitching.
It's little league for God's sake !! There are ALWAYS going to be different skill levels among kids b/c some are atheltic, and some are just not. - It's not like there are tryouts for little league ! Everyone gets to play, and I still think it's wrong to banish a child b/c he happens to do something exceptionally well -
Let the other kids learn what it's like to get up to bat with a pit in your stomach b/c you KNOW you're facing a pitcher w/ an unbelievable fastball - let them learn what it feels like to strike out against that pitcher and cost their team the game, and let them learn what it feels like to HIT against that same pitcher and win the game for your team ........
I think telling that kid he can't pitch is doing a huge disservice to ALL of the kids -
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| Posted 8/26/08 3:02 PM |
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MrsERod
Praying for Everyone.
Member since 5/05 26170 total posts
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
i <3 you right back!  and baby G too!!!
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| Posted 8/26/08 3:03 PM |
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MikesWife
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Member since 1/06 6887 total posts
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Karen
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by MarisaK
I can agree that there are other options for him like being bumped up an age or two, or learning to play other positions .......However, those other positions should be IN ADDITION to pitching.
It's little league for God's sake !! There are ALWAYS going to be different skill levels among kids b/c some are atheltic, and some are just not. - It's not like there are tryouts for little league ! Everyone gets to play, and I still think it's wrong to banish a child b/c he happens to do something exceptionally well -
Let the other kids learn what it's like to get up to bat with a pit in your stomach b/c you KNOW you're facing a pitcher w/ an unbelievable fastball - let them learn what it feels like to strike out against that pitcher and cost their team the game, and let them learn what it feels like to HIT against that same pitcher and win the game for your team ........
I think telling that kid he can't pitch is doing a huge disservice to ALL of the kids -
I completely agree.
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| Posted 8/26/08 3:05 PM |
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Otherme
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Member since 3/06 6899 total posts
Name:
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Re: 9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Posted by MarisaK
I can agree that there are other options for him like being bumped up an age or two, or learning to play other positions .......However, those other positions should be IN ADDITION to pitching.
It's little league for God's sake !! There are ALWAYS going to be different skill levels among kids b/c some are atheltic, and some are just not. - It's not like there are tryouts for little league ! Everyone gets to play, and I still think it's wrong to banish a child b/c he happens to do something exceptionally well -
Let the other kids learn what it's like to get up to bat with a pit in your stomach b/c you KNOW you're facing a pitcher w/ an unbelievable fastball - let them learn what it feels like to strike out against that pitcher and cost their team the game, and let them learn what it feels like to HIT against that same pitcher and win the game for your team ........
I think telling that kid he can't pitch is doing a huge disservice to ALL of the kids -
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| Posted 8/26/08 4:01 PM |
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