Registered User
you guys seen the world series for little league yet? i remember last year some kid from saudi arabia they said was 12, this kid was 6'8" size 17 shoe or something, 260lbs lol no way he's 12, and I seen some kids this year that are 12 that were like 5'11, 6', wish i was that tall.
BB Card & Memorabilia Mod
I'm watching the Regionals on ESPN right now. I don't see a kid that is overly big. But this one kid has a killer knuckler.
Registered User
Hey AC, the Massachusetts team you're watching is a team I beat to get to States 2 years ago. I lost to them last year 3-2. Amazed they made it to Williamsport, I know people on that team.
BB Card & Memorabilia Mod
Really? That's awesome man! They crushed the team from Connecticut slugging what was it? 5 home runs? Geez.. not bad for a little league team.Originally Posted by Charger567
There are two more games on tonight on ESPN also.
College Baseball Player
All I can say is: GO GEORGIA repeat it.
I think the LLWS us kinda cheap. They pitch from 46 feet! And they don't lead off, that's not baseball.
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. -Rogers Hornsby
Registered User
The kid was LL age twelve based on the deadline. He turned thirteen during the summer. His father is 6'8". His mother is 6'3". When the LLWS was over the kid went to live with his grandparents in Houston to puruse basketball. He's not much of a baseball player.
By the time you see LL teams playing Regional finals, doesn't it make sense to you the remaining teams are going to be the ones with the biggest, strongest kids. A team in a regional final is not representative of a typical LL.
Before boys hit puberty they can be physically three years plus or minus their real age. Given all-stars are kids who are twelve or just turned thirteen, the biggest and best are going to have several kids with the physical maturity of fifteen and sixteen year olds.
Registered User
Baseball is what you make it. By your standards I'd say playing with 50/70 dimensions is not baseball either. Fields with fences that are not 390/400 to center and 365/375 up the gap is not real baseball.
Registered User
Most of the pitchers' arms are gonna be fried. 12 years old throwing more breaking pitches then fastballs... I feel bad for them, especially the kids that are touching 80. Perfect arm; ruined.
Registered User
It's amazing how if a falsehood is repeated often enough it becomes accepted as the truth. The American Sports Medicine Institute has found no connection between a properly thrown curve ball and arm problems. Who is ASMI? It was founded by Dr. James Andrews, the leading sports orthopedic surgeon in the world. He's the top TJ surgery specialist in the world. And how you can connect superior velocity to arm problems is mind boggling.
This biggest cause of arm problems in youth pitchers is pitching too frequently, not throwing enough to develop adequate arm strength and improper pitching mechanics.
Registered User
Do you live in Bloomington? I was out there for a week's training when I used to work for the chocolate factory. I was called the "candyman" when I made my sales calls. It seemed like a nice town.
Registered User
...and they use aluminum bats. That's especially not real baseball! (Of course everyone up to college does that...)
Registered User
Interesting, do you have a link?
And I wasn't relating superior velocity to arm probelms, I was trying to say I feel bad for the kids that have superior velocity that end up ruining their arms (for whatever reason). I didn't say they will ruin their arms because of throwing extremely hard.
Yes, I live in Bloomington.
Registered User
What I don't get is.. Why would their arms be ruined? For whatever reason doesn't really explain it why you assume their arms will be ruined.
Registered User
.......
Because of throwing breaking balls too early, pitching too frequently, etc.
Team Veteran
You're right about that.
Don't you love how the coach yells to the hitter stuff like " get on that ball" aftert EVERY SINGLE PITCH.
To bad these kids don't get a chance to be kids. I feel sorry for them.
Registered User
Why do you believe throwing breaking balls too early causes arms problems? And what is too early?
Registered User
Because that's what i've been told. And too early to me is before puberty.
Registered User
I worked at a park in Chicago while in college. On one of our baseball teams were two brothers. The 10-year-old was 5'10", and the 12-year-old was 6'5", 210#. Both parents were TALL.
Bob
Registered User
I've never heard that. All I've been told is if I throw it right, the way my coach teaches me, I'll be fine.
Registered User
Exactly. Thrown properly there's no more stress throwing a curve than rearing back and firing a fastball. Another important issue is there always being a coach present who can recognize failing mechanics. The way to injure an arm is pitching to frequently and improper mechanics.
Baseball Junkie
Thats not true. I get tired of people saying kids are going to ruin there arm. If you throw the pitch (curve) correct, there is little chance you will get hurt. You can hurt your arm just as easy throwing fastballs. I threw curveballs from age 10 and pitched till I was 32 with no arm troubles. I think, if your going to get hurt, its going to happen no matter what pitch you throw.
Starting Pitcher
The only way these kids will wreck their arms is if they pitch too often and don't have proper conditioning. That's how I lost velocity (I was hitting 85-86 with ease at 14) my coach wouldn't give me time to warm up before pitching, he'd pull me in from 3rd right away. That'll be the only reason these kids will ruin their arms, no proper warm up and conditioning, being used too often or using incorrect mechanics.
Registered User
Hi Coach,
I believe what they said was they needed more time to determine if the curve ball causes problems. I personal believe it does and lets be real how many kids learn to throw it correctly. The problem is when kids learn it and see that they can get hitters out with it they do not develop a changeup or learn to throw their fastball to locations. Why bother when you can just throw a curve ball and get him out. The pitcher who stays away from the curve and develops his fastball and changeup will someday leave those kids who just threw curves in the dust. Sure they might take their lumps getting there without the curve but their reward will be well worth it.
Thanks
Registered User
The kids I've taught the correct way to throw a curve at eleven and twelve years old are now entering the freshmen or sophomore years of high school. None of them have ever had sore arms. I have also told players to junk their curve until I taught them how to throw it properly. I've also taught every pitcher how to throw a circle change. The ones interested also were taught the knuckle change/curve. So every kid I had the opportunity to teach learned how to throw a four seamer, a two seamer, a change, a curve and a knuckle change/curve. Then I told them to focus on mastering three of them.Hi Coach,
I believe what they said was they needed more time to determine if the curve ball causes problems. I personal believe it does and lets be real how many kids learn to throw it correctly. The problem is when kids learn it and see that they can get hitters out with it they do not develop a changeup or learn to throw their fastball to locations. Why bother when you can just throw a curve ball and get him out. The pitcher who stays away from the curve and develops his fastball and changeup will someday leave those kids who just threw curves in the dust. Sure they might take their lumps getting there without the curve but their reward will be well worth it.
Thanks
My son is entering high school. He was the closer for his middle school and travel team. His knuckle change/curve became so nasty he rarely throws the curve in games anymore. He does work on it in practice to keep it sharp. His middle school ERA was 0.00. HIs travel ERA was 0.39.
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