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I guess you all know that Little League is more about money and politics than baseball.
To prove it, the local LL, with absolutely no hindrance by LL regional or National, is risking the kids to injury. I want as many people to write in about this to their local leagues and to HQ as possible so they can't later deny their negligence and incompetence in court later.
The LL tells me it is very interested in safety, so much so that it imposes pitch counts, max innings, mandatory days of rest, and so forth. But that is bogus.
My kid's fifth grade team only has 10 on its roster. Given the number of no shows due to sports conflicts or other priorities, pitch count rules and the relatively limited ability of most of the 10 year old boys to throw strikes, that means we'll typically play with only 9 or even 8, and that relievers are usually coming in the game cold from defensive positions. That means they won't typically get enough time to warm up correctly. The boys say they are fine with 6 or 8 warmups, but at 10, even the experienced pitchers don't realize it should take about 25 warmups to be loose, more in April weather. Moreover, the outgoing pitcher needs a proper cool down with ice, but chances are he goes out into the field right away.
If there aren't enough kids registered to staff teams with 12 so the relievers could sit out and be warmed up and cooled down on the bench, the teams could, in theory, be supplemented with boys from other age divisions as call-ups and call downs, but the league won't do it. They won't permit older boys in the age group and won't do call ups unless a team is at 8 or less, rationalizing that this gives the boys extra time, but neglecting the injury possibilities.
I think this is stupid and am asking you all to notify your leagues and national LL that it is dangerous and intolerable. Little League wants to hide its head in the sand on this, but if enough people write in, they can't say the don't know what is going and and can't avoid responsibility for what is happening in its name.
Here are the addresses:
Steve Keener, President, Little League International Baseball and Softball
539 US Route 15 Hwy, P.O. Box 3485, Williamsport, PA 17701-0485
Phone: 570-326-1921 / Fax: 570-326-1074
Don Soucy Eastern Region Director: ( [email protected] )
Little League Eastern Region Headquarters,
P.O. Box 2926, Bristol, CT 06011-2926
Phone: 860-585-4730 / Fax: 860-585-4734
Thanks.
Please reply if you have sent a letter or email to these guys.
I guess you all know that Little League is more about money and politics than baseball.
To prove it, the local LL, with absolutely no hindrance by LL regional or National, is risking the kids to injury. I want as many people to write in about this to their local leagues and to HQ as possible so they can't later deny their negligence and incompetence in court later.
The LL tells me it is very interested in safety, so much so that it imposes pitch counts, max innings, mandatory days of rest, and so forth. But that is bogus.
My kid's fifth grade team only has 10 on its roster. Given the number of no shows due to sports conflicts or other priorities, pitch count rules and the relatively limited ability of most of the 10 year old boys to throw strikes, that means we'll typically play with only 9 or even 8, and that relievers are usually coming in the game cold from defensive positions. That means they won't typically get enough time to warm up correctly. The boys say they are fine with 6 or 8 warmups, but at 10, even the experienced pitchers don't realize it should take about 25 warmups to be loose, more in April weather. Moreover, the outgoing pitcher needs a proper cool down with ice, but chances are he goes out into the field right away.
If there aren't enough kids registered to staff teams with 12 so the relievers could sit out and be warmed up and cooled down on the bench, the teams could, in theory, be supplemented with boys from other age divisions as call-ups and call downs, but the league won't do it. They won't permit older boys in the age group and won't do call ups unless a team is at 8 or less, rationalizing that this gives the boys extra time, but neglecting the injury possibilities.
I think this is stupid and am asking you all to notify your leagues and national LL that it is dangerous and intolerable. Little League wants to hide its head in the sand on this, but if enough people write in, they can't say the don't know what is going and and can't avoid responsibility for what is happening in its name.
Here are the addresses:
Steve Keener, President, Little League International Baseball and Softball
539 US Route 15 Hwy, P.O. Box 3485, Williamsport, PA 17701-0485
Phone: 570-326-1921 / Fax: 570-326-1074
Don Soucy Eastern Region Director: ( [email protected] )
Little League Eastern Region Headquarters,
P.O. Box 2926, Bristol, CT 06011-2926
Phone: 860-585-4730 / Fax: 860-585-4734
Thanks.
Please reply if you have sent a letter or email to these guys.
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