After the one kid threw 5 straight curveballs, I turned it off......

 

 

Got me thinking here. During the LLWS they always talk about major league players who once played in this tournament. I don't recall seeing a whole lot of pitchers though. I'm sure there's some, just curious.

It has always amazed me the number of curveballs I see coaches allowing kids in this tournament to throw. And most of them have darn nice curveballs, which tells me that they've probably been throwing them for a while. The thing I just don't understand is that, for the most part, curveballs at that age are effective because of the change of speed, not the breaking of the pitch. The same result can be accomplished teaching a quality changeup and, as an added bonus, it doesn't risk hurting the young boy's arm.

 

I watched the 10 year old LL state tournament 3-4 years ago and almost every team's pitchers were throwing curveballs. Way too early in my opinion to be taking that chance with these kid's arms.

Got me thinking here. During the LLWS they always talk about major league players who once played in this tournament. I don't recall seeing a whole lot of pitchers though. I'm sure there's some, just curious.

 

Mike Mussina played in the LLWS.

I watched the 10 year old LL state tournament 3-4 years ago and almost every team's pitchers were throwing curveballs. Way too early in my opinion to be taking that chance with these kid's arms.

 

My son plays 10U travel ball and we have seen several kids that throw curves. It just buckles the hitter at the knees because they've never seen it before. It's very effective but it is absolutely nuts. My son is a pitcher and only throws 2 and 4 seamers and a change up. All he does is change speeds and location and is a very good little pitcher. Absolutely no need for any breaking balls for several more years.

Kids need to throw a change in LL and Youth Programs. A player can also be taught, a grip curve but no snapping of the radius/ulna in the arm. I've seen some, who had the body to handle breaking pitches early and have taught them, the mechanics of throwing.

 

LL is making an effort, to limit pitches and they are doing studies, on documenting pitches. At some point, parents must say "no" and not allow the child to start, too early in his development.

I am glad to see that LL has instituted an 85-pitch limit (which I think they did a year or two back) for the pitchers. I used to shutter in years past at not only the curveballs these boys were throwing, but the number of pitches they were permitted to throw by managers far too consumed with a "winning-at-all-costs" mentality. In the 2003 LLWS, Aaron Alvey threw 127 pitches in the championship game and 350 pitches in an 8-day period. I would humbly sumbit that if major leaguers are not permitted to reach these levels, it's probably not a healthy idea to let 12 year olds, even man-child ones the size Alvey was. I've always wondered if he ever had any arm issues and how his high career went?

I enjoy watching the United States bracket. Difficult to watch the World bracket when you either have kids that are 6'4 or have full beards or both. :lol:

 

Ive been to a few AAU basketball tournaments in KY where we have seen 6'4 12 yr olds with beards. Dont be so sure of that. :laugh:

I agree with almost every posted so far. I think the dimensions are way too small. From the fences to the base path to the pitchers mound. I also cringed when I saw the Texas pitcher throw curve after curve. All they need is the heat and a changeup, no need to ruin a kids arm at age 12. I saw a special on HBO's Real Sports, and Dr. K from the Reds was being interviewed about the number of young teens needing T. John surgery. He said that some parent come to him and they are not even injured, but they've been told that TJohn make the arm stronger. That is sick.

 

That is some interesting stuff but not surprising. To be quite honest, when I see there are 10U traveling teams playing 60 games in a summer is a little over the top but JMO.

 

Like when is a kid supposed to be a kid?

Big fan here.

Kids need to throw a change in LL and Youth Programs. A player can also be taught, a grip curve but no snapping of the radius/ulna in the arm. I've seen some, who had the body to handle breaking pitches early and have taught them, the mechanics of throwing.

 

LL is making an effort, to limit pitches and they are doing studies, on documenting pitches. At some point, parents must say "no" and not allow the child to start, too early in his development.

 

I started to mention this (bolded part) in my earlier post on this. :thumb:

I watched the 10 year old LL state tournament 3-4 years ago and almost every team's pitchers were throwing curveballs. Way too early in my opinion to be taking that chance with these kid's arms.

 

I have watched good LL pitchers in my area that would throw curve after curve, high pitch counts and by the time they were in h.s. could not hardly throw the ball at all due to all the arm problems, imo a 10-12 year olds arm is just not developed enough to throw breaking stuff....unless it is by the grip on the ball only and I even question some of that.

The Bowling Green team fell 2-0 to Ohio last night. Tough luck, but a great run to the region semis. Got to see a little bit of this squad in the state tournament up at Valley, and they were sharp.

Keep and eye out for Citrus Park (Tampa). They blanked Westside (Mobile) 11-0 to win the Southeast Region. Wyatt Reid hit 2 home runs and drove in 7 in the win.

 

Citrus Park Blasts Into World Series

I watch it every year and even tape some games, as a former umpire the stike zones on some of these guys. I know they are non paid volunteers, catcher catches ball in the dirt and called strike. Oh well.

How about the homeplate umpire tonight in the Ohio/Indiana game. LOL Couldnt get out of the way on that foul ball, the catcher literally shoves him backwards and he loses his footing only to fall on his back and snap his head. I think he even cussed live and they bleeped it. Shook it off and smiled, great sport.