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[Used to be VOR]

There is a interesting (but long) article on ESPN regarding ethics in youth baseball. The example they cite has gotten some national attention. I was wondering what others thought of the situation.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2549340

I have coached youth and high school baseball and I am somewhat torn in my thoughts on the subject. Part of me says it is awful that this kid who has endured so much had to be put in that situation. But, another part of me says that part of coaching is teaching the kids the game and how it is played in all facets. It is also teaching kids how to handle winning and losing with class. It is a tough call, and I could easily argue both sides.
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Turns out, just because you write your name on a baby doesn't mean you get to keep it."

[ktabz16]

i just have so many issues with more than just the coach's decision... i have a problem with little league players on tv... in theory, we shouldn't even know about this incident... the second underlying issue that is more gray than black or white is overzeolous parents in these youth sports.... there shouldn't be as much importance in winning or losing, however, there shouldn't be a situation like the mass youth soccer association that doesn't keep score.... i guess i lean toward pitching to the good player and if he beats you, then you took the best of what that team gave you and came out on the wrong side of it

[Crank]

In my mind, intentionally walking the good hitter to get to the cancer patient shows everything that is wrong with youth sports these days. Some overblown athletic wanna-be coach taking the guaranteed win so he would be a "champion". These are 9 year old kids; winning and losing should not be the be-all/end-all goal of such a league. I've got no problem with them keeping score and declaring a winner and loser, but play it straight up to get there.

If the "good" hitter had legitimately walked/got hit by a pitch/got a hit that didn't win the game, I have no problem with the sick child then having to come up with the game on the line and ultimately failing. In his situation, I'm quite sure he wants to be thought of as a full member of the team with no special treatment afforded to him. By the same token, he shouldn't have to endure being singled out for the type of "special treatment" that he was treated to by the opposing coach. In my mind, what that coach did was appalling, and I sincerely hope that karma is the bitch I believe she is.

[Kosty]

Say the kid is not a cancer patient, just a shitty hitter that is very uncoordinated? Do you still walk the good hitter to pitch to the shitty kid?? Same thing in my opinion. It's a baseball decision and this has been blown WAY TOO FAR out of proportion. Do we start giving kids with learning disabilities easier words to spell in spelling bees??

[Used to be VOR]

[Crank]

I have no problem with the kid ultimately failing. When it's legitimately his turn at bat, let the chips fall where they may. The act of intentionally putting him in that spot knowing that he will fail is the problem. Yes, it is within the rules, but knowing what they all knew about this kid's situation just shows a lack of class and character on the part of the coach.

And Kosty, to use your spelling bee analogy, this would be the equivilant of a school principal intentionally giving the smart kid the word "dog" and subsequently giving the learning disabled child "onomatopoeia" in order to ensure that the smart kid will represent his school in the city finals.

[Used to be VOR]

[local]

I think this is an issue that says a lot about our society. I think if you talked to kids and left the adults out of it they would mostly want to go out and have fun and play the game. Adults are the ones who make it about winning and losing. In the grand scheme of life the value in sports is not going to be about winning and losing for 99% of people, unless you are getting paid. The value in sports for most adults and in the long term most kids is about recreation, fitness and fun. If I win or lose on the golf course this weekend it will really have very little impact on my life. I think that if you are taught to be a respectful and classy person that you will be able win or lose in sports or anything else with class.

Kosty your right, next thing you know someone will be putting up ramps for kids in wheelchairs or having a special unspoken language for the deaf.
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"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."- HST

[Used to be VOR]

Local,

I get your point, and I think you are just stretching the context of sports too far. Sports by definition is competitive. Some kids will always play more than others. One team will win or lose. Some kids will succeed and some will fail. Their are many activities that kids can participate in that provide fun and fitness, but are not competitive. When you participate in sports, their will be winners and losers.

I do not think using sign language or handicap ramps as analogy fits at all. Both of things allow people with certain difficulties perform the basic aspects of their life. Sports does not perform that same function. It is an optional activity.

As a person who works a lot with youth groups (both sports-wise and educationally) one of the biggest problems today (especially in Amherst) is that kids never learn how to deal with failure or loss. They are coddled from day 1 and when the face the harsh realities of the real world they are completely unprepared to deal with any kind of adversity.
_________________
Turns out, just because you write your name on a baby doesn't mean you get to keep it."

[Crank]

VOR, I didn't answer your question re: the catcher because in my mind it has nothing to do with the issue at hand...First of all, kids steal bases all of the time at that level so it is much more of a regular part of the game and second, the vast majority of kids that age won't be gunning down runners regularly anyway, so it really isn't singling him out in the same manner.

In all of the time I've played, umpired and coached Little League baseball, I don't recall ever seeing someone intentionally walked at all. It just isn't done. I've seen plenty of kids who are terrible hitters at that level, but I've never seen a coach intentionally walk another player so they could face them. This coach went out of his way to get the guaranteed win, that's the bottom line. At that age, it should be about more than that.

Once again, I have no problem with the kid ultimately failing and losing the game...it's the manner in which it got to that point that I have a problem with.

[Chris20]

I'm with Crank....gotta pitch to the kid.

[Used to be VOR]

[Crank]

Putting them all in the infield is too much of a slap in the face; I don't think they should do that either. Bring them in a bit, fine but don't go overboard. There's no reason to go out of the way to embarrass someone. It's similar to heckling a kid to rattle him. It may be legal, but you just don't do it to 9 year olds, even if it helps your team win.

We could play this analogy game all day, however and it won't get anywhere. Play a fair, good-spirited game, treat the players and opponents with respect, play your best on the field and let the winning and losing take care of itself. Why is this so hard?

[local]

[Kosty]

Would anybody be crowing about this matter if the child with cancer had gotten a hit??? No. But because the kid struck out it's a big deal??? There are more important things to worry about in life than this bullshit.