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Nickname:
mikeyactive
Posts: 118
Member Since: 2/02/06
Posted: 3/29/2006 11:55am
Views: 2142
Replies: 3
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Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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Girls may dig the long ball—but Little League baseball doesn’t seem to have the same fascination. In an attempt to encourage less home runs and more triples and doubles, organizers for the Little League World Series are pushing back the fences by 20 feet for the Little League World Series in August.
Are players hitting more home runs because of better access to training and hitting education? Or is this a disturbing trend about how little leaguers are physically developing sooner than expected?
Check out the rest of the article on the eteamz blog...
http://blogs.active.com/eteamz/
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Nickname:
Big_Ump_56
Posts: 2721
Member Since: 6/23/05
Posted: 3/29/2006 12:13pm
Views: 2085
Replies: 1
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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I suppose additonal training and education play a roll in why the balls are flying out of the park. If I were to put a finger on the biggest contributor to this phenomena I would say it's the composition of the bats.
The speed at which the ball comes off of some of these new bats absolutely amazes me.
Tim.
Ump Talk
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Nickname:
Frank_B
Posts: 6509
Member Since: 12/16/02
Posted: 3/29/2006 1:26pm
Views: 2074
Replies: 0
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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Gotta believe its a combination of factors:-not necessarily in the order listed:
1)---tech improvements re bats, balls.
2)---improvements in babies diets, nutrients, vitamins, medicine,---in the early stages of a babies physical development.
Leading to:
3)---being physically bigger and stronger as they go into pre-adolescence, adolescence, and post-adolescence years.
4)--and okay--IMO--let's give better coaching some credit too.
Just look at the size of High School football players these days;--many as big as College players were in past years.
College players as big and strong as Pro players in past years.
When I played H.S. football and baseball-[okay-57 years ago]---200 pounders and 6 footers were rare indeed. I was a 155 pound, 5' 5" halfback;---and a catcher on the BB team.
The biggest player was a defensive lineman--[actually, most lineman played both ways, as did many of the backfield]--he was 5' 10" and 190 pounds.
Our biggest BB player--a 1st baseman, was also 5' 10"--and 165 pounds.
The teams we played against were basically in the same weight and height category.
In my last year---most of us were Seniors 17/18 years old.
I have seen-[locally]-- many kids in Little League, over the past several years, surpassing the physical characteristics of an 18 y/o in my day.
To say nothing of the kids that show up at the LLWS.
Putting ALL the facts together--->>move the fences out.
Frank!
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Nickname:
Lou_B
Posts: 13748
Member Since: 4/30/02
Posted: 3/29/2006 1:04pm
Views: 2074
Replies: 1
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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It's because they're on steriods.
Skip Bayless
(sorry - couldn't resist)
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Nickname:
Jim619
Posts: 2351
Member Since: 11/07/02
Posted: 3/29/2006 2:12pm
Views: 2030
Replies: 1
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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Kids do seem to be bigger and stronger today. I played linebacker in HS at 5'7" and 170 lbs. I couldn't be a cornerback at that size today.
The technology, and advanced training coupled with more playing time for the advanced players (travel ball) sure doesn't hurt either.
I do believe that "almost" every kid on the Rancho Buena Vista team last year played on the same travel ball team. Lots of experience, and game playing there.
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Nickname:
NA_Umpires
Posts: 5103
Member Since: 1/02/04
Posted: 3/29/2006 2:22pm
Views: 2038
Replies: 1
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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My Dad was All-State HS QB and middle linebacker/cornerback/defensive end(I'm told he was quite versatile on the D side) at 5'11 175 in the early 1950's. He was considered big for a QB, but he had speed to burn. He ran OVER people because of his size and speed, I'm told. Now he'd have to be a kicker to make the HS team at that size, or be fast enough to be a corner or safety (which he was).
I see a number of kids on the football team that are 250lb+ behemoths. We had maybe 1 or 2 when I was in HS in the mid-70s.
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Nickname:
Frank_B
Posts: 6509
Member Since: 12/16/02
Posted: 3/30/2006 6:23am
Views: 1975
Replies: 2
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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A belated addition to my list above:[in fun]
When Italian-Americans stopped the practice of marrying only other Italian-Americans;--
it resulted in taller and bigger kids. (;o]
[Now if some wise-axx out there adds "smarter" to the above;--"look out"!]
Frank!
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Nickname:
NA_Umpires
Posts: 5103
Member Since: 1/02/04
Posted: 3/30/2006 6:28am
Views: 1945
Replies: 1
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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Smarter.
You made me do it.
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Nickname:
Frank_B
Posts: 6509
Member Since: 12/16/02
Posted: 3/30/2006 7:02am
Views: 1941
Replies: 1
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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Take heed:---"LOOK OUT"-- NA!!
Why did I guess, of all the people on this board it would be you;---2nd choice,CB.
(;o]
Have a good day, NA!!
Great weather we are getting, to get out there.
Frank!
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Nickname:
jess__105
Posts: 334
Member Since: 7/07/04
Posted: 3/30/2006 9:03am
Views: 1920
Replies: 2
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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Seriously, though - kids are bigger, faster, and stronger.
Does this reopen the discussion of LL Majors moving to the mid size (50/70) field or similar?
J
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Nickname:
jess__105
Posts: 334
Member Since: 7/07/04
Posted: 3/30/2006 9:46am
Views: 1945
Replies: 0
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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Perhaps then "LL bashers" have a point worth discussing.
J
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Nickname:
RichW
Posts: 4012
Member Since: 12/24/01
Posted: 3/30/2006 9:46am
Views: 1935
Replies: 2
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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Does this reopen the discussion of LL Majors moving to the mid size (50/70) field or similar?
It would be prohibitively expensive for most Little Leagues.
- Rich
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Nickname:
Big_Ump_56
Posts: 2721
Member Since: 6/23/05
Posted: 3/30/2006 9:51am
Views: 1947
Replies: 0
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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That's an understatement, Rich. There are just so many leagues that simply do not have the room to consider making the change even if they had the money to re-buid the fields. The land is not available.
Tim.
Ump Talk
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Nickname:
jess__105
Posts: 334
Member Since: 7/07/04
Posted: 3/30/2006 9:53am
Views: 1962
Replies: 2
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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I wonder @ the cost issue - those fields had to be built to a given size at one point in time... and again, only for Majors - so by definition, not all fields...
And sizing is not that big an issue - adding 10' to basepaths, and perhaps 20' to fields...
J
[ Modified 3/30/2006 9:57am by jess__105 ]
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Nickname:
Rich_Ives
Posts: 10563
Member Since: 7/27/00
Posted: 3/30/2006 12:29pm
Views: 1924
Replies: 1
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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We're up against a flood control wall (it wouldn't let me say the real word) on one side and adjoining property on the two perpendiculer sides. No way we move the fences.
Besides, the big screamers only see the WS games on TV. Those players are the cream of the crop in the cream of the crop leagues. Their ability is in no way representative of the average LL player.
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Nickname:
Big_Ump_56
Posts: 2721
Member Since: 6/23/05
Posted: 3/30/2006 12:33pm
Views: 1942
Replies: 1
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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There are at least 6 of the 14 parks in the two districts near us that would not be able to move their fences for similar reasons, Rich.
Sure, I suppose they could incurr the expense of putting in higher fences, but even that would be cost prohibitive.
Tim.
Ump Talk
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Nickname:
Frank_B
Posts: 6509
Member Since: 12/16/02
Posted: 3/30/2006 2:09pm
Views: 1900
Replies: 0
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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Putting in higher outfield fence not only cost prohibitive; but would require LL to change the mandate;--or grant a waiver--in re to maximum -[and actually minimum]-- height of the outfield fence @ 4 feet. [regular season]
Tournament play:--they "recommend" 4' to 6'
Frank!
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Nickname:
coach_drew
Posts: 1262
Member Since: 5/03/02
Posted: 3/30/2006 2:14pm
Views: 1911
Replies: 0
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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*"A belated addition to my list above:[in fun]
When Italian-Americans stopped the practice of marrying only other Italian-Americans;--
it resulted in taller and bigger kids. (;o]
[Now if some wise-axx out there adds "smarter" to the above;--"look out"!]"
i'm not wise. but i'd add better lookin' too
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Nickname:
pres_0423
Posts: 169
Member Since: 3/11/01
Posted: 3/30/2006 1:42pm
Views: 1916
Replies: 1
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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if left at 200 feet balls would be flying out more than ever with the age change.
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Nickname:
Kyle_
Posts: 8519
Member Since: 11/29/00
Posted: 3/30/2006 2:59pm
Views: 1894
Replies: 1
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Re: Are Little Leaguers too strong?
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You're more likely to see more K's than more homers.
True, but the ones that do go out, will go WAY out. Combine the added speed to the pitch, and added strength of the swing and look out.
[ Modified 3/30/2006 3:01pm by Kyle_ ]
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In. time zone change = more sunlight
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