But...

It doesn't have to be that way. If the leagues select the manager early enough and allow him to select the team, they can develop as a team and be competitive. We select teams in the first 2-3 weeks of the season and practice throughout. They'll play scrimmages on Sundays or Saturday after the house games and they'll get the chance to learn their new positions. Tournament can be just as much about development, if not more, than house.

If people are going to use the excuse that the manager that wins the league is the tournament manager, so we have to wait for the season to end, I say that's a stupid criteria for selection. Just because a guy wins the house league does not mean he's a good manager or coach. Maybe his son is just the best pitcher and he rides him. Maybe he sticks his weak players for the minimum playing time in RF and that's it. Not a real good coach in my opinion. Oftentimes the best coaches do not have great records because they spend the time teaching Johnny No-Arm how to throw and let him play in games. I'm sure we could all improve our records if we rode the "horses" and let the weaker kids fall by the wayside.

Committee selection of the team is also a joke. Every coach is going to back their kids. Pick a good manager and let him select the team to represent the league. If he's picked early enough, he has time to scout all the house games and see all the kids in action.