LLWS kicks Selects butt

All I know is our 14U team played a lot of 54/80 games and the rest were 60/90.

I don't mean to demean the play of kids below that age, but IMHO the truth is there are too many differences from program to program and even tournament to tournament to be able to really evaluate much.

That was one of the reasons I was so dead set against a "national database" for kids. It would be almost impossible to get a real reading on anything because of all the differences.

Heck, how do you compare a kid who plays games at 46', 48', 50' and 54' with all the differences in rules in the same season, with someone else who does the same? That's why I take all the stuff about how "great" select ball is with a grain of salt.

I know the select teams will have a bigger pool to draw from and that alone means they'll probably be stronger all through the lineup and at every position. But it doesn't mean they have better players! At 12, a player can only be so good!

Everyone makes a big deal about leadoffs and throwing from the stretch as though it was some sacrosanct thing that can only be learned with years of labor under the best of coaches. Shoot, every kid knows how to run, how to lead off and how to pitch from the stretch. All they need to do is refine their talent.

Something else people forget is how different players mean different thing depending on the rules. a lot of catchers in "LL" don't continue to catch later on. they may be able to catch and block balls, but they have a spaghetti arm, or they have a gun but can't catch a ball.

How about that little kid who played 3rd in the LLWS. He did a great job on the 46/60 field, but I doubt anyone would allow him to play 3rd on the big field and hope he grows into the position.

Sorry, this stuff is great, the kids are great, its a lot of fun to watch and the kids learn a great deal, but nothing really can be decided until they are at least on their 3rd year on the big field when everyone "evens out".

If you get a chance, watch a show titles "The Season" on ESPN. It shows a season where a lot of the things we talk about come into play. One was a coach/dad of a 12U team who insisted on making his son, a 10YO be the big stud pitcher on the team. Its a great show.