By Staff
I'm sure most of you read the story in Thursday's Star about the changes Little League is making, effective this year. If you didn't read it, I will sum it up as quickly as possible – Little League pitchers ages 7 to 18 will have specific limits for each game, based on their age. The number of pitches delivered in a game will determine the amount of rest the player must have before pitching again.
So, if a pitcher (remind you, this applies for baseball only) throws 61 or more pitches in a game, they have to rest for three days. If the pitcher throws 41-61 pitches in a game, they have to rest for two days, and so on.
What? Are you serious? I am so tired of people changing things, it's getting almost ridiculous,
I'm sorry, but I was a child not too long ago, and I can remember my wonderful days of playing softball at Fireman's Youth Park. I pitched, played third, played outfield, played first and was catcher a few times. I played wherever I was needed. I can remember, on a number of different occasions, standing in 95 degree weather, pitching an entire game. There was no rest needed – our rest happened when our team was up to bat. Throw an ice rag on your neck, drink some gatorade, then back to the field we went.
The next day, at practice, we were right back at it, preparing for a big tournament or game the following day. Pitching, throwing, batting, over and over again.
Granted N.B.G.S.A. is not Little League affiliated, thank goodness, but I cannot believe a change like this is being made.
Maybe I am making this a bigger deal than what it is, but whatever happened to sports? The true sports? The die-hard, in your face, take a ball to the knee and an elbow to the face type of sports? Gosh, I used to come home with huge strawberry bruises on my legs and would laugh about it. Now, rules are getting so tight that if you slide wrong you can be ejected form a game.
I've seen some silly rules before, but I think this one tops them all.
I understand Little League is doing this for the safety of the children and to make sure they don't throw their arms out or anything like that, but I want to know what kind of baseball these people grew up playing? I guarantee it wasn't anything compared to what it has turned into now.
Kids are safe on the field. They wear helmets at bat, they have face masks protecting them on defense, what more can you ask for?
It's a sport. It's meant to be dangerous, it's meant to be physical. Kids will be kids. They will get hurt, they will make mistakes. Everyone knows this, yet we all still complain and find ways to "make things safer."
If helmets weren't enough, now, kids have to "rest." That's what a good night's sleep is for!
I think I've spoken my mind enough on this issue.
I will leave it at this. I am all for the safety of children. When the high school's and youth leagues began making protective face masks mandatory, I was all for it. It's a brilliant idea. Things like this I can see. But making a pitcher rest for two or three days because they have thrown a certain number of pitches, come on. This is getting way out of hand.
I just want to know what's next? Plastic bats and balls? Or how about only one hit per game? It seems to be heading that way.
Have a wonderful Easter!