Just Let Them Do Their Thing

Just let them do their thing.
ghettochild
Saturday, November 4th

I come to you, my friends, a disgusted man.

Not by world politics, Reds baseball, or how messy my room is (ok well kinda).

No. I am disgusted on how little league baseball has become.

For Instance:

My ten year old brother plays baseball. For the Cubs. He's a left handed pitcher who also plays first.

Last night, before I went bowling, I decided to goto his game. I brought along my glove and ball to play catch with him and possibly get a game going with all the kids who aren't on a team on one of the empty fields. After I'm done playing catch with Jack, my brother, they go off and do some BP. My Dad and I go off and watch some of the 16-18 year olds play. There are games going on all over the place. A lot of them pretty good, too.

But instead of watching baseball just for the sake of watching baseball, what do these parents do? They sit there and watch their kids take BP, or lack there of.

One of the games that we're watching ends and so I decide to goto one of the bigger fields to dust off my pitching mechanics. Out of 40 pitches, 27 strikes and 13 balls. Not bad, I suppose. But on my way back to the game another game ends, and one of the mothers made this comment - "[Kids Name] Why did you use someone else's bat? You hit over half those balls at the batting cages yesterday in the 50 MPH cage. From now on, you only use your bat! YOUR BAT!"

I turned around and started cracking up. God I'm such an ass.

But the fun does not end there! Oh no! We still have the one hour and fifty minute game my brother is about to play. And I am still completely oblivious to the reason why I stopped coming to little league games.

It took me less than five minutes to realize why I did.

You see, my brother Jack isn't the lightest of people. Consider him David Wells, per say. Really, really chunky for his age, but not to where he's wobbling like a penguin. He's got a really good bat for a left hander.

He bats 11th. Out of 12.

It dawns on me as I hear the lineup being announced that the coach is starting from the most skinny person to the most obese.

I'm thinking to myself, "ok, so he wants speed at the top of the lineup. Makes sense, right? I'd probably do somewhat the same thing, but I'd also put my top hitters up there too. So these guys must be the complete package, speed and hitting. Should be good, right?"

WRONG!

First batter strikes out on a nasty up and in fastball.

This isn't even out of the first inning and the coach is flipping nuts. "GET BACK IN THE BOX, I WANT YOU TO HIT THE BALL. SEE IT, HIT IT."

"God Damn," I'm thinking, "Just let them do their thing."

Well they tack up a four spot in the first inning, not bad.

Bottom half comes up and this is where I almost lose it.

The pitcher who is pitching is a lefty, decent stuff for a 10 year old. His dad is one of the coaches.

After every pitch every one of them coaches, especially the dad, is yelling commands to this kid. He's got so much going through his head that its obvious he's not mentally in the game. And for a pitcher, if you're not mentally in the game, forget about it.

4-2 Cubs after 1.

Lets fast forward to the 4th inning.

Its only got worse. Its like first inning times one thousand. Now the parents are getting into it.

The score is 9-6 Cubs. Same pitcher who started the game is in there. He's obviously fatigued physically and mentally.

Runners on first and second. The runner on second is out there with about a seven step lead, which is smart because this team hasn't learned how to pick off runners at second yet. But the pitcher tries it anyway and throws it into right field.

9-7 Cubs. Runner on third.

"Watch, they're going to blow this game, and all hell is going to break lose." My dad comments.

Walk. Stolen base.

Runners on second and third.

We have 8 minutes left in the game. If the game is tied after those eight minutes there will be no extra innings.

Another walk, bases loaded, one out, six minutes left. Coach makes a pitching change, a wise decision, one would say. But time is stopped during a pitching change. So a pretty worthless change.

The pitcher gives up a single. Tie game.

The crowd is starting to get rowdy. r-o-w-d-y rowdy.

And now, a PBP moment by ghetto.

"Its a chilly night here in Allen, with the yanks and cubbies tied here in the bottom of the fourth. Two outs and runners on second and third. The pitcher is set in his stretch and is ready for the pitch. Checks the runners, and the pitch, LOW AND OUTSIDE A WILDPITCH! THE RUNNER ON THIRD IS GOING! THE TOSS TO THE PITCHER AND HE IS....SAFE! YANKS WIN 10-9 ON A WALKOFF WILDPITCH!"

"HE CALLED HIM SAFE BEFORE HE SLID!" Says one of the coaches. Which wasn't true, he was clearly safe.

It was a fine game.

Well, until I look at my brothers team and, well, everyone but my brother is in tears.

I started cracking up. God I'm such an ass.

So did my brother. God he's such an ass.

"We played better than the outcome, guys."

Ha.

Is there such thing in baseball?

That is the last little league game I will ever watch again.

Where do I start.

These coaches, parents, uncles, everyone, they're putting so much pressure on these kids that they're worried that if they don't do what their parents or coaches are saying, they're going to be due for a trip to hell. While, in reality, all they have to do is what they've been doing all their life.

Just let them do their thing.

Baseball is a sport that everyone who plays needs to have fun. Don't worry about having to get the game winning hit, or pitch a perfect game, or hitting a home run. Everyone who plays gets a chance to play the wonderful game of baseball.

If I were a coach in today's little league baseball, which after last night I am seriously considering, I would just sit there. I would tell my coaches to let them do their thing. Just let the damn kids play baseball, man. Thats why they're here in the first place, no?

I encourage all you parents out there, and future parents, if you're going to put your kid in a youth baseball league, please, PLEASE let them just play. I can assure you that if you've given them enough guidance in the game of baseball they know what their doing. Let them play on a clear mind. Not every kid can be brought up the Tiger Woods way. Not every kid is going to be the next Nolan Ryan, or Albert Pujols.

But what they will be doing is be playing baseball. And I can guarantee that, with your support, they will be driven into the game of baseball. And you'll never regret it. Baseball is meant for everyone. Everyone can play. But if you keep telling them what to do and not letting them develop on their own, they will lose interest and never want to play again.

I am still disgusted, but with everyones help, maybe I can enjoy a little league game again. Until then, you'll never see me watching it again.