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***Official 2015 Little League World Series Thread*** (1 Viewer)

E-Z Glider

E-Z Glider

Footballguy
Starts this week. Official Website

I always enjoy it, but it will be extra fun watching my alma-mater (Red Land) represent the Mid Atlantic region this year since I know many of the kids/parents. They've got a pretty good squad. Cole Wagner is a beast.

 
Always a good time watching this one. I wish they would show the 13-16 year olds somewhere as well, but I guess no one wnats to watch those old timers play.

 
I hate the Little League World Series. The quality of baseball is terrible and it completely takes over ESPN.

 
Cjw_55106 said:
Always a good time watching this one. I wish they would show the 13-16 year olds somewhere as well, but I guess no one wnats to watch those old timers play.
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Im sure many would say the same thing about the 8-11 year olds too, but you gotta draw the line somewhere. If they showed every age group it wouldnt have the same following.

The whole thing is really setup for this (11 and 12yo) to be their one big chance. Many of these kids play travel ball exclusively and didn't even play "Little League" until this year and probably wont ever play it again.

 
Things have changed in this. There was no travel so you got true all star teams from local leagues. Now you get some hybrid. I used to go every year and my dad still does.

Him and my grandpa had umpired in

Big league

Senior league

And

Llws

:)

 
E-Z Glider said:
Cjw_55106 said:
Always a good time watching this one. I wish they would show the 13-16 year olds somewhere as well, but I guess no one wnats to watch those old timers play.
Click to expand...
Im sure many would say the same thing about the 8-11 year olds too, but you gotta draw the line somewhere. If they showed every age group it wouldnt have the same following.

The whole thing is really setup for this (11 and 12yo) to be their one big chance. Many of these kids play travel ball exclusively and didn't even play "Little League" until this year and probably wont ever play it again.
Click to expand...
I dont care if its only online. It wouldnt cost much at all (if anything) for the leagues themselves to stream the games.

 
Cjw_55106 said:
Always a good time watching this one. I wish they would show the 13-16 year olds somewhere as well, but I guess no one wnats to watch those old timers play.
Click to expand...
The championship for this group was on one of the ESPN stations a week or so before the 'main event' started. Also, the tournaments put on at Disney_World would be good watching.

 
belljr said:
Things have changed in this. There was no travel so you got true all star teams from local leagues. Now you get some hybrid. I used to go every year and my dad still does.

Him and my grandpa had umpired in

Big league

Senior league

And

Llws

:)
Click to expand...
Really? I think they're pretty strict with the rules on this. The Chicago team was stripped of its title last year.

Travel teams/leagues can consist of kids from anywhere, but they cant compete together in the LLWS. Pretty sure all the teams in the LLWS are (or at least are supposed to be) made up of true allstar teams from local leagues. I know the Red Land team is.

 
E-Z Glider said:
belljr said:
Things have changed in this. There was no travel so you got true all star teams from local leagues. Now you get some hybrid. I used to go every year and my dad still does.

Him and my grandpa had umpired in

Big league

Senior league

And

Llws

:)
Click to expand...
Really? I think they're pretty strict with the rules on this. The Chicago team was stripped of its title last year.

Travel teams/leagues can consist of kids from anywhere, but they cant compete together in the LLWS. Pretty sure all the teams in the LLWS are (or at least are supposed to be) made up of true allstar teams from local leagues. I know the Red Land team is.
Click to expand...
Yes there still are rules but now you can pull up to I think 3 travel players onto your team.Also leagues have been skirting the rules and playing with there " all star" team all through league play which ruins it for other kids

I have to find the link. Plus pitch counts are way different now :)

 
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Also the age eligibility changed from I think April 30th to January 1st. So you are getting older kids on the team1

Eta just checked that does not start for 2 more years

 
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Meh. The Japanese cheat the best and usually win as a result.

And they really allow kids that don't even play in the local little league now? That's bush league

 
I just remember it had to do with going to school in the boundary of the league but not actually playing in that league or something

 
E-Z Glider said:
belljr said:
Hmmm I can't find what I read before. Perhaps I'm mistaken
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Yeah, I think you're wrong about all that. That's the whole reason the Chicago team was stripped of their title.
Click to expand...
Well they were stripped for taking kids outside of the boundaries. LL does not have travel but I thought now a kid could play in some other league all year but then play on all star team since he lives in that area.Where before he had to play in the league all year.

I am probably wrong

 
belljr said:
E-Z Glider said:
belljr said:
Hmmm I can't find what I read before. Perhaps I'm mistaken
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think you're wrong about all that. That's the whole reason the Chicago team was stripped of their title.
Click to expand...
Well they were stripped for taking kids outside of the boundaries. LL does not have travel but I thought now a kid could play in some other league all year but then play on all star team since he lives in that area.Where before he had to play in the league all year.

I am probably wrong
Click to expand...
Yeah, 99% sure you are. Im no expert on this stuff, but like I said before, a couple of the kids on the RL team have never played "Little League" before this year and will probably never play again. The only reason they played this year was to be eligible to play in the LLWS.

 
Ah so they are skirting it that way :)

I am almost 100% positive though it went from living in the boundary to only having to attend school there.

Either way I still enjoy it

Sorry for the hijack

 
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Taking the kids to the first day of the LLWS on Thursday, before we head further south for our vacation. Can't wait...we hit it last year on the way home from vacation, and it was just a fun, great atmosphere with all the players walking around, bouncing between stadiums for the games, etc. Fantastic way to kill a day.

Was hoping for our local Endwell, NY team to make it out of the Mid-Atlantic Region, but to no avail. Red Land is a beast. Very proud of how M-E did with half the team being 11 year olds. My son is buddies with a couple of the kids on that team...they played their hearts out.

 
Cjw_55106 said:
E-Z Glider said:
Cjw_55106 said:
As long as the kids are of the right age and the right area, I couldnt care less they are on the team.
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It's borderline irresponsible to allow these "travel" kids to play with "normal" kids in rec league. Someone could seriously get hurt.
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Nearly every kid on tv is good enough to play travel.
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I know. I'm talking about when these kids play in a rec league with normal kids (like they have to do to qualify). Its like men playing against boys. Imagine sticking some un-athletic kid who hardly pays attention at 3B when Wagner is up to bat. He could get killed.

 
E-Z Glider said:
Cjw_55106 said:
E-Z Glider said:
Cjw_55106 said:
As long as the kids are of the right age and the right area, I couldnt care less they are on the team.
Click to expand...
It's borderline irresponsible to allow these "travel" kids to play with "normal" kids in rec league. Someone could seriously get hurt.
Click to expand...
Nearly every kid on tv is good enough to play travel.
Click to expand...
I know. I'm talking about when these kids play in a rec league with normal kids (like they have to do to qualify). Its like men playing against boys. Imagine sticking some un-athletic kid who hardly pays attention at 3B when Wagner is up to bat. He could get killed.
Click to expand...
My town growing up basically had a B league for the really scrubby kids.

This was like 20 years ago now (god I can't believe I was 12 almost 20 years ago....) when there really wasn't any non-little league travel ball in the spring. All the best players played in the local league but they had a separate league for the Melvin's. If you could walk and chew gum at the same time, you played in the "majors". If you couldn't, you played in "Continental". You had to be really REALLY bad to be stuck in Continental league.

 
I just love watching the kids play and compete. It's great to watch. The true love for the game....no other reason than your jersey.

 
belljr said:
Also the age eligibility changed from I think April 30th to January 1st. So you are getting older kids on the team1

Eta just checked that does not start for 2 more years
Click to expand...
Yea - my son's going to completely miss his season at 12u because of it - will go from 11u to 13u.

 
belljr said:
Also the age eligibility changed from I think April 30th to January 1st. So you are getting older kids on the team1

Eta just checked that does not start for 2 more years
Click to expand...
First I have heard about this. Do you have a link? My son is 9 but born in March. This would help him out.
 
It's crazy watching all the HRs being hit. When I played on All-Star teams during my LL days, there were hardly any HRs. Maybe a handful a season. Now, every game has a HR and even the little tiny kids are cranking them out. I'm guessing bat technology has greatly improved over the years.

 
MattFancy said:
It's crazy watching all the HRs being hit. When I played on All-Star teams during my LL days, there were hardly any HRs. Maybe a handful a season. Now, every game has a HR and even the little tiny kids are cranking them out. I'm guessing bat technology has greatly improved over the years.
Click to expand...
Yep, kids are hitting them out when they "miss". Watch the replays and you'll see a lot of them are hit closer to the handle than the barrel.

 
MattFancy said:
It's crazy watching all the HRs being hit. When I played on All-Star teams during my LL days, there were hardly any HRs. Maybe a handful a season. Now, every game has a HR and even the little tiny kids are cranking them out. I'm guessing bat technology has greatly improved over the years.
Click to expand...
Every team has a couple guys that can hit, but pretty much the entire RL lineup can crank 'em out, and it has a lot to do with how they've been taught. Cole Wagner's dad (1st round pick of Cardinals) and uncle (late round pick of Cardinals) are twins and own a training facility (GoWags). They've gone against the grain and started teaching these kids a different type of baseball at a very young age. They teach the high leg-kick (get your foot UP instead of get your foot down), early hip rotation (instead of "stay closed") and ALWAYS swing as hard as you can (instead of "stay balanced"). They would rather see a kid fall down swinging at a breaking ball than stay back and spoil a fastball. Its been fairly controversial over the years, but the results speak for themselves. These kids can all mash and are fun to watch.

 
E-Z Glider said:
MattFancy said:
It's crazy watching all the HRs being hit. When I played on All-Star teams during my LL days, there were hardly any HRs. Maybe a handful a season. Now, every game has a HR and even the little tiny kids are cranking them out. I'm guessing bat technology has greatly improved over the years.
Click to expand...
Every team has a couple guys that can hit, but pretty much the entire RL lineup can crank 'em out, and it has a lot to do with how they've been taught. Cole Wagner's dad (1st round pick of Cardinals) and uncle (late round pick of Cardinals) are twins and own a training facility (GoWags). They've gone against the grain and started teaching these kids a different type of baseball at a very young age. They teach the high leg-kick (get your foot UP instead of get your foot down), early hip rotation (instead of "stay closed") and ALWAYS swing as hard as you can (instead of "stay balanced"). They would rather see a kid fall down swinging at a breaking ball than stay back and spoil a fastball. Its been fairly controversial over the years, but the results speak for themselves. These kids can all mash and are fun to watch.
Click to expand...
Oh it's definitely cool to see, don't get me wrong. But when I played, there just wasn't the amount of HRs we see today. And it's not just the Pennsylvania team either. There was a little dude from Venezuela that took one out yesterday. If he was taller than 5'2", I'd be surprised. Seeing a kid like Wagner crush one isn't surprising. Seeing kids shorter than David Eckstein crush one, that's shocking.

 
It seems like a combo of the bats, the kids being really good and the llws fields being on the smallish side. I believe the fields in Williamsport are only 200 down the lines. I remember the fields we played on being like 220 to 230

Seems like the fences are purposely short for entertainment purposes. Ya'll are absolutely right that many of the home runs look like mis-hits. Every once in a awhile one of the bigger kids really launches one. But I honestly think st least half of them mis the sweet spot and go out anyway

 
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MattFancy said:
E-Z Glider said:
MattFancy said:
It's crazy watching all the HRs being hit. When I played on All-Star teams during my LL days, there were hardly any HRs. Maybe a handful a season. Now, every game has a HR and even the little tiny kids are cranking them out. I'm guessing bat technology has greatly improved over the years.
Click to expand...
Every team has a couple guys that can hit, but pretty much the entire RL lineup can crank 'em out, and it has a lot to do with how they've been taught. Cole Wagner's dad (1st round pick of Cardinals) and uncle (late round pick of Cardinals) are twins and own a training facility (GoWags). They've gone against the grain and started teaching these kids a different type of baseball at a very young age. They teach the high leg-kick (get your foot UP instead of get your foot down), early hip rotation (instead of "stay closed") and ALWAYS swing as hard as you can (instead of "stay balanced"). They would rather see a kid fall down swinging at a breaking ball than stay back and spoil a fastball. Its been fairly controversial over the years, but the results speak for themselves. These kids can all mash and are fun to watch.
Click to expand...
Oh it's definitely cool to see, don't get me wrong. But when I played, there just wasn't the amount of HRs we see today. And it's not just the Pennsylvania team either. There was a little dude from Venezuela that took one out yesterday. If he was taller than 5'2", I'd be surprised. Seeing a kid like Wagner crush one isn't surprising. Seeing kids shorter than David Eckstein crush one, that's shocking.
Click to expand...
Probably also has a lot to do with how hard these kids are throwing too. You make solid contact (especially with the newer bats) and it really flies. You're right though, its crazy. I've seen a bunch of opposite field and line drives go out. Its like they miss and it still goes over the fence.

 
TLEF316 said:
It seems like a combo of the bats, the kids being really good and the llws fields being on the smallish side. I believe the fields in Williamsport are only 200 down the lines. I remember the fields we played on being like 220 to 230

Seems like the fences are purposely short for entertainment purposes. Ya'll are absolutely right that many of the home runs look like mis-hits. Every once in a awhile one of the bigger kids really launches one. But I honestly think st least half of them mis the sweet spot and go out anyway
Click to expand...
In 2006. Fences were moved to 225.It's equidistant

Eta: combination of bats and kids "training" better. Regardless of technique there are better facilities and time apent

 
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Sitting in a packed Pearland BW3 with my son watching the Pearland - Bonita game. Place went completely nuts when the kid hit the grand slam in the bottom of the first.

That first inning was pretty crazy. Bonita pitcher hits two batters and the Bonita first baseman elbows a kid as he crosses first.

 
Damn this is getting really chippy. That kid clearly thinks he was beaned on purpose after he went deep last time up.

And the first baseman who threw the elbow goes deep.

 
What a game!

The kid who got thrown out at third shot dreadlocks a look like "what the hell???"

 
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My rant.

I hate how they say this is double elimination when they don't follow it all the way.

The American/International final could have a team getting screwed

I have no issues with 1 final championship game once you win your bracket but the bracket should play 100% the same

 
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belljr said:
My rant.

I hate how they say this is double elimination when they don't follow it all the way.

The American/International final could have a team getting screwed

I have no issues with 1 final championship game once you win your bracket but the bracket should play 100% the same
Click to expand...
I don't really have an issue with this. The undefeated Penn. and Japan team's already have a huge advantage with the extra days off (due to the pitching limits). They're got the best kids eligible to pitch while the 1 loss challengers are down at least 1 or 2 guys. Yeah, it would stink to lose and get knocked out with your first loss, but its sort of necessary given the pitch limits and the televised nature of the event. They can't build in an entire extra day into the schedule just in case an undefeated team loses in the US title game and has to run it back again.

With the pitch limits and the size of the rosters, they just can't force them to play yet another game. You could end up with a scenario where Japan has their # 1 or # 2 guy ready to go for the final while Texas is forced to start their 5th or 6th pitcher.

 
I dont think its an issue. The only time its unfair is if you have played the same teams and its your first loss. Its very conceivable that the one loss team played better teams.

 
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