You make the call.
In a 9- and 10-year-old PONY league championship game in Bountiful, Utah, the Yankees lead the Red Sox by one run. At the plate is the Sox' best hitter, a kid named Jordan. On deck is the Sox' worst hitter, a kid named Romney. He's a scrawny cancer survivor who has to take human growth hormone and has a shunt in his brain.
So...Do you intentionally walk the star hitter so you can face the kid who can barely swing?
Yanks coach Bob Farley decided to walk the star.
The kid with cancer struck out and the Yanks won the game, celebrating on the field while Romney cried at home plate.
This brings up an interesting moral dilemma.
When asked about his decision the coach of the Yankees said "Isn't that strategy? Isn't that trying to win? Do we let the kid feel like he's a winner by having the whole league play easy on him? This isn't the Special Olympics. He's not retarded."
I disagree. Strategy is fine against major leaguers, but not against a little kid with a tube in his head. Just good baseball strategy? This isn't the pros. This is: Everybody bats, one-hour games. That means it's about fun. Period.
This reminds me of those parent's who get into fights with ref's about calls and coaches about game decisions. Shut-up, keep the orange slices chilled and let your kid play. Stop trying to live your fantasy through them. Does this particular coach feel better about himself because his group of 9 years old beat another group of 9 year olds. I hope not, because it's not about him.
Today has been a very boring day at work, so you get me rambling trying to kill an hour before I go home.
Maybe everyone should be more concerned about why they named their kid Romney?

3 Comments:
I'm starting to think all adults should be banned from attending little league games. It should be like summer camp where parents drop off their kids and disappear for the duration. If they insist on seeing little Timmy play, set up a video camera and give them a tape. These parents are defeating the purpose of kids' sports... fun.
3:50 PM
yeah, i can't say i disagree with either of you
4:56 PM
I heard about this story a little while ago and I agree. There shouldnt be any intentional walks allowed in little league baseball. I wish that kid got the game winning hit.
11:11 AM
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