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By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 08:48 p.m. EDT, Sep 06, 2008
Sheldon:
In reading your article (on the 9-year-old kid banished from his team for throwing too hard), it occurs to me that there is a solution to the issue you highlighted.
I wonder why we do not use the technology we have to make a developmental league work? The ''Juggs'' pitching machines are wonderful little devices that could replace the youth pitcher in developmental leagues. It solves three problems.
First, developmental players go to the plate knowing they must swing the bat to
get on base. Walks are not an option, so they learn how to swing, and they learn to do that without fear of the baseball hitting them.
Second, the use of the pitching machine means that more balls will be hit to fielders, which encourages the development of fielding skills. Coaches need to teach skills like hitting a cutoff man, throwing to cut off a lead runner and calling for fly balls.
Finally, pitching even improves. The concept of overpowering every batter never develops in the mind of young baseball players, and when they do start pitching as 13- or 14-year olds, they learn how to pitch, not simply throw the ball past every hitter.
As adults, if we are going to encourage athletes to develop, let's start by teaching all the developmental skills.
Mike Wronkovich
Norton
Dear Mike:
You are making a well-intentioned proposal, but you also are exhibiting exactly the controlling tendencies that make baseball a chore for kids rather than fun.
Pitching machines might teach kids certain skills, but it prevents them from pitching. Nine-year-olds like to pitch. And it's much more important for children to develop social and coping skills on the baseball field than it is to teach them where to stand on cutoffs.
Unfortunately, kids no longer gather at dirt fields and just play baseball without
grown-up supervision. Everything has to be organized and tightly controlled by parents.
Baseball for 9- and 10-year-olds should be a play activity. Can't we wait until they're at least 12 before we start teaching them how to be pros?
Sheldon Ocker
Sheldon:
Forget the curse of Rocky Colavito, David Justice's home run in Game 6 of the 1995 World Series and Jose Mesa's meltdown in Game 7 of the 1997 Series. I know the real reason the Tribe has not captured a World Series since '48.
During the game on Labor Day, when Cliff Lee pitched masterfully, earning his 20th victory, the Indians featured various employees (scoreboard operators, ushers, etc.), one of whom was a press box usher since 1949.
Think about that; The man must be a jinx. His picture on the scoreboard made him seem like a nice fellow, but let's face it, the Tribe has not won the title since he started working for the organization. Of course, I mean this tongue in cheek, but could I be onto something here?
John Malivuk
Akron
P.S. — When did you start covering the Indians?
Dear John:
Yes, you are onto something (or is it on something?), but if I write what it is, you probably will sue me. Incidentally, I have covered baseball since 1981, though some people claim it's 1881.
S.O.
Sheldon:
In reading your article (on the 9-year-old kid banished from his team for throwing too hard), it occurs to me that there is a solution to the issue you highlighted.
I wonder why we do not use the technology we have to make a developmental league work? The ''Juggs'' pitching machines are wonderful little devices that could replace the youth pitcher in developmental leagues. It solves three problems.
First, developmental players go to the plate knowing they must swing the bat to
get on base. Walks are not an option, so they learn how to swing, and they learn to do that without fear of the baseball hitting them.
Second, the use of the pitching machine means that more balls will be hit to fielders, which encourages the development of fielding skills. Coaches need to teach skills like hitting a cutoff man, throwing to cut off a lead runner and calling for fly balls.
Finally, pitching even improves. The concept of overpowering every batter never develops in the mind of young baseball
players, and when they do start pitching as 13- or 14-year olds, they learn how to pitch, not simply throw the ball past every hitter.
As adults, if we are going to encourage athletes to develop, let's start by teaching all the developmental skills.
Mike Wronkovich
Norton
Dear Mike:
You are making a well-intentioned proposal, but you also are exhibiting exactly the controlling tendencies that make baseball a chore for kids rather than fun.
Pitching machines might teach kids certain skills, but it prevents them from pitching. Nine-year-olds like to pitch. And it's much more important for children to develop social and coping skills on the baseball field than it is to teach them where to stand on cutoffs.
Unfortunately, kids no longer gather at dirt fields and just play baseball without
grown-up supervision. Everything has to be organized and tightly controlled by parents.
Baseball for 9- and 10-year-olds should be a play activity. Can't we wait until they're at least 12 before we start teaching them how to be pros?
Sheldon Ocker
Sheldon:
Forget the curse of Rocky Colavito, David Justice's home run in Game 6 of the 1995 World Series and Jose Mesa's meltdown in Game 7 of the 1997 Series. I know the real reason the Tribe has not captured a World Series since '48.
During the game on Labor Day, when Cliff Lee pitched masterfully, earning his 20th victory, the Indians featured various employees (scoreboard operators, ushers, etc.), one of whom was a press box usher since 1949.
Think about that; The man must be a jinx. His picture on the scoreboard made him seem like a nice fellow, but let's face it, the Tribe has not won the title since he started working for the organization. Of course, I mean this tongue in cheek, but could I be onto something here?
John Malivuk
Akron
P.S. — When did you start covering the Indians?
Dear John:
Yes, you are onto something (or is it on something?), but if I write what it is, you probably will sue me. Incidentally, I have covered baseball since 1981, though some people claim it's 1881.
S.O.
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