View Full Version : 9-year-old boy told he’s too good to pitch
Peace Warrior
08-25-2008, 19:56
9-year-old boy told he’s too good to pitch
By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN, Associated Press Writer 14 minutes ago
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP)—Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player— too good, it turns out.
The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said.
Officials for the three-year-old league, which has eight teams and about 100 players, said they will disband Jericho’s team, redistributing its players among other squads, and offered to refund $50 sign-up fees to anyone who asks for it. They say Jericho’s coach, Wilfred Vidro, has resigned.
But Vidro says he didn’t quit and the team refuses to disband. Players and parents held a protest at the league’s field on Saturday urging the league to let Jericho pitch.
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“He’s never hurt any one,” Vidro said. “He’s on target all the time. How can you punish a kid for being too good?”
The controversy bothers Jericho, who says he misses pitching.
“I feel sad,” he said. “I feel like it’s all my fault nobody could play.”
Jericho’s coach and parents say the boy is being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league’s administrators.
Jericho instead joined a team sponsored by Will Power Fitness. The team was 8-0 and on its way to the playoffs when Jericho was banned from pitching.
“I think it’s discouraging when you’re telling a 9-year-old you’re too good at something,” said his mother, Nicole Scott. “The whole objective in life is to find something you’re good at and stick with it. I’d rather he spend all his time on the baseball field than idolizing someone standing on the street corner.”
League attorney Peter Noble says the only factor in banning Jericho from the mound is his pitches are just too fast.
“He is a very skilled player, a very hard thrower,” Noble said. “There are a lot of beginners. This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport.”
Noble acknowledged that Jericho had not beaned any batters in the co-ed league of 8- to 10-year-olds, but say parents expressed safety concerns.
“Facing that kind of speed” is frightening for beginning players, Noble said.
League officials say they first told Vidro that the boy could not pitch after a game on Aug. 13. Jericho played second base the next game on Aug. 16. But when he took the mound Wednesday, the other team walked off and a forfeit was called.
League officials say Jericho’s mother became irate, threatening them and vowing to get the league shut down.
“I have never seen behavior of a parent like the behavior Jericho’s mother exhibited Wednesday night,” Noble said.
Scott denies threatening any one, but said she did call the police.
League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league.
Local attorney John Williams was planning to meet with Jericho’s parents Monday to discuss legal options.
“You don’t have to be learned in the law to know in your heart that it’s wrong,” he said. “Now you have to be punished because you excel at something?”
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source: http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ap-toogoodtopitch&prov=ap&type=lgns
Peace Warrior
08-25-2008, 19:58
Only use no talent pitchers so we all get a hit! yippee...:upeyes:
(They should have done this YEARS ago when I was playing. I would have been a lot better at the plate. :whistling: )
Denny Crane
08-25-2008, 20:01
How did they know they were 8-0, I didn't think they were allowed to keep score anymore.
VaderGlock
08-25-2008, 20:03
Good for him! Talk about the Tiger Woods of baseball. That's the best headline he could ever get. He'll look back on this when he's making huge bucks as a pro and laugh.
Only use no talent pitchers so we all get a hit! yippee...:upeyes:
(They should have done this YEARS ago when I was playing. I would have been a lot better at the plate. :whistling: )
I was great at T-Ball...:rofl:
Peace Warrior
08-25-2008, 20:06
I was great at T-Ball...:rofl:
In all honesty, fast balls I could deal with, but those dang curve balls!!! :steamed:
"straight ball I hit very much good, but the crooked pitch.... no good for me or bats"
This whole league's officials need slapped a few times and then made to let this team play, with its pitcher, or hired new league officials.
In all honesty, fast balls I could deal with, but those dang curve balls!!! :steamed:
"straight ball I hit very much good, but the crooked pitch.... no good for me or bats"
This whole league's officials need slapped a few times and then made to let this team play, with its pitcher, or hired new league officials.
I was so great they stuck me in the outfield where all the great players play. hehe
eh, I got to do second base now and then, but I think the only time I ever got on first base was when the ball hit me. :crying:
what a bunch of girls! Back when I played there was a kids that threw so fast you were almost lucky to get a hit off him. I ended up going to high school with him and he was a stud there too. He went on to be a college star and was trying to go further but I haven't kept up with him.
A few of my friends also played ball in high school with Andrew Miller....and I didnt hear any of them cry!
what a bunch of girls! Back when I played there was a kids that threw so fast you were almost lucky to get a hit off him. I ended up going to high school with him and he was a stud there too. He went on to be a college star and was trying to go further but I haven't kept up with him.
A few of my friends also played ball in high school with Andrew Miller....and I didnt hear any of them cry!
This is probably one of those kinder, gentler leagues where they don't keep score.
Easy to see which side is winning though when your side never gets on base...:rofl:
NYGunman
08-25-2008, 20:20
The officials are correct in separating him from the less talented kids but went about it in the wrong manner. The simple solution would be to move him to a higher class where the kids are at that level of competition. It benefits all parties involved. It's been done that way since I was a kid.
AK_Stick
08-25-2008, 20:24
The officials are correct in separating him from the less talented kids but went about it in the wrong manner. The simple solution would be to move him to a higher class where the kids are at that level of competition. It benefits all parties involved. It's been done that way since I was a kid.
Horse crap.
He's 9 so he should play with the 9-10 year olds. A 9 year old can't be expected to play with kids 2-3 years older than him. Maybe he can pitch at their level, but that doesn't mean he can run, slide, hit, or take a hit like an older kid.
No one would put a 9 year old in a hockey rink with 13 year olds, nor football with 13 year olds, but because he has a good arm, he should have to pitch to them? BS.
NYGunman
08-25-2008, 20:30
Horse crap.
He's 9 so he should play with the 9-10 year olds. A 9 year old can't be expected to play with kids 2-3 years older than him. Maybe he can pitch at their level, but that doesn't mean he can run, slide, hit, or take a hit like an older kid.
No one would put a 9 year old in a hockey rink with 13 year olds, nor football with 13 year olds, but because he has a good arm, he should have to pitch to them? BS.
Kids develop at different levels. Pick up a book on child development and you'll see. It is common practice in jr high and high schools across America to move talented athletes up a notch or two. When I played jr varsity football some of my classmates played varsity. They benefited from the better competition and we benefited from an environment of fun and learning.
I think I recall them doing what NYG said to a few players. Move them from Minor B to A or something.
Also recall certain coaches packing their teams with all the good players too.
rhikdavis
08-25-2008, 20:36
He's not a 16 yr old chinese dude passing for 9 is he?
Big deal..........I could throw a 40 mph fastball also (of course, I was in high school)
jakemccoy
08-25-2008, 20:37
I'd move my kid up, but I don't think he should be required to move up.
PeterJasonMN
08-25-2008, 20:39
It's because there are too many idiot parents who have nothing in life that defines them except riding the coat tails of their child's "success". I can't even count how many times I saw it growing up, especially in youth hockey. This is simply a byproduct of a spoiled generation becoming parents, and the resulting aftermath.
This is absolutely disgusting to me.
The kid's good at something, so he's not allowed to do it any more -- or the other kids will learn that life isn't fair, that some people are good at things and other people aren't, and that working hard to excel at something means you'll succeed more often than a lazy slob who never practices. OH NO. What a horrible thing to show kids!
Ridiculous. Flat out ridiculous. The kid's got a talent, and those retards want to squash it by making him play a different position. He's good at something -- that talent should be fed and watered so it can blossom into excellence!
.264 magnum
08-25-2008, 20:46
What we have here is a select quality player sandbagging, or his mom sandbagging for him, his way onto a rec league team.
He should go play with the older kids. He will learn more from playing with them anyway.
It is wrong though that they told him he can't play.
Would they be allowed to tell a kid he can't play because he isn't good enough?
NYGunman
08-25-2008, 21:26
This is absolutely disgusting to me.
The kid's good at something, so he's not allowed to do it any more -- or the other kids will learn that life isn't fair, that some people are good at things and other people aren't, and that working hard to excel at something means you'll succeed more often than a lazy slob who never practices. OH NO. What a horrible thing to show kids!
Ridiculous. Flat out ridiculous. The kid's got a talent, and those retards want to squash it by making him play a different position. He's good at something -- that talent should be fed and watered so it can blossom into excellence!
You are putting the cart before the horse. Most children don't have the capacity to work harder if they constantly get beaten down. The end result is that they will get bored with whatever it is that they are not succeeding at and find something else which is more enjoyable. i.e. Video games, drugs, etc.
Sports play a very important role in youth development. At the 9-year old level the focus should be more on learning team work, social skills, hard work, etc. which is more important than just winning.
Also how can a very talented player develop his skills against playing against poor players? They don't. They will only develop and get better when they play people at their skill level.
They are trying to cultivate mediocrity in the kids. No one can excel because it makes the others feel bad.
The other teams need to crank up the batting machine speeds and learn how to hit on the kid. This should be seen as an opportunity to excel for everyone.
No ice cream for you until you can knock one of his pitches out of the park! :tongueout:
AK_Stick
08-25-2008, 21:37
Kids develop at different levels. Pick up a book on child development and you'll see. It is common practice in jr high and high schools across America to move talented athletes up a notch or two. When I played jr varsity football some of my classmates played varsity. They benefited from the better competition and we benefited from an environment of fun and learning.
15-18 yr old kids, are alot closer to each other than a 9 year old to 13.
You're talking moving a kid still in elementary into jr-high, level games. Much different than moving a freshman into a varsity highschool level game. Like I said, you won't put a 9 year old into a hockey game with a 13-14 year old, nor a foot ball game.
This is New Haven. Don't worry, I'm sure he'll be out on the street shooting the other kids soon enough and won't need to worry about baseball.
Give the other team one of those deadly aluminum bats; then they'll be even.
When I played jr varsity football some of my classmates played varsity. They benefited from the better competition and we benefited from not getting our asses whooped every week.
Fixed it for ya. :supergrin:
unit1069
08-25-2008, 22:31
9-year-old boy told he’s too good to pitch
Babe Ruth was already in the major leagues when they told him he was too good to pitch!
George Herman Ruth, known to the world as "Babe Ruth," was the first sports superstar. He might have become baseball's greatest left-handed pitcher. Instead, he moved to the outfield and became its greatest hitter...
During three seasons in Boston, Ruth was primarily a pitcher. In his first World Series, he pitched 29 2/3rds scoreless innings, breaking Christy Mathewson's record and setting a mark that would stand for 43 years. The Red Sox won the World Series that year and again in 1918. In three regular seasons, Ruth had compiled a record of 94 wins and 46 losses, but despite his stellar performance as a pitcher, he was already developing a greater reputation as a hitter. http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1698.html
unit1069
08-25-2008, 22:49
Horse crap.
He's 9 so he should play with the 9-10 year olds. A 9 year old can't be expected to play with kids 2-3 years older than him. Maybe he can pitch at their level, but that doesn't mean he can run, slide, hit, or take a hit like an older kid.
No one would put a 9 year old in a hockey rink with 13 year olds, nor football with 13 year olds, but because he has a good arm, he should have to pitch to them? BS.
There's also the danger of letting a physically immature boy severely hurt his arm by the stress of throwing too hard at a young age. It sounds like he's got phenomenal natural talent and it would be a tragedy for adults to destroy it. What this kid needs is for the adults to recognize his great talent and to nurture it in such a way that he achieves his full potential.
Let him pitch and develop his gift, and also let him rest his arm enough so he doesn't permanently injure it. There are way too many incidents where adults ruin budding superstars because they get caught up with being "coach of the year".
srhoades
08-25-2008, 23:14
What I find more disturbing than he not being allowed to pitch is his mothers behavior. Nothing says sportsmanship like a parent acting like a juvenille.
Deuce_27
08-26-2008, 00:32
The kid is pitching in a league that allows girls to play.
This is not a big competitive league.
It is a league for girls and boys to have fun and learn how to play the game.
He obviously is too talented for the league, so move him on to a more competitive one.
No big deal.
Deuce_27
08-26-2008, 00:35
Noble acknowledged that Jericho had not beaned any batters in the co-ed league of 8- to 10-year-olds, but say parents expressed safety concerns.
It's a girly boy league!!!
Of course the kid is good.:rofl::rofl::rofl:
Deuce_27
08-26-2008, 00:40
“The whole objective in life is to find something you’re good at and stick with it. I’d rather he spend all his time on the baseball field than idolizing someone standing on the street corner.”
So your kid is good at striking out girls.
Man up and get him some real competition.
Deuce_27
08-26-2008, 00:45
what a bunch of girls!
Exactly.
He is striking out a bunch of girls in this co-ed league.:rofl::rofl::rofl:
Hey Mortie, how many girls did Jericho strike out last night?:rofl:
Deuce_27
08-26-2008, 00:48
It sounds like he's got phenomenal natural talent and it would be a tragedy for adults to destroy it.
A phenomenal talent for striking out girls and boys who play like girls.:rofl::rofl:
Guns & Cockpits
08-26-2008, 00:59
No one would put a 9 year old in a hockey rink with 13 year olds, nor football with 13 year olds, but because he has a good arm, he should have to pitch to them? BS.
Sorry man, but you're off. Parents in sports, especially hockey, DO put their younger kids that are too good in leagues for older kids. They don't learn anything or get any better than they already are by continuously beating the crap out of their peers. Challenging them makes them better, even when they're already better. I ran a hockey rink for my late high school and college years, including a full recreational program and coaching several privately run club and tournament teams. It's a very common practice.
Regardless, the kid shouldn't HAVE to move up. This is a ridiculous scenario created by parents. I'd have gotten a good long yelling at if I forfeited a game because some kid was better than me. Quitting wasn't tolerated, and not giving my all wasn't either. Losing is good for kids, sometimes as good for them as winning is. A balance is necessary. You don't always win, it's just that simple.
And the league of 8 teams and 100 kids has an attorney? What in the hell for?
PeterJasonMN
08-26-2008, 01:03
It's probably either one of the parents, or they live in an area that's regularly heavily hit with the AMT.
turbobrick
08-26-2008, 01:56
At that age, we had a split season. First half pitching machine; second half, live peer pitching. The pitching machines were set in the 50-55 mph range, and peer pitching was noticably slower. I don't see what is so quick about 40 mph, I know we were hitting that speed and more at that age. He should certainly be limited to a low amount of innings, throwing your arm out at 11 doesn't do anybody any good. My cousin was drafted as a pitcher by the Royals but had nothing left by the end of HS. His little brother took it a little easier, and was drafted 23rd by the Marlins, and is now playing AA ball and moving up.
And the league of 8 teams and 100 kids has an attorney? What in the hell for?
For when the parents get mad and start fighting in the middle of a game.
Aikidoka
08-26-2008, 07:16
Their talking about this on the Opie & Anthony show today. This is just another sign of how America is doomed and we need to start pushing back. Its disgusting.
I've got a buddy who is coaching pee wee football (7 and 8 year olds ) this year for the first time. He said one of the mother's actually asked him at practice if he thought her son was going to be good enough to play pro ball.
When I finished laughing, I asked him how he answered that one. He said he told her, "For now, let's just worry about getting him through the second grade."
Peace Warrior
08-26-2008, 12:24
I was so great they stuck me in the outfield where all the great players play. hehe
eh, I got to do second base now and then, but I think the only time I ever got on first base was when the ball hit me. :crying:
:rofl: Until the pitchers found out I couldn't hit curve balls, I got on base several times.
Fielding? I ended up being pretty good (read that: better than others the coach had to choose from our first year) when playing third base. Coach said if I didn't cut it on third, I was going to be the catcher (read that: ride the bench). My two years in organized baseball were NOT bery bery good to me. I ended up pinch hitting/running halfway through the second (my last) season. :supergrin:
JJohnson
08-26-2008, 12:41
40mph is not that fast for a 9yo. My 7 year old is throwing in the high 30's and the good 7 year old hitters tee off on him. I think the worst action in this story was the team walking off of the field. Total lack of class.
franklin
08-26-2008, 13:04
40mph is not that fast for a 9yo. My 7 year old is throwing in the high 30's and the good 7 year old hitters tee off on him. I think the worst action in this story was the team walking off of the field. Total lack of class.
:goodpost:
If I was the coach I would not have walked off. If I wanted to protest I would have sent my kids up there and told them not to swing, not even once. I'd bet that most of the kids strike out because of missed timing, not strikes over the plate. It's a 4th grade instructional co-ed league. I'd move him up to the next level, one age group, simple.
What a bunch of wussies!
In the 70's when I played I know we had a couple of guys in our little league who could bring it at the same speeds of this kid, one maybe faster. And they lost games, not many but they did lose.
Bunch of cry baby wuss bags...
40mph is not that fast for a 9yo. My 7 year old is throwing in the high 30's and the good 7 year old hitters tee off on him. I think the worst action in this story was the team walking off of the field. Total lack of class.
I agree. It is not that fast for a 9 year-old, especially for kids that are on traveling teams. I understand that this is an instructional league, but then again, I ask myself what 8 and 9 year-olds are doing in instructional leagues. In my area, the instructional leagues are for the 5, 6 and 7 year-olds. These are the kids playing coach pitch and t-ball. Once you hit 8 and 9, you are in competitive play.
Peace Warrior
08-26-2008, 13:30
40mph is not that fast for a 9yo. My 7 year old is throwing in the high 30's and the good 7 year old hitters tee off on him. I think the worst action in this story was the team walking off of the field. Total lack of class.
Didn't catch that part. Thanks. A "coach" that teaches players how to quit when something is difficult.
Great job "coach." :upeyes:
JJohnson
08-26-2008, 13:36
Around here, competitive league starts at 9.
I've coached for three years now. I took my kids off of the field and forfeited once when a parent from the other team was being unruly and going off on an umpire. I will not allow my kids to be subjected to the rantings of of an idiot screaming about a play at the plate OF A GAME WHERE WE DIDN'T EVEN KEEP SCORE!!!
Around here, competitive league starts at 9.
I've coached for three years now. I took my kids off of the field and forfeited once when a parent from the other team was being unruly and going off on an umpire. I will not allow my kids to be subjected to the rantings of of an idiot screaming about a play at the plate OF A GAME WHERE WE DIDN'T EVEN KEEP SCORE!!!
Good for you. I would have done the same thing. However, if you weren't keeping score, then you couldn't have forfeited. In fact, why would you even have umpires in a league like that?
JJohnson
08-26-2008, 14:31
Good for you. I would have done the same thing. However, if you weren't keeping score, then you couldn't have forfeited. In fact, why would you even have umpires in a league like that?
Great question, and here is the punchline... The "umpire" was just a dad who was calling them like he saw them. Honestly, I had never seen anything like that over a nothing call during an absolutely nothing game. Maybe there was something between those two before the game or something?
I guess we didn't really take a forfeit, but I made my point with that a-hole and all of those folks who supported him.
Edited to add:
Normally we have a kid umpiring those games. It is an instructional league for both the players and the umps. Luckily, the "official" umpire didn't show that day.
vote Republican
08-26-2008, 15:02
probably by league rules he can only pitch 2-3 innings per game. I've coached teams that had pitchers that we couldn't hit for 2 innings, then they bring in someone else & you get some runs. Big deal.
i've coached or assistant coached 1st place teams, average teams, and last place teams. Kids will get over it. Just play the game, no one is getting hurt.
Deuce - coed baseball probably means a team has 10 boys and 1 girl.
JJohnson
08-26-2008, 15:41
Deuce - coed baseball probably means a team has 10 boys and 1 girl.
And probably better than most of the boys on the team.
DoubleDog
08-26-2008, 16:07
This whole thing is pathetic...
From them not letting him pitch, to the other team walking off the field, to them disbanding a team...WTF!
If the kid is such a hot shot (and 40mph is not very fast), then he should be looking to play in a league who's rules fit his talent -- mainly an all boys league...He is playing in an instructional league with girls, for cripes sake! (before ya jump on me for dis'ing girls, I'm not...I just think boys get more out of sports playing against boys than they do playing against girls...)
And for those who think moving a talented kid up from B league to A league is detrimental, just remember that the best way to become better in your sport, is to compete against comparable or better talent...Throwing the ball by kids that are to small or week to hit won't improve his game one iota...
Like I said, the whole thing is pathetic...
DD~
probably by league rules he can only pitch 2-3 innings per game. I've coached teams that had pitchers that we couldn't hit for 2 innings, then they bring in someone else & you get some runs. Big deal.
i've coached or assistant coached 1st place teams, average teams, and last place teams. Kids will get over it. Just play the game, no one is getting hurt.
Deuce - coed baseball probably means a team has 10 boys and 1 girl.I was thinking about that really bad season when I read the OP. Losing is a part of life. Was the kid having FUN? Probably not if the other parents were being mean to him. :sad:
Crusher47
08-26-2008, 16:50
Their talking about this on the Opie & Anthony show today. This is just another sign of how America is doomed and we need to start pushing back. Its disgusting.
Yup, more PC bull*****
And probably better than most of the boys on the team.
That is definitely the situation on my son's team. They are playing coach pitch, so all of the kids are 5 and 6. The one girl on the team is the most focused player out there. She might not be the fastest, hit the hardest or throw the farthest, but she has her head in the game 100% of the time.
JJohnson
08-27-2008, 14:41
So what if he threw a few no hitters. Maybe the other teams suck? They already are select teams if I read correctly. He turned down the invite from the league champions last year, who happens to be sponsored by a league official no less.
Why put him a league where the kids are bigger, faster, and stronger where he could face the same problems as those in his league now are whining about? If these kids are in a 8-10 year old league, then the next logical jump is to 11 years old?
How well do you think that 40mph heater will do him there? Anyone notice that his batting prowess is not mentioned? What if he can't hit? Should they just throw him to the older kids for target practice?
What is the fixation with keeping the kid with his chronological peers? He should be playing in a league commensurate with his skills. Yes, learning to lose is part of game. This kid also needs to learn that. Being in a league in which he outclasses everybody else, he'll never get that experience.
The same applies to academics. If the kid is acing every test, especially in grade school, kick him up a class.
A person develops best when there is a surmountable challenge.
ARS
Not keeping score at the little league level? Come on, they have to learn about winning and losing in life and the sooner the better, they will get over it, I did, my brothers and our friends who lost were not emotionally scared for life.
If you lose fine, you lose, you don't cry about it, you don't whine and complain, you don't smile and laugh about it. You maintain good sportsmanship-win or lose, congratulate your opponent, tell them you will be back next time, and learn from your mistakes and win the next time and have fun in the process.
Peace Warrior
08-28-2008, 21:06
Not keeping score at the little league level? Come on, they have to learn about winning and losing in life and the sooner the better, they will get over it, I did, my brothers and our friends who lost were not emotionally scared for life.
If you lose fine, you lose, you don't cry about it, you don't whine and complain, you don't smile and laugh about it. You maintain good sportsmanship-win or lose, congratulate your opponent, tell them you will be back next time, and learn from your mistakes and win the next time and have fun in the process.It's obvious you're not the hippy dippy liberal type. :tongueout:
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