Devers signs 11 year $331 million extension

[Dipre]

I loved coaching my kids in little league. I was just stating a fact that all the leagues we were involved in locked the fields outside of practice and gametime. Kids aren't allowed to play on those fields without adult supervision which goes against the airplane test noted above.

 

This place is backwater and it's like that here too, at least in the capital.

[moonslav59]

He's got imperfections but is very much worth defending--as you and dipre have done so ably.

 

I'm not so sure what is being discussed here is even an "imperfection."

 

Many argue keeping your emotions inside is not a good thing to do.

[Dipre]

I'm not so sure what is being discussed here is even an "imperfection."

 

Many argue keeping your emotions inside is not a good thing to do.

 

I personally manage my emotional distress by arguing with everyone and grooming my glorious beard.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I loved coaching my kids in little league. I was just stating a fact that all the leagues we were involved in locked the fields outside of practice and gametime. Kids aren't allowed to play on those fields without adult supervision which goes against the airplane test noted above.

 

Every school playground in my town has a backstop and diamond that neighborhood kids can access if they want to. But the only guaranteed time fields are used is at recess, when schools permit kickball, but ban hardball (too dangerous).

 

The point of this initial discussion was that big leaguers -- at least the ones we root for -- look more inept at basic fundamentals that came as second-nature in the past -- and maybe that's because ballplayers once grew up spending more time playing more various forms of baseball (and not necessarily in complete, organized 9-on-9 games in uniform, run by adult coaches... and don't get me wrong, I coached high school for a decade, and now my son's Little League in fall, spring, and summer All-Stars -- and, we also pay for him to play travel ball; the more baseball, the better).

[Old Red]

Every school playground in my town has a backstop and diamond that neighborhood kids can access if they want to. But the only guaranteed time fields are used is at recess, when schools permit kickball, but ban hardball (too dangerous).

 

The point of this initial discussion was that big leaguers -- at least the ones we root for -- look more inept at basic fundamentals that came as second-nature in the past -- and maybe that's because ballplayers once grew up spending more time playing more various forms of baseball (and not necessarily in complete, organized 9-on-9 games in uniform, run by adult coaches... and don't get me wrong, I coached high school for a decade, and now my son's Little League in fall, spring, and summer All-Stars -- and, we also pay for him to play travel ball; the more baseball, the better).

It used to be summertime back in my day was strictly baseball, but now basketball, and soccer travel has taken over. I wished there were all this travel stuff back then. Little league was a lot tougher back then too. 9-12 yr olds all played against each other. Big difference between a 9-12 yr old. Now it’s 9-10, and 11-12.

[mvp 78]

It used to be summertime back in my day was strictly baseball, but now basketball, and soccer travel has taken over. I wished there were all this travel stuff back then. Little league was a lot tougher back then too. 9-12 yr olds all played against each other. Big difference between a 9-12 yr old. Now it’s 9-10, and 11-12.

 

A 9-12 league is WATERED DOWN!

[Bellhorn04]

I'd rather see a player show some emotion like Devers than smash things around or go ape on an ump, like Nixon and Youk used to do.

 

Devers reminds me a lot of Manny- a player that loves the game and doesn't seem to let down moments affect his next AB or play.

 

I'm with ya.

[Maxbialystock]

Every school playground in my town has a backstop and diamond that neighborhood kids can access if they want to. But the only guaranteed time fields are used is at recess, when schools permit kickball, but ban hardball (too dangerous).

 

The point of this initial discussion was that big leaguers -- at least the ones we root for -- look more inept at basic fundamentals that came as second-nature in the past -- and maybe that's because ballplayers once grew up spending more time playing more various forms of baseball (and not necessarily in complete, organized 9-on-9 games in uniform, run by adult coaches... and don't get me wrong, I coached high school for a decade, and now my son's Little League in fall, spring, and summer All-Stars -- and, we also pay for him to play travel ball; the more baseball, the better).

 

Whattalotta. Seriously, I don't care whether you think MLB players should have been getting tons of crucial reps when they were freaking 9-12 years old.

 

In fact, the funny thing is that the players coming from the Caribbean probably do get a ton of reps at an early age.

 

On the other hand, it's just remotely possible that innate ability has something to do with how good a fielder is and how accurate his throws are. I hasten to add that, if a player has that innate ability, the overall baseball system (t ball to little league to high school to college or minor leagues to MLB) as it exists today will give him all the reps and coaching he needs to excel on the diamond.

 

And there's something else we can't ignore. "Good field, no hit" is the usual phrase to describe a baseball player who ain't going to The Show. In other words, if you can hit, you can play. If you can't, you can't.

 

And that's only a slight exaggeration. Right now a player named Marcelo Mayer is "languishing" (I'm exaggerating) at AA Portland, not because he isn't an excellent fielding SS, but because he can't (yet) hit AA pitching.

[Old Red]

A 9-12 league is WATERED DOWN!

 

I don’t know about that. When I was 9 those 12 yr olds threw pretty dam hard. Of course it was great when I was 12.

[moonslav59]

I don’t know about that. When I was 9 those 12 yr olds threw pretty dam hard. Of course it was great when I was 12.

 

Was that like, yesterday

[notin]

You do know they're not robots? Even guys like Jeter and Chipper Jones would show emotion from time to time?

 

Actually Chipper was 40% robot…

[notin]

I don’t know about that. When I was 9 those 12 yr olds threw pretty dam hard. Of course it was great when I was 12.

 

When you’re 9, a 40mph fastball is pretty hard. Especially since the mound is only 40 feet away…

[mvp 78]

When you’re 9, a 40mph fastball is pretty hard. Especially since the mound is only 40 feet away…

 

Those 12 year olds had it much easier back in the day facing those 9 year old CHUMPS!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Whattalotta. Seriously, I don't care whether you think MLB players should have been getting tons of crucial reps when they were freaking 9-12 years old.

 

In fact, the funny thing is that the players coming from the Caribbean probably do get a ton of reps at an early age.

 

On the other hand, it's just remotely possible that innate ability has something to do with how good a fielder is and how accurate his throws are. I hasten to add that, if a player has that innate ability, the overall baseball system (t ball to little league to high school to college or minor leagues to MLB) as it exists today will give him all the reps and coaching he needs to excel on the diamond.

 

And there's something else we can't ignore. "Good field, no hit" is the usual phrase to describe a baseball player who ain't going to The Show. In other words, if you can hit, you can play. If you can't, you can't.

 

And that's only a slight exaggeration. Right now a player named Marcelo Mayer is "languishing" (I'm exaggerating) at AA Portland, not because he isn't an excellent fielding SS, but because he can't (yet) hit AA pitching.

 

Ok, after claiming you don't care what I think, you wrote a long post with some counterpoints.

 

I agree that hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports, and that a ballplayer who can hit will always force himself into a line-up -- maybe even into an MLB batting order.

 

But nothing turns off diehard fans and casual spectators more than a big league team full of inconsistencies in the field and on the basepaths, not making routine plays or getting picked off for forgetting how many outs there are in an inning. Such errors are the quickest way to get people to turn off the TV, or at least change the channel.

[Old Red]

When they brought in the 9 year olds, the whole league got watered down…

 

All you guys are all jealous, because a Red Sox scout never came, and saw you pitch. Before you say anything 100% true story.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

All you guys are all jealous, because a Red Sox scout never came, and saw you pitch. Before you say anything 100% true story.

 

A scout watched me pitch in Little League. I think he got a merit badge for building a footbridge across the brook next to the park.

[mvp 78]

All you guys are all jealous, because a Red Sox scout never came, and saw you pitch. Before you say anything 100% true story.

 

You met SeaBeachFred?

[Old Red]

You met SeaBeachFred?

 

Are there, or were there an athlete in this bunch of opinionated critics? My story is true, and can be confirmed, verified or whatever you want. Polygraph, or hand on the Bible true, so poh, poh away. Who would have thunk it?

[notin]

All you guys are all jealous, because a Red Sox scout never came, and saw you pitch. Before you say anything 100% true story.

 

And he left disappointed. That’s especially bad given the guys over the years those scouts did sign…

[mvp 78]

Polygraph, or hand on the Bible true, Ozzie and Jose Canseco played in my softball league in LA.

[Old Red]

Polygraph, or hand on the Bible true, Ozzie and Jose Canseco played in my softball league in LA.

 

The saw me pitch statement is 100% true, but why he was there would have to be embellished a little more.

[mvp 78]

And he left disappointed. That’s especially bad given the guys over the years those scouts did sign…

 

I mean, have you seen THE FUNDAMENTALS of these guys? Devers can't even throw the ball 125' to first base!

[Old Red]

I mean, have you seen THE FUNDAMENTALS of these guys? Devers can't even throw the ball 125' to first base!

 

Unfortunately he wasn’t the only one.

[moonslav59]

Polygraph, or hand on the Bible true, Ozzie and Jose Canseco played in my softball league in LA.

 

I played pick-up basketball at the Rockne Memorial against Orlando Woolrige, Luther Bradley, Jerome Heavens and a few other Domer athletes, but no scouts were watching.

[Old Red]

I played pick-up basketball at the Rockne Memorial against Orlando Woolrige, Luther Bradley, Jerome Heavens and a few other Domer athletes, but no scouts were watching.

 

I played basketball in the same high school gym that Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor once practiced in. Does that count?

[dgalehouse]

I don't think that there is any doubt that American kids are not as into baseball as they were years ago. It is obvious.

[moonslav59]

I played basketball in the same high school gym that Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor once practiced in. Does that count?

 

To you, most likely, but I don't want to misinterpret.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I played pick-up basketball at the Rockne Memorial against Orlando Woolrige, Luther Bradley, Jerome Heavens and a few other Domer athletes, but no scouts were watching.

 

Co-coach and I have a lot in common. He was Gatorade state player of the year. In that same state, I drank a Gatorade.

[Old Red]

To you, most likely, but I don't want to misinterpret.

 

Nah, if there were no scouts there I would say no. Only touted, and scouted should count.

[dgalehouse]

Did I ever tell you about the time I went six rounds with Marvin Hagler ?