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2348 Views 14 Replies Latest reply: Apr 7, 2012 2:35 PM by SBALL11 RSS
Frank_B Legend
Frank_B
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May 30, 2007
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Aug 12, 2011 3:20 PM

Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

Every LLWS year I hear a TV announcer say about a given team--[Majors level]--."These kids have been playing together since they were five years old"------in making a point about about how well they play together and know each other.  Heard it in past years, and twice this year, including today.

 

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't believe the above can happen-[at least not legally]- because of the LL rule that restricts (same) age players cannot  exceed eight(8) per roster.

 

 

Frank!

  • TheMouth__1 Legend
    TheMouth__1
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    1. Aug 12, 2011 3:19 PM (in response to Frank_B)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    Frank, just a bunch of uninformed announcers trying, yet failing, to fill air time.  TM

  • Frank_B Legend
    Frank_B
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    2. Aug 12, 2011 3:27 PM (in response to TheMouth__1)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    Agreed TM! I suppose we have to cut them some slack.

     

    Frank!

  • Lou_B Community Moderator
    Lou_B
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    3. Aug 15, 2011 5:27 AM (in response to Frank_B)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    They're talking about the Travel Team they have all played together on since they were 8 or 9 !!!

  • Frank_B Legend
    Frank_B
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    4. Aug 15, 2011 11:13 AM (in response to Lou_B)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    In two instances, this year, I heard the anouncer say:    "these kids have played together since FIVE years old"------[travel team not mentioned!]

     

    In another instance, this year, I heard the announcer say:   " since SEVEN/EIGHT years old"----------[travel team not mentioned]

     

    Another time the announcer said-----"since FOUR/ FIVE years old." 

     

    In no instances, either in past years, or this year to date, do I recall,  these kids  played together as a travel team, being mentioned by the announcer.

     

    I believe  a UNIT travel team is not allowed to be entered as a UNIT team in LL T-Play.

     

    Frank!

  • Lou_B Community Moderator
    Lou_B
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    5. Aug 15, 2011 12:39 PM (in response to Frank_B)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    The first time I remember hearing this kind of stuff was several years ago when Warner Robins won.

    A number of their players had played together for several years on the same Travel Team.

     

    A "Whole Team" cannot enter LL as a team.

    In fact, a Tournament Team was disqualified this year for that reason (Tulsa National, Oklahoma State Champs).

  • Frank_B Legend
    Frank_B
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    6. Aug 16, 2011 6:09 AM (in response to Lou_B)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    Point----

    Bottom line: evidently,  the subject  TV announcers have no concept as to how a final "unit/whole" LLWS All-Star team got there----definitely not having played together as a Little League team for their entire LL career  as they are inferring with their comments.

     

    Not painting all the Regional TV announcers with that brush.

    However----more experienced Williamsport announcers, in past years, have mistakenly inferred  the same thing.

     

    But, as I stated in a prior post here, got to cut the "offenders"  some slack in that regard.

     

    Frank!

  • mackman Pro
    mackman
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    7. Aug 19, 2011 9:16 AM (in response to Frank_B)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    I'm pretty sure they're just referencing the fact that the kids have all played in the same league together since Tball.  I've known three teams thave have made it to the series, none were travel teams masquerading as a little league, although some of the kids did play on outside travel teams.  And, yes, in all the cases the kids had all grown up together and played ball together on various teams through Tball, Minors, and Majors over the years.  Doesn't mean they were somehow determined at age 5 to be future WS players and were put on some special team and trained in secret.  Just means they've all played together within the league, school, neighborhood that they grew up together in.

  • Frank_B Legend
    Frank_B
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    8. Aug 19, 2011 11:39 AM (in response to mackman)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    Appreciate and respect your input mackman.

     

    BUT---if the (subject) announcers had said.... "played in the SAME LEAGUE TOGETHER since T-ball"-----I would not have initiated my OP.   CAPS MINE!

     

    What was said and/or inferred, multiple times,  was:......  "played on the SAME Little League  TEAM TOGETHER"---for s length of years not possible by the LL rules.

     

    "Semantics" and "intent" perhaps clashing-----on the announcer's part!

     

    The only problem, if one can call it a problem, is a listening/viewing audience not knowing otherwise..... believes it to be true!

     

    Any real harm done? No!!

     

    Frank!

  • mackman Pro
    mackman
    83 posts since
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    9. Aug 19, 2011 11:48 AM (in response to Frank_B)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    Well, my kids have all played in leagues that have managed to send teams to regionals or even the series.  While none of my boys were ever on any of those teams that made it, they would all say that they played ball with those kids since they were little.  I don't think they'd make the distinction that not all may have been on the exact same team every year.  They'd just say "Yeah, I grew up playing ball with those guys".

  • Frank_B Legend
    Frank_B
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    10. Aug 19, 2011 12:29 PM (in response to mackman)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    I have no problem whatsoever with what the kids say.

     

    I'm talking  what adults say, infer, convey, etc., wrongly,  to the masses!!

     

     

    Frank!

  • Steve__225 Rookie
    Steve__225
    6 posts since
    May 25, 2007
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    11. Aug 27, 2011 5:49 PM (in response to Frank_B)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???
    Who's kidding who? You don't just throw a team together on June 15 and end up playing in Wpt. Every team down there is together in some form year 'round for 4 or 5 years leading up to their 12 year old season. 6 or 8 of them play on an AAU or travel team, maybe they go to the batting cage every week or two all winter, something........you cannot compete at that level if you don't do something extra.
  • Frank_B Legend
    Frank_B
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    12. Aug 28, 2011 9:09 AM (in response to Steve__225)
    Re: Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    Nobody is kidding nobody!!

     

    The subject of this thread Is directed at TV LLWS announcers, when "infering" that a LLWS  team has PLAYED TOGETHER----as a TEAM since age 4,5.6, or 7-------as heard by my ears----they mean as a LL unit team--->that's not true!!   Unless LL rules are flagrantly violated and "blind eyes" are turned!!

     

    All the other  Non-LL  activities, pre-June 15th, mentioned by you, re  involved players is another story altogether!!

    Particularly in  the warmer weather states and countries.

     

    Frank!

  • TheMouth__1 Legend
    TheMouth__1
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    13. Sep 12, 2011 10:11 AM (in response to Frank_B)
    Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    Frank, I understand what your saying.  It's pretty easy, I read your post  LOL.   TM

  • SBALL11 Amateur
    SBALL11
    11 posts since
    Oct 6, 2008
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    14. Apr 7, 2012 2:35 PM (in response to Frank_B)
    Make up ofLLWS teams-------???

    Wouldn't the fact that the same LL All-Star team has played together for the past 5 years qualify the statements made?

     

    No, the same group of kids do not play together as a team during the regular LL season. But once district games begin, the same group of players for each age group are likely to be chosen.

     

    Thus...."these kids have been playing together for the past 5 years".

     

    I wouldn't doubt that there are towns and/or districts that manage to skirt the rules in one form or another. But I don't believe that that is necessary in order for the announcers comments to be true.




    PLAY BALL!

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