A Lesson For The Kids

The Youth Baseball League of New Haven, Conn., has banned a
9-year-old from pitching. Jericho Scott throws almost 40 mph, a speed deemed too dangerous for other 8- to 10-year-olds to step in against. Though Jericho had yet to hit a batter as his team opened the season 8-0, his coach was told the boy must play some other position or the team would be disbanded.

-Kevin Hench, FoxSports.com

Ah, people. My favorite...uh...people. I actually read the original article a couple of days ago and thought it was completely ridiculous. I thought there's no way they are banning a kid from baseball and threatening to eliminate the existence of his team if he ever plays again. There's just no way anyone could ever do that. And I was wrong. The coach put the kid back on the mound 2 days after being told he could never pitch again and the opposing team subsequently forfeited. Fantastic. Of course, then the coach resigned, and needless to say there's a big stink about it now. I think it's pretty important that they show this kid who's boss though. If you just let him participate in extra curricular activities his whole life, how's he ever going to learn his way on the streets? The crips and bloods (all over New Haven, by the way) are gonna need some youngsters to groom. If this kid is out there playing baseball, how's he ever gonna cut someone up? Ridiculous! Anyway, shouldn't we be nurturing the youth that can excel at something rather than telling them they are too good and therefore aren't allowed to participate? If it's really that big of an issue why not just send him to play with the older kids? Why do they need to force him out of baseball? Well technically they aren't forcing him out. He does have the option of playing a different position. You know, one where he won't be better than everyone else. That would actually be pretty cool if pro sports started doing that. "Sorry Peyton Manning. You're just too good of a Quarterback. Either move to defensive end or the Indianapolis Colts will be broken up and dispersed among the rest of the teams in the league." Awesome. Peyton Manning would be a terrible defensive end, by the way. I did a simulation in my head (which is 10 times more accurate than any computer simulation) and the end result was that he died. But not before sacking Eli. Because Eli is terrible. Oh sure, he won a super bowl. But can he play defensive end like Peyton? I think not. Maybe HE should pitch in the New Haven Youth Baseball League. He's pretty darn average.