Little League softball

[brownsfan]

I can't believe I saw this:

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/nation...-in-trouble-after-allegedly-losing-on-purpose

So the question is, do you agree with this? If I read it correctly, what's the difference between this and a end of season professional team who already secured a spot in the playoffs?

I can see both sides, the Washington team knowing they could win in the semi's didn't want to get any of the starters hurt. However, the integrity of the game is also compromised.

 

[poden-smoden]

The point is to win the whole thing right...smart coaching in my books...but hey, lets give the losers a participation trophy!

 

[Bullbuck]

I think most youth sports organizations have rules against making a mockery of the game. By sitting its top players and bunting everyone else, Washington did that.

In any event, Iowa just beat Washington, 3-2, in the "play-in" game mandated by Little League. Good for them.

 

[brownsfan]

I think most youth sports organizations have rules against making a mockery of the game. By sitting its top players and bunting everyone else, Washington did that.

In any event, Iowa just beat Washington, 3-2, in the "play-in" game mandated by Little League. Good for them.

For the first part, true----but did Washington do any different than what a travel softball team does in a pool play game that doesn't matter? The girls won their pool and doesn't affect them in seeding. So wouldn't the coach want to rest some of his starters for a grueling elimination bracket?

But for the second part...THAT'S AWESOME!

 

[brownsfan]

I didn't realize this was already started on this in in the section rants and raves-Ethical? or Smart?

 

[spartansd]

Complete BS

Washington was screwed. Regardless of anything else. They should have been put into the semis. Iowa and NC should have played the play in game.

If they were put in semis win or lose then having them play in makes the whole tournament a farce. As if the previous games they won meant nothing.

Their job is to coach their team. Not manage the whole tournament. And who cares, I have bunted 7-8 times in a row in games before. Actually stopped bunting because it was getting out of hand. In other words I had to stop putting it in the dirt to slow our team down. Plus if my teams wants to bunt the whole game that is our business. I guess next they will call my pitches? And tell me my lineup.

And on top of that. The players that got to play and pitch are being told they stink. And that they are sooooo bad and it is sooooo ridiculous that if a team should actually play them the game would be considered akin to just forfeiting the game?

Hey if the Iowa team wanted to get in so bad they should have won all their games.

 

[Lenski65]

According to the article:


From the Little League Rule Book:

“A manager or coach that takes any action that results in a travesty of the game that results in members performing poorly could be disqualified.”

 

[flygirlsdad]

Maybe Washington was the team fortunate enough to be able to play again rather than being disqualified. Props to Iowa for coming out with the win. For those comparing this to a meaningless pool game it is certainly not on the same level. Typically all teams from a pool advance in summer ball tournaments with the exception of some showcases. Resting players or starting your number 3 pitcher or batting your lineup does not in and of itself signify an intent to lose. Unfortunately the evidence in this case must have show Washington did have the intent to lose which would have eliminated Iowa.

 

[KillingMeSmalls]

I think we have all been in a similar situation in pool play, but when our team bunted every time, left base early, etc we were always winning the game, not losing. Essentially the Coach of Washington was trying to do what was best for his team, but the execution could have been better.

 

[FastBat]

I think they should go back to double elimination, get rid of pool play, in these LL tournaments. There would be less to manipulate.

 

[spartansd]

I think they should go back to double elimination, get rid of pool play, in these LL tournaments. There would be less to manipulate.

Funny I was just saying the exact same thing.

Just dump everyone into a double elimination bracket and play. I actually do not even understand why there is anything but bracket play at this point.

I can see the situation of wanting to get these teams a minimum number of games. But honestly how they have it set up is completely illogical.

 

[coachjwb]

Or they could do it like ASA A where you have a couple of pool games, but they don't have any impact on bracket seeding.

 

[SOFTBALLS14]

Or they could do like the WCWS ....since that is what we are all trying to get to some day with our players. We try to be like the NCAA. Why not use there same format.
Or use part of the WCWS..... Example..... The Dayton Metro Tourney is a good format to run a tourney.
No chance to LAY DOWN! Play two pool play bracket style then into double elimination bracket play. NO CHANCE TO LAY DOWN. I wish more tourneys would use this format. It forces teams to play as they would in bracket play and college coaches get to see your players play like they should with every game! To win! JMO

 

[FastBat]

Or they could do it like ASA A where you have a couple of pool games, but they don't have any impact on bracket seeding.

I don't know exactly how the LL World Series is done. But, in the LL Central Region tournament, had 9 teams play, in pool play. Then they took the top 6 and had a single elimination tournament. That's the tournament our (Ohio Champions) Poland, Ohio team played in, but Iowa won, to get to LLWS.

 

[TR_Out]

I think many of the coaches "worth their salt" have performed some level of "tournament management" in their career; if they haven't, well... The problem here was the blatancy of their actions have been evaluated as a "travesty" or "mocking the opponent" as one ESPN correspondent said.

Here's a question that is related enough that it probably isn't hi-jacking: What about the basketball coach yelling, "FOUL HIM" to stop the clock, send the opponent to the line and hopefully get a rebound on a missed free-throw? This has happened for so long it is not considered a travesty, just leveraging everything you can to try to win, even if it is using the rules designed for "fairness" to gain an un-fair advantage.

Now for the hi-jack: What is the definition of an "Intentional Foul" and why don't the officials call it in situations like this one? Oh well, I digress.

 

[coachjwb]

Basketball and many other sports have a clock, and managing the clock always has been part of the game, while softball does not ... oh wait ...