LAST EDITED ON Aug-26-08 AT 06:53PM (MST)[p]There is nothing right about this story. Disallowing a kid from pitching at that age is an example of everything that's wrong with youth sports. Sports is about competing, and the best should be allowed to acheive success. So much of this BS about having to have everyone be the same is a bunch of BS. The players who go on to play in college or pro ball are those who compete at the highest levels that they can find.
Yukon Dall is somewhat correct in his comments about kids who pitch at a young age NOT being the ones who are pitching at later ages. Way too often, these young kids are abused by over-zealous dads who are coaching. I've seen a number of kids who were outstanding at younger ages, who are no longer playing baseball due to arm problems. Most of the prominent pitchers in high school and who go on to college pitching careers are those who took up pitching at a later date or who were used conservatively. Tommy John surgery is nothing that anyone should want to have to consider. My son tore his UCL and had Tommy John surger during his high school senior year, and it cost him two seasons of baseball. He's a catcher, the second most frequent position, behind pitchers, who have to get TJ surgery. It is expensive, the rehab is long and there's no guarantee that you'll be able to play at a high level in the future. He's trying to make his college team right now, and it's a tough road to come back when you've missed a few years.
Not allowing this kid to pitch is total BS, but might not be the worst thing for him at such a young age. If he's used intelligently, pitching at a young age can be good, but under NO circumstance is this BS about not wanting to let kids compete worth ever giving any consideration to.
