The 2019 youth baseball season is almost here. Should your child play "travel-ball" or rec ball? Whichever you and your family decide, it will be impossible to avoid "Daddy-Ball".
It's like a disease that has ruined youth baseball for the purist like me. Let me explain.
Before I tell you about a travel-ball National Championship game I observed on ESPN last year, allow me to reminisce about a men's league game I pitched in about 20 years ago.
I was in my late 30's pitching for a team in an 18 & over league. Keep in mind I was not a pitcher, but after a few years of coaching under my belt, I was a very accurate batting practice thrower. Greg Maddux was my hero. I didn't throw that hard, but after being an outfielder in college, my arm wasn't too bad.
One particular game, our catcher came out to talk to me about the huge batter I was about to face. My friend told me that my fast-ball seemed to be faster than normal that day, and he wanted to know if I would like to have some fun. We decided to challenge this beast of a hitter by throwing nothing but fast-balls to try to strike him out. We both knew he couldn't hit a curve ball. But what the Hell, this would be fun. Either I'll strike him out or he'll hit the ball a country mile.
Ten pitches later, the count was still 0-2 and he had fouled back 8 pitches in a row. Boy, this was a blast! My friend then called for a curve ball, but I refused and shook him off. I told him later that we agreed to make it a challenge. I wasn't backing down! Throwing a curve ball would have been too easy. Besides, this experience was making me feel like a kid again!
The big guy got a hold of my next pitch and practically stuck a line drive in the left field fence. As he arrived at second base with a stand up double, we both looked at each other with a big smile and at the same time, said "That was fun!"
Let's compare this baseball experience to "daddy-ball". Fast forward to the 12u National Championship game last year. It was about the 5th inning. Some "elite" team from Texas was leading an "elite" team from Florida 7-1. The team that was behind had a man on third with two outs. To my absolute amazement, the coach intentionally walked their clean-up batter.
The first thing that came to my mind was, I thought these were the most "elite" players in youth baseball. Besides, they're only twelve years old. I have never told a kid to intentionally walk a player at that age. How will he ever know that he can get him out if you don't give him a chance! I immediately lost respect for this coach. But it got worse.
The coach of the team that was behind 7-1 proceeded to steal the runner. He was thrown out to end the inning. Where do they get these coaches! I'm not making this up.
The sad thing is, this disease called "daddy-ball" has been around for a long time. It's a shame. Whether it's "travel-ball or rec ball, kids are being denied the experience of a lifetime because of this kind of adult decision making.
I was fortunate to play for my dad, who constantly challenged me on and off the baseball diamond. It made me a better person. It made me a better coach. That moment 20 years ago was a routine occurrence in my youth baseball career.
I'm working hard to find a cure for "daddy-ball". I think it can be done, but I'm going to need a lot of help!
