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All-star team is lacking most-deserving players
It is time to issue the yearly reminder of what has been going on for 20-plus years. The teams that Washington sends are not your all-star teams. They are merely the coaches' picks or the coaches' kids, for a lack of a better term. If we sent the children who truly deserved to be there and honestly earned a spot, then we might become competitive. But until then, more of our two-and-out seasons.
I sit here feeling bad for my own child and his friends. Then again, I'm unsure whether I should feel bad for him or the children and parents running around proclaiming to the world that their child is an all-star. I would find it really hard to be proud when I see at least seven kids who are better than mine on the team.
This is minor and not important to the big picture of life, but it's just disturbing how we teach our kids that earning something isn't as important as your father's image at work or on the ballfield. I wish you all luck, and your coats shouldn't read "all-stars" but "boys club," for this year anyway. Or until they find a more powerful friend and your child gets replaced, too.
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Washington
All-star team is lacking most-deserving players : 7/5/2009
Barbara I could not agree more! Show me a list of coaches and kids and I could tell you who is going to be picked for all stars, playing ability/potential has nothing to do with all stars. My son may not be the best player out there, but I can assure you he is as good or better than some of those "All Star Players". I think they should start picking these kids by their stats not by who's your daddy.
pony league : 7/5/2009
It happens in every sport. Perhaps if dads didn't coach their son's team then the playing field would be more fair and those kids who are truly good in their sport would be able to show it. Until parents aren't the team coach the good kids will just have to take a back seat to those who are less talented than they are. Too bad.
PLWS : 7/5/2009
I must say that when I read this article it screams "sour grapes". It happens every year. Let me say that it has been this way for years! It won't change. The system won't allow for that to happen. There are numerous years that the "World Series" team has been less than successful. All of the teams within the last 20 years have been the same way. It really boils down to who is kissing up to who. There are so many times in recent memory that the coaching staff's own son's aren't in the top 20 kids but they only make it because dad is there. So many disappointed kids and parents. Get used to it during this time of the year. It won't change until they change the voting system.
ALL-STARS : 7/6/2009
THERE ARE 15 KIDS ON THE 2009 WORLD SERIES TEAM. THERE WERE ONLY 5 TEAMS DURING THE REGULAR SEASON . ONE COACH HAD NO SON ON THE TEAM, ONE HAD A 13 YEAR OLD SO THAT LEAVES THREE THAT HAD 14 YEAR OLDS. THREE OUT OF 15 HARDLY MAKES IT A "BOYS CLUB". CHECK THE FACTS, OR BETTER YET WATCH A GAME! THEY ARE A GOOD TEAM WINNING EVERY GAME THEY HAVE PLAYED. SEE FOR YOURSELVES, THEY ARE PLAYING IN WASHINGTON ALL WEEK!
All Stars : 7/6/2009
Let's face it, it isn't a perfect election system. Never will be. The Washington team comes up against teams in the world series that has played 70 games together and draws their team from an entire county!! Do you think the Washington team would be more competitive if that were the case here? Maybe, but PONY rules govern against that for now. Another thing is that Washington has an automatic bid to the World Series level. This creates problems for the coaching staff when it comes time to find quality competition to play in the months leading up to the "Big Show". The teams that are good are playing sanction ball trying to qualify for the tournament. The rest are just playing open tournaments for fun. The point I am trying to make is that those of you who were selected to play on the team, enjoy it. Before you know it, it is over. Those of you who didn't make it, enjoy the summer and focus on high school baseball.
PONY ALL-STARS : 7/6/2009
Baseball Parent is correct the 14 Year Old All-Star Team was selected by a majority vote of five managers from the PONY league. If my math is correct this would mean that three of the five managers would have to agree on any player for the individual to make the World Series team. Since there where three managers with 14 year old sons, and a three vote majority is needed to make the team, I would set the statistical odds that all three sons would make the team at about 100%. Upon review, I am correct all three did make it! 100% of kids whose Daddys Managed a team made it! With the primary objective met the three managers would only have one last item to address, that is putting the best 12 remaining kids around their sons while maintaining as little competition at their sons primary positions as possible. For you kids who worked hard, and deserved to be selected your efforts although unrewarded by WYB will pay off in high school. You see kids in High School they play to win, and if you don't win you don't get to participate in events like the WPIAL or PIAA playoffs. You kids who worked hard and deserved to make the team know it, the kids you played with know it, and yes even the three coaches who voted their own sons in before you know it. You see eventually the All-Stars have to perform! Tune in August 6, 2009 to pick out the players who made it because of their dads not their ability. It will be easy to see, its always easy to see.
in response : 7/6/2009
I wrote the above letter and I was in no way shape or form attacking this years Pony team. I havent seen those boys play but with a child in a younger league I can definitely speak from experience stating that the deserving kids are not all on the team. There are many deserving children out here only half of them are getting the spot that they have earned. We have children who have not hit a ball all year on all star teams and they definitely have not made up for it in the field or elsewhere. I am just curious as to why we as parents are sitting watching this happen year after year. We all pay a fee to play every year, we all participate in fundraisers yet at the end of the year when its time for all star selection and the teams that will be using our funds to represent us do we not get to see ballots, not even the coaches. This is being paid with all our money but yet its so secret when the votes come. They should be publicly posted, if you are pround enough to write these names down and these are the most deserving kids be proud enough to look the other kids and parents in the face and say that you did. My son was was shunned this year and it was blatent but thats ok. We have a bigger agenda but its disturbing that 6 which is more than half of those coaches have came to me, I didnt go to you to tell me they voted for my child they cant believe he's not there. SO who is the liar is it these men who are supposed to be here for the kids or is it the league? All of this would be taken care of if the parents of the league demand something be changed. It keeps the confusion and hurt from my son who has had one of the best seasons ever. He shined all year long and his teams results were reflective if that. He is also confused when he looks at a field of kids that he struck out all year or played poorly all year and doesnt get why hes not there. Someone should be held accountable and quit making the league pay for the coaches to take their kids and their friends kids from venue to venue and believe they are something they arent. I know who will be on the Pony team that plays in the world series when my son gets that age it has already been decided. and that is my point. We have a whole organization that is supposed to be for the kids but no one makes sure the kids come first. My son leaned a hard lesson this year it would just be nice to know the people looking you in the face were telling the truth or that they were liars. Someone above said it best high school cant get here soon enough so he can get the praise he deserves for his hard work but the experience he could have playing with the a teams is something he deserved. Ballots should be availible for all to see, my money supports this league just like everyone else and what are we hiding that we cant see.
Allstars : 7/6/2009
This is a very delicate subject. Everyone of course thinks that their child is an allstar. Me I'm a grandma and of course I think my grandson has exceptional talent..But I will also admit that he is missing that killer drive, he has more god given talent than most kids could ever hope to obtain but he is 9. It's coming he has it, It's in his genes, he comes from a long line of athletes, his grandpap, his uncle, his cousins, all extreme Fort Cherry stand outs. But having said that my biggest gripe this year is he was on the championship Mustang team (undefeated in the playoffs) Not 1 of our 9 year olds qualified for the allstars, not 1? You would think our whole team of 10 year olds were the stand outs then...No just 3 - 10 year old allstars, 0 - 9 year olds?? Just don't understand it? He'll play on the "B" team and he's a good sport. He doesn't throw temper fits and cry and we're not invited to the week-end Bar-B-Ques. And what we keep telling him is once you get to high school and the coaches are paid to put win IT WILL ALL CHANGE!
Sour grapes : 7/6/2009
The poster used a bogus name. There was no Becky Simpson who was a parent in WYB this season - unless somebody used their maiden name. To attack kids and not use your real name is childish and wrong. In fact, to attack kids, period, is wrong and gutless. Who are these supposed great players who were going to make this team better and are better than half the players on the team? If the players were so good, why didn't the manager - who doesn't have a kid on the team - add them? Sour grapes. Your kid wasn't good enough. Get over it.
voting process : 7/6/2009
I feel the parents need to unite and find a better selection process, our money sponsers these teams. Demand a public vote, put the kids first. There are deserving kids on these teams they are being insulted too.
All stars : 7/7/2009
How sad it is for the 2009 All star team to read and hear all of the complaining and whining over whether they deserve to be on a team that many have worked hard to be picked to play on. To say that many or all are not worthy is horrible. Do we believe that putting a letter or article in the newspaper will not be seen by them? We are supposed to be their role models, not the ones who bash them or put them down for making the team. Come on parents & players who's feelings are hurt support you home team! This is, and always should be about the kids not about egos. Let's go 2009 Pony World Series Team! Keep your heads up and play ball!!
All Stars : 7/7/2009
Did anyone ever consider having try-outs for All-Stars? It's really simple - have younger or older level coaches/managers be the judges and have all the boys that are interested (who played the season) come for an open try-out and let the committee pick from there. Girls softball travel teams are picked that way all the time.
Pitiful display : 7/7/2009
Original writer--your display is no better than that which you criticize. We are to believe that you know better who should be on the team simply because you wrote a letter to the editor? Nearly every World Series manager thinks he is the one who will break the drought. Every parent of every kid that doesn't make the team thinks their kid if the next Beans Voytek or Reggie Bolden. If this is the worst setback your little "Johnnie" suffers, it'll be a wonderful life.
Not competitive? : 7/7/2009
The 2009 Washington team may not be competitive in the World Series. Or, like their 2006 older brethren, they may surprise everyone and advance to the Division Finals...as did the 2001 team. No Washington team has won the World Series since 1955.
All Stars : 7/7/2009
The 2009 World Series team played last night in Washington in front of a large crowd. Anyone watching the game would have had a hard time suggesting that the kids playing did not deserve to be there. How sad it is that disgruntled adults can be so mean spirited! While it may be true that some talent gets left out, no one can take away from the fact that these kids are deserving of their spots on the team. To the team, good luck boys, you need no one to defend you. Keep playing baseball the way you do and your critics will be eating their words!!!
Observer response : 7/7/2009
So funny how quick we are to say that there is no Simpson child to play in baseball, wonder y someone wouldnt use their last name or anything of the sort. Then their child would be penalized forever too. The point to the letter wasnt to attack this years Pony team but the process period from ages 7 and up. The process sucks, its not fair and those getting upset are probably the parents of the children who have rode the coattails of daddy the coach or daddys friend. The parents of the children who truely deserve to be there dont care because they dont see their children as being attacked. Its funny we worry about the kids reading this in the paper but we arent worried about all the children sitting at home upset when they didnt get what they deserved. We dont worry about the kids that are getting taunted by the other kids who "made" it. No one worries about the kids until it directly affects their own. Now its about the kids, funny someone who doesnt use their name to protect their child is attacked what I find cowardice is the fact that the votes arent public and they dont have to be shown. That is cowardice make your picks and stand by them show everyone if you voted for the most deserving kids there should be nothing to hide. The attack wasnt specifically on this years PONY team but on the process and the entire WYB leaugue. Everyone shouldnt have a problem demanding the votes been shown immediately to the public. Whether your child deserves to be there or not, allowing the votes to be public alleviates the doubt of everything and if we are picking the most qualified deserving teams no one should have a problem with their votes being shown and availible. I dont care if my child ever makes an all star team just put 13-15 kids on the team that are better, point blank. Everyone keeps talking about the kids but this is never about the kids or this process would have changed a long time ago.
2009 PONY ALLSTARS : 7/7/2009
Those who did come out to see the game last night saw what these young men can accomplish, 19-5 not a bad game. This team was put together in basically a week with a "new coach" to alot of them. Congrats to them the way they played in the Beast of the East and Good Luck in the Washington Tournament where all the fans can see what true ALLSTARS look like. Those who are complaining about their kid not making it should reflect on why they would just assume their kid would make the team and not blame the coaches. Those of us this season watched these kids play and they all belong on this team. Good Luck Tim, Tanner, Eric, Mickey and all of you deserving young men.
Accountability : 7/7/2009
The votes will never be made public. That would mean that someone would be held accountable for who they voted for.
re: sour grapes : 7/7/2009
I think the "observer" comment comes from an "observer" who doesn't have the guts to post his real name on the comment
RESEARCH : 7/7/2009
The people who think this team isnt competitive or think the wrong kids are on the team, must not know anything about baseball. There are possibly 2 kids that you could make an arguement for, that didnt make the team, but only 15 spots are available. Bad teams do not go to the BEAST OF THE EAST and win every game. GO WASHINGTON. Good luck Tim.
Seen enough : 7/8/2009
I've seen enough of this stuff, having been involved with youth athletics in this area for more than a decade. Are there kids who don't make the all-star team who deserve it? Certainly. But there are only so many spots. And sometimes, kids don't make it not based on their ability, but instead of how they act on the field. I've been involved in the process in WYB for several years now and I'll talk to anybody about how I voted - if they have the guts to come up to me and ask. I also have the guts to put my name on this post - unlike some others who don't.
