Too Good to Pitch? 9-Year-Old Is Barred From Playing

John,

A 40 mph pitch in the 9 year-old league is dangerous.  The problem is not so much getting hit, but where a child gets hit.  The problem is really not with the energy of impact but the fact that 9 year-olds do not have the reaction time to protect themselves.

This same situation occurred when my son was in the 9 year old league.  He ended up in the hospital undergoing emergency surgery being hit in the mouth.  He could not react quick enough to the inside fastball. 

The danger is related, I think, to the reaction time, not just the impact.

Having said that, I think the major problem is that none of the other teams can get a hit off the kid. 

I guess things have changed a lot since I was a kid (hold the age jokes). We played in the backyard, no helmets, but hardball nonetheless. Second base was the corner of the septic tank and third base was a cinder block. You had to be careful you didn't run into the garage on a fly to deep left. The left filed foul pole was one of the legs of the swing set. We had some guys who could really bring it. Somehow we all survived.

PS-- I also remember when breaking your arm falling off your friend's swingset was a badge of honor -- not a law suit.

Sorry, John.  I was overtaken by a fit of nostalgia and could not resist the lawyer joke. 

I started off my day reading Andy Stanley saying we needed to replace ourselves.

Then I listened to Bill Mybels say we would all be replaced.

Now you guys are calling each other old, yet you're very likely younger than I am.

You guys are almost depressing.

Ah, but then I recall having read someplace that experience and skill nearly always triumphs over youth and brawn. I guess there is a bright side to "growing mature".