Youth Baseball: Batting Gloves or No Batting Gloves

Your son is learning a real good lesson in what can make sports suck.

Also, in how your coaches will treat you if you are not one of the stars.

Nice to get that out of the way early and all.

 

At least he didn't say that your son needs to start peeing on his hands.

 

As far as batting gloves go, as someone who was a coach or an assistant for many years, my problem with them is that they are the most-often left behind item in the dugout.

Kids lose them all the time, and they aren't cheap. If my kid wasn't begging for one, I sure as hell wasn't going to buy one.

 

And to think I shook hands with him after an interview in spring training. Yeeeeeeech!

It's all about choice, but I think the majority of the MLB players would tell you, batting gloves are the way to go. Nobody wants to have their hands rubbed raw and I think it helps you keep a better grip on the handle on hot days when your hands are sweatier than someone wearing a rayon tracksuit in a sauna.

 

I played Little League in a colder weather environment. Having batting gloves was a must in those early spring games. Hell, it was encouraged by coaches.

 

I was just thinking that.

 

In California, after two years of T-ball, the coaches start pitching to the players at age 7, and that was the year we were encouraged to get them.

 

Mizzou, I updated your post to reflect current realities.

(Seriously, I ran past the field yesterday and they were having "All-Star tryouts" for our 5- and 6-year-olds for an "All-Star tournament" next month. The world's gone to hell.)

 

Moises Alou wonders what all the fuss is about.