Little League question

[Mr. X]

About to ask my editor if I should mention who committed errors in Little League regional coverage (a tournament where the winner receives a berth in the Little League World Series.)

What say you? Should there be different rules for the team from our coverage area and its opponents?

 

[Kayaugstin Kott]

I would identify them by position, but not name. That goes both ways, for both teams.

However, I could see mentioning a player making an error if in the same breath you're writing about them in a positive light: "Podunk Valley's Sam Jones dropped what would have been the final out in the sixth, though the left fielder redeemed himself by scoring the game-winning run in the next frame."
But even then I may try to find a way to write around it.

 

[PaperDoll]

I have been told over and over that there are no errors in Little League. The official scorekeeper at the sectional tournament this year scoffed. He handed out errors, so I did too. I didn't name any names, but "Hometown scored three runs on a poor throw" popped up.

The official scorers at regionals will call 'em as they see 'em -- and it'll be on ESPN too.

Avoid assessing blame if you can, and treat both your team and the opponent the same way.

 

[Ace]

About to ask my editor if I should mention who committed errors in Little League regional coverage (a tournament where the winner receives a berth in the Little League World Series.)

What say you? Should there be different rules for the team from our coverage area and its opponents?

In regionals, I would definitely name them if the official scorekeeper attributed them. Regionals are big time. Many games are on TV and these kids are All-Stars.

Two caveats:

1. I wouldn't feel obligated to put the error in the game story if it was not crucial. Just like I wouldn't put every hit in the game story. Wouldn't add names to a linescore if that is not typical style. But if you do a bigger pro style box, I would consider it.

2. If you do name who was charged with an error, make sure it's right. Hell hath no fury like a Little League mom calling to say you said her son made an error and it was the kid they subbed in to play third that inning.

 

[expendable]

"Johnny Nosepicker reached base on an error, and scored the winning run on a double by Timmy Pasteeater." You tell how the winning run reached and scored, and leave it at that.

 

[LongTimeListener]

"Johnny Nosepicker reached base on an error, and scored the winning run on a double by Timmy Pasteeater." You tell how the winning run reached and scored, and leave it at that.

Yep.

In regionals, I would definitely name them if the official scorekeeper attributed them. Regionals are big time. Many games are on TV and these kids are All-Stars.

Nope.

These kids are still 12 years old. They didn't exactly ask to be under this microscope.

 

[Ace]

Yep.



Nope.

These kids are still 12 years old. They didn't exactly ask to be under this microscope.

So they joined the All-Star team hoping they wouldn't have their games on ESPN and hoping they wouldn't get to Williamsport?

OK.

 

[LongTimeListener]

It's a little early to say "hey, get the glory, get the grief."

I'm sorry, that's just a dumb argument. If you don't see that 12-year-olds needed to be differently than professional athletes, there's not much further we can go.

 

[JC]

So they joined the All-Star team hoping they wouldn't have their games on ESPN and hoping they wouldn't get to Williamsport?

OK.

They are 12.

 

[Ace]

It's a little early to say "hey, get the glory, get the grief."

I'm sorry, that's just a dumb argument. If you don't see that 12-year-olds needed to be differently than professional athletes, there's not much further we can go.

You ever have a team go to the World Series? You cover them like they are the Yankees.

The regional tournament is what determines if they get there.

But you wouldn't mention who made an error?

Sorry. I can't agree.

Not saying you have to mention every error, but I would not tell someone to write around it.

 

[JimmyHoward33]

When possible I'd write around it, such as "on an overthrow" I try to leave them out entirely at the district level, once it gets to states, regionals and the world series I tend to mention them more if they're important to a big inning or the final score. I still stay away from directly saying Tommy Tuba bobbled it or anything like that.

 

[Ace]

Let's put it this wa. It's the regional final. Winner goes to the World Series. Score is tied in sixth inning and winning run scores on bad throw by third baseman, and he is charged with an error.

Do you name the third baseman? If not, do you talk to him? Quote him at all?

 

[JC]

It's creepy enough that these kids are being interviewed.

 

[Ace]

It's creep enough that these kids are being interviewed.

A Little League team playing in a regional is a much bigger deal for most communities than a varsity high school game. Bigger than a high school playoff game.

Not sure why or if it's fair but you go to the World Series and they're holding parades for you.

 

[JC]

I'm not saying you shouldn't do it but nothing you described makes it any less creepy to me.

Their not even teenagers yet, the coverage of these kids makes me cringe.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Yeah, Ace. I mean, they're barely out of diapers.

 

[SBR]

Errors are kind of a dumb stat to begin with. It's the only play in baseball (in sports, maybe) that happens because of a scorer's opinion that something else should've happened.

We've had several of our teams go to the LLWS and we almost always write around it.

Not sure why or if it's fair but you go to the World Series and they're holding parades for you.

They hold parades so that politicians can get their faces in the paper hugging Little Leaguers. That's not really a reason to justify treating 12-year-olds like professionals.

 

[Ace]

I don't have a problem writing around or ignoring the errors in many cases. I would just not handcuff myself or another writer.

If your local team loses and commits six errors, do you tiptoe around that? If your team wins 1-0 and the only run came off an error by the opposing pitcher who had struck out 15 kids and allowed no hits, do you ignore the error?

I feel if you are going to cover them and staff them, you have to do it for real. If the errors are a big part of the story, you have to deal with it.

 

[JohnHammond]

If you work for Ace, you're covering T-ball like your covering Watergate. If you don't like it, get the hell out of Ace's newsroom and don't even think you're a real journalist if you complain. In fact, get the hell out if you disagree.

Those snot-punk All Stars will get the same scrutiny as Big Ben in a bar or Tom Brady around an air pump.

 

[Ace]

If you work for Ace, you're covering T-ball like your covering Watergate. If you don't like it, get the hell out of Ace's newsroom and don't even think you're a real journalist if you complain. In fact, get the hell out if you disagree.

Those snot-punk All Stars will get the same scrutiny as Big Ben in a bar or Tom Brady around an air pump.

You're post is way off base, JH. I actually like journalists who complain.

Actually, I don't know any journalists who don't complain.