I'm all for speeding up the game but this is BS

[georgiaduck]

I'd be curious what our? very own MLB scout says on this issue. Also no more shift in the game.

I like getting rid of the shift. More base runners, more ground ball hits. Puts the hit and run more back in play.

My brothers and I had the same high school baseball coach who's style was purely based on national league fundamentals. Get on base, move the runner over with a sacrifice and then bring them home with a ball up the middle. Combined we played in four state championship games (winning two). If I was hitting 7th with a man on first and less than two outs, I didn't need to look for the bunt signal- it was on auto pilot. No dicking around with my batting gloves, no adjusting my helmet after every pitch. Just get in the box and be ready to hit. Our coach didn't have time for the delay crap, he wanted to back to the dugout for a smoke.

Our only shift was corners even with the bags and up the middle at double play depth with runners on first and third.

The smell of fresh cut grass still takes me back to Eugene in the early 80's.

 

[DerekJohnson]

Great board choice as always.

@chuck
@Fishpo31

 

[RoadTrip]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

 

[Fishpo31]

I'd be curious what our? very own MLB scout says on this issue. Also no more shift in the game.

The little I’ve seen has varied from interesting to disturbing. The disturbing part is that were I still working, there would be more time to drink postgame…as for no shift, I like it.

It’s going to be different, that’s for sure…

 

[WestlinnDuck]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Our local grade school where I grew up was like a perpetual version of Sandlot. Actually playing baseball is a lot of fun. We would play workup and players would come an go throughout the day. Baseball diamond busy, outdoor basketball hoops silent. Workup game at grade school for recess when school started and then start up again in May when the weather got better. Kids brought their gloves to school. Today, a bunch of fifth graders playing unsupervised at the grade school would bring some CSD visits. I would take my four year old brother and turn him loose on the playground equipment while I played baseball.

 

[SFGbob]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

 

[SFGbob]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Our local grade school where I grew up was like a perpetual version of Sandlot. Actually playing baseball is a lot of fun. We would play workup and players would come an go throughout the day. Baseball diamond busy, outdoor basketball hoops silent. Workup game at grade school for recess when school started and then start up again in May when the weather got better. Kids brought their gloves to school. Today, a bunch of fifth graders playing unsupervised at the grade school would bring some CSD visits. I would take my four year old brother and turn him loose on the playground equipment while I played baseball.

I recall going to the neighborhood park when I lived in Seattle and playing pickup baseball. You know that doesn't happen today. If you didn't have enough players you got rid of 3rd base and made the field the area from 1st to 2nd base. You could play with 5 or 6 guys that way.

 

[georgiaduck]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

 

[WestlinnDuck]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

We weren't paying tens of thousands but both our kids played high school basketball and my daughter played high school softball. AAU basketball in the offseason and ASA softball in the summer. Travel was generally restricted to Oregon and Washington with trips to LA for Christmas vacation basketball for the son's high school team and for one summer trip to Hawaii for my daughter's team and one trip to Tahoe. These were generally trips we would have made anyway. I agree with Georgia that it was definitely worth it for the kids' social and team building skills and for the friendships we made with the other parents. It's not for everyone, your kids have to want to play, not forced to play and you have to love watching your kids play. I worked with people whose worst nightmare would have been a weekend at the ball field or gym with their kids. Take away time from golf and Saturday night parties while the kids stayed at home.

 

[Bob_C]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

We weren't paying tens of thousands but both our kids played high school basketball and my daughter played high school softball. AAU basketball in the offseason and ASA softball in the summer. Travel was generally restricted to Oregon and Washington with trips to LA for Christmas vacation basketball for the son's high school team and for one summer trip to Hawaii for my daughter's team and one trip to Tahoe. These were generally trips we would have made anyway. I agree with Georgia that it was definitely worth it for the kids' social and team building skills and for the friendships we made with the other parents. It's not for everyone, your kids have to want to play, not forced to play and you have to love watching your kids play. I worked with people whose worst nightmare would have been a weekend at the ball field or gym with their kids. Take away time from golf and Saturday night parties while the kids stayed at home.

Went to my nephew's baseball game last weekend, my big takeaway is that I'm getting some sort of comfy chair to bring when my kids get old enough for this stuff. Sitting on those metal bleachers sucks.

 

[WestlinnDuck]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

We weren't paying tens of thousands but both our kids played high school basketball and my daughter played high school softball. AAU basketball in the offseason and ASA softball in the summer. Travel was generally restricted to Oregon and Washington with trips to LA for Christmas vacation basketball for the son's high school team and for one summer trip to Hawaii for my daughter's team and one trip to Tahoe. These were generally trips we would have made anyway. I agree with Georgia that it was definitely worth it for the kids' social and team building skills and for the friendships we made with the other parents. It's not for everyone, your kids have to want to play, not forced to play and you have to love watching your kids play. I worked with people whose worst nightmare would have been a weekend at the ball field or gym with their kids. Take away time from golf and Saturday night parties while the kids stayed at home.

Went to my nephew's baseball game last weekend, my big takeaway is that I'm getting some sort of comfy chair to bring when my kids get old enough for this stuff. Sitting on those metal bleachers sucks.

Get one of these with the two cup holders. Pretty comfy.

 

[SFGbob]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

We weren't paying tens of thousands but both our kids played high school basketball and my daughter played high school softball. AAU basketball in the offseason and ASA softball in the summer. Travel was generally restricted to Oregon and Washington with trips to LA for Christmas vacation basketball for the son's high school team and for one summer trip to Hawaii for my daughter's team and one trip to Tahoe. These were generally trips we would have made anyway. I agree with Georgia that it was definitely worth it for the kids' social and team building skills and for the friendships we made with the other parents. It's not for everyone, your kids have to want to play, not forced to play and you have to love watching your kids play. I worked with people whose worst nightmare would have been a weekend at the ball field or gym with their kids. Take away time from golf and Saturday night parties while the kids stayed at home.

Went to my nephew's baseball game last weekend, my big takeaway is that I'm getting some sort of comfy chair to bring when my kids get old enough for this stuff. Sitting on those metal bleachers sucks.

A good chair, a cooler and in the summer something to block the sun and you're good to go. A well stocked cooler is a must

 

[georgiaduck]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

We weren't paying tens of thousands but both our kids played high school basketball and my daughter played high school softball. AAU basketball in the offseason and ASA softball in the summer. Travel was generally restricted to Oregon and Washington with trips to LA for Christmas vacation basketball for the son's high school team and for one summer trip to Hawaii for my daughter's team and one trip to Tahoe. These were generally trips we would have made anyway. I agree with Georgia that it was definitely worth it for the kids' social and team building skills and for the friendships we made with the other parents. It's not for everyone, your kids have to want to play, not forced to play and you have to love watching your kids play. I worked with people whose worst nightmare would have been a weekend at the ball field or gym with their kids. Take away time from golf and Saturday night parties while the kids stayed at home.

A dad and I were talking on the sideline before a game when a third dad walked up and said he'd much rather be out riding his bike instead being at the game. My buddy look at him without changing his expression and asked why he ever decided to become a father.

Parents give up a lot of weekends- but the girls missed out on homecoming, football games, bday parties etc. But it also taught them how to focus and time manage. Of the 14 seniors on the team all of them went to their first pick of colleges Inc Vandy, Georgia Tech, Georgia, UCSB, LSU.

My daughter plays D1 now- we just spent the weekend watching her Spring exhibition game up in North Carolina (12 hour drive round trip). I always tell her watching her play is still my favorite thing to do.

 

[PurpleThrobber]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

Pics of the soccer MILFs banged or STFU.

#roadtrips

 

[Fire_Marshall_Bill]

Spring training tickets behind home plate can run over $70 in Peoria. We are talking exhibition beisbol, most of it either split squad and or minus the WBC players. I don't know who buys these tickets. Even if you're just there with the ball breaker it's $200 including gas, parking, some booze, and some comida.

 

[TurdBomber]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

We weren't paying tens of thousands but both our kids played high school basketball and my daughter played high school softball. AAU basketball in the offseason and ASA softball in the summer. Travel was generally restricted to Oregon and Washington with trips to LA for Christmas vacation basketball for the son's high school team and for one summer trip to Hawaii for my daughter's team and one trip to Tahoe. These were generally trips we would have made anyway. I agree with Georgia that it was definitely worth it for the kids' social and team building skills and for the friendships we made with the other parents. It's not for everyone, your kids have to want to play, not forced to play and you have to love watching your kids play. I worked with people whose worst nightmare would have been a weekend at the ball field or gym with their kids. Take away time from golf and Saturday night parties while the kids stayed at home.

Went to my nephew's baseball game last weekend, my big takeaway is that I'm getting some sort of comfy chair to bring when my kids get old enough for this stuff. Sitting on those metal bleachers sucks.

Never sat during my kids games of any type. Can't sit still. Had to stand or walk around to release any pressure and enjoy the game.

 

[RaceBannon]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

We weren't paying tens of thousands but both our kids played high school basketball and my daughter played high school softball. AAU basketball in the offseason and ASA softball in the summer. Travel was generally restricted to Oregon and Washington with trips to LA for Christmas vacation basketball for the son's high school team and for one summer trip to Hawaii for my daughter's team and one trip to Tahoe. These were generally trips we would have made anyway. I agree with Georgia that it was definitely worth it for the kids' social and team building skills and for the friendships we made with the other parents. It's not for everyone, your kids have to want to play, not forced to play and you have to love watching your kids play. I worked with people whose worst nightmare would have been a weekend at the ball field or gym with their kids. Take away time from golf and Saturday night parties while the kids stayed at home.

Went to my nephew's baseball game last weekend, my big takeaway is that I'm getting some sort of comfy chair to bring when my kids get old enough for this stuff. Sitting on those metal bleachers sucks.

Never sat during my kids games of any type. Can't sit still. Had to stand or walk around to release any pressure and enjoy the game.

My brother and I sat at the top of the bleachers when my son started at Rainier Beach basketball.

Had to do it. The students around us were entertained

I was Bobby Knight only worse on the officials

 

[TurdBomber]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

We weren't paying tens of thousands but both our kids played high school basketball and my daughter played high school softball. AAU basketball in the offseason and ASA softball in the summer. Travel was generally restricted to Oregon and Washington with trips to LA for Christmas vacation basketball for the son's high school team and for one summer trip to Hawaii for my daughter's team and one trip to Tahoe. These were generally trips we would have made anyway. I agree with Georgia that it was definitely worth it for the kids' social and team building skills and for the friendships we made with the other parents. It's not for everyone, your kids have to want to play, not forced to play and you have to love watching your kids play. I worked with people whose worst nightmare would have been a weekend at the ball field or gym with their kids. Take away time from golf and Saturday night parties while the kids stayed at home.

Went to my nephew's baseball game last weekend, my big takeaway is that I'm getting some sort of comfy chair to bring when my kids get old enough for this stuff. Sitting on those metal bleachers sucks.

Never sat during my kids games of any type. Can't sit still. Had to stand or walk around to release any pressure and enjoy the game.

My brother and I sat at the top of the bleachers when my son started at Rainier Beach basketball.

Had to do it. The students around us were entertained

I was Bobby Knight only worse on the officials

I found many parents, moms especially, cannot take any criticism of their babies at all. Hence, I distanced myself from the hens who clucked cheers like "get up in there" or "go to it" or "nice try." Kreist. "Get me the fuck outta here, fast!!"

 

[SFGbob]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

We weren't paying tens of thousands but both our kids played high school basketball and my daughter played high school softball. AAU basketball in the offseason and ASA softball in the summer. Travel was generally restricted to Oregon and Washington with trips to LA for Christmas vacation basketball for the son's high school team and for one summer trip to Hawaii for my daughter's team and one trip to Tahoe. These were generally trips we would have made anyway. I agree with Georgia that it was definitely worth it for the kids' social and team building skills and for the friendships we made with the other parents. It's not for everyone, your kids have to want to play, not forced to play and you have to love watching your kids play. I worked with people whose worst nightmare would have been a weekend at the ball field or gym with their kids. Take away time from golf and Saturday night parties while the kids stayed at home.

Went to my nephew's baseball game last weekend, my big takeaway is that I'm getting some sort of comfy chair to bring when my kids get old enough for this stuff. Sitting on those metal bleachers sucks.

Never sat during my kids games of any type. Can't sit still. Had to stand or walk around to release any pressure and enjoy the game.

My brother and I sat at the top of the bleachers when my son started at Rainier Beach basketball.

Had to do it. The students around us were entertained

I was Bobby Knight only worse on the officials

We always set up shop in the outfield down one of the lines away from any of the mothers, umps and coaches for that very reason.

 

[georgiaduck]

The problem with baseball is that it requires organization, numbers, and equipment to build interest with the youths.

Most prefer to just grab a ball, pretend a crack on the wall is a hoop, and play.

Actually, parents have gone insane with all travel sports. Organizations are making millions of dollars alluring parents to spend tens of thousands a year having their kid play travel baseball, basketball, football, softball and volleyball; because everyone believes they will get a college scholarship and then go pro. It's insane and I've been smack dab in the middle of it. We've lost our? fucking minds.

Embarrassed to say I did travel baseball with my oldest. Travelling to AZ and Texas and SoCal to play in tournaments when you could find all the competitive baseball and talented opposition you wanted within 100 miles of where I live. I have to admit, regret all the money I spent on it but I did get great enjoyment out of watching him play, made some good friends with some of the other kids dads. It helps a lot if your kid is good and he plays. Some of these guys would spend all that money on it and their kid was a pitcher only or didn't play that much. I'm sure they really regret it.

We did soccer for our daughter- I can't count how much we spent but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Being an only child, this was her group of sisters and friends she'll have for a lifetime. For the wife and me- it was a group of friends that we still have today even after our girls have gone to college.

We weren't paying tens of thousands but both our kids played high school basketball and my daughter played high school softball. AAU basketball in the offseason and ASA softball in the summer. Travel was generally restricted to Oregon and Washington with trips to LA for Christmas vacation basketball for the son's high school team and for one summer trip to Hawaii for my daughter's team and one trip to Tahoe. These were generally trips we would have made anyway. I agree with Georgia that it was definitely worth it for the kids' social and team building skills and for the friendships we made with the other parents. It's not for everyone, your kids have to want to play, not forced to play and you have to love watching your kids play. I worked with people whose worst nightmare would have been a weekend at the ball field or gym with their kids. Take away time from golf and Saturday night parties while the kids stayed at home.

Went to my nephew's baseball game last weekend, my big takeaway is that I'm getting some sort of comfy chair to bring when my kids get old enough for this stuff. Sitting on those metal bleachers sucks.

Never sat during my kids games of any type. Can't sit still. Had to stand or walk around to release any pressure and enjoy the game.

My brother and I sat at the top of the bleachers when my son started at Rainier Beach basketball.

Had to do it. The students around us were entertained

I was Bobby Knight only worse on the officials

We always set up shop in the outfield down one of the lines away from any of the mothers, umps and coaches for that very reason.

Being a goalie's dad has been the biggest blessing/curse of my lifetime. Always sat away from the rest of the crew with usually the same two or three dads who wanted to get away from sideline coaches.