"What to do?" -- Very long

[GH2001]

Thank goodness I'm not the father.

Should have known. You did refer to him as a "bastard".

[bird35]

Should have known. You did refer to him as a "bastard".

As someone who coached high school for over 10 years let me tell you daddy ball sucks.  There is no getting around it.  You either have to spend a lot of time and effort kissing the right butt and make service to the ball park you life's mission or your kid is going to get screwed.

  I have seen a situation where 6 really good basketball players did not make a 8th grade team because the coach did not want anyone on the team better than his kid.   I coached those kids as freshman where they skipped the freshman team completely and went straight to JV.  We ended up 18-3 for the season.   

[Tarheel]

...
What would you do?

I would have started by posting this question in the Baseball Forum.

j/k

This "board" you speak of is not going to do a damn thing until you and as many other parents as you can get to join your cause get in their faces so-to-speak in a public (and NON-violent) manner.  As GarMan suggested I'd have some fun with it...embarrass and shame the hell out of them.

[Token]

The wonderful thing about football, at least around here, is each team in our league has certain schools it can pull from.  Which means you play with what you get. 

I have no problem with that concept.  I have no problem with a draft.  I have no problem with travel ball.  I do have a problem with board members fixing the division to ensure that their kids make the post season tournament.  8 teams in the division, 4 travel ball and 4 draft teams.  Guess how many teams will make the tournament?  If you guessed 4, you are correct.  Guess who gets to select the all-star teams?  If you guessed the head coaches of the teams who made the post season tournament, you are correct.  The 4 travel ball teams play each other once.  They play the draft teams 3 times each.  So guess which 4 teams are going to make the tournament. 

This is the most pathetic display of sportsmanship that I've ever witnessed.    But honestly, what pisses me off the most?  I see stories like the kid in Arkansas who isn't allowed to touch the football after his team is up by 21 and I think it's complete bullshit.  In our football league, we aren't allowed to have 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team.  It has to be Red defense, white defense, or gold defense.  I can't stand how sensitive society is when it comes to losing.  And I know if I get knee deep in someone's ass over this bullshit, that's what I'm going to be labeled as, even though it's not close to being the same.  But how can I go watch 7 and 8 year old kids get the daylights beat out of them, to the point that they are crying and don't want to play anymore, and not say something about this injustice?  Especially when the opposing coach is purposely using his base runners to frustrate the other kids?  If it's 10-9 in a tight game and they need a run to win, by all means, play to win.  But up by 20 fucking runs?  Bush league bullshit. 

[Token]

I would have started by posting this question in the Baseball Forum.

I know you're joking, but this is the most politically motivated sports league that I've ever been a part of.  Couldn't help but feel it belongs here.  Plus I figured half of the responses would be calling me a sensitive pussy who can't handle watching his kid's team get beat by 80 runs, which I figured would spark another debate of alpha vs beta males. 

[Tarheel]

I know you're joking, but this is the most politically motivated sports league that I've ever been a part of.  Couldn't help but feel it belongs here.  Plus I figured half of the responses would be calling me a sensitive pussy who can't handle watching his kid's team get beat by 80 runs, which I figured would spark another debate of alpha vs beta males.

Well, you are being a bit of a beta (kidding...); seriously these folk are not going to give you the time of day unless you make them 'feel' some heat.  And even then one voice is not enough.  If you are passionate about this get some of the parents together and confront these folk (again, in a NON-violent manner).  Keep in mind you are not going to make any influential friends with them but it could be a lot of amusement for you and, perhaps, a teachable moment for your kids.

"ILLIGITMI NON CARBORUNDUM"

Don't let the bastards grind you down.

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Then, one of their bigger players comes up and hits a line drive to the shortstop, who miraculously gets in front of the ball to knock it down.  The 3rd base coach sends a kid home and tells the kid (now) on 3rd to round the bag.  SS throws to the catcher.  Instead of the coach bringing the player back to 3rd, he encourages him to go half way in an attempt to get our 7 year old catcher to throw the ball back to 3rd.  And he does, but he makes a good throw, so the 3rd baseball throws it back to stop the run from coming home.  What does the coach do, tells the runner to run halfway again.  Catcher throws to 3rd base, throws it away, and the runner scores to make it 5 gazillion to 1. 

Next time tell the catcher or 3rd baseman to drill the runner right in the middle of the back.

[AWK]

Kill them all?

[GH2001]

Next time tell the catcher or 3rd baseman to drill the runner right in the middle of the back.

THIS^^^. If they wanna play hardball Token, then play hardball. It'll get their attention and they will get your drift.

[AUTiger1]

Next time tell the catcher or 3rd baseman to drill the runner right in the middle of the back.

^^This.

Seriously, what Tarheel is telling you is the way to go about this.  If no one else cares, find another league and join it.    I would still do what AU_Tiger_2000 is talking about, hell I might even have my catcher throw it at the other coaches nuts. 

[Saniflush]

Every once in awhile, hit the mascot with one of your pitches. It'll freak the hell out of the opposing batters.

[Snaggletiger]

Every once in awhile, hit the mascot with one of your pitches. It'll freak the hell out of the opposing batters.

In case no one has told you....your new avatar is just brilliant.

[Saniflush]

In case no one has told you....your new avatar is just brilliant.

I call her sparkles.

[Snaggletiger]

I call her sparkles.

It's art

[dallaswareagle]

Sometime better teams schedule weaker ones. We scheduled Utah State and beat the (no wait bad example.) We scheduled Florida Atlantic and really pounded (no another bad example)-We almost crushed Samford.

[ssgaufan]

Get out of the park and rec system.  The park system got really political where I am from, and they started stacking teams.  It is complete bullshit, and it is for the parents that live through their kids.  My son has lost intrest in baseball because of being on one of the teams like your kids are on.  I remember one game that we were the visitors, after we went three up and three down the other team batted for over 40 minutes.  That was complete bullshit.
I have now moved my daughter to a travel softball team, that she had to try out for.  These are girls from several different counties (I drive 35 minutes to practice) that all love the sport, and want to get better.  The level of competition is far better in travel leagues, and that helps your child get better.  I only know of one travel softball team that plays any park and rec teams, and that is because their coach can't stand to lose so he plays park ball until that season ends.  He beats the crap out of every park team he plays, then gets his ass spanked when he goes to a travel tournament.