Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player too good, it turns out.
The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said.
Kids should not be punished for being too good at anything, much less little league baseball. What is the world coming to? When I was a kid and we played against a pitcher that threw hard, he was a good pitcher and we played the game knowing that. We didn't whine about it and go home. What is the point of playing any games at all if you are afraid of losing? What is the message being sent to the kids who forfeit? If you can't win don't try. This is ridiculous and wrong. Next time one of these parents achieves the level at their profession where they are considered the best salesman, CEO, electrician, plumber, waitress, complainer, whatever profession they have chosen; Instead of getting a pat on the back, raise, or a "good job" for the work they have done, tell them that since they are so good at it, then they can never do it again. That is apparently the "fair" option for everyone. They want to play sports, but do not want to compete. Why even use a ball or keep score (actually they probably don't do that anyway), just go out and pretend that everyone is the best, that way everybody wins and nobody's feelings get hurt. Nobody is any better or worse than anybody else at anything. Let the kid play, and if the other kids can't hit, then tell them to practice harder.
