Little League Elbow.

It amazes me that more can't be done in limiting the amount of curve balls young men throw in Little League All-Star Competition! Basically, if you can throw curve balls for strikes, you have a ticket to go far in All-Star competition. However, you also guarantee yourself limited velocity in the future and first hand knowledge of who Tommy John was and why his surgery has become so prevalent.

Did you know Rick Knapp, pitching coach of the Detroit Tigers, does not even let his pitchers throw curves for three weeks once they report to camp in February? And that all great pitching coaches will tell you it is better to learn how to "spot up" your fastball and throw a change-up for strikes before learning Uncle Charley and his deceptive ways. But time and time again, as I watch the Little League World Series, I see one young man after another in the process of ruining their arms.

The rule used to be "don't throw a curve until you are a teenager." I think the rule should actually be "don't throw a curve until you can shave." (the reason I say that is I've seen teenagers who don't need to shave!!! I should know, I used to look at one in the mirror!) Ultimately, if you wait until you can shave, you are more advanced physically and you are further along in your development as a young man (puberty) and can handle the workload a curveball demands of your arm.

Dr. Andrews addressed the major problems with pitch counts in Little League back in 2007. (the whole presentation can be found at www.littleleague.org/learnmore/rules.) And now that Little League has learned to abide by those rules, I recommend Dr. Andrews take it one step further and limited the number of curves a young man below the Little League Age Limit can throw! In my opinion, deciding quality rather than quantity should be without a doubt, the next step in youth pitching development!

Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, and Williamsport.

Tomorrow, the Dog Days of Summer become a little brighter with the start of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. Fathers and Sons alike look forward to the yearly event where a group of children are crowned World Champions and memories are made for a lifetime.

My wife has such a hard time with the little ones crying when they lose...I'll let you in on a little secret...I cried too when my team lost it's final All-Star game...It's hard to let go...That's part of growing up and part of the magic of the years you get to play Little League Baseball...Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and Williamsport.

I would like to congratulate each and every team on making the 16 team field (including our own sister city representative, Warner Robins American). Best of luck to all in Williamsport. A very special place deserving of a World Championship!

International Baseball Holds It's Breath!

Tomorrow is a very big day for International Baseball. In Berlin, Germany, the IOC Executive Committee will announce which two of seven sports (which also includes Golf, Karate, Roller Sports, Softball, Squash, Rugby) will be put forward for a vote for inclusion for the 2016 Olympics. That vote will then later take place in Copenhagen, Denmark (Charlotte's hometown!) in October, but all indications are that the two sports put forward tomorrow will be the only ones considered for 2016.

Sounds great, right??? Wrong. First of all, Tiger Woods has promised to play in the '16 Olympics if Golf is included. This is like having Frank Sinatra promise to sing at your wedding even though he is dead!!! Translation: Star Power. In other words, a done deal.

Golf also has another very important benefit of great value to the IOC Executive Committee. It is a sport also played by women, and Gender Equality is extremely important to the IOC. (Let me explain...The IOC Executive Committee is mostly made up of Europeans and politically correct inclusion takes on a whole new meaning if your country flies under the banner of the blue and gold circular stars...

And for that reason and that reason alone, I look for Karate to gain the other recommendation. Men and women practice Karate alike, over 10 million people in the world participate in the sport, and it almost achieved Olympic Status in the most recent vote held in 2005.

Side note of interest that all fans should know: Softball chose to petition the Committee alone, shunning the International Baseball Federation for a joint bid. It seems they felt a joint petition would have made them appear to closely aligned with Baseball, and the United States. In response, the International Baseball Federation announced it would include Women's Baseball in their bid (something that really hasn't been done since WWII and immortalized in the film starring Tom Hanks, Rosie, and Madonna, "A League of Their Own". And that's sad really. I think this decision alone will cost both Baseball and Softball ultimately. The IOC Executive Committee are no doubt, Shakespeare fans, and as we all know, a house divided against itself can not stand.

The Passing of the Guard.

2009 has been hard on died-in-the-wool Braves fans. First, the travesty of not resigning John Smoltz, to the releasing Tom Glavine and now, watching from afar as John Smoltz is designated for assignment in Boston (aka, released). Two of the most amazing hurlers in history, who are still trying to show they can pitch on the Major League level because their competitive spirit tells them they can but their arm shows them they can't, are riding off into the sunset to join yet another former Brave, Greg Maddux, to eventually also have their number retired and their day in the sun in Cooperstown.

It's really sad to realize, but at some point in time in every young man's life who plays the great game of baseball, eventually they come and take the ball away. In other words, it's time for someone else. For many, it's after High School. For others, College. For myself, after struggling for years in the minors. But it will eventually happen to everyone. From Babe Ruth to Barry Bonds, and now, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Calendars continue to turn and fresh arms and legs replace (in this case) legends.

It has been a joy to watch those two work over the years, and I feel lucky to have seen them in their prime. Dane (my 5 year old son) even got a chance to meet Tom Glavine last year in the Braves dugout during Pre-game one Saturday afternoon, and Tom was such a great guy to Dane and treated my son wonderfully. And for me, that's the memory I'll always carry with me of Tom Glavine. Not his World Series Winning effort in Game Six of '95 (although I could never forget that), but the way he made my son smile hanging around with him on the bench. Now if Dane and I could only be so lucky as to meet John Smoltz in the future as well. From what I hear, he's just as much a Hall of Famer off the field than he is on! Congrats John and Tom, on a terrific career, and thanks again for the memories!

Brandon Inge's All Star Appearance.

Watching the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby over the past two nights, I couldn't help but think back to when I had the chance to meet Brandon Inge this past February at Spring Training. He was sitting next to Matt Treanor getting dressed for a day at the park, when Matt introduced us and showed him my hitting aid. Jim Leyland, (the skipper), then came over to me and said, "Hey, did you invent this thing?" And after gulping, I said, "Yes sir." He then looked at me and said something I'll never forget. He looked over the lockerroom and said, "Hey guys, this thing is awesome! One of the best things I've seen in years. You all need to hit with it." And then he turned to Brandon and said, "Hey Brandon, you need to hit with this thing. It will help you." And Brandon looked up and replied, "Sure, skip." and the rest is history.

The Detroit Tigers later ordered seven Pitcher's Nightmare Swing Trainers from me and instantly became my favorite American League team (sorry guys, the Braves will always be my favorite team overall, but you guys definitely rule in the A.L.) and Brandon became one of my favorite players. Check out this great story on him from his Home Town newspaper, the News and Advance, http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/lynchburg_buzzes_over_brookvilles_all-star_inge/17660/.

And here's hoping he keeps tearing 'em up in the Second Half!!!

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Chris Coste.

The other day as I was eating breakfast, I happened to notice Chris Coste was picked up on waivers by the Houston Astros, or in other words, was no longer a Philadelphia Philly. (Old habits die hard. Ballplayers always check the transactions as you eat breakfast, because you never knew when your own name was going to be in there!)

I had the pleasure of meeting Chris this past Spring Training. The perennial back-up Catcher, who after spending 11+ years in the minors finally got the call up to the Bigs back in 2006, is an inspiration to all who never, ever give up! In fact, he wrote a book about his exploits, "The 33-Year-Old Rookie", which is available through Amazon.com, or through his website, http://www.chriscoste.com/.

Undrafted out of college, Chris began his minor league career in Independent ball, in a league that folded before even completing one season! After that, he kicked around for four more years in Indy ball, before finally signing a minor-league deal with the Cleveland Indians in 2000, and making it to the Bigs with the Phillies in 2006.

When I met Chris, I asked him, "why didn't you give up?" Was I asking this rhetorically? Probably...Because I remember the struggles of being a back-up catcher...Of watching the other guy play while catching bullpens...Of batting once in a while and catching Day games after Night games, so the other guy could rest...

And his answer was simple. "Chance, I never had a Plan B." Amen, brother. "Burn the boats. That way, you can never go back!"

Best wishes to you, Chris Coste. Here's hoping this unusual twist of events in life which have now made you a Houston Astro turn out to be a wonderful blessing. You deserve it.