Stuff like this is what's wrong with this country.

[Scout26]

12 year old throws harder then any other kids.   Since he's "too good" he can't pitch.  Can't make the other kids feel bad when he fans them.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschool-prep-rally/mass-little-leaguer-banned-pitching-because-throws-too-152547911.html

[Sawdust]

He should never have been in the Minors. That divison is for 10-11 year olds (9 if you are a superstar)

I have spent many years as a Little League Coach (and player as a young-un) over multiple leagues, and I've never heard of a 12 year old being allowed to playi in the Minors (regardless of their lack of experience or ability). 

Sawdust

[roo_ster]

The reason for the ban is that technically Beebe is too old to pitch in the Minors division. Yet the Westfield League has traditionally let 12-year-olds continue to pitch regardless of age or size.

A year or two is a big deal at that age.

I got no problem not letting a 12YO pitch to 9-11YO kids, in a league/division geared toward 9-11YO kids.

[brimic]

A year or two is a big deal at that age.

I got no problem not letting a 12YO pitch to 9-11YO kids, in a league/division geared toward 9-11YO kids.

+1.

He should be playing in the next level up at his age where he would be average, at best.

[Perd Hapley]

He should never have been in the Minors. That divison is for 10-11 year olds (9 if you are a superstar)

Well, I'm sure he was 11 at some point. 

[41magsnub]

Sounds like that league needs to either follow their own rules and boot all the 12 year olds or let the kid pitch.  When they are inconsistent it leads to problems like this.

[drewtam]

It sounds like they were trying to be flexible and got bit for it. If a kid is not very good, sounds like they would let them continue playing in minors even at age 12. Since this one was too good, they are trying to push him up to where he should be.

[MechAg94]

The little league I recall from years ago was pretty strict.  Born before a certain date, you get into this level.  Born after and you stay in the lower level.  I don't recall this ever being a problem.  We had more problems with stuff like the umpire calling a game his kid was pitching in and idiot parents. 

I notice this kid is the coach's son.  They said he only just started playing baseball. 

[vaskidmark]

Isn't (wasn't) the idea behind organized sports like Little League/Pop Warner/whatever the kids hockey is called to match kids of roughly equal age and talent?  At least until the parents and the commercial sponsors got into it.

The kid's a year older than the rest of the players.  At this stage, a year means significant physical development.  Letting him play in the 11-12 year old division would be like bringing a Japanese pro baseball player into MLB - significantly outclassing everybody else.

What's wrong with this countryt is that there are too many people wanting special consideration.  The kid's dad says developmentally he was “a full five years behind the 12-year-olds in the majors” because he's been playing lacrosse instead of baseball for the last five years.  Dad wants a break because his kid has not got experience playing baseball like all the other kids have.  Little League is not like golf or bowling where you get a "handicap" score to even you up against more experienced, more talented players.

No sympathy from this corner.

stay safe.

[brimic]

The kid's dad says developmentally he was “a full five years behind the 12-year-olds in the majors” because he's been playing lacrosse instead of baseball for the last five years.  Dad wants a break because his kid has not got experience playing baseball like all the other kids have.

That right there is what rubs me the wrong way.
There is a pretty wide spectrum of athletic abilities, a kid who is good at soccer, football, or lacrosse should pick up the skills to be a good baseball player fairly quickly. Those that are mediocre at other sports will likely make a mediocre baseball player at best. It all has to do with genetics and how well tuned their nervous system is, the finer skills and conditioning come from hundreds thousands of hours of repetitions.