"Your team is too good". "No one wants to play the Diamondbacks". "Oh, we know all about your team". "It's not right that their players can throw out a runner from the outfield". "But they make double plays!". "Well, we have mostly 1st graders on our team". "They hit too well". "It's not fair". "They shouldn't be allowed to play together".
I've tried to let the season-long comments roll off my back. Sure, the moms might gather briefly and blow off steam talking about it, but we put smiles on our faces in front of our players and get ready for the next game.
But you know what? I'm mad. Really disappointed. And sad.
Why is it OK for these parents to talk this way about a bunch of kids who work hard, play fair, and win? We always play by the rules, our coaching staff makes sure each player gets a chance at every position, and as a group we support the league in all of it's efforts.
We practice several times a week as a team ... throwing drills, batting practice, and outfield work for two hours or more. When it's cold we bundle up and practice. When it's raining, we chip in and rent a batting cage. When it's misty or muggy or muddy, we don't complain - we practice. And each of these kids practice a good amount at home; some also participate in clinics or Fall Ball. They work hard to be good ball players, and they are.
As current members of the Diamondbacks, we are very lucky that at some point in our time in Little League we were each placed on a team with Sean Moran, our head coach. For us, it was Owen's second year of t-ball on the White Sox. Our league bylaws allow parents to request a certain coach up to the Minor League level, and we have all done so. The majority of players on the 2015 Diamondback team have been together for three years now. I applaud the commissioners for upholding the rules and permitting that to happen (of course, they got complaints about it).
Bob and I chose to stay with Sean because he is an excellent coach and leader. He teaches baseball fundamentals and he teaches them well. In addition, he stresses healthy competition, sportsmanship and personal responsibility - all values we teach at home too. Plus he cares for our kids as individuals; he likes them, he encourages them. Sean expects a lot from his parents and his players, and though there have been times I've grumbled when I've heard his familiar call "parents, grab your gloves and line up" during practice, I appreciate it. He works hard to be a great coach, and he is. I'm forever grateful our paths crossed.
The parents of this team are also outstanding people that I genuinely like and respect. They support all the kids and the Diamondbacks one hundred percent. They show up for each and every practice, ready to help. They drill with their kids at home. They come to games - 45 minutes early so the kids can stretch and take batting practice - and cheer for every player. They applaud good plays by the opposing team and make sure their kids do the same. I'm so thankful I've become friends with all of them and I'll cherish that always.
I was thinking of all these things last night as I tried to sleep, upset that I was allowing other parent's negative words to crowd out the happiness of another solid Diamondback win. So, here's what I'd like to say to the five mothers and fathers who wrote some of the above comments to the league commission after our game last Saturday; and to the many others who have been complaining about us from the beginning of the season:
Do you realize how hard our kids work? Have you even considered that? Hours of hitting, fielding and throwing. Our coaches teach game situations every single practice; so yes, we are going to catch pop-ups and make double plays, and throw your runners out at second and home.
Next time you want to whine about the Diamondbacks, ask yourself if you take a glove to practice, if you've manned a hitting station for an hour, if you toss your kids pop-ups over and over. If your coaches seem overwhelmed or unorganized, try to help. Almost every dad on our team does.
Your team plays us twice a season. Yep, we will most likely beat you. We are that good. We work at it and our kids have earned every single win. And, by the way, last year, when we were also undefeated, our entire team was 1st graders, two of whom had to try-out for the commissioners because they were actually younger than the age usually allowed.
Instead of putting our kids down, why don't you lift your kids up? Rather than writing a nasty email, why don't you go outside and play catch with your kid? At the Instructional Level, every hitter should be able to make contact with a soft toss pitch. If your child can't - or doesn't even know which side of the plate to stand on - whose responsibility is that?
At Saturday's game, when our players give your team a "Good Game cheer" at the end (but never get one in return), or take a knee when someone is injured, or shout encouragement to their teammates, take a look at your dugout. Do you have team moms or other parents helping the kids with batting helmets? Keeping them focused on the game? Applauding for good plays on the field?
Most importantly, how about teaching your children that the way to succeed in baseball - and life - is to work hard. That sitting around saying things are unfair doesn't change anything, and makes you a loser in more ways than one. That even if you get knocked down, you get back up and try again. Those are the lessons that will last far beyond little league baseball and ones that I'm proud our kids are learning.
I'm a Diamondback Mom. And I'm proud of our players, our coaches, and our parents.
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