Danny Almonte sighting.

He should have thrown shutout ball. He was twice their age!!!

 

BYH -- He wasn't twice their age. He was 14; they were 12 (some were 11).

But I'll give you that there can be vast differences physically at that age thanks to puberty.
As I recall, there was another player on Almonte's team that was HUGE -- like, could have been a high school offensive lineman at 12. He had a grand slam in that game.

 

I was exaggerating. slightly.

But he was a complete man among boys. I remember watching those games going "There is no way he is 12. None." No 12-year-old a.) looks like that and b.) throws like that.

 

Nor do 12-year-old boys have facial hair.

 

Did he ever learn to speak English?

 

What the hell was Greg Oden doing at the LLWS?

Edit: Oh ... I thought DA looked like GO ... don't I feel like a dumbass now. I'll just go sit in the corner now.

 

Damn you Bubbler! I was going to say "Was he sighted at Shady Pines Retirement Home?"

 

You didn't do a day at Williamsport last summer? They sure do. And some come in 6-foot-8 packages ... and some go 6-3, 215 ...

I like the idea that Almonte's performance was impressive whether he was 14 or 12 that day. But pure street knowledge keeps me from believing it.

I never pitched in Little League; I had an average arm, but no command. Two years later when I was in Senior Division, the all-star coaches had me come in for a few practices as BP pitcher before the Little Leaguers' tournament. Not only could I overpower everyone, about five of them wound up on their butts as my curveball swept over the plate for a called strike.

That's the difference in two years.

 

In college then, my buddy and I played the Danny Almonte drinking game. Every time he throws a strike, you sip. When he strikes some one out swinging, you drink half a beer. When he strikes some one out looking, you finish your beer.

We were wasted. Quickly.