1st Game at Williamsport

It does look that way, but the camera angle for one really does foul perception. Pitches that look like they're at least 6" inside or low are really well in the zone. Another thing is, I don't know about when you played LL, but although I faced some pretty hard throwers, I don't remember ever seeing kids the size of some of these boys or who threw as hard.

The sheer size alone is intimidating! It might not be as intimidating to some kids as much as others, but seeing a kid bigger than your dad out on the mound and throwing much harder has to be tough for a 12 YO mind to deal with.

Don't laugh, but I really believe one reason so many of the hulking studs who dominate at 11 or 12 drop off the face of the earth when they get to the big field is that the smaller kids have grown more and the pitcher is farther away. Both things will reduce the intimidation factor. Of course that's only MHO based on a child psychologists word.

I think you're right about them being farther from the plate than what you might be used to, but if you're normally seeing kids throwing at 55-60 during the season, you might not be allowing for the fear factor that extra 10MPH brings with it.

I suspect that judging by what they've shown about some of these teams and the complexity and number of their signs, there are some coaches who are calling takes and swings more than you are used to seeing. But you and I are outside the fences folk and don't understand that today's game has to be that complicated.

I like your style! If you can get a good hack and get the bat head on the ball, SWING! Unfortunately, there are some who teach "zone" hitting" where the batter chooses a zone, and if the ball isn't in it, they don't swing. I can't say one is better than the other, but personally, I like seeing the kids hack!

So, my answer to your question is, I see the same things.