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It's not Doug and it takes a terrible toll on these children's later life. Unfortunately we never hear of them once they grow up without having had the socialization of childhood and the bill comes due in broken lives, addictions and mental illness. We see the minute number of successful child athletes and entertainers who grow up to be successful adult athletes and entertainers. And Lord knows we certainly see the lack of socialization in these people; Brooke Shields and Tiger Woods are lonely examples of children able to rise above what had been taken from them.

I wish you would've made me practice 3 hours a day starting when I was 8. Maybe then I'd be working towards the MLB instead of the CPA.

Thanks, Brenda. Surely, these kids aren't going to irreparably harmed by their intense experience with baseball. I hope not. I'd be more afraid that they'll be sick of the sport by the time they reach high school. But some of them maybe could benefit by enjoying sports at a more relaxed and low-key tempo.

Don't make excuses, Kenny. You started much younger than that. A certain person who occasionally posts on this blog gave you a bat when you were born (thanks, Johann).

Boy, there's nothing like a torn labrum when you're eight to make you think baseball sucks.

This all started with soccer. I blame soccer for everything, including the War in Iraq. But it was as ridiculous when I was growing up as it is now. Find me a soccer player who is allowed to do anything else but soccer all year long, and I will show you a kid with ostracized parents. Indoor, spring, summer, fall, select teams, regional teams, tournaments, blah blah blah.

Just let them be kids, for crying out loud.

Of course, I am the guy who has often said that it would be good to tie my son's right arm to his waist so he'd learn to use his left. Left handed closers last forever in the major leagues, you know.

I can't help thinking that this way lies Tommy John surgery at age 11. And call me old-fashioned (I prefer "old school"), but I think that's a Bad Thing.

It sounds like these kids love baseball. They hang out with other kids that love baseball. I'm sure great friendships are forming and if they weren't spending these hours on the diamond what would they be doing all summer? Video games? TV?

Hopefully it's about the kids and when the kids are tired of it, they will find something else to do with their time.

(Unlike those parents that force their sons to take piano lessons for years!)

I loved baseball as much as any kid growing up, but I agree this is geting crazy. Our sports-crazed society leaves kids so hyped-up that unless they're on Ritalin or constantly "entertained" by computer games, they grouse and fidget. At least the sports keep them from getting rotund, I hope, as the majority of adults eventually become. But wouldn't it be great if once in a while some of these kids sat and read and book, made some art or learned some of that piano or other musical instrument, too? Some do it all, of course, but ask the teachers how hard it is getting to keep them from jumping out of their skins.

I know a number of educators have begun to cater to the active kids (especially neglected boys) by incorporating louder, messier assignments. That's good. As long as they learn to slow down and think things through, too.