Q. What if I have not seen a player in a game?
A. Get to a game before the selection meeting. If you can't, then listen to the input of your fellow Managers and weigh it accordingly. The objective of the meeting is to get all relevant facts and information and make the best-informed selections we can.
Q. Why doesn't Issaquah hold a try out?
A. The entire season is a try out and we prefer to view the player performance in real games against other top players as the best judge of their ability to compete at the highest levels. A tryout is one data point in time, much as the Skills Evaluation at the beginning of the season.
Q. Who gets to vote?
A. Only the Manager from each team gets to vote - however they cannot vote for any player on their own team. The selection meeting will hold open, honest and frank discussions - and thus must be a confidential setting in which to do this.
Q. Why aren't Coaches invited?
A. Little League rules recognize the one leader of a team - from the opening meeting with the Umpire - through the ability to question a call - as the Manager of the team. The smaller meeting also helps keep conversations confidential. Certainly, the Manager may consult with Coach(es) on their team for input prior to the meeting.
Q. Who gets to nominate players?
A. Each Manager at the meeting may nominate any eligible player. Managers may discuss "real" stats, player strengths and performance against other top players. After the nomination, discussion will ensue with other Managers adding their experience and knowledge about the player.
Q. Will Managers speak out against a player?
A. Managers may bring any relevant facts and data to the meeting - including the performances they've seen. If a manager supports a player's nomination they should speak up and provide information as such.
Q. Why do Manager and Coach children make All-Stars so frequently?
A. Many Manager and Coach kids make All-Stars. Certainly, many Manager and Coach kids as well as others receive high rankings in Skills Evaluation and were thus drafted early on as well. While everyone has biases, we strive to have the most open and honest discussion we can - and Managers cannot vote for their own child or any other player on their own team.
Q. Are Managers just picking players from Issaquah Baseball Club?
A. Issaquah Baseball Club (IBC) is a separate entity from Issaquah Little League. A number of the ILL Managers are also Managers, coaches, or are involved in other ways with IBC and should be focused on their play during ILL.
Q. Should I take into account what position a player fielded in regular season?
A. Many of the players who make the All-Star team will play in a different position on that team than they did in regular season. Specialty positions, like Catcher and Pitcher are certainly unique - and should be called out specifically. If a player was SS on their regular season team, they may well be in Outfield during All-Stars, where speed and ability to run down a long fly are critical.
Q. Why do Majors Managers get to select players to the 10 year old team?
A. Each season a few 10 year olds successfully "Play Up" to Majors and are drafted by a Majors team. While Coast Managers have not seen these players during the regular season, the Majors Managers have watched them play against older competition. Most of the time the Majors Managers have been long-time Little League managers or coaches and thus have seen Coast-level competition. We force a super-majority of the Majors Managers to affirm a player's selection to the 10 year old team. These players could also be selected to the 10/11 team made up of Majors division players.
Q. How are the All-Star team Manager and Coach selected?
A. Any Manager or coach from the appropriate division may choose to apply to be the All-Star team Manager by notifying the Commissioner Baseball by the deadline. The selection committee is made up of: President, Commissioner, and Division VP. The Player Agent votes in case of a tie or if one of the other committee members excuses themselves for any reason, including being a candidate. This selection meeting takes place AFTER the player selection meeting.