Changes to all-star selection process sought

Saipan Little League board association president Juan I. Tenorio will implement changes in the All-Star selection process in the Majors, Junior, Senior, and Big League divisions.

Tenorio made the proposal upon the approval of the Little League board during their meeting Tuesday afternoon at the Tropicana Restaurant at Hafadai Beach Hotel.

Tenorio said he would like to get the entire board involved in selecting the all-star teams to remove the popularity contest that has plagued the selection process in the past years.

Tenorio said that in the past managers or coaches hold meetings of their own before going to the board meeting for the all-star selection and they would agree beforehand that they would support each others’ players so they would make it into the team. “Before it was because you are my nephew or your parents are my kumpayre or kumayre.”

“Now the board wants to change that. We must choose the all-star members based on their achievements and the way they perform offensively and defensively.”

Tenorio said in this three-year experience as an all-star manager he could have chosen the players that could have gave the CNMI the chance to move on into the next round. “What if I have this player on my team? Maybe we could have moved on in Bangor, Maine.”

He added that he knows a number of players in last year’s Senior League division that could have helped the CNMI’s cause but were denied to show-case their skills since they were left out in the selection process or are not popular enough to make the cut.

“Players must be good offensively and defensively you need that balance in baseball so you could attack your opponent cohesively.”

“I know a lot of managers and coaches will get mad at me but I feel the board needs to find a solution to fix this problem. The board does not want to do this [be involved] but I we must so we can learn from it and be a lesson for future selection process,” said Tenorio.

He added that they would increase the number of players in the batting and pitching leaders in each league to widen and balance the selection process. “So we could have the strongest fighting unit if we reach the World Series.”

Tenorio said the manager and coach should also justify why the player they are nominating to the all-star team is worth it. “They should convince me and the board why the payer should be in the All-Star team.”

Board vice president Mike Borja supported Tenorio’s call and suggested that they should make a list of each player in each category to further widen the selection process. “What we would do is to have a list of the best catchers, pitchers, out and in fielders, and best hitters so we could have greater chances of winning.”

Tenorio said the board will also have the last say in the selection for manager for the all-star team in the four leagues. “The manager should follow and is knowledgeable of all Little League rules both local and international. We will also rate their overall appearance and attitude in the field and how they control their players.”

Borja also reminded managers and coaches that their team should have settled all their dues so their players won’t suffer once the selection process is done. “If they are not yet paid, their players, even of they are on top of each category, will be omitted on the list for the all-star selection.”

The board is also scheduled to meet with the umpires in preparation for the CNMI District Tournament on Rota and the Asia-Pacific Regional Tournament on Saipan. They will soon come out with an official list of umpires.