Great question Grumpy and wonderful response Jeff! I don’t know about HS ball in Seattle any more but for the last few years I have heard from HS Coaches in Colorado of how many kids are turning out for lacrosse. Baseball is too slow to a lot of the younger kids. Baseball has more standing around and it is crucial for coaches to keep the kids involved and enjoy the sport for all that it is. So hopefully more people like all of you on this site will help pass the baton to a new generation to appreciate America’s Pastime!
Not much to add Jeff as you said a lot of great things. I have two sons who have had some success in pitching. I did have an advantage early in Little League of having two pitchers automatically. You are right Jeff, that does win championships right there. They could both throw strikes at about age 7. Then added a change up at age 10. I started them out early throwing the ball for distance at a very young age and they loved it. I made it into games where they would go out for passes like in football with the baseball, etc. They can now throw pitches that have a movement but I have not allowed any rotation on curveballs. I have seen too many young kids in my very limited experience who have scars to show their Dads were zealous to a fault.
They learned the basics early but I never wanted to over-instruct. I see too much of that. I am sure some of you can relate. When I coached Little League I tried to get parents involved but have had more than a few times where I wanted to send over-zealous Dads out to run the poles because they wanted to make each kid into an Ichiro or Randy Johnson in a 5 minute period. Sometimes a few of them all talking to one kid at the same time. I think it should be simple with balance and basics. Baseball is very mechanical but a mechanical player won’t usually excel. Grumpy, there is a lot of good helps that are easily obtained. Former MLB star Jeff Burroughs has a very good yet simple book called Little League Instruction Guide. There are lots of beginner books which are well done and have plenty of pictures. Mike Curran’s Coaching Baseball Successfully is one. Use you cell phone to take pictures of your kids so they can see what they look like. Make it hands on and simple so they understand. I have learned if they know what they are doing, the get confidence and that makes it much more fun.
For pitching, get the kids to love to throw and catch the baseball and not be scared of it. So many kids today can’t throw from too many hours in front of computers and tv. Most kids coming into middle school and want to pitch too often don’t know the fundamentals. Balance is key. My own kids I had pitch out of the stretch for several years wanting to keep extra movement to a minimum. Then they need to learn to throw with their whole bodies. Pitching is a sideways activity and with the rotation adding up to power even if they are not built like a Clemens. Most kids rotate too early and throw with their arms only. There are certain drills to help with his. If anyone wants to learn the mechanics of pitching, I would highly recommend Dick Mill’s www.pitching.com. Tom House and Paul Reddick have excellent books and video/dvd.
And like you said Jeff, keep it fun. It is a game. It should be a fun one. I want kids to show class win or lose. And with baseball that is important as it is a mental game. Learn to deal with bad umps. Colorado has a monopoly on that I do believe. Kids will make errors and such is part of the game. Sorry to have so many words but a fun subject!!!

Doc,

Any good Akido/CG control/Japanese body control references (eg Akido for Dummies)? 

(Not necessarily for a two year old, LOL).