We’ve been talking about how dangerous broken bats can be for spectators in the stadium. You’ve got to be aware of what’s going on at all times. But how about if you’re a cameraman tasked with getting an isolated shot on the baserunner at third? This is what can happen. Wow!
The Rangers have won the ALCS and are waiting for the Phillies or Giants. We’re waiting for another million-to-one shot like this.
Remember when Sammy Sosa was ejected for using a corked bat back in 2003? If you need a refresher, read some coverage of the original event here.
For baseball bat history buffs, this may be of interest: Now you can buy a piece of that bat - check out the online auction that’s going on now. Bidding is open until the end of the month.
A new, ergonomically-correct bat has made its debut in MLB, and the makers of the Pro-XR bat hope it’s a sign of things to come.
The new bat technology is based on an angled knob that is designed to improve grip and reduce injuries. With this ergonomic knob, the Pro-XR bat enables batters to improve bat speed and achieve more swing control, according to Grady Phelan, the brains behind the new bat.
Several MLB players have already used the new Pro-XR bat and many more have signed on to try it out. We’d like to try one ourselves. Will let you know if and when we do. Have any of you tried this bat yet?
Think a corked bat can add distance? Think again.
Research out of the University of Illinois indicates that the trampoline effect that is so significant in metal bats is negligible in wood bats.
But there still may be an advantage to be had in using corked bats. Increased bat speed enables batters to delay swinging for a few micro-seconds - perhaps allowing the batter to hit with increased accuracy.
So even if a corked bat doesn’t yield greater power, it may allow for greater accuracy. Research, we’re sure, is ongoing.
Baseball bats made from top-grade North American ash may become a thing of the past unless experts find a way to beat back an invading force from Asia. Bat safety is a hot topic in the news these days - now we’re hearing about a move by the California Interscholastic Federation to require the use of less-powerful metal bats for the 2011 season. The new BBCOR performance standards mean that metal bats can be no more powerful than wood bats.
The CIF is also encouraging its member schools to “voluntarily require” the use of protective headgear for infielders and pitchers, though some observers expect that this voluntary program will not be widely adopted, at least in the near term.
Jesse LaCasse, a 30-year-old currently playing professional baseball in Germany, started making bats in 2006, using high quality beechwood and setting up shop with a lathe and a handful of custom orders.
Now Subway is giving him a boost by highlighting LaCasse Bats in the 2010 Senior League World Series. Subway is a big sponsor of the event, and their pitchman Jared Fogle will be on hand for the closing ceremonies in Bangor, ME this weekend.
The exposure gained from this kind of tie-in is a huge boost for a small, custom bat-maker like LaCasse, and he’s already seeing a spike in demand for his totally customized bats offered in a variety of woods, color schemes, and technical specifications.
Just last week, we blogged about how dangerous broken bats can be - for players, coaches, officials and fans. So we weren’t too surprised to see this article in the news about a man who was hit in the face by a broken bat at a Mets game a few years ago who has filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for his injuries.
As much as we feel for the guy (he suffered serious injuries to his face and head), we were a little surprised at the numerous targets of his lawsuit: he is suing the Luis Castillo (the batter), Ramon Castro (Castillo’s then-teammate who loaned him the bat), the New York Mets, Major League Baseball and Rawlings, the bat manufacturer. No word yet on if he’s suing the hot dog vendor from that section of the stadium.
Seriously, though, if his contention is that maple bats are inherently more dangerous than other bats, is the batter really to blame? Or the player who owned the bat? Or the team?
Tell us what you think.
Broken wood bats can be dangerous. Razor-sharp shards of wood flying through the air, who knows where they may land? Players, coaches, officials and fans have all been injured by broken bats.
There’s been a lot of talk about the relative safety of wood bats recently, which makes us wonder about the different kinds of breaks and what causes them. There’s a really interesting site that explores the science of wood bats and explains the various causes of “bat failures.” Recommended reading.
In a widely anticipated move, the National Federation of State High School Associations enacted a rule banning the use of composite bats in high school baseball effective from the start of the 2010-11 school year.
They have, however, left some wiggle room, as the NFHS may consider waivers or modifications to this rule if composite bats can meet certain standards.
This has been a hot topic on the baseball-bats.net forum lately. What do you think about composite bats and this new ruling? Please discuss.
