Of the many cries and whining about Delegate Paula Miller's proposed legislation against metal bats, the following have to be some of the most ridiculous statements yet:
"If metal bats are banned, then padded balls should be used.""Pitchers should wear catcher's equipment.""Now I have heard it all. All because some momma's boy got hurt."
It is sad to witness these narrow-minded statements, especially when it concerns safety. I suppose players should not go up to bat with helmets, fielders should not use gloves, and catchers should not wear chest protectors, face masks, and shin guards? I believe most of those speaking out against wood bats would call me crazy if I sent someone to catch with no gear to protect himself. Why? The real men played that way back in the day. Who needs a glove--use your bare hand. Better yet, for all you metal bat supporters, since you are so strong-willed and believe pitchers should toughen up, let's make a trade: batters don't get to wear helmets since they have a high-powered weapon in their hands, and pitchers can throw wherever they wish. Sound fair? I believe most people would scoff at this idea. Why do batters throw huge fits when a pitcher throws at them? They are scared--scared of the potential harm a baseball can do to their SAFETY. So, I ask you, why should a pitcher not also have the right to be scared of a batted ball coming at abnormal speeds?
For the one-sided baseball fanatics, research the letters "BESR." You will discover (yes, discover, because you probably never had a clue what this was about) that it stands for "ball exit speed ratio." The ball exit speed ratio defines how fast a batted ball is going when it comes off the bat. The NCAA instituted this method of certification for all metal bats because scoring was ridiculously high at one point in college games. However, bat manufacturers have found ways around this. If you ask any hitting instructor, you will be told bat speed is extremely important for maximum performance at the plate. Well, metal bats are now made with hollow barrels, allowing the batter to easily swing the bat with more force. What is the reason for maximizing the technology for batters? Money. The bat companies profit by ensuring buyers peak performance, as DeMarini markets their bat as being the "weapon of choice" for teams. It would be interesting to see if these bat companies would nod their head in agreement to the assertion that there is no price placed on life, when in fact, they choose to steamroll the market with hot bats that send pitchers to the hospital yearly.
A very dear friend of mine (we'll call him Jim) was a victim of a hitter using a DeMarini bat on a cold February afternoon in 2005. To make matters worse, "Jim" was being scouted by the Chicago White Sox. His season came to a halt in the second inning when a line drive struck his mouth, cleanly knocking a tooth out and instantly sending him to the ground. After many hours in the hospital, the professional prospect came to the realization that he would not set foot on the mound for quite a while. The junior pitcher made several dentist visits and after many root canals (because the impact damaged the rest of his teeth), he was informed that this single injury would remain with him for the rest of his life, as more dentist work would be needed. The fearless "bulldog" (as his team called him) returned two months later and provided a great spark of inspiration to his club, helping lead them to the conference championship.
Who pays for the medical bills? The bat makers? The college? It's funny, because everyone claims metal bats are more cost effective than wood bats. The medical expenses "Jim" has and will undergo far exceeds the cost of a couple more wooden bats would have been in replacement of that metal bat that injured him. Suppose that batter on a snow-filled day had been using a wood bat. The pitcher would have had more reaction time and may have been able to defend himself.
Sports are dangerous--football is extremely violent, for example. There is a risk involved in participating, but when the true game is messed around with because of greedy businessmen, there is a problem. Baseball can be played as safe as possible, while not detracting from its essence. Imagine professionals using metal bats. Talk about a HOT topic! And maybe it's not greedy businessmen. Metal bats provide more excitement to a boring and dull game and allow weak hitters to maintain a higher batting average. Players always get the latest bat on the market because they want the most "pop" available. Let me give all aspiring college hitters a hint: your batting average in high school is just ONE method by which you are judged when being recruited.
Let's be honest with ourselves. Why don't we want our high school players in the best baseball region of the state using wood bats? Not only would this make us even more elite than any other area in the state, it would prepare our stars for their future endeavors--and we have many: David Wright, Justin Upton, and Neil Ramirez to name a few. Do we want our child to get the extra base hit, the extra home run, or harder ground ball? Do you consider artificially using metal bats to enhance one's play cheap? It seems we all consider Barry Bonds using steroids a disgrace. At what point are we willing to release our selfish behaviors for the safety of others? I believe using the hottest bat to market yourself as a player to be cheap and a disgrace to the true spirit of the game of baseball. Are you up for the challenge? If you consider yourself a good hitter, go up to bat with a wood bat and see what you got?
For more information on this important topic, forever11.com provides up-to-date information.
RELATED LINKS
Aluminum Bats Too Risky
Why Aluminum Bats Perfrom Better Than Wood Bats
Wooden Bats Get a Pitch For Safety, Skill
Little League Statement on Non-wood Bats
Metal Bats Are an Issue of Life or Death
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Proposed Ban on Metal Bats for Virginia High School Baseball Play: Are You Up for the Challenge?
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5 comments:
How about some facts??? Start with the most important, what is the actual difference in mph the ball leaves a wood bat verses a metal bat. Many studies have been conducted. When you find out the actual figure (for a ball hit within the sweet spot of both bats) you are going to be shocked. It is not that big a difference. What the metal bat does afford the hitter is a larger sweet spot so there are more hits with a metal bat. That however has nothing to due with your article nor does it make the metal bat dangerous. Once again we have a law maker sticking her nose where it does not belong. This is an issue for the VHSL, athletic directors and coaches (that is if you really believe there is an issue to begin with once you see the facts).
The article presents the danger of metal bats in baseball. Because pitchers are forced (and taught) to pitch outside more and more, the impact of "fisting" a batter is now gone. Part of a pitcher's plan of attack is now gone, allowing the batter to have less fear of the inside pitch and ready to gear up to connect better with other pitches, with less fear of an inside pitch. If wood bats returned to the game, the pitcher would be more dominant because of the presence of the inside pitch.
Perhaps it is an issue for the VHSL, although there has been nothing taken care of to my knowledge.
The sweet spot is a very important factor in determining this debate--good point. Pitching when a hitter connects perfectly with a wood bat is dangerous enough, but why increase that chance by upgrading the sweet spot on metal bats?
Additionally, why is everyone so caught up in using metal bats? What would be so bad with returning to the true way?
Techonology is great. When it interferes with safety, especially publicly-funded schools, there is a problem.
As long as the government sufficiently funds leagues and organizations to purchase wood bats (and that could be an issue), then the there should be no agrument. However, many players purchase their own metal bats to fit their "comfort," so they will also get custom-made wood bats to fit them as well most likely.
Good points, thanks for the comment.
It's only chumps who whine about using wooden bats--if you need your metal bat to be a good hitter, you ain't a good hitter. Simple as that.
All you high-schoolers and college players who think you're the stuff because you can hit with a metal bat--remember, the professionals (you know, the guys who really can hit) use wooden bats. They don't need to get that metal bat edge.
Think about it--the major leaguers don't use metal bats, so why exactly do you use them? You won't be using them if you ever make it to the big leagues.
Hat's off to Councilman James Oddo...for bannning the Metal Bats in New York...Gusty move....Much better & Safer game...
I feel bad for the guy. It would have been a lot easier if he had used a Save-A-Tooth kit.
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