The Great Bat Debate
As the College World Series approaches, it's the perfect time to bring up one of the few things that should change about the game of baseball...the bats players use. As of now, kids playing Little League through college use metal bats. I think this started sometime in the 70's, although if someone knows for sure, feel free to leave a comment correcting me.
I can see how it could have made some sense at the time. For the younger players, metal bats were a way to make the game more enjoyable; that includes the players and the fans. If it isn't bad enough watching a game today where the ball never leaves the infield, imagine the same game with a wooden bat. And for the older, college age players, metal bats were most likely a financial decision. If you get jammed or hit one off the end, it won't break. With most wood bats selling for around $35, metal bats could provide relief for some already stretched budgets.
As for the Little Leaguers, let them keep the metal bats. The 15-differential (for example, 32 inches, 17 ounces) or whatever they have is fine for that age. But at some point that has to change. I think high school is the perfect time. Let kids use aluminum bats through 8th grade, but then it's wood.
The financial argument no longer applies. Composite bats won't break and they imitate real wood with the sound it makes and how fast the ball jumps off the bat. The excitement argument doesn't apply at that age. Eighteen-year-old kids can hit the ball out of the park with wood bats and plenty of runs will still be scored. In high school, kids should use wood.
And college? The use of metal bats in college is the most ridiculous thing I can imagine. If you ever play third base when the clean-up hitter for Texas steps to the plate, you'll agree with me. Athletes these days could kill a person with a line drive, and since they run 6.5 second 60 yard dashes, you have to respect the bunt and play up. Metal bats have no place in that equation.
The College World Series has also been a perfect example of why the NCAA should change to wood or composite. There are far too many home runs. Granted, things have calmed some from the -5 days (up until 2000, college players could use bats with a differential of 5, such as 33 inches, 28 ounces. Now it's -3). But games still routinely take three hours to play and have double-digit scoring. At that level of play, there is no reason to use anything but wood or composite.
If metal bats still have a place in the game, it's only in the hands of a young child. Someone needs to start the change. Why not the Minnesota State High School League?
I can see how it could have made some sense at the time. For the younger players, metal bats were a way to make the game more enjoyable; that includes the players and the fans. If it isn't bad enough watching a game today where the ball never leaves the infield, imagine the same game with a wooden bat. And for the older, college age players, metal bats were most likely a financial decision. If you get jammed or hit one off the end, it won't break. With most wood bats selling for around $35, metal bats could provide relief for some already stretched budgets.
As for the Little Leaguers, let them keep the metal bats. The 15-differential (for example, 32 inches, 17 ounces) or whatever they have is fine for that age. But at some point that has to change. I think high school is the perfect time. Let kids use aluminum bats through 8th grade, but then it's wood.
The financial argument no longer applies. Composite bats won't break and they imitate real wood with the sound it makes and how fast the ball jumps off the bat. The excitement argument doesn't apply at that age. Eighteen-year-old kids can hit the ball out of the park with wood bats and plenty of runs will still be scored. In high school, kids should use wood.
And college? The use of metal bats in college is the most ridiculous thing I can imagine. If you ever play third base when the clean-up hitter for Texas steps to the plate, you'll agree with me. Athletes these days could kill a person with a line drive, and since they run 6.5 second 60 yard dashes, you have to respect the bunt and play up. Metal bats have no place in that equation.
The College World Series has also been a perfect example of why the NCAA should change to wood or composite. There are far too many home runs. Granted, things have calmed some from the -5 days (up until 2000, college players could use bats with a differential of 5, such as 33 inches, 28 ounces. Now it's -3). But games still routinely take three hours to play and have double-digit scoring. At that level of play, there is no reason to use anything but wood or composite.
If metal bats still have a place in the game, it's only in the hands of a young child. Someone needs to start the change. Why not the Minnesota State High School League?
posted by Joe Siple | 1:17 PM
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