Comments on: Wood bat proposal voted down

By: BlueNGold

BlueNGold — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:05:58 +0000

Does anyone really believe that Gunnar Sandberg ( the Marin Catholic pitcher who was injured by a line drive to the head) would not have been seriously injured if the ball that hit him came off of a wood or composite bat?

By: FastpitchFan

FastpitchFan — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:30:53 +0000

The ASA monitors the “legality” of metal-alloy bats in fastpitch softball. The list of banned bats is very long, and I have seen umpires regularly inspect and remove bats from games. I have not heard of a similar nationally sanctioned list to regulate baseball bats, nor seen umpires inspect and remove bats from games other than damaged equipment. The problem is that even the “legal” bats transmit much more energy to the ball than wood bats, and there are no legal consequences for the manufacture and sale of illegal bats. The best solution is to create regulations limiting metal-alloy bat designs to be equal to wood bats, and violators should be criminally liable for manufacturing, selling or using illegal bats. Otherwise, we are not truly addressing the problem, at the risk of the players.

By: Softball fan

Softball fan — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:59:12 +0000

2 years ago in fastpitch softball the standard for all composite bats changed. Has there been any changes for the bats in baseball?

By: FastpitchFan

FastpitchFan — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 01:58:08 +0000

The solution lies in the science and manufacture of the metal alloy bats. This same problem exists in fastpitch softball (and in fact slow pitch as well). Many pitchers and third basemen in softball play with a modified catchers mask to protect the head/face. The safety of the players should/must be the priority of organizers and legislators.

The list of illegal bats is very long. Regulations can be written and enforced to design metal alloy bats to have less bounce/rebound/energy-release, to the point where it equals a wood bat. The sweet spot could even be engineered appropriately. Illegal bats would then create a direct liability for the manufacturer.

By: BlueNGold

BlueNGold — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:23:01 +0000

Wood bats present their own set of problems; particularly the propensity to shatter and cause large segments to be projected toward players and spectators. The major league deals with this by having setbacks at MLB ballparks that minimize, but do not fully eliminate, the possibility of a bat barrel being propelled into the stands and striking someone. School ball fields do not offer that type of protection.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:37:28 +0000

Didn’t mean that Chace would be personally responsible for a lawsuit, but the NC Managers would be responsible.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:33:12 +0000

Is Chace prepared to deal with a lawsuit for an injury due to wood bat injury? After voting it down, a lawyer can claim deliberate negligence on the part of the North Coast Board of Managers. I would support such a lawsuit if it means no other players are ever injured again due to this stupidity.

Also, doesn’t anyone realize that metal bats hinder a player transitioning to the wood bats of the pros? Motor skills are learned at early ages.

By: baseball fan

baseball fan — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:28:02 +0000

Hopefully that vote just represents a reluctance to change mid-season; changing to wood bats for next year should and must absolutely happen.