2008 Woodie Awards
Wooden bats would not break the bank
Justin Abaya
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Opinion
Baseball is a great game. It is full of traditions that are passed down from generation to generation. And there is nothing quite like the crack of the bat on a warm Spring day.
But sadly, the crack of the bat has been missing from most of baseball and softball for sometime now.
Aluminum alloy and other composite-material bats have been widely used since the 1970's. From little league all the way to college baseball. And for a good reason too, they perform.
But with the enhanced performance offered by metal bats, there are also enhanced dangers.
The ball travels between 10 and 20 m.p.h. faster off of an aluminum alloy bat versus a conventional wooden bat, according to recent studies done by the University of Massachusetts.
That extra speed can have a huge effect, especially on the pitcher who stands just 60 feet away from home plate.
Recently, there was a 12-year-old boy who spent months in a coma after being struck in the chest by a ball hit off an aluminum bat. Shortly after the incident, New York City officials tried to ban the use of all non-wooden bats, but the bill stalled out.
I personally feel that metal bats should be completely abolished from all of baseball, and softball for that matter. They are simply too dangerous.
Besides the dangers of metal bats, there are also negative effects on players' hitting ability.
It's simple. If you use metal bats your entire playing career, what is going to happen when wooden bats are thrust upon you? Your numbers will go down.
Just look at the Cape Cod League for example. The best collegiate baseball players are invited to play in the league, which is a sort of transition from college to professional ball, and they use wooden bats.
The hitter's batting average goes down an average of 100 points. That is a significant amount with regards to batting averages.
So wouldn't it make since for ball players to use wooden bats? There would be no transition from metal to wood. Simple logic says it would produce better hitters in the long run since they would grow up hitting wood and never even use a metal bat.
Opponents to banning the use of non-wooden bats argue based on economic reasons. Wooden bats will break. Metal bats break too, but not as often. It is a valid argument.
With all the money invested into college athletics, would it really cause that much of a financial hurt to the schools? The obvious answer is no. Schools spend millions on their athletic programs. Wooden bats wouldn't break the bank.
College coaches and athletic directors need to start the trend. It's a trickle down effect. Once colleges make the switch, then eventually high schools would too and it would continue all the way to little league.
But sadly, the crack of the bat has been missing from most of baseball and softball for sometime now.
Aluminum alloy and other composite-material bats have been widely used since the 1970's. From little league all the way to college baseball. And for a good reason too, they perform.
But with the enhanced performance offered by metal bats, there are also enhanced dangers.
The ball travels between 10 and 20 m.p.h. faster off of an aluminum alloy bat versus a conventional wooden bat, according to recent studies done by the University of Massachusetts.
That extra speed can have a huge effect, especially on the pitcher who stands just 60 feet away from home plate.
Recently, there was a 12-year-old boy who spent months in a coma after being struck in the chest by a ball hit off an aluminum bat. Shortly after the incident, New York City officials tried to ban the use of all non-wooden bats, but the bill stalled out.
I personally feel that metal bats should be completely abolished from all of baseball, and softball for that matter. They are simply too dangerous.
Besides the dangers of metal bats, there are also negative effects on players' hitting ability.
It's simple. If you use metal bats your entire playing career, what is going to happen when wooden bats are thrust upon you? Your numbers will go down.
Just look at the Cape Cod League for example. The best collegiate baseball players are invited to play in the league, which is a sort of transition from college to professional ball, and they use wooden bats.
The hitter's batting average goes down an average of 100 points. That is a significant amount with regards to batting averages.
So wouldn't it make since for ball players to use wooden bats? There would be no transition from metal to wood. Simple logic says it would produce better hitters in the long run since they would grow up hitting wood and never even use a metal bat.
Opponents to banning the use of non-wooden bats argue based on economic reasons. Wooden bats will break. Metal bats break too, but not as often. It is a valid argument.
With all the money invested into college athletics, would it really cause that much of a financial hurt to the schools? The obvious answer is no. Schools spend millions on their athletic programs. Wooden bats wouldn't break the bank.
College coaches and athletic directors need to start the trend. It's a trickle down effect. Once colleges make the switch, then eventually high schools would too and it would continue all the way to little league.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Matthew Bonzo
posted 5/22/08 @ 1:00 PM CST
i think that aluminum bats are the best way to go becasue they have been used for so long now that it would be too hard to change it now
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