More States Trying to Make Aluminum Bats Illegal

[Umpire in Chief]

Guys,

Check in your states General Assembly there are have been a few bills introduced by those wanting a nanny government to take away the ability to use aluminum bats. These people seem to think this just sounds good idea, but they have no Idea on the concept of BESR. This makes aluminum bats as safe as wooden ones and possibly safer because you don't have pat fragments on the field from shattered bats.

You ned to get out there and be active ot things like this will slip in under the radar.

Wooden bats are allowed by Fed Rules just the vast majority of players choose not to use them.

legp504.pdf

[mepperson]

I understand the fear of having shards of wood flying around a field; but, how often does this really happen, especially in recreational and youth play?

One of the biggest unspoken concerns regarding aluminum and other non-wood bats is not the speed with which the ball exits the hitting area, but instead the hearing loss that is associated with them.

Surely we all have had the experience of our eyes closing and body flinching from the sound of a certain hit using a non-wood bat; the same hit that caused our body to react this way also momentarily paralyzed us. The reason for this is that, as has been proven by study after study, the decibal level associated with these hits is extremely high. Combine that with the studies that show that certain decibal levels (exceeded by most of these hits), even for a split second, can lead to hearing loss. The pitch of the sound also has a devastating effect on hearing.

These hits are equivalent in some cases to the "flash bangs" used by police forces to momentarily disorient criminals and so that the S.W.A.T. group can enter and subdue the suspect. The primary difference is that the bats don't create the smoke, and have a higher pitch. When using flash bangs, though, the entry team is usually wearing hearing protection, while we and the players don't.

I'm not sure that it should be up to the State Legislatures and State Assemblies to take a stand, I wouldn't mind if these bats were removed from the game. Besides, they take out a lot of the tradition of the game.

Instead of worrying about whether/not the State is going to remove these bats, I'd like to concentrate on making it a Felony to assault or otherwise accost a sports official.

[Umpire in Chief]

I hadn't thought about the "ping" of a well hit ball causing hearing loss, I've never thought the sound to be that loud. But I can tell you that the flinch and blinking will go away once you contition your body to do so. This is an important part of developing skill for the higher levels. When your tracking the pitch, that moment when your bodys natural reaction is to blink/flinch is a critical. Yyou need to be able to see and recognize catchers interferrence and quickly track the ball for who wha responsibility, or possibly a bullet hit right back to F1, a kicked batted ball, or any other of a number of things which can happen the the fractions of a second around the time of contact.

[blue bomber]

This may sound a little weird, but I've applied some of the principles of rifle shooting to plate umpiring...

Breathe- Pay attention to your breathing. You don't want to be tense.

Relax- When he's winding up you want to be properly relaxed w/ your position locked in.

Aim- You're locked into your position. Your eyes should be naturally lined up at the top of the zone instead of forced to be there. Your stance should give you a "natural point of aim" rather than having to force it.

Stop- Just before the ball leaves the pitchers hand you stop breathing at the BOTTOM of your exhale. This is esssential to keep you from blinking. If you stop at the top of your breath or part way in between, then you're tenser than you need to be and much more apt to blink.

Shoot- Well, not really "shoot." But this is where the pitcher pulls the trigger, and you watch the ball come down range. If the ball is hit or if the 2 seam fastball explodes in your face and you blink or flinch hard, then you didn't relax enough.

Follow Through- This is the timing that you guys all talk about. Watch the ball into the mitt, and take a breath in and make your call.

BRASS-F is the acronym.

I'm still fine tuning the analogy and my own timing.

BTW...Aluminum bats have been around for a long time. Banning them is a waste of time and effort by our politicians. If mothers don't want their kids to use metal bats (or get as many base hits), then they can buy wooden ones for them. It's a simple matter of voting with your dollars and is capitalism more as it is meant to be.

[JohnT]

I just learned Illinois, the state I live in, is trying to ban aluminum bats with HB4140. I have sense written a letter to my state representative letting him know my stance on the issue, and hoping he will vote against it.

[mepperson]

blue bomber - very good suggestions! I hadn't quite equated it to rifle shooting; but, I try to use the same method. I guess it's like almost anything else - we need to focus when we're umpiring.

[ump 50 ND]

Here in North Dakota Fed has been wood for 3 seasons, LOVE IT!

puts small ball back into the game

as for bats breaking will go 4or5 games befor brakeage and only seen one wooden bat in half

composit bats better persentage

across the river still play metal (Minn.)in Fed

American Legion is metal

College is metal... went to D1 for next season so will doing soon great ball come spring

scrap metal is at a all time high !!!thats my opinion of aluminum bats

also amiture ball is wood

once you have done wood , the "CRACK" is better than ping

Larry

[theedeuce]

First off, I tend to get a little suspicious when our wonderful government has to get involved at this level. Seems more practical leaving the use of aluminum (non-wood bats) in the jurisdiction of the leagues. Personally, I don't like the direction aluminum bats are now heading in the baseball ranks. I'm 47 and an avid softball player over 27 years. Gradually, I've watched these bat manufacturers, who have created such a competitive market that the technology has now developed into the creation of these turbo charged rocket launchers. It has absolutely ruined softball as we once knew it. It ain't a game anymore. Seriously...

My son (who is now 14) has been playing baseball since he was 5. When he is not playing on his local recreation team he plays on these travel teams and I see these aluminum (non-wood bats) year after year. Each year they get thinner walls with smaller handles all the while maintaining the required drop weight for whatever age level. These composite bats are unbelievably most dangerous. This year I was fortunate enough to umpire at the Little League distict and state levels in Georgia and noticed that the more competitve teams were all using these composite bats. There is no equal comparison the advantage these composite bats have over all other non wood bats. I am convinced we are at a point where one of two options cannot be ignored. Option one; back these diamonds, mounds and fences back... Option two; put the brakes on these manufacturers. It's getting out of hand and is gradually taking away the basic fundamentals of the game...

[littleleagueump]

Good thing about Little League, all bats must say Little League Approved on them.

Those composite bats are not all that great either. Warner Robins, the 2007 Little League World Series Champions played the state tournament in Brooks, Georgia,vVery close to my house. Every player had one of these bats. All new, all donated. They broke two of them. Shattered the composite material in them, aka graphite. Don't be fooled by them either.

Ask theeduece, he knows too. I still need to train him.

Edited October 2, 2008 by littleleagueump