[SAump]

They play baseball in Japan with a rubber version of our baseball. It is the closest thing we have to a real (simulated) synthetic baseball. It is cheaper by the dozen and it doesn't deteriorate as quickly as a rawhide covered baseball. Saving a school some money is a factor.

The main reason it is used to play high school baseball in Japan is safety. Ever heard of a Japanese baseball breaking a car windshield? Young pitchers develop effectively because they are not encourage to throw curveballs. Talk about saving some money on real baseball medical bills. The focus is were it is suppose to be, on their young arms and fundamentals of the game. After high school, the kids make the switch over to the real thing. There is no emotional debate over the safety of metal or wood bats over there.

Is FED consider more expensive helmet/facemask requirements without first considering the adoption of a rubber baseball? They never blink an eye wasting money on the wrong equipment. Has anyone ever been killed by a rubber baseball? That fact alone makes owning the new $50 allstar 2200 pitcher's titanium helmet/mask combo a rather silly idea. They seem to be ignoring the real scientific evidence. I guess borrowing a good Japanese idea isn't very popular either. Lah me, toy-ota.