Quote:
Originally Posted by Linknblue
I've been lurking about for a while looking at the various forums, articles, discussions regarding the "safeness" of metal and composite bats. While I agree that in some leagues the so called "hot" bats should not be allowed, particularily in low level coed slow-pitch.
I read/heard/seen the various entities want to "ban" the use of the composite and metal bats in youth play. The latest the "government" even got involved.....pretty silly if you ask me.
Has it been discussed that it would really be much easier to change the "balls" and make the much more "dead" than they currently are if safety is such an issue? If it has, I haven't seen it. I would seem it would be much easier to manufacture a $2 softball that leaves the bat at the same speed as they did when we all used wood bats or first line aluminum bats.
The bat industry could then do what they wanted in response to the industry. I don't think any bat is going to "crush" a "soft" softball or "dead" hard ball if safety is truly what is the root of the discussions.
Am I off base here?
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Yes.....and no.
There has been work on the balls for a while. The present task is to restrict the compression of the ball to slow down the travel speed. Some of the issues involve construction and durability.
The "industry" of equipment manufacturers is usually one and the same for bat and ball and the few that are independent do okay with a quality product. That said, think about it. If you are making a product, are your priorities going to be the sanctioning bodies or the customer covering the highly-inflated price tag? I think that is quite evident from the equipment companies' actions over the past decade of admittedly abusing minute loopholes in the rules that the consumer dictates.
And some may say the customer is fickle. I say many are egotistical hypocrates.
The rants about safety (pitcher's box, slower balls, distances, etc) are many, but in the same breath, these folks are talking about where to get the hottest bats, ABI techniques, the best ball for certain bats, etc. This is terribly evident in the many leagues which use ASA rules, but allow U-trip or hotter bats especially the seniors who are the most hypocritical AND susceptible to the dangers of the sport.
If an organization dumps composite bats and the others do not follow suite, what shall we chisel on the tombstone?
Logic and intelligence doesn't apply when talking about a player's ego and ability to brag about how far the bat, er........HE hit the ball in the last game.