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Old Fri Apr 18, 2003, 10:28am
IRISHMAFIA IRISHMAFIA is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: USA
Posts: 14,565
Quote:
Originally posted by Larks


Why do I sense such animosity towards the player over this bat thing? There is plenty of blame to go around here. Manufacturers, the associations, the parks and the players all share some guilt in the problem. The good news is that it's slowly but surely being addressed.

Here's a question....Does every problem we discuss here always have to revert to bats?
When it comes to equipment, yep. If it wasn't for the bats, the bases and pitcher's plate would probably not have been moved. Runners wouldn't be scared to death when at the corners. Pitcher's wouldn't be covering 2B on the force. Most complexes wouldn't be so out of date with 285-300 foot fences. Infielders and pitchers wouldn't be wearing protective head gear including face masks.

Since the moment the technology started putting bats out of sync with the rest of the game, the governing bodies tried to bring them back. All the players whined and cried about not being able to use the technology available. The players immediately started screaming that it is easier to temper the ball than the bat and would be less expensive for the players. Now that the sanction bodies are doing that, the players are crying about the ball.

Animosity? Not really, just more experience and the ability of seeing the game from outside the circle.

Quote:

PLAYER: "That strike was kinda deep ump!"

UMP: "So, You have a $300 bat and it's only traveling 5 mph"
Ump: Son, here is my rule book. Go back to the bench and read it. When you come to the part where references the word "deep" in relation to a pitch becoming a strike, you can come back out and play. Until then, I need a substitute.


Quote:
PLAYER: "Ump, he was safe"

UMP: "He used a $300 bat, he's out"
Ump: Maybe at the last base, but not this one.


Quote:
PLAYER: "Blue that ball went out of play, we'd like to change it out"

Ump: No, you spent $300 on that bat"
Ump: No problem. Give me a replacement. I'll be more than happy to put it in my bag and get it into the game when the needed. BTW, Forrest, if you don't want that other ball back in the game, don't bring it back.

__________________
The bat issue in softball is as much about liability, insurance and litigation as it is about competition, inflated egos and softball.
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