Story on Danger from Maple Bats

[SAump]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...yhoo&type=lgns

[zebra2955]

And we thought metal was bad! Whats next?

[ozzy6900]

A good part of the reason is right in the article - the handles are too thin! Both maple & ash are good woods but the handles over the years have just been turned too small to handle the abuse. Add this to the buffed up players swinging these bats and you get broken bats.

Now do we need a Congressional investigation to figure this out? Do we need to creat more safety rules (full helmets with Plexiglas face shields)? I do not think so. I think that everyone on the field needs to pay attention to the batter when the pitcher is ready to pitch. I think that if everyone did what the fielders do, there would be less injuries in the long run.

The base coaches are too busy watching the runners, the on deck guys are too busy trying to get their swing just right, the shaggers are too busy watching the babes in the stands and no one is paying attention to what is really happening.

Baseball has been played with wood bats for decades! Let's not make mountains out of mole-hills!

[briancurtin]

"The incidents keep happening, and following Mike Coolbaugh’s death last season when a batted ball struck him in the neck while he was coaching first base in a minor league game, neither Major League Baseball nor the MLB Players Association can afford to wait for another tragedy when it could take preventative measures. Were officials from either party to meet with Long and see his face, they would understand the issue must be resolved immediately."

The incidents keep happening? Coolbaugh got hit with a ball. Who died from the same situation before or after him? Long got hit with a broken bat. Who was injured from the same situation before or after him? Yep, it all keeps happening.

[RPatrino]

I had a player ask me, " are wooden bats even legal?". I about died laughing!!

Hey Bren, good one!!!

[SAump]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

Apology for the terrible pun.

Just noticed link in post 13 replaced original link above.
Anyone remember the name of the umpire struck by a broken maple bat on May 24 or 25, 2008?

[jkumpire]

You're forgiven, but it was very difficult......

[SAump]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...yhoo&type=lgns

[Steve M]

I agree with Ozzy - the handles are too damn thin - and I can't add enough exclamation points. Having handled enough of today's bats, I don't think I'd want to be swinging one - the handles are too damn thin. I had the hands of stone as a fielder - and showed that by being a disaster in the field. But I could hit. And a couple of the biggest thrills I had as a player were jacking the ball a couple of times in a major league park - before the fences were moved in. Today's wooden bats are not the same as they were 30+ years ago. I used a 34inch, 36 ounce bat - how many of today's players would use a plus-2?

[justanotherblue]

It's truly unfortunate that the owners and MLB won't extend the safety nets down the foul lines farther. I mean really, MLB only made six billion last year, how could those poor owners as well as MLB afford to extend the safety netting for the fans to prevent a bat flying into the stands. Just because they do it in Japan, doesn't mean it will work here right?!

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

It's truly unfortunate that the owners and MLB won't extend the safety nets down the foul lines farther. I mean really, MLB only made six billion last year, how could those poor owners as well as MLB afford to extend the safety netting for the fans to prevent a bat flying into the stands. Just because they do it in Japan, doesn't mean it will work here right?!

Fans don't want any nets at all. They want every bat, ball, and drop of sweat that's coming their way. When you can make $X right now with a packed house, or lessen the fan experience and make $X-1 with a bit lower turnout, I think you'll choose $X. It's a greater number than $X-1, isn't it?

Note that I haven't touched on fan safety but fan experience instead. Fan safety is probably on the owners' lists -- somewhere above hot dog prices but below All Star game bids, and certainly below getting people to keep buying tickets.

[JugglingReferee]

We're smarter than we've ever been. Let common sense and science determine what needs to be done.

If there is an increase in injuries, seek to understand why.

[SAump]

Another bad maple bat story.
Broken maple bat strikes umpire on the head.
No concussion, but left game for treatment.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns
Amazingly, the following story broke 33 minutes before the one above.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns

[SAump]

2008 MLB Season Unofficial Count (BS)
4 to 8 umpire misjudgements when HR ruled not HR
4 to 8 umpire misjudgements when Non-HR ruled HR
12 total in 4 months
Rate of 2 to 4 per month
MLB Action: Instant Replay to be used beginning in August
MLB Reaction: Years of tradition turned on a dime

2008 MLB Season Unofficial Count
1 umpire received concussion from blow to the side of the head
1 umpire received a mild concussion and bloody forehead
1 coach received a sliced, bloody left cheek {of his face}
1 fan received a shattered jaw along with her concussion
4 total in 4 months
Rate of 1 serious head or facial injury a month over 4 months
MLB Action: MLB is looking into it
MLB Reaction: Handled better than 15 years of nonexistent steroid policy

How about providing fans with helmet protection from flying maple bats, see implementation of recent helmet requirement
How about 10ft netting dugout to dugout at MLB ballparks, turning over years of denial on a dime similar to IR {about time?}
How about 1/8 of an inch thicker MAPLE bat handles until that bat safety study is conducted, research recommendations from bat manuacturers are implemented, and new safety guidelines are written into MLB Rules