Another reason to get rid of aluminum bats
 

Pitcher makes a heckuva play on it, but still comes away with a broken kneecap.

YouTube - Vanderbilt pitcher breaks kneecap, makes outstanding play

Herb Score - Wood Bat.

Bryce Florie - Wood Bat.

Steve Yeager - Wood Bat.

The non-wood bat specs have changes a lot since your referenced incident. Only the current data would be relevant.

Great references Rich. I was at the game when Florie got drilled. He had no time to react at all.

The other thing we need to make clear is a wood bat handled by a buffed up MLB batter is no different than a metal bat in a HS kid's hands. The results are going to be the same for the infielders (not necessarily the full flight of the ball).

Jim Kaat - Wood Bat. I was at that Twins game, and he lost his front teeth.

JJ

You MUST be kidding.

You have a gift for hyperbole, but this one's the best ever, Ozzy.

The main discussion with Al bats is that the ball is kept in play more than with wood bats. More fair balls definitely would result in more injuries however, in this case the knee happening to be in the way of the ball, has nothing to do with what caused the flight.

It's kind of like saying "Guns don't kill people, people kill people" ????!!!!

In either case, in most instances, one does'nt necessarily have anything to do with the other.

This discussion is silly: baseball is risky, and injuries occur no matter what kind of bats hitters use. Anecdotal evidence proves nothing. Who ever denied that you could get hurt in a wood bat game?

More than raw data about how many player injuries per 9 innings occur in games with aluminum bats would be data about the severity of the injuries. That would provide a richer picture of the safety differential.

I think he's trying to say a ML player hits the ball as hard with a wood bat as a HS player does with a Al bat.

I can buy that.

Then I have a lot of stuff I'd like to sell.

Yes, that was my point.

Top of the first in a varsity HS game Tuesday, #3 batter hits a fastball straight back, hitting the pitcher squarely in the mouth with the ball. The young man lost three teeth and broke his chin bone. Had to have surgery. It was a sickening sound upon impact. He was still standing when I got to the mound from the plate, but hit his knees and spewed blood all over my shoes and pants. Kid is doing well, according to his coach.

Well, my point is that there are a mere handful of high school players, who can hit a ball as hard as even a common major leaguer, no matter what they're using.

Whatever you say, Kevin. :cool:

Wow, very sad. Hope he's doing alright.

I'll add another to the list:

I remember Mike Musina took one right off the head many yrs ago - tough to watch.

All I can say is that a game played by wood bats on average is completed in at least 15 minutes to 1/2 hour sooner then metal. (PRO ball excluded)

Also, since the players went to metal bats I have set up in a deeper B / C position then I normally would if they were using wood bats. Almost "bought the farm" a few times with a shot off of a metal bat.

You do not get those "cheap" hits with wood as you do with Al bats. I have seen hitters jammed but with metal they still get those bloop base hits and that just drives the pitchers crazy.

I am NOT saying that I have not had a gem of a game when the particpants used metal but on average throughout my career the games are quicker when they use wood.

Other then economics I can't see using metal at the collegiate level because the "next stop" for those that are fortunate enough to make it is PRO ball where wood is used. Those HR's they hit in college are now a "can of corn" in the PROS.

All in all I prefer to umpire in a wooden bat game any day of the week compared to metal.

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