NEW NCAA Bats, BAD?

[Umpmazza]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

No more "ping"...more like a "thunk".

that is about right.. I think it is a good thing for the game, make it a little more competitive.

[Kevin Finnerty]

One D-I school around here has been in intrasquad games for three weeks and has hit zero homers. They've also played two scrimmages in which no runs were scored.

The batters uniformly hate them and the pitchers are delighted with them. They use Easton, by the way. College ball is back to being something of a pitcher's game. That's the way it should be. The added safety is a huge plus.

[Durham]

Sweet!

[jkumpire]

I have been fortunate to work some more D1 Fall stuff, and got into a conversation with an F3 about the bats. He said that there was a sweet spot on the bat, and you can still hit the ball hard, but you have to hit it one the screws to make it go. Sounds like they are close to a wood bat. Now the next questions are: Will they last? Will they be able to be tampered with? Will they dent easily?

So IMO, it's all good, I have seen some HR's, a good number of rocket shots, and they act like wood bats.

I personally think the biggest adjustment for us as umpires will be reading fly balls early next year. The ball reacts so differently it is hard not to go out on balls you think were crushed by the sound and trajectory, but end up being a can of corn when you go out.

It will take some games to get used to it, but no big deal really.

[Durham]

As long as they all have to use the same equipment that is made to the same standard, then the world of NCAA baseball will be fine.

[bossman72]

just now popped back in after football season... and this report of the new bats is music to my ears!!