batwarmer

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

It's not dangerous because the bat would be at the same temperature it would be on a normal 90 degree day.

Or is playing on a 90 degree day dangerous?

No Rich, you are mistaken. Bats should respond the same way given ambient temperatures. Warming one with artificial means in order to induce an advantage (we know that it does) is not fair play.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

No Rich, you are mistaken. Bats should respond the same way given ambient temperatures. Warming one with artificial means in order to induce an advantage (we know that it does) is not fair play.

The issue you raised was dangerous. I challenged that part of your post. A 90 degeree bat is a 90 degree bat - doesn't matter how it got to 90 degrees. If it's safe at 90 ambient it's safe artificially warmed to 90.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

The issue you raised was dangerous. I challenged that part of your post. A 90 degeree bat is a 90 degree bat - doesn't matter how it got to 90 degrees. If it's safe at 90 ambient it's safe artificially warmed to 90.

Yes Rich, it does matter. Artificially heating a bat will cause it to react differently than it normally would. THAT is why it is illegal. Artificially heating a bat creates an unfair advantage when it is cold. It is akin to scuffing a ball - it changes the dynamics of what is expected.

Another member wrote that it will make the bat expand and become more brittle. That may be the case and if so is another reason why artificially heating a bat when it is cold outside is a problem. Composite bats tend to break at the handle, not the barrel, during cold weather. You don't create a safer bat by heating the barrel.

[kylejt]

When we warmed up bats in our dugout, on cold nights, we no longer cracked or dented them. We used either an electric blanket, or I had the guys sit on the barrels, or put them under their arm pits.

Take that for whatever it's worth.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Yes Rich, it does matter. Artificially heating a bat will cause it to react differently than it normally would. THAT is why it is illegal. Artificially heating a bat creates an unfair advantage when it is cold. It is akin to scuffing a ball - it changes the dynamics of what is expected.

Another member wrote that it will make the bat expand and become more brittle. That may be the case and if so is another reason why artificially heating a bat when it is cold outside is a problem. Composite bats tend to break at the handle, not the barrel, during cold weather. You don't create a safer bat by heating the barrel.

A2D I guess.


BTW - cold makes it more brittle, not heat.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

A2D I guess.


BTW - cold makes it more brittle, not heat.

I have a couple of governing agencies with rules supporting my opinion - artificially warming bats creates an unfair advantage.

Taking a cold bat and heating it artificially weakens the bonds in the composite material. Heating the barrel leaves the handle vulnerable. Bat manufacturers and the aformentioned agencies cite this as a hazard.

I find it funny that so many on this forum consider coaches to be 'rats' for seeking any advantage they can, yet consider bat warming to be tolerable. No Rich, I wasn't referring to you, my friend. A2D. Enjoy the time left before we hit the fields again.

[kylejt]

I'm just talking about getting a bat up to it's proper operating temperature, when it's below 40 degrees outside.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

I have a couple of governing agencies with rules supporting my opinion - artificially warming bats creates an unfair advantage.

Taking a cold bat and heating it artificially weakens the bonds in the composite material. Heating the barrel leaves the handle vulnerable. Bat manufacturers and the aformentioned agencies cite this as a hazard.

I find it funny that so many on this forum consider coaches to be 'rats' for seeking any advantage they can, yet consider bat warming to be tolerable. No Rich, I wasn't referring to you, my friend. A2D. Enjoy the time left before we hit the fields again.

I'm not saying whether or not it's legal or should be acceptable - just that it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever that a bat at 90 Degrees F "knows" whether it got there artifically or naturally and thus responds differently.

BTW - some bats used to (maybe still do) say the warranty is invalid if used below certain temps. That would seem to me to suggest there is a concern over using cold bats.