ASA & Bats

[Larks]

Mike,

I play 100 games a year. I've been playing for 14 years. I know a lot of managers and players in Cincinnati and I can tell you that the complaints aren’t here to the extent you imply they are coming in to the association. In Cincinnati we use .44 / 375s in leagues AND tourney play. Injuries are down. Games times and scores are down. Things are headed in the right direction.

Look, I just believe that after last summer, ASA needs stability. Like it or not, players will not exempt the ASA from blame this time. If they have a ban on specific bats that fail the 2003 testing program fine, ban it. Anything else drastic can and should wait.

Why aren’t the Associations pressuring parks to switch to the new balls for all play rather than just championship play. None of you have yet to disagree with my point that too many parks are still using .44 & .47 / 525s!!

The ASA needs to make an approved material decision for 2004. If that means no composites, fine but I still submit we can wait because I believe moving ahead with arbitrary bans now will lead to a lengthily and costly court battle. You can complain about having to go thru court but the bottom line is when you accepted the mantle of being the decision maker on equipment, your interpretations will be subject to review. That’s just the country we live in.

I believe if you wait, your chances of staying out of court go way up and the on-going mission still gets accomplished.

Take your time and get it right.

Larks