Continued Changes To Create Less Interest?

If we went wood tomorrow, I would be tickled to death. But it won't happen.

The SC OK game last night will def keep folks juiced on college baseball...

 

Would be interesting to see what the combined physics would be for a metal bat (not a new one but one broken in with a little more flex) and the appropriate baseball used in college versus a wood bat and the MLB baseball.

I agree with Braves - you definitely take on a different perspective on this issue when it is your kid on the mound. Other sports have taken measures to protect the players in recent years, so should baseball (I know it is still possible for quick come backer with a wood bat). Is it worth the increased risk of a life altering injury to appease some fans.

To me, the home run has become like a dunk in basketball (or three point shot in college). Too easy for too many people to do so what is the thrill.

Agree with coach in going back to the old ways. For my wish, would love to see the fences go way back and thus inviting more doubles and triples into the game (and the occasional in the park home run). Seeing a runner put pressure on the defense to perform.

 

Great topic but..

All great posts by everyone but one avenue that hasn't been looked at is the money aspect for college baseball. Many programs are stugglig financially and some schools are dropping baseball. Metal bat companies carry college baseball. Nike, 'Easton, Louisville Slugger are to name a few. The safety part I agree with. Having one son pitching at a D-1 school, I have seen on many occassions the trampoline effect on the baseball and how it can cause major damage to a players face and body ( little one had 10 stitches this year due to a line drive). The question is would you rather see a player go one 1-4 with a home run and strike out 2 times or rather see a player go 2-3 with a line drive double and triple. I am also old school like Kenny and would like to see the game played with wood. Look at the stats for the summer leagues and you will see guys hit .375 during college and hit .250 in the summer seeing the same type of pitching. 3-2 vs 12-10 is a great day in baseball.

 

Metal bats should be outlawed for all ages! A composite bat that is similiar to wood, is what is needed. "Braves", you spoke about the safety issue and I agree 100%, last winter my son was throwing in the batting cage and was struck in the face. He broke 3 bones in his face and was an inch or two away from his orbital socket. We also had another pitcher that was sruck in the face, while pitching off the mound before the season started. Besides, it should be about the hitter, not his bat. Wish I had all the money, I've spent on bats the last 12 years!!!

 

I love college baseball but with metal bats, the games produce too many runs, thus making the game too long. With all the runs being scored, it seems there are more pitching changes than ever before, thus making the game drag on. All the home runs do add excitement but I like a good pitchers duel, which you rarely see any more at the college level.

 

While kids in other countries are using "broomsticks" to hit with, our kids are using big barrell aluminum bats. It's also tough to bunt with one, I remember working on bunting in practice one day. My son was 10 at the time and he along with his fellow teammates were struggling to lay a sacrifice bunt down. So, I grab the bat and say... "this is how you do it"!! First pitch popped up to catcher, then 2 hard back to the pitcher. I finally realized just how hard it is with these bats. (Needless to say, the other coaches, the parents and players are rolling on the ground in laughter at my failure.)

 

As stated in my original post, fans of the game want/would like to see wood...as is evident by the responses thus far. The essence of the game is not lost on you with the use of wood.

BUT... here is what I am really trying to get you to think about...the fear is low scoring games, less offense, less action means the potential of a decline of fannies in the seats... the essence of the game never captured by the seasonal fan who has been groomed on aluminum/composite bats. Their experience with wood bats has been MLB in the hands of powerful technicians. The drop off to the majority of college hitters will most likely disappoint. In a cash strapped situation anyway, the fear line runs out to smaller college programs who, with any dip in interest or attendance may decide the money funding that program may be better utilized elsewhere. Resulting in the potential of less places for our young players to play.

In the hands of talented hitters, wood bat games will be fun to watch...still punching up enough runs to keep even the seasonal fan happy. The power hitter skilled with a wood bat will become highly regarded. The term punch and judy will come back to appropriately describe many lesser hitters. Pitchers dad's will rejoice, as their sons can work inside and saw off a bat or two. Parents of players will seek second jobs to buy wooden bats no longer supplied players due to expense of replacement.

I understand your fears as fathers of pitchers. I would say the same incident will happen with the wood bat in the hands of a college player who lasers one back. As they say, "comes with the territory" and anyone who toes the rubber accepts it and puts it out of their mind.

 

Pretty good article regarding reaction times... wood vs. metal bats.
http://www.athleticbusiness.com/articles/article.aspx?articleid=3536&zoneid=46
What scares me is the kids playing in the 9-12 yr age group. Because these kids are just learning to pitch and they're pitching just 46 ft away from the plate. I have had to explain to many parents, why their kid isn't pitching or playing infield, it's just to dangerous. I would even suggest, that youth leagues move the mound back to 50 ft and bases to 70, like in tournament leagues.

Still safety at the higher level's is still a concern, kids are getting stronger and bats are getting better. Watching the game winning hit in the CWS, that was a classic metal bat hit. Probably the reason many pitchers choose to either go straight to draft or leave college early.

Something will have to happen to slow these bats down. It may be reducing the "drop" or going to a composite wooden bat, who knows. I like the composite wood bat, having played in some wood bat tournaments, the games were low scoring, but you had to earn the runs by playing baseball as it was intended.

Nice thread "diesel"!!!