"HOT" BATS, DO WE HAVE PROBLEM?

I watched the C'ville / Highland Tech Game It was Ugly one thing I noticed was the bats the C'ville team used. At least 7 of batters used the Anderson Rocket Tech bat. The C'ville Ladies all swing the bat very good. They have had excellent coaching. My concern is the way the ball comes off the bat. All the balls they hit but one were shots. The sound of the ball off bat was different form what they sounded like when Highland did hit ball. C'ville hit 3 or 4 fly balls which I believe if other bats had been used they would have landed in front of outfielders but with Anderson bat they all landed within ten feet of outfield fence. Even C'ville ground balls hit at infielders were shots, this does not count balls on ground between infielders. They were hit so hard infielders had no chance to get to them. In the 2nd inning Highland got 2 hits back to back. the first was ground ball over 2nd base and second was was some what of a shot over 2nd basewoman's head, center fielder ran over and caught ball on 2nd bounce runners at 1st and 2nd were they died on vine. If 2nd hit batter had used Anderson bat ball would have gone to fence it was hit hard. Runners would have died on 2nd and 3rd. My point is this: if these "HOT" bats are going to be used there are others than Anderson somebody is going to get seriously hurt or worse. Next thing all infielders will look like Hockey Goalies. On another thread pitcher was hit on 2nd pitch of game and had to be taken out of game I pray she is fine and will continue to pitch. She is a very good pitcher. After game Highland Coach said school could not afford these bats and I doubt if C'ville can 7 bats cost about $1500 so bats belong to girls I am not complaining about game if Highland had used C'ville bats Game would have been just as UGLY same way (maybe not quit as UGLY)
My concern is not if but when somebody does get hurt or worse it will be too late anybody got thoughts on this subject????

 

IMO its a serious imbalance with bat and ball performance. All these high-tech bats and the ball core size remains the same............when the consumer will pay 250 bucks for the latest high-tech(HT) sancationed approved bats and leave the 5 dollar ball technology out of the equation will result in serious injuries and possibly death to pitchers and other players in the near future.

just becomes frustrating thinking about this....right Dawgfan!

most players have their own bats and have improved alot with hitting techniques over the last few years with the pitching improving and all, its going to be a "hitters game" with or without the HT bats but its my opinion its MONEY(Big Bat Company and they are plenty vs Dudley/Wilson 5 dollar balls).
all this may add more excitement for players, more runs for the team/coaches but puts little suzie in real danger. some discussion on moving the mound back 3 feet to college standards but will 3 feet make that much difference with ball coming off those loaded bats? (other thread, i know).

i too am not taking anything from Cherryville's hitters either with this post, only addressing the HT bats/Low Tech balls issue. Note: them Ironladies could hit a balled up sock against Highland pitcher is what i heard.

 

I personally don't think banning a couple bats will help. I have seen too many balls hit back hard at pitchers with cheap aluminum bats. Girls have gotten much better at hitting and with the weight programs in the high schools now there are some really strong girls playing now.
I have talked with several coaches who agree with me in that the solution is fairly simple. Go to a softer ball. Not a reduced injury factor ball but maybe .44 core.
These come off all bats slower,are a little softer if they do hit you and will not take quite as bad a hop on hard infields which will reduce so hits to the face.
Also I am in favor of moving the pitchers back to 43 ft. The 3 ft. gives them a little more reaction time. If you don't believe this go throw to some hitters at 37, 40 and 43 ft. I have done this and there is a huge difference. Some say the extra 3 ft. will let the hitters hit more back at the pitcher but they are hitting alot at them now. I would rather have more reaction time. This and a softer ball will greatly reduce the risk

 

:applause:

focus now must be the ball to counter this imbalance.........great post! :xyzthumbs

 

I think we do have a problem with some of these bats. But if I'm not mistaken though Anderson will be changing theirs to a 98mph bat after July 31 when new production begins. Some bats have already gone from 100plus to 98mph max. I think the bat is the answer. When their was a problem in baseball they went after the bats. Injuries were reduced as was the # of homeruns hit. I see some keep saying go to 44 core ball. That is like hitting a sock. You would have to get out 3 new balls every couple of innings. The balls get hit hard several times and they would look like eggs. I don't think people realize just how much softer that is than a .47 core ball. A .50 core ball is alot harder than .47 core. Major differences here guys. The pitchers do need to feel safe, I agree but work with the bat companys the same way baseball did. You know if you think ball is an answer, then possible try a change in the compression rate. What is it now 375??? Lower it possibly but I don't think anyone would be satisfied with the performance of a 44 core ball. Its hard to find the right answer I think because you want to keep a competitive balance between offense and defense as well as maintain the safety of all players. Oh, somebody said back pitchers mound up. Well your right they would have just a little more reaction time. But do you know how much difference 3 more feet would make in the speed of girls pitch?? To me that is playing right back into the hitters hands. I want the players safe and think the answer is in the bat. Just my oppinion though.

 

Even if Anderson and Miken drop down to 98 mph rated bats it won't solve the problem. That is where most of the bats are now and realisticlly they are just as dangerous to the pitchers. If a pitcher can't get out of the way of a ball hit with a 100 mph rated bat she won't be able to get away from one hit with a 98 mph bat. The reaction time difference between the two at that short a distance is so minimal that you couldn't tell the difference. Now there is a difference in the number of home runs that will be hit with each one but that is not what anyone is after. What were looking for is less risk to pitchers. I hope someone can come up with a good answer but 2mph reduction in bat ratings is nothing and WON'T help one bit!!!

 

Bats and Balls

I know just one kid getting hit is to many but is this a real problem? How many times has it happened given the thousands of games played daily in the US? We are making all our girls wear mask this year while batting and I think more girls get hit batting and running the bases that fielding. One real problem is we put kids in positions they are not ready to play because of maturity, skills, reaction time etc. Some of the issues develop because of coaching decisions. I agree bats are hot but U also have to be able to hit with the hot bats and good pitching can usually control it. One last comment, we have diluted the talent pool so much that kids are playing at the 18U level and on the varsity level at much younger ages, could that have some impact. I know younger players can play the game some very well but others may not be quite ready, just a comment. Not trying to start a battle with anyone just wondered if anyone else felt the same.

 

Central D

How many pitchers or players have you seen seriously hurt with an Easton Connextion, or some other 98mph rated bat???? You probably dont think 2 oz. in swing weight of a bat is much either do ya?? (major difference incase you didn't know) There is a major difference between a 98 and a 100plus rated bat. Just as there is between a .47 and .44 ball. Besides if they are all dangerous then why just jump on the Anderson and Miken bandwagon, or the "HOT" bat???
There are always going to be players getting hurt. There is nothing you can do about that. Yes you can reduce the risk and dangers but you can also over react to the problem also. I agree with LBlues1 to an extent. Is it a major problem???? I don't think so. Make all bats adhere to a rating of 98 or less. Can also change the ball compression. But nobody wants to hit a "MUSH BALL" or "Wet Sock". Most HS pitchers can't pitch from 43 feet either. If they could every pitcher or the majority of everyone pitching would be going to college to pitch. But as it is, only the really good ones do. Going to a 98 rated bat is just as effective as going to a .44 core ball instead of a .47 And going to 43 feet pitching would make fastpitch softball in HS for alot of the teams about like it was when nchsaa first switched to it. And if you really think there isn't a difference in a 98 and 100plus bat, find a site that has done bat ratings. You weren't on here singing this song until alot of kids began using the Anderson. So don't tell me they are all just as dangerous. So hittin "mush" WONT work and pitching from where most aren't ready and some may never be ready WONT work either!!! So where do you turn........ THE BAT!!!!

 

How about going away from double ball bats. Require single wall bats. Most of your "hot" bats are double wall. If you go to the .44 core ball, most teams will buy twice as many and change the ball often. The ball hits good for a little while, then it goes mush. To combat that, coaches will just use more balls.

 

My daughter plays on the 12U Dazzle and we have 3 girls who use the Anderson. Yes, the bat is hot but I think changing the distance for pitchers and changing the ball is crazy. Major league pitchers get hit all the time and they are getting hit with a WOOD BAT. I know we are all looking out for the safety of our pitchers, but going and changing things are wrong I think. I have always thought a GOOD pitcher will get the best of a GOOD hitter most of the time.