BBCOR BATS

Oh, I've seen a difference.

The sluggers still have plenty to get a ball out, even WAY out, but I've seen some of those low liners that used to keep going just die in mid-outfield or at the track.

Some teams are really changing their offensive approach. I noticed that, as hot as UVA has been, they haven't hit a single HR yet! They've always been a speed team at heart, but I found that amazing. Of course, the fact that their pitchers don't give up much helps a lot!

low liners that die in mid-outfield could be a matter of opinion or other factors such as cold weather, wind, etc.

Now to your point that UVA has yet to hit a HR...that's more factual and may be a result of the bats. Does anyone see that runs are down...averages, HR's, extra bases etc. ? Has anyone talked to a college player that has an opinion good or bad?

Also, I'm curious....in what way are teams changing their offensive approach?

I have also seen a number of "BBCOR" games and I would say that the colder weather effects the long ball as much as anything right now, in regards to the change to the offensive approach, UVA must not have received that memo as they played the same against ECU this weekend as they did last year with a number of different faces and they are using the 5510 which is not considered one of the better BBCOR bats.

UVA is not a good barometer for measuring the impact of BBCOR because they have:

-one of the biggest fields in D1.....so they recruit far less "pure" power hitters than many other big-time programs (although the field sure didnt seem to bother Oklahoma in last year's Super Regional)

-a lot of turnover from last year's lineup

-never relied on power under O'Connor anyways. They are 100% geared towards pitching, defense, speed, and hitting the ball to the gaps. They were before BBCOR and they haven't really changed their approach at all

That said....they will hit some HRs when the weather warms up. Just expect them to hit fewer than average (as usual).

I doubt that many have predicted major changes in college baseball - the issue is High School, with the biggest changes to be found at the lower half of lineups or at weaker BB schools. We'll know in a few days!

Auburn led the nation in HRs last year with 135. This year, they have hit 2 (Caldwell has both of them). There is a HUGE difference in the bats.

Jess1,

the changes in High school will not happen until next season as that is when "BBCOR" change goes into effect

There many many predictions for this year in collage as that is where the change has occurred...except in CA which has gone BBCOR this year in HS.

how many did Auburn hit in their first weekend last year and where did they play and who hit them etc...still to soon to make that strong a judgment.

JMU didn't seem to have a problem with the BBCOR bats after the opening weekend they had

quote:

Originally posted by topdawg:
JMU didn't seem to have a problem with the BBCOR bats after the opening weekend they had

They hit 21 HRs opening weekend. Their opponent hit 8 (?). I know the wind was blowing very hard. I wouldn't use that data in this discussion.

quote:

Originally posted by Donkey15:
how many did Auburn hit in their first weekend last year and where did they play and who hit them etc...still to soon to make that strong a judgment.

When a 6'4", 250 hitter (Patterson) squares it up and it doesn't go out, I think you can.

I wonder if wood has more pop or equal to that of the BBCOR bats ?

6'4 250 if he can hit the bat will not matter...

quote:

Originally posted by Donkey15:
6'4 250 if he can hit the bat will not matter...

He's a 3 year letterman at Auburn, what do you think?

I watched players under 6 ft. tall at Randolph Macon hit it 350'+ on several ocassions last weekend.
I agree with Donkey15 if he's 6'4" 250 he should be able to hit with a broom stick !

I think the bat will not matter...it will go out when it warms up.

quote:

Originally posted by Donkey15:
I think the bat will not matter...it will go out when it warms up.

The temps for their games have been 77, 73, 66, 71, 71, 74, 67.

How warm does it need to be?

The guys who swing the bats say there is a big difference. smh

I've been to a few games at VCU and UR so far. I thought I saw a significant decrease in distance and speed with the new bats. What used to be too hot to handle by infielders is now fieldable. Also, the distance the ball travels looks to be about 30-40ft less difference from last year by my unscientific eye.

when the temps are 80 plus daily to down right hot instead of 70 and the wind blowing, the air temp is the difference in the temps...sometimes change is a hard thing to handle.

quote:

Originally posted by Donkey15:
...sometimes change is a hard thing to handle.

Honestly, I would rather they swing wood but that's not my call.

To insinuate there is no significant difference is CRAZY. The players and coaches notice a difference. I've seen the difference with my own eyes. HRs are down. Seems pretty simple to me but I will wait until temps are 80+ as you say.

My position is wait and see, there is a difference of some sort or there would not have been the mandated change in bat performance, but to take the first weeks of the season and turn that into "significant Difference" is jumping the gun...

Wood bats would be the answer and a bunch more fun.

quote:

Originally posted by Donkey15:
... to take the first weeks of the season and turn that into "significant Difference" is jumping the gun...

I'm not. I am using the data from the fall as well. That's roughly 7-8 weeks total but we can wait for warmer weather...

A good data point helps. From http://www.ncaa.com/news/baseb...-mixed-bbcor-impact:

"While it is too early to judge the statistics as a whole, there were some glaring differences, especially in two of the Division I conferences that are known for its power numbers. Atlantic Coast Conference teams hit 47 homers in 38 games during the opening weekend of play last year, but blasted just 18 round-trippers in the same amount of games this season. In the Southeastern Conference, teams belted 44 home runs in 36 games last year, but managed to hit just 21 out of the park in 38 contests during this year’s opening weekend."

JMU is off the chart--don't use that.

Data out there (I got it from a college coach) is TPX is performing a little better than others--distance. Easton next. DiMarini and Rawlings (I think UVA is using Rawlings-don't hold me to it) are rated lower. Reebok has not been tested.

I have seen 10 games already- there is a difference.

BTW- FSU scored 36 runs in 3 games against VMI opening weekend, but had just two HR's.

I have a son playing in college-- hitters think "sweet spot" is smaller- hit it there, it still goes but the spot is smaller. Miss the sweet spot and the 380 foot HR last year is a 345 flyout this year.

No science here, but seems to be alot more 3-2, 2-0 games than we've seen in the past.

quote:

Originally posted by Prep Ballfan:
...Data out there (I got it from a college coach) is TPX is performing a little better than others--distance. Easton next. DiMarini and Rawlings (I think UVA is using Rawlings-don't hold me to it) are rated lower...

This kinda goes against South Carolina's testing which prompted them to switch from Easton (and winning a NC) to Rawlings this season.

I think it is a personal preference but haven't heard many positive things about TPX and Easton.

quote:

Originally posted by Donkey15:
when the temps are 80 plus daily to down right hot instead of 70 and the wind blowing, the air temp is the difference in the temps...sometimes change is a hard thing to handle.

FWIW, of their 8 games, only 2 games have had winds in the double digits (11 and 12 mph)

Today, they banged out 15 hits and no HRs. But, let's wait and see what happens when it warms up.

A kid from Chowan hit 17 and 13 homers the past two years....6'3" 265, through 12 games has no homers.

There is a significant difference in performance. To say otherwise, sheesh.

My son's HS conference made the switch for this season. I have watched these young men hit for years...now with the BBCOR bats, albeit in BP and scrimmages (but that is generally where they let it fly the most). It is like night and day. The good hitters will still hit, but this equipment change will limit the velocity thru the INF and "cheap" HRs. Plus, EVERY kid I asked has told me, "these new bats S**k".

I wish they would make the change to wood. The BBCOR sound reminds me of the early aluminum bats from my HS days....annoying!

quote:

Originally posted by vabaseballfan:
UVA is not a good barometer for measuring the impact of BBCOR because they have:

-one of the biggest fields in D1.....so they recruit far less "pure" power hitters than many other big-time programs (although the field sure didnt seem to bother Oklahoma in last year's Super Regional)

-a lot of turnover from last year's lineup

-never relied on power under O'Connor anyways. They are 100% geared towards pitching, defense, speed, and hitting the ball to the gaps. They were before BBCOR and they haven't really changed their approach at all

That said....they will hit some HRs when the weather warms up. Just expect them to hit fewer than average (as usual).

Surfing some stat sheets on college websites tonight-- Agree about what has been said about UVA "style of play" but-- Proscia hit 10 HR each of the past two years;Hicks hit 8 each year. UVA still has 0 HR this year (13 games). it is a different game this year.

JMU hit 23 HR's in 4 games !!
JMU's BBCOR bat was sent to the College Baseball Hall of Fame to be put on display!!

It appears that JMU has not been notified that the new BBCOR bats suck !!

They hit 23 in 4 games and now 47 in 25 games - leading the country in HRs.

Here are 2011 HR leaders:
1) JMU - 47 in 25 games
2) Mercer - 38 in 26
3) ETSU - 33 in 21
T4) N. Florida - 32 in 25
T4) Bethune Cookman -32 in 27
T6) College of Charleston - 28 in 25
T6) Va Tech - 28 in 26
T8) UNLV - 25 in 27
T8) Buffalo - 25 in 21
T10) South Carolina - 24 in 23
T10) ODU - 24 in 26

Here are 2010 HR leaders:
1) Auburn - 131 in 64
2) Ga Tech - 122 in 62
3) Coastal Carolina - 111 in 66
4) Miami - 106 in 63
T4) Oklahoma - 105 in 68
T4) College of Charleston - 105 in 63
T4) Oral Roberts - 105 in 63
8) New Mexico St - 104 in 60
9) TCU - 101 in 68
10) Troy - 100 in 61

I think it is safe to say there in a HUGE difference in the bats. The only holdover from 2010 to 2011 in College of Charleston. They are on pace to hit roughly 56 HRs this year vs. 105 last year (a 51 HR or 48% decline from last year )

Redbird...I think you have your years backwards.

UH???

The BBCOR bats see a huge difference in power mainly. The New Surge by Easton has a tiny sweet spot, which yes, when you catch the sweet spot the ball will fly, but other than that it'll just be a cheap liner.

Easton has declined alot in bat production since the SV12 series of bats. The last Surge was pretty good but this years BBCOR Surge is horrid. Several complaints from the Varsity players here at ECU about the bat and you can see the difference in the teams Batting Average. Last season with virtually the same lineup, ECU batter close to .400 or well above .300 as a team and hit alot of HR's. This year the team BA is just under .300 with a team high .360 by Corey Thompson. That and the number of homeruns has decreased dramatically as a team.

So far the Rawlings 5150 bat, from what I have heard is the best of all the bats. That and the DeMarini Vexxum. Both bats are outstanding and I love the natural aluminum ping that the 5150 has.

Does look like the years are backwards...
but a quick "back of the envelope" calculation based on those #s:
2010 - 1.70 HR/game
2011 - 1.23 HR/game

If those numbers hold up, that's a very significant dropoff...

(someone may want to check - I took all of 10 sec. to add the #s...)

The bat was changed to decrease the velocity that balls came off the bat so Home runs will come down even on the face of the sun in July.

Coupled with more deligence around steriods the era of 9 guys going deep has ended.

I believe the Paul Molitor type will become the premium players. Some HR power but good contact to all fields.

Air temp doesn't change just because the wind is blowing... This is no such thing as "wind chill" to a baseball...

quote:

Originally posted by estimator:
Redbird...I think you have your years backwards.

Yep...corrected above. Sorry.

Mid season write-up on the BBCOR impact:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=6305746

Two things jumped out:
-"the number of shutouts has jumped from 277 to 444"
-Mike Fox of North Carolina: "I think we're going to probably recruit a little differently. We've always focused on pitching and defense. You have to get guys who can run. I think it will change the future of the game."