HELP OPPOSE AMERICAN LEGION'S BAN OF ALL COMPOSITES

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Originally posted by 1baseballdad:
So one of the bats mentioned in many threads dealing with this issue is the Baum bat. I think most everyone agrees that it is a great alternative that gives you the best of all worlds. It performs exactly like wood but lasts longer due to the construction. It is even used in some lower minor leagues.

Not going to be legal for use in Legion now. Period. Does that make sense to anyone?

It does NOT make sense...thank you for bringing that up. It DOES illustrate the unfortunate coming together of confusing terminology (what really is the definition of composite?) and political gamesmanship in the sports equipment market.

The rule really should state that all solid core bats are legal everywhere, and all hollow core bats , where allowed, must be BBCOR rated. Simple as that.

I would like to add my 2 cents worth and say that I think legion and travel ball should only play with wood. Travel ball tournaments should start swinging wood bats at around 14 years old.

If your Good use wood.

I hear all of the "wood bat" comments. I like the idea of playing with wood at the legion ball level, but many can't afford this. In giving lessons, the average to high level high school player will spend $50-$80 or maybe even more on one wood bat. One person here said that it isn't the bat, but it is the person using it. Every kid gets jammed sometime and every kid gets out front and hits a ball off the end of the bat, and breaks it at some point.

The idea of wood is great. It teaches kids to find the sweet spot and become better hitters. I totally agree. Although, I do see a great expense here for the parents of any players in a legion based wood bat scenario. I don't know of many high school players that use wood in the spring, so chalk up $200-$300 for an aluminum bat in the spring. Then chalk up a minimum of $50 for the summer, if legion goes to wood, and if the player never breaks his bat in bp/games. A more realistic financial responsibility would be the 2-3 hundo spent on aluminum for spring season, then 2-3 wood bats at $150-$240 for the summer. Now you are talking $350-$540, normally, for bats in the spring/summer.

Again, I love the idea of wood for legion baseball, but be careful what you wish for if you are looking to play this great sport without having deep pockets. Additionally, understand that the legion isn't going to just pony up and spend $500 on "team" bats for the summer. They are strapped for cash in most situations, just like any other program.

I don't have a definitive answer here, but consider the cost for families of several players who might benefit from legion ball, before you wish for an all wood rule. Maybe it is a middle of the road type deal, where the legion can buy a few bats for the under privelaged, while the fortunate players can buy their own. I think it could work someway, but I don't know what the consequences would be. Also, once those "team" wood bats are broken and done, what do those kids use the rest of the summer?

ok had to add, we had a magbat and a worth which I think the barrel was 2 1/4, like a softball bat today. But they did not break.

I love the purists, but I like the idea of metal not composites as an alternative to wood. I know that the woods would then turn into wood composite which is happening now, and guess what, someone will figure out a new widget of wood too.

It will never end.

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Again, I love the idea of wood for legion baseball, but be careful what you wish for if you are looking to play this great sport without having deep pockets.

Even if I accept the premise that wood bats will single handedly bankrupt american baseball families.....to me the horse is already out of the barn in the form of fundraisers, uniforms, tournament fees, showcases, private lessons, college winter workouts and travel expenses (hotels and the price of gasoline--------------^). No wonder parents of freshman high school players panic when something doesn't go right with their perfect planning. The sound of a wood bat is so therapeutic because if you close your eyes, you can see a neighborhood pickup game going on at the local field without umpires, coaches and parents. I vote for thwack ! over ping ! all day long.

quote:

Originally posted by gonyard:
I love the purists, but I like the idea of metal not composites as an alternative to wood. I know that the woods would then turn into wood composite which is happening now, and guess what, someone will figure out a new widget of wood too.

It will never end.

A juiced up wood composite... Interesting thought, and I could see it happening.

There wasn't much money around 40 years ago. Those of us with limited funds avoided the thin-handled bats. My trusty Roberto Clemente model had a handle about 1 1/8" thick. Long lasting.

Many bats now are 7/8" at the handle. Strength depends on the square of the thickness. A 1 1/8" handle is 50% stronger than a 7/8" handle, even though it's just 2/8ths thicker.

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Originally posted by birdman14:

quote:

Originally posted by gonyard:
I love the purists, but I like the idea of metal not composites as an alternative to wood. I know that the woods would then turn into wood composite which is happening now, and guess what, someone will figure out a new widget of wood too.

It will never end.

A juiced up wood composite... Interesting thought, and I could see it happening.

Actually, this isn't possible. To juice up a bat, you increase its trampoline effect. A bat made of solid material (not hollow) can't have trampoline effect.

In terms of corking a bat, its benefit has been scientifically disproven a number of times. But the myth lives on.

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In giving lessons, the average to high level high school player will spend $50-$80 or maybe even more on one wood bat. One person here said that it isn't the bat, but it is the person using it. Every kid gets jammed sometime and every kid gets out front and hits a ball off the end of the bat, and breaks it at some point.

My son played fifty-four wood bat games his last summer. He broke two bats. He makes contact. Doesn't strike out much. I didn't see that many bats broken except for one human bat busting machine we named Black & Decker for all the bats he sawed in half. My son used $40 bats. The team bought $25 bats in bulk. After a summer and fall of wood bat I couldn't stand the PINNNGGG! sound the next spring.

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After a summer and fall of wood bat I couldn't stand the PINNNGGG! sound the next spring.

You should hear the Omaha BBCOR. It will make your ears bleed.

Speaking of corked bats, I thought this was pretty interesting. It's a CAT Scan of Sammy Sosa's corked bat.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports...-out-of-the-bag.html

wood from LL thru college=== case closed

Bring it on already, WOOD is GOOD!

Colorado 2011 State Rules are "all bats must must conform with NFHS requirements". So it appears if the bat is on the NFHS 2011 approved list then they're legal for 2011 AL play and only the teams advancing out of State might have a problem.