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TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
We continually talk about wood vs metal---in talking with with college coaches over the past 4 weeks many have said thanx to us for using wood in the events because it allows them to better judge the type of hitter the prospect is--they would rather see them hit with wood

This weekend we are in Maryland for a metal bat event---we are using wood

Something to think about in showing your best as a prospect
TRhit THE KIDS TODAY DO NOT THROW ENOUGH !!!!! www.collegeselect-trhit.blogspot.com
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NIC15NIC15100+ posts
I always prefer to see a guy using wood. its the way the game should be played. At the college level, I always had my guys using wood bats through out the fall. Reason being, when you can learn to drop head with a wood bat, come spring time when you get to the aluminum, forget about it, it will be a ten fold difference. Aluminum bats have completely changed the game today. Pitchers do not throw inside as much, tend to use the BB as their out pitch, and shy away from their FB.
B bsballfan100+ posts
TR, I'd have to respectfully disagree with this but it's a fun topic.

I wonder how much college coaches care about how they swing with wood, when they play with metal in college.

How well can I evaluate a 16 year old kid swinging wood vs an 88 mph pitcher? College kids don't even hit that much in the Cape.

It MIGHT help evaluate hitters a bit but how does it help evaluate pitchers?

I heard Paul Maneri (while coach at ND) say "We'll start using wood in South Bend, when they start using wood in Omaha."
F 3FingeredGlove1,000+ posts
bsballfan,
Pitchers are primarily evaluated on 1) velocity, 2) movement, 3) accuracy, and 4) response to adversity. For the most part, the type of bat only affects a recruiter's perception of number 4.

It's a different story with hitting. Of course, we all (most of us Smile) know that an aluminum bat hits the ball farther, and is more tolerant of off-center hits. But recruiters can factor out the difference in distance, and can recognize an off-center hit. A wooden bat, however, reveals whether the hitter's swing initiaites quickly enough to allow him time to recognize the incoming pitch, or if he needs to commit relatively early.

The hitter will have less time to recognize the pitch when he faces college pitchers. A wooden bat tends to reveal which hitters will struggle at the next level.
Last edited by 3FingeredGlove
B bsballfan100+ posts
I forgot to mention.....also MUCH harder to judge defensive ability off a wood bat is less balls are hit hard and the OF are rarely tested with wood bats (i've seen waaaaaaaaaaaaay too many kids swinging wood who can't)

Also, pitchers pitch MUCH different to a wood bat. Guys pitch much more agressively and tend to pitch in more to the wood bats.

So evaluating them is much different.
B Bear1,000+ posts
Like bsballfan, I too must respectfully disagree with TRHit recent opinion of the wood vs metal
debate from the college coaches.

From a small sampling of college coaches
(and except for the four TRHit spoke with), 99.92 % of the college coaches don't care about wood
and prefer to see a college prospect hit with metal.
(and this includes all the teams in the Big East conference, incl ND.)

As far as HS players hitting with wood. 99.91% of
the HS players are unable to swing the lumber.
The primary reason is lack of strength with the
30 oz of weight. For the remaining, 0.09% who
can swing the lumber, 99% will be followed, placed on somebody's pro prospect list, and of course drafted. HS players who hit with wood, are as rare as a LHH catcher, and quality LHPs. Smile

As for 3FingeredGlove.... ??????????

And yes, I did walk in three feet of snow to HS.
And yes, in the early 60's, I swung a 33 1/2, 35 oz C243 Louisville which I boned just about every other day! Smile

Also, congrats to the NL, and the MVP (but why,
oh my, did the AL not pitch run for the slowest guy on the field in the bottom of the 9th) Smile Smile
Last edited by Bear
NIC15NIC15100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by bsballfan:
I forgot to mention.....also MUCH harder to judge defensive ability off a wood bat is less balls are hit hard and the OF are rarely tested with wood bats (i've seen waaaaaaaaaaaaay too many kids swinging wood who can't)

Also, pitchers pitch MUCH different to a wood bat. Guys pitch much more agressively and tend to pitch in more to the wood bats.

So evaluating them is much different.



I have to disagree. Yes it may be a little different to evaluate a kid with a wood bat defensively, however it is a true evaluation. The professional game is played with wood so this is how I want to evaluate a kid. As far as the pitching perspective goes, as a pitcher you are already at a disadvantage. Throw in the aluminum bat, and pitchers put themselves in even more of a disadvantage by pitching defensively, and not aggresively, not owning the inner half, and letting the hitters get to comfortable at the dish, now as a Scout this shows me a kids mentality. If I see a kid timid because of an aluminum bat, than that does him, nor me any good.
Coach MercCoach Merc1,000+ posts
I have to agree with Bear here. Most college coaches I know only care about how the player swings with metal, defends against metal and pitches to metal.

The reasons for wood bats at most of the events during the summer has more to do with time and at certain instances pro evaluations. It's common knowledge that there is less offense with wood bats in the hands of HS players. The result is less hits, less runs and shorter games. 90% of the kids playing in these summer events will never be evaluated for pro ball. Their goal is to get the opportunity to play college ball (metal bat in most conferences).

Defensively, it is definitely more difficult vs metal bat due to more contact and the speed and spin of the ball.

This weekend in Maryland will be interesting to see how the boys do going back to metal after 5 weeks of wood.
B Bear1,000+ posts
So Tom, your arguement is based on

1. 'If the HS player can hit with wood, the college coaches think he will be able to hit with metal in college'

vs

2. 'If a HS player can hit with metal, the college coaches think he may not be able to hit with wood'.

Here is my argument, again.
a) Very very few HS players can mash with wood.

b) It is not a science for College Coaches to understand and point out what freshman coming into their program will hit as a freshman.

c). Heck, College Coaches can not agree upon what JUCO's, who are seeking to transfer to a 4 yr school, and whether or not they will
will hit right away as a College Junior.

It might be fun to watch your team and Merc's team
and assess who will hit with wood. My take is there
will be very few colleges in attendance at Shipley!
Smile

Bottom Line 1: There is some argument w/r to adjusting for wood from metal. And of course,
it is a diservice to the HS prospect to bring
to attention of the college recruiter of the HS players inability to hit with wood.


Bottom Line 2: This is NOT a pro prospect discussion. Pro prospects hit with wood.
Last edited by Bear
B Bear1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Bear:
So Tom, your argument is based upon:

1. 'If the HS player can hit with wood, the college coaches think he will be able to hit with metal in college'

vs

2. 'If a HS player can hit with metal, the college coaches think he may not be able to hit with wood'.

Here is my argument, again.
a) Very very few HS players can mash with wood.

b) It is not a science for College Coaches to understand and point out what freshman coming into their program will hit as a freshman.

c). Heck, College Coaches can not agree upon what JUCO's, who are seeking to tranfer to a 4 yr school, and whether or not they will
will hit right away as a College Junior.

It might be fun to watch your team and Merc's team
and assess who will hit with wood. My take is there
will be very few colleges in attendance at Shipley!
Smile

Bottom Line 1: There is some argument w/r to adjusting for wood from metal. And of course,
it is a disservice to the HS prospect to bring
to attention of the college recruiter of the HS players inability to hit with wood.


Bottom Line 2: Don't be fricking bunting with wood this weekend!

Bottom Line 3: This is NOT a pro prospect discussion. Pro prospects hit with wood.
Last edited by Bear
B baseballguy100+ posts
I'd have to agree with those who say that college coaches would rather see most hitters swing metal.

When son was showcasing, I beleived, like TR says, that college coaches preferred to see hitters use wood. But, then, we had a couple of coaches actually aks son to use metal instead of the wood he was using. "So, we can get a better idea of what you can do for us" was the collective message.

So, while I originally was in the wood camp....I switched to thinking that using metal in showcases was more preferred by college coaches.
B bsballfan100+ posts
I agree wood bats seperate guys, but the other thing to consider is most schools who recruit players from showcase tournaments aren't your D-1 schools you see in Omaha.....how does a small D1/D2/D3/JUCO/NAIA coach evaluate players that are obviously not pro guys but have the ability to help on their levels?

I think the wood bat tournaments are for one reason....to shorten the games. They just sell kids on "this is what the college coaches want" I can assure you THEY DON'T.
JMoffJMoff1,000+ posts
TRhit,

Couldn't agree more.

Swinging wood is the only way to go if you want to showcase a hitter. You have to hit the ball on the sweat spot to generate power with the wood bat. Any college coach will recognize a base hit with a wood bat is harder earned than a base hit with a metal bat.

Any pitcher can get bad hitters out when they're swinging wood. If you want to showcase a pitcher, put him out there against metal bats. If he continues to dominate hitters, hits his spots, keeps them off balance and generally gets them out, he's a going to do better against wood later on.

If you play a metal bat tournament with wood bats, people will show up and watch just out of curiosity.

Sometimes it isn't about winning by ten runs, but showing your talent.

Good luck tomorrow afternoon.

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