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Small sample size
I read about this just yesterday. Son's former teammate was in the Yankees org for a while and posted. I went to the original source:
It's amazing no one thought of trying this until now. Think how many innovations are out there just waiting for the right mind to think outside the box.
Dadbelly;
This is NOT new.
When our Area Code "All Stars" played the Japan National HS team in Osaka, Japan 1983-2004. The Japan HS hitters used the Japan metal bats shaped the same as the Yankees bats.
We moved our infielders back 10 steps. When Matsui hit it was "throw & duck".
BP on he field was a twin cages and two BP pitchers at the same time. [danger zone].
Bob
@Consultant posted:Dadbelly;
This is NOT new.
When our Area Code "All Stars" played the Japan National HS team in Osaka, Japan 1983-2004. The Japan HS hitters used the Japan metal bats shaped the same as the Yankees bats.
We moved our infielders back 10 steps. When Matsui hit it was "throw & duck".
BP on he field was a twin cages and two BP pitchers at the same time. [danger zone].
Bob
Stuff like this is what makes you so valuable. Things you've seen, done, and remember from your career! It's interesting because it seems you clearly thought there was an advantage but it took at least 20 years to show up here. Unemcumbered by evidence , I suspect the sweet spot is smaller but hotter. And maybe the bat actually performs better on end cap shots. Meaning instead of hitting a weak ball down the line, you foul it off. Thanks Bob!
What is a torpedo bat? Inside MLB's next big thing.
Wood bat companies are going to be printing money producing this new turn. Heck, I even had my son reach out to me this morning telling me that he may reach out to one of the bat companies he gets wood from and ask about getting a torpedo turn he can use during the summer.
After that first game, it was presented by many that Judge was using one of these bats. He has come out to clarify that he has not been using one of these bats.
For the elite of the elite (Judge, Ohtani), they could hit with an oak log and it wouldn't make a difference. For the rest, we'll see.
Agreed, let’s give it some more time
Like an 80's skinny tie, it looks like Torpedo bats are back according to @Consultant. How they made their way from Japan to the US (where the sport originated from) is probably a great story that I'd eventually like to hear. I believe him, and I think this makes total sense as the Japanese and Koreans take their baseball very seriously.
With the Torpedo bats, there is a larger surface area and sweet spot to hit the ball. Wow, it is as simple as that. Golf clubs come in oversized heads as well as tennis rackets. In the case of tennis rackets its been 45+ years since the oversized Prince tennis racket came out when I was in high school. People laughed and scoffed at them at the time...calling them "butterfly nets" but they were deemed legal. Slowly people went from 85 sq in (and smaller) frames to newer 95 sq in frames in the 1990s. Today, I play with a Yonex 100 sq in frame which is fairly standard. Huge difference in the size of sweet spot. As we all know, baseball is a sport that is not conducive to change. Look how long it has taken MLB for the simplest of changes and modernization. Over the last decade, they've tinkered with defensive alignment, DH, extra innings, replay, etc... I find it so ironic that the simplest and latest thing (and I don't think it is hyperbole) is the equipment. Let's all welcome Major League Baseball to the 21st century!
As always, JMO.
@CoachB25 posted:After that first game, it was presented by many that Judge was using one of these bats. He has come out to clarify that he has not been using one of these bats.
I heard in a pod cast that it doesn't really help all hitters, it specifically helps hitters who tend to get jammed and hit balls closer to the handle. Players of other teams have tried it too but not everyone likes it