Ruling on bats

quote:

Originally posted by MHC77:
I heard from another baseball parent the other day that the change in bats has been delayed one year because the manufacturers can't make enough bats in time. Have googled, but can't find a thing. Has anyone else heard this? I'm particularly interested in high school. Thx.

It's not plausible that manufacturers can't make enough BBCOR bats in time.

For high school, BBCOR bats aren't required until Jan. 2012, which is over a year from now. Plenty of time.

For college, BBCOR bats are required in a couple of months from now (Jan. 2011), but the manufacturers had two years' advance notice, and how many bats are we actually talking about? Not a lot. Let's say there are 1000 college teams, and each team needs 50 BBCOR bats = 50,000 bats for 2011. Not a lot, considering the ample lead time, and the fact that the manufacturers are being asked return to a former--less complex and sophisticated-- level of bat technology.

quote:

Originally posted by freddy77:

quote:

Originally posted by MHC77:
I heard from another baseball parent the other day that the change in bats has been delayed one year because the manufacturers can't make enough bats in time. Have googled, but can't find a thing. Has anyone else heard this? I'm particularly interested in high school. Thx.

It's not plausible that manufacturers can't make enough BBCOR bats in time.

For high school, BBCOR bats aren't required until Jan. 2012, which is over a year from now. Plenty of time.

For college, BBCOR bats are required in a couple of months from now (Jan. 2011), but the manufacturers had two years' advance notice, and how many bats are we actually talking about? Not a lot. Let's say there are 1000 college teams, and each team needs 50 BBCOR bats = 50,000 bats for 2011. Not a lot, considering the ample lead time, and the fact that the manufacturers are being asked to produce what we used to call "lead pipes" or "metal fence posts", which represent a return to a former--less complex and sophisticated-- level of bat technology.

BBCOR bats have thrown a wrench in manufacturers production. I tried to order my son a BBCOR college approved bat and was told there are none. I was given a brand and the name of a bat that MAY be available by the end of the next week. I was also told that manufacturers were not given ample time to prepare for the new ruling on bats. There will be a short supply for the individual to purchase because teams are sponsored and have to be taken care of first. Please tell me, is a wood bat superior to the BBCOR?

The BBCOR approved bats, which essentially were designed to remove the opportunity to use accelerated break in bat rolling methods on composite bats, were being produced to fill the need at the NCAA level first. I don't think the bat manufacturers nor the NCAA realized that State High School regulatory boards would react and produce similar restrictions or adopt the NCAA guidelines causing a shortage of new bats in time for the Spring 2011 season. Even if the bats are out by January or February, no one gets to practice much with the new bats. Refer to this article from the California Interscholastic Federation:

CIF Baseball Bat Implementation

Notice the answers to questions 8 and 9. Further notice suggestions regarding protective headgear for defensive players, not to get off the subject. The point is, how screwed up this whole thing could get before the conversion is made. And why keeping it simple is always the best option....wood bats?

With high school next year being basically aluminum barrel and composite handle, doesn't rolling also help aluminum?