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USA Today Article on baseball bats in college

B BDistrictBaseball100+ posts
USA TODAY Article:Article Link

Mid Season numbers:.....2010....2011
Batting Average:.........(.301)...(.279)
Runs per game:...........(6.98)...(5.63)
Home Runs per game:...(.85)....(.47)
E.R.A: .......................(5.83)...(4.62)
Shutouts:...................(277)....(444)


New restrictions placed on composite-metal bats used in college baseball to make them perform more like wood ones have been a boon for pitchers and a pox upon hitters, numbers compiled by the NCAA reveal.

As of midway through the 2011 season, home runs have been cut almost in half from the same point a year ago, teams are scoring more than a run less a game and batting averages have dropped more than 20 points. Earned-run averages have fallen by more than a run; walks are down and shutouts are up.

"Certain balls that you hit last year don't find the same holes," says California second baseman Tony Renda. "When you square up a ball, it doesn't go as far. You hit a line drive to center that last year would have been a double and triple, and now it's a routine catch."

Strikeouts have dropped from 7.11 per nine innings to 6.97 perhaps because pitchers don't worry as much about balls leaving the park.

"We're throwing more fastballs this year," says UCLA right-hander Trevor Bauer. "The hitter's margin of error has been reduced, so we have a mentality of make them hit it, make them beat you."

Teams have adapted, but it doesn't mean coaches enjoy it, even though the change helps protect base coaches from 120-mph line drives.

"I'm not going to say I don't like it, because you have to adjust," says Cal coach Dave Esquer. "But I don't think such a dramatic change was necessary. Would I be happier with last year's bats? Absolutely. They've taken a little juice out of our game."

UCLA coach John Savage says the Bruins are relying more on "small ball."

"Do we sacrifice every time we get a guy on first? No, but you have to play for a run," he said. "You just can't rely on the three-run homer or the big inning anymore."
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R.GrahamR.Graham1,000+ posts
right. It's baseball again and no longer beer-league softball.

Kudos to the NCAA. And Kudos to the Canes for making all of their 2011 Dynamic summer tournaments meet the BBCOR standards.

No longer will average hitters be able to fool themselves into thinking they are elite hitters due to technology.

Elite players are still doing their thing (Jake Lowrey anyone?). Over 5500 fans watcher Proscia and Hicks drive balls over 400 feet out of the diamond lastnight. Elite hitters are still elite hitters.

This new bat brings the game back where it belongs - Pitch aggressively, play defense, run, and learn how to situationally hit.

But I understand the complaining - waiting for 3 run homers make coaching much easier to do.
Midlo DadMidlo Dad10,000+ posts
I think a lot of teams got caught with a roster full of guys who weren't who they would've recruited if they had known this was coming.

But it does make you wonder: Why not just return to using wood? It seems like we're trying to come up with an artificial bat that replicates wood to a fair degree, when we could just use wood in the first place.
EH Emanski's Heroes1,000+ posts
A couple of thoughts...I think some college coaches take this small ball approach way too far. I've literally seen the leadoff hitter of the game make it to first, and the team immediately attempts to bunt him over to second. That makes absolutely no sense to me. At UR last Friday, in the fourth inning I saw La Salle get a runner on 1st with no outs and a hitter who homered last AB at the plate. And they bunted him over to second.

Regarding the bats...haven't I read that there have been problems with declining amounts of wood available for bats? If I recall, the problem was specific to ash (i.e. the most affordable type of wood bat) and it was related to the ash borer beatle. I am actually of the opinion that an aluminum bat that replicates wood is the best option because they don't break. I think the metal bats should go back to the what the original metal bats were...made from one single solid piece of metal. No alloy, no carbon fiber inserts or other cr@p. Metal bats that cost $75 to $125 bucks. But I don't think Easton and TPX's lawyers will ever let that happen.
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C ctandc500+ posts
What kills me is that even before the BBCOR standards, there were people REGULARLY playing $300+ for a baseball bat. Many times buying a new one every season. REALLY?

My son is only 14. He's using a 2 year old Omaha BESR 32/29 which he started with at 13. Think I paid $110 brand new on Ebay. (Previous year model). I picked up a new Omaha (2011 model?) BESR around Christmas..for less than $100 new. Other than that he uses wood...almost exclusively in BP. If you look around you can find deals. Granted my kid takes a lot of BP, and his last wood bat went probably 4 months before it started making an odd sound...turns out it was cracked. Just bought a DBat Maple and Bamboo for him to use.

My kid has hit with most of the new BBCOR bats that some of his team mates (Travel and HS) have gotten. He said he'd rather hit with wood. Apparently several of the 10th graders (my kid is 8th) agree with him. I asked him to describe what he didn't like about the BBCOR bats.

He said they swing "too light". He also said when you make contact it just doesn't "Feel solid"..whatever that means. FWIW he absolutely loves the DBat maple bat. Said it's solid when you hit it.

I know bats are very personal and subjective and opinions differ based on each hitter. FWIW my son and the majority of my travel players have never really preferred the composite barrel bats. Don't know if that's applicable or not?
1baseballdad1baseballdad100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by R.Graham:
And Kudos to the Canes for making all of their 2011 Dynamic summer tournaments meet the BBCOR standards.



That is pretty cool. I haven't heard that and glad you pointed it out. Sure makes sense and really, all the venues should follow suit. Guess I will be buying a new bat for my son sooner rather than later.

Anyone have any updates on the newer BBCOR bats that just hit the market??? Smile
N NOVABBall13100+ posts
I agree its great for the game. I love the small ball style.

I like the wood bats, feels more like real baseball. Hell, I remember when that was all we used. I lived right next to RG Johnson who at the time made wood bats for many MLB teams so I got MLB bats for cheap back then. Not the same now though. Top quality wood bats are a steep price (Marucci anyone?) and even with great hitters you end up going through several in a season so it ends up at times being more costly than buying a bat made of some other material.

So from a dad who is on the ink end of the check that is being written for bats I am okay with the BBCOR is that is their solution. Then I only have to stock wood for the occasional wood bat tourney. LOL

But dang, there is no denying that the new bats are really having a profound effect on the college game looking at those numbers. Wow. That really brings it home...
PferdestarkePferdestarke10+ posts
I would say the BBCOR and wood bats have similar performances, but obviously not equal.

There is a difference with BBCOR and wood, simply because the bats themselves are

A) designed differently
B) made of different materials

Because of the design, the moment of inertia in a metal bat can/will be different than a typical wood bat.

Broken bats are far less frequent in metal, a big part of the wood bat game.

Also metal/wood bats perform differently in given temperatures.


I'm sure none of these are novel ideas, given the large emphasis on the physics of baseball, but I'm just tossing out some of my observations and theories.
DD Detroit/ODU DadMember
This makes for a better game in my opinion. Well rounded players that pride themselves on defense and guys with speed will get recruited more. Pitchers that are able to throw more fastballs will stay healthy and get stronger. And bad swings will result in outs! It means shorter games, and will be a better indicator of who can play at the next level, where there are no "super bats." (unless of course its corked,LOL)Intestingly, this is also happening at the pro level, not due to bats obviously, but from getting performance enhancing drugs out of the game. Pitching and defense make for more of those good old 2-1 type games which I'll take over a slugfest any day. Then again I am the father of sons who pitch. Smile

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