Today was the first I've heard of this bill. I would think the chance of passing is pretty slim but you never know.
Virginia HB273 - VHSL Exclusive Use of Wood Bats
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Sounds good to me, now if we could get the colleges to follow suit.
Bob wrote a piece on wood bats a few years ago.
Bob's editorial on wood bats
CV
Bob wrote a piece on wood bats a few years ago.
Bob's editorial on wood bats
CV
Looks like this issue is dead...at least for another year.
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/01/del-miller-wont-pursue-...um-baseball-bats-now
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/01/del-miller-wont-pursue-...um-baseball-bats-now
quote:Originally posted by ACS Falcons 3B Dad:
Looks like this issue is dead...at least for another year.
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/01/del-miller-wont-pursue-...um-baseball-bats-now
Pity.
The reason this bill dies is not because the legislature prefers metal bats.
The legislature just historically stays out of VHSL's business.
Now, if the VHSL would like to consider a rule permitting only wood bats, I could start a letter-writing campaign in support! But you have to like it when the politicians actually do decide NOT to stick their noses into someone else's business.
The legislature just historically stays out of VHSL's business.
Now, if the VHSL would like to consider a rule permitting only wood bats, I could start a letter-writing campaign in support! But you have to like it when the politicians actually do decide NOT to stick their noses into someone else's business.
I have always been in favor of wood bats. We ran a small indoors facility a few years ago and we hit with wood all winter long indoors. It just teaches the kids the correct way of hitting and the kids loved it.
I wrote a letter to our local paper last week and encourage others across the State to do the same.
my editorial
CV
I wrote a letter to our local paper last week and encourage others across the State to do the same.
my editorial
CV
cvsting...
Great article... Nice Job!
Great article... Nice Job!
While I agree with cvsting pretty much, here are a few points that may be of interest:
The game is played with wood mainly because the game was invented in the 1800's. If the game hadn't been invented until now, in all likelihood the standard would be metal across the board.
Metal swept through amateur ranks in the 1970's because of a fire at the Hillerich & Bradsby wood curing facility that wiped out their seasoned timber stock. Pro teams had first pick of what was left, and by the time youth programs got theirs they frequently had to settle for unseasoned timber that tended to break like balsa wood. There were several experiments with replacement bats but metal won out. (Anyone remember fiberglass bats? And what would happen if you used them in cold weather?)
The problem came when metal bat companies began following the lead of Prince rackets in tennis and Big Bertha golf drivers. Initially the goal was to emulate wood, but soon it became a marketing thing to surpass the performance of wood, to sell a competitive advantage.
It's been all downhill from there, if you ask me. And even though the historic reason for the move to metal is long forgotten, now metal is so ensconced in amateur baseball I don't know if you could ever get it rooted out.
The game is played with wood mainly because the game was invented in the 1800's. If the game hadn't been invented until now, in all likelihood the standard would be metal across the board.
Metal swept through amateur ranks in the 1970's because of a fire at the Hillerich & Bradsby wood curing facility that wiped out their seasoned timber stock. Pro teams had first pick of what was left, and by the time youth programs got theirs they frequently had to settle for unseasoned timber that tended to break like balsa wood. There were several experiments with replacement bats but metal won out. (Anyone remember fiberglass bats? And what would happen if you used them in cold weather?)
The problem came when metal bat companies began following the lead of Prince rackets in tennis and Big Bertha golf drivers. Initially the goal was to emulate wood, but soon it became a marketing thing to surpass the performance of wood, to sell a competitive advantage.
It's been all downhill from there, if you ask me. And even though the historic reason for the move to metal is long forgotten, now metal is so ensconced in amateur baseball I don't know if you could ever get it rooted out.
I might be wrong, but didn't New York state pass a law, saying that all ages must use wood bats?
There was a lot of publicity about a proposal (bill), but i don't think it passed.
Maybe VA will follow the lead from New York with wood bats, it would make a huge impact in the high school level.
quote:Originally posted by tc4baseball7:
Maybe VA will follow the lead from New York with wood bats, it would make a huge impact in the high school level.
...and in my wallet!!!
What I never understood is that everyone outside of baseball complained about the government intervening in high school sports, but those who are actually affiliated with the sport and who would be affected by the bill know what comes with it. The cost of wood bats is a legitimate reason to review the bill. But prevention is key if this bill is going to be implemented. It would essentially be avoiding injury and the chance of a young kid dying on the field, rather than waiting for it to happen then act on it.
I didn't realize it had passed the NYC Council. Did Bloomberg sign it? If so, did we ever get all that threatened litigation? I wonder what their basis for suit would be?
I don't know that I've ever been convinced this is a safety issue. But having seen teenagers play with both metal and wood, it's just a better game with wood. It really separates the real hitters from the pretenders, that's for sure.
The thing that bugs me about metal is not whether it hits the ball farther. It's when the pitcher gets a kid on the handle and he muscles it into the shallow OF grass for an undeserved blooper hit. Or when the batter hits it off the trademark area and gets a line drive hit out of it, instead of a shattered bat pop out. (But then, I'm an old pitcher, and a pitcher's dad.)
I don't know that wood is any more expensive. In most programs the kids are supplying their own bats, and it's not unusual to see a kid buy two $200 & up bats each year. A very good wood bat can be had in the $75 range, so you can go through a lot of wood in a year on the same budget you currently have for metal. And when players get used to wood, they stop breaking their bats so often, too.
Plus, a lot of kids are already buying wood to use in drills or summer play. For those guys, doing away with metal would save them (or their parents) a tidy sum.
Which I guess tells you all you need to know about why Easton is so up in arms about this kind of legislation.
I don't know that I've ever been convinced this is a safety issue. But having seen teenagers play with both metal and wood, it's just a better game with wood. It really separates the real hitters from the pretenders, that's for sure.
The thing that bugs me about metal is not whether it hits the ball farther. It's when the pitcher gets a kid on the handle and he muscles it into the shallow OF grass for an undeserved blooper hit. Or when the batter hits it off the trademark area and gets a line drive hit out of it, instead of a shattered bat pop out. (But then, I'm an old pitcher, and a pitcher's dad.)
I don't know that wood is any more expensive. In most programs the kids are supplying their own bats, and it's not unusual to see a kid buy two $200 & up bats each year. A very good wood bat can be had in the $75 range, so you can go through a lot of wood in a year on the same budget you currently have for metal. And when players get used to wood, they stop breaking their bats so often, too.
Plus, a lot of kids are already buying wood to use in drills or summer play. For those guys, doing away with metal would save them (or their parents) a tidy sum.
Which I guess tells you all you need to know about why Easton is so up in arms about this kind of legislation.
We play metal and wood. I do not believe it would cost more to play wood only. I think my son has broken 1-2 bats in 3 years of wood bat play. The new composite bats cost almost $ 400.00 that converts to between 8-10 wood bats. I like my chances of spending less money. It just makes for a better game. So many of the high school fields are small, and players product huge numbers but are really just average in power. And I agree with Midlo- my son's a pitcher it allows a pitcher to pitch inside. 
Vikingdad its like i know you or something =)..but the price isnt the biggest thing for me, it is not only easier for the players but for the coaches at the next level that can see who can really hit or who can just get lucky a few times.
What's up Lanford- you're supposed to be in class!! 
I need to ask all of you why you think HS players using wood bats is going to make for a "better" game? I also want to hear how going from metal to wood is going to make the game "safer". You guys are jumping on the nostalgic bandwagon. HS players swinging wood will produce a lot fewer hits making the game BORING not better. As for it being safer that is plain hype. Study after study has shown the highest mph of a ball coming off a wood bat to be 87mph. The highest for a metal bat is 94mph. Plain and simple 7mph is not going to make a difference. A line drive hit straight back at the pitcher at 87mph has the potential to do serious damage (ie: Mike Mussina). Finally if you think the average HS player is going to break three or fewer bats in a sesaon you are kidding yourselves. Cost of the wood bats will be an issue.
Anyone who thinks baseball is boring, wood or metal, does not understand the game.
GT- Have you ever been to a WWBA tournament? It's the best baseball I've ever seen. Safer or not I cannot argue with the machine testing, but the difference is the "sweet spot" they are not the same. This is not about nostalgia it just about good baseball.
Guys,
That is the best you can do, "Anyone who thinks baseball is boring, wood or metal, does not understand the game" and "Have you ever been to a WWBA tournament" to explain all of your posts?
Everyone agrees the metal bat has a larger sweat spot. Would it not be safe to say because of this it produces more hits? Would it also not be safe to say the kids like getting more hits? You think they enjoy the game more when the hits are happening and the runs are scoring? It is not a matter of understanding the game (I get, I think you do to) it is about the game being more enjoyable for the kids. Remember it is a game, the more enjoyable the greater participation. Regarding the WWBA tournament. Been there multiple times, great tournament. Now let me ask you how many of the kids playing at the tournament are the "average" HS player? The fact is the kids playing at WWBA are the "above average" player and the above average kid can swing wood and produce.
That is the best you can do, "Anyone who thinks baseball is boring, wood or metal, does not understand the game" and "Have you ever been to a WWBA tournament" to explain all of your posts?
Everyone agrees the metal bat has a larger sweat spot. Would it not be safe to say because of this it produces more hits? Would it also not be safe to say the kids like getting more hits? You think they enjoy the game more when the hits are happening and the runs are scoring? It is not a matter of understanding the game (I get, I think you do to) it is about the game being more enjoyable for the kids. Remember it is a game, the more enjoyable the greater participation. Regarding the WWBA tournament. Been there multiple times, great tournament. Now let me ask you how many of the kids playing at the tournament are the "average" HS player? The fact is the kids playing at WWBA are the "above average" player and the above average kid can swing wood and produce.
It might decrease hits but increases more pitching duals which are also fun to watch and cost won't be an issue if you actually know how to hit with a wood bat.
And most of the people i talked support the wood bats, the only people that dont support it is the people that have never used woods bat or cant hit with them...not saying that the GT cant hit if he plays or not..just stating who i have talked to
Gents,
Very weak!
FYI I am not a player (my time has come and gone). Please keep in mind the original point was the bill brought before the floor of our great state. I don't know about you but I am sick & tired of politicians grandstanding on issue they have no clue on. It is way to easy for these bone heads to jump on the soapbox "on behalf of the safety of our children". The reality is metal or wood basebal can be dangerous. Zero in on the pitcher and we all know that one day he might be facing a nasty come back. That said we understand it is part of the game. So lets get back to whether or not 7mph is really an issue, more hits means more fun (if you want you can kid yourself that a kid in the dugout really cares about a pitchers duel go ahead) and the cost to keep enough bats in each bag will or will not be an issue.
Very weak!
FYI I am not a player (my time has come and gone). Please keep in mind the original point was the bill brought before the floor of our great state. I don't know about you but I am sick & tired of politicians grandstanding on issue they have no clue on. It is way to easy for these bone heads to jump on the soapbox "on behalf of the safety of our children". The reality is metal or wood basebal can be dangerous. Zero in on the pitcher and we all know that one day he might be facing a nasty come back. That said we understand it is part of the game. So lets get back to whether or not 7mph is really an issue, more hits means more fun (if you want you can kid yourself that a kid in the dugout really cares about a pitchers duel go ahead) and the cost to keep enough bats in each bag will or will not be an issue.
Whatever you say, it seems like you should be on Baseball Tonight about your points, I really doubt everyone in the dugout is upset if their pitcher is in dual and yall are still in a close game (if you are a true team player), i dont care about the price of bats or the safety issues because every dog is going to have their day, just the matter of how hard it comes back at you....this subject is very questionable, me being a pitcher i would love to see wood bats but someone like you GT prolly would enjoy seeing bombs which is VERY understandable..i guess it just matters on how you look like it
I certainly see (and agree with)both of you.
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Metal has put more offense, i.e. excitement into the game. I am quite sure that the amount of younger ballplayers(age 6-13 or so) would be fewer due to the kids strength issues. No hits = no interest... for kids & parents.IMO
On the other hand,from High School on up Wood should be the BOSS. There is plenty of interest already by all involved with the game. The kids are or will work to be strong enough. Most HS kids train with wood anyway. The HS game would weed out the pretenders.
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Metal has put more offense, i.e. excitement into the game. I am quite sure that the amount of younger ballplayers(age 6-13 or so) would be fewer due to the kids strength issues. No hits = no interest... for kids & parents.IMO
On the other hand,from High School on up Wood should be the BOSS. There is plenty of interest already by all involved with the game. The kids are or will work to be strong enough. Most HS kids train with wood anyway. The HS game would weed out the pretenders.
GT is boring.
Great reply ARMOR, did you have to rest after typing those deep words of wisdom?
On that high note from Armor we'll put this one to rest. Hopefully in the end it will be baseball people making the final decision and not some congress person.
On that high note from Armor we'll put this one to rest. Hopefully in the end it will be baseball people making the final decision and not some congress person.
Well stated GT..people that make the final decision should actually know what they are doing and what might happen either way.
gt you are still boring. boring here and on the prep site. it doesn't take much to state a simple fact.
That is between yall, but i am just wondering what percent yall think it will actually past or not
never pass
Really...just cause they dont want to step in with high school sports?
You know what's funny ? before metal was introduced into the game, baseball was doing just fine.
CV
CV
haha never was around when wood was the only thing..only 16 but i like playing with metal but i prefer wood