The short answer is because Major League Baseball likes to study things to death and never actually make a decision. They have a chance right now to be proactive and fix a problem before a player or fan is seriously hurt or killed but they are going to wait until someone is hurt because it will be easier to get people to buy into the change.
I like the idea of changing the rules so that if a bat breaks and flies onto the field than you are out. You'll see players stop using maple bats really quickly.
0 recs | 15 comments
Players love 'em.
What’s the number, 60% of players love ‘em. You can’t just go ripping the bats away from them. Superstition meltdowns.
I’ve said this before, but I think players shouldn’t reuse their bats until death. When Bonds started turning in his bats after every at-bat for self-promotion, he broke far fewer bats on the field.
Also, no more sanding off 1/8th inch of the bat. It’s just plain physics.
Axion - August 18, 2008
If MLB bans maple
kiss ash goodbye.
A Whales Vajayjay - August 18, 2008
Wow
Juan Uribe threatens his bats with his own deportation.
Axion - August 18, 2008
What they should do
Is spend some money to research a bat made of composite material that acts just like a wood bat and then outlaw wood bats and save some trees. I’m actually pretty sure they already have bats that meet these specs. I posted a link to them a while back, but I don’t have it saved anywhere. I think this solution works for all.
Wonko - August 18, 2008
I want metal bats
I like that ping – unlike these guys.
Regarding nets – just make them out of fishing line filament and you won’t even see them.
planetjeffy - August 18, 2008
Batters would reasonably object
What umpire could tell if a catcher were cheating by pushing the netting a bit on a pop foul behind the plate?
scareduck - August 18, 2008
While we're at it - Throw bat = you're out.
I say if you throw your bat after a swing, you’re out.
These are big boys who get paid an awful lot – being responsible enough to hold on to your bat should be part of the game.
Bradicus - August 18, 2008
How about a particle board bat?
Its cheap and disintegrates upon hitting anything.
If that doesnt work, just make it into a, um, one of these.
eastbaysd - August 18, 2008
I like this idea
If it’s made of particle board, everybody will be able to buy their bats at IKEA.
bätt by designer eastbäysd
Dex - August 19, 2008
Ja, Herr Dex
IKEA would make everyone toodle through the Bats Department to get to any other section in the store.
eastbaysd - August 19, 2008
This is all speculation
I have YET to see from any reputable source the results of independent testing verifying that ash bats or maple bats splinter at differing rates. What seems to me to be indisputable is that bat weights have plummeted, and the way this has been accomplished is to reduce the diameter of the bat handle and/or to extend it much further up the length of the bat. A longer, possibly narrower handle will be intrinsically more fragile, maple or ash.
scareduck - August 18, 2008
You're probably right... Therefore...
I still like the idea that we’ve pitched for a while that regardless of what the bat’s made of, if it any part of it enters the field of play during a live ball, the batter’s out. Some guys will take the risk, but most will start to figure out alternative solutions.
Dex - August 19, 2008
Video guy = creepy
I expected him to start by saying, “No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die.”
scareduck - August 18, 2008
I was thinkin the same thing
Before he opened his mouth, I’m thinking that MLB has hired a Russkie to blahnik, blahnik,blahnik, yada,yada,yada about bats, then the camera pulls back and hes strokin a kitty.
eastbaysd - August 18, 2008
I was waiting
for an arc of tobacco juice to come flying out of that gap in his front teeth. I mean seriously, doesn’t MLB have a dental plan?
Boilermaker19 - August 19, 2008
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Gaslamp Ball to post a comment.