NYC Bans Metal Bats

[moabfool]

NEW YORK - Metal bats will be banned in high school baseball starting this September in the nation's largest school system after the City Council on Monday overrode a mayoral veto of the bill.

The measure outlaws metal bats under the theory that they produce harder and faster hits, risking injury to young players who have less time to react. Opponents, who include Little League Baseball and sporting goods makers, say there is no evidence metal bats are more dangerous.

Youth leagues and lawmakers are proposing similar bans in other areas, including New Jersey, where a 12-year-old boy went into cardiac arrest and suffered serious injuries after a batted ball struck him in the chest.

In New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg vetoed the bat ban earlier this month, saying the issue should be left up to those who run the youth leagues, not the government. But the City Council overwhelmingly knocked down the veto by a vote of 41-4.

"What we're trying to do is reduce risk," said Councilmember James Oddo, the sponsor of the bill.

Opponents argue that there is no scientific evidence proving metal bats pose a greater danger than wooden bats, and that the anti-metal movement relies on emotional anecdotes over concrete data. Some have said they plan to challenge the matter in court.

In 2005, an American Legion Baseball study found no substantial scientific proof to support the argument that wooden bats are safer than metal bats.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070423/...a_ne/bat_ban_1

[JP]

Why doesn't the major league use metal bats?

[moabfool]

If kids in NYC can't get any exercise playing baseball maybe the they can get some physical activity by making knee jerk reactions, jumping to conclusions, and flying off the handle. Yet another step on the path to full wussification. Here's a sure fire way to reduce the risks of baseball: DON'T PLAY. I took a line drive to the face as a youngster and it didn't hurt me.

[HEADHUNTER]

Why doesn't the major league use metal bats?

Because you've got a 12 million dollar a year player throwing a ball 95MPH and only 65-70 feet away after delivery - and then a juiced batter generated a bat speed of 100+MPH, a tightly wound ball would travel....

um, let's just say it's to protect the pitcher

Oh and also to protect all of the batting records - I'm guessing Bonds would have 1,000+ HR already.

[gonzo]

In related news: only underhanded pitches with whiffle balls will be allowed...to protect the batter.

[JP]

um, let's just say it's to protect the pitcher

Oh and also to protect all of the batting records - I'm guessing Bonds would have 1,000+ HR already.

Right, so what's the big deal of going wood in the youth league? I don't see it as such. The pro's don't because it is a fact that the metal bats add to speed and distance. So, now if your kid sucks and has been benefiting from using metal, oh well

[moabfool]

Why doesn't the major league use metal bats?

The other reasons are really good, but my theory is that metal bats don't break. Louisville Slugger couldn't sell MLB thousands of bats every year if they switched to metal. A player could haul around one bat for years instead of breaking a dozen or two every year.

[JP]

Louisville Slugger couldn't sell MLB thousands of bats every year if they switched to metal. A player could haul around one bat for years instead of breaking a dozen or two every year.

Sure, put people on the unemployment line

[sparker1]

Why doesn't the major league use metal bats?

Oh and also to protect all of the batting records - I'm guessing Bonds would have 1,000+ HR already.

Between steroids and metal bats, he would surely have 1000.

[asdf]

I took a line drive to the face as a youngster and it didn't hurt me.

I took a line drive in the face (metal bat) when i was a youngster and I lost 60% of my vision in my left eye. 14 years later I still get very intense headaches that no meds have ever been able to help.

[moabfool]

I took a line drive to the face as a youngster and it didn't hurt me.

I took a line drive in the face (metal bat) when i was a youngster and I lost 60% of my vision in my left eye. 14 years later I still get very intense headaches that no meds have ever been able to help.

Ouch dude, that sucks. I'd probably say the headaches would be worse than the loss of vision since it's pain. I hope you find something that helps with the headaches. I know a girl that had headaches all the time and they figured out it was from a hole in her heart.

Getting hit with the ball didn't cause any lasting propblems for me. I got hit in the other side of my face a few years later playing ultimate frisbee. I ran into a guy full sprint. The top of his head met my cheek bone exactly where the ball had hit me but on the other side. That one still hurts from time to time. The Dr. said I was fine, but you should not be able to inflate your cheek by plugging your nose and trying to exhale (it doesn't do that any more).

[DirkHammergate]

Why doesn't the major league use metal bats?

Oh and also to protect all of the batting records - I'm guessing Bonds would have 1,000+ HR already.

Between steroids and metal bats, he would surely have 1000.

Don't forget his bat speed and timing and how can him not using an aluminum bat be cheating?

I love Barroid. I will point out the obvious hypocrisy people shower on him, 1/2 of MLB players have freakishly large hat sizes and the other 1/2 inject HGH. That's like witch hunting me like I'm the only one pimpin Ho's, Somebeech does it, Acca does it, why just me?

[sparker1]

I wasn't really trying to "single" out Barry. I lost respect for MLB records with Big Mac. He had great bat speed, too, but tell me it wasn't "additives" that enabled him to do it. For a game that relies so heavily on records, they didn't protect their sanctity very well. Golf has done much the same, allowing technology to take over. The difference is there is no risk to health (as long as people stay out of the fairway 350 yards out).

[DirkHammergate]

I wasn't really trying to "single" out Barry. I lost respect for MLB records with Big Mac. He had great bat speed, too, but tell me it wasn't "additives" that enabled him to do it. For a game that relies so heavily on records, they didn't protect their sanctity very well. Golf has done much the same, allowing technology to take over. The difference is there is no risk to health (as long as people stay out of the fairway 350 yards out).

What gets me probably the most is how Baseball purposely cultivated the Home Run with smaller parks, turning a blind eye to steroids and pimpin the '98 single season Home Run chase just to get themselves back on the map. Now Selig wants nothing to do with the Aaron record and that just makes it worse. Its freakish how badly MLB wants to run itself into the ground.