Maple Bats Revisited

by jbox on Mar 15, 2010 3:43 PM PDT

Bob Scanlan just wrote an impassioned blog post about the danger of the continued use of maple bats.

I understand his frustration, Major League Baseball knows about the problem, but instead of acting on the problem to protect players, umpires and fans they drag their feet.

MLB’s response? More studies, of course! More studies to investigate the affects of grain angles, moisture content, and wood density. More committees to review policy on bat handle thicknesses. More meetings to discuss every option OTHER than obvious, sensible, and prudent solution…banning Maple bats from use in competition.

In 2008 Sandy Alderson was put in charge of a committee of nerds to study the problem to death. They made nine recommendations and upgraded bat policies were supposed to be put in place by 2009. Whatever those nine recommendations were, they aren't working.

Scanman continues...

Whatever the reason, it is now beyond simply being short sided and irresponsible – the term now is becoming criminal recklessness.

Here is Gaslamp Ball's unscientific solution to the Maple Bat problem, simply change the rules so that if a bat breaks the batter is out. Batters will start using different bats real quick when they see their averages fall.

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Comments

Bud Selig sucks.

If this was the NFL and there was some piece of equipment that failed over and over again causing sharp wooden spikes to go hurtling into the field of play and the crowd, Roger Goodell would have said piece of equipment outlawed by the following afternoon.

Selig, meanwhile, is on year three of this controversy and still seems to have no idea what to do.

by theodore donald kerabatsos on Mar 15, 2010 3:55 PM PDT reply actions

Birch is the new Maple

give Adrian Gonzalez a dozen crates of Birch bats.. then wait for him to hit 40+ homers.
If someone has a great season, maybe players will switch to Birch.

Similar to Bonds making the Maple bats popular.

Pacquia-OOW!

by verbanonfacta on Mar 15, 2010 4:04 PM PDT reply actions

Metal bats!

I just want to get paid to draw naked girls, is that so much to ask?

by tonoxtono on Mar 15, 2010 4:35 PM PDT reply actions

balsa wood

Outside of a dog, a man's best friend is a baseball; inside of a dog, it is very dark.
--Groucho Marx.

by planetjeffy on Mar 15, 2010 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions

bamboo

I just want to get paid to draw naked girls, is that so much to ask?

by tonoxtono on Mar 15, 2010 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions

though technically it’s grass, but, still.

I just want to get paid to draw naked girls, is that so much to ask?

by tonoxtono on Mar 15, 2010 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions

If bamboo is grass...

I’m pretty sure it’s already banned. Unless you’re Tim Lincecum.

by Sinister Duck on Mar 15, 2010 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions

MLB's chill with it.

I learned that when Geovani (sp? I don’t care enough about some Cub to look it up) Soto got suspended from world competition but not MLB

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThinGwynn on Mar 15, 2010 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Geovany

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 16, 2010 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Thanks.

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThinGwynn on Mar 16, 2010 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Bats

Adrian does use the Birch and seems to like it. Other players are trying it. Supposed to have a bit more flex and less explosiveness that Maple, but it’s being received with mixed response from players. It’s the indian not the arrow anyway, I believe.

Scan
HeyScan.com

by Scanman on Mar 15, 2010 8:11 PM PDT reply actions

What do you know about

the axe-handled bats that only the Mariners and Padres are testing? It’s said that they’re much less likely to shatter than regular bats.

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThinGwynn on Mar 15, 2010 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions

If Savior is using one those, they don't work.

He almost sliced Metters leg off last night.

by theodore donald kerabatsos on Mar 16, 2010 7:54 AM PDT up reply actions

He broke another one after that

Venable looked like he was used the same bat and he broke one too. I’m not going to say for sure that they are maple though.

I remember Mark Grant going on a rant about maple bats last year and showing broken bats and how dangerous they were and then the next day someone told him that the bats they were showing were made of Ash.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Mar 16, 2010 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions

lol!

552

by wrveres on Mar 16, 2010 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Someone refresh my memory...

Didn’t someone at the All Star Game (like Howard I think) give AGON (oh that nickname takes on another meaning now) some tips that led to him using a heavier and/or different bat last season?

It might be the liquor, I am just wondering if anyone else had the same memory.

by goldfyngor on Mar 15, 2010 10:43 PM PDT reply actions