Should MLB Ban Maple Bats?

[petegz28]

After seeing the Ump take a broken bat upside the head last night I think I am convinced it is time to ban maple bats. If something as freaky as a bat breaking and nailing the PLATE Umpire in the head and drawing blood can happen then it is a matter of time before a jagged edge ****s someone up good.

Thoughts?

[FELT]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

This is exactly the issue, not the type of wood that is used.

The handles have been shaved down thinner and thinner over the years - it generates more speed in the swing - the head of the bat carries the majority of the weight and comes through the plate much faster than bats with thicker handles.

Thinner handles + more bat speed = more HR's and more broken bats.

Exactly, most of the broken bats occur in the handle area. I think that before thinking about banning maple, they need to make it where players cannot significantly doctor bats from the initial manufactured state.

[chasedude]

Make em out of Hickory, they'll never break.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by FELT

Exactly, most of the broken bats occur in the handle area. I think that before thinking about banning maple, they need to make it where players cannot significantly doctor bats from the initial manufactured state.

I would imagine that is already a rule....

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by Valiant

Because statistically the same amount have people have died or injured from wooden bats as aluminum ones..

Hell in KC they just posted an article about the Pittbull ban from 2006.. Some 1600+ have been put to sleep with another 2500+ still in shelters from people who were forced to get rid of them.. Bitings did not go down.. The bitings have stayed steady, even though all these evil and vicious dogs are off the street not attacking people..

It is a false since of security by banning them and thinking you are making the sport safer..

I don't think it should be done completely for safety, I just think baseball should be played with a wood bat, and I would think it would be a better transition to MLB for players.

[FELT]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

I would imagine that is already a rule....

Actually it isn't. There was a discussion about it on a local talk show yesterday. Sand paper to the handle to lighten it up.

[Calcountry]

Originally Posted by Slayer

And destroy a part of the tradition? Nah...besides, one could make the argument that it lessens the temptation for corking.

Wow, where the heck have you been. You might even have facial hair by now, lmao.

[Hog Rider]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

I think if we ban the balls it would be alot safer. No broken bats, no fans getting hit by foul ones, no line drives, getting rid of the balls is the way to go.

Water balloons - if you break the balloon, it's an automatic out.

[Amnorix]

There was an article somewhere (ESPN?) about this. Apparentyl, nobody really used maple bats until Joe Carter or someone in the 90s. Now it's nearly 40% or so of baseball player.s

Problem is that they are very prone to breaking and having pieces flying everywhere, threatening players and fans. It's only a matter of time before a jagged hunk o' bat goes into the stands, and someone gets hurt.

And when they sue, they'll be bring into court things like the ESPN article. I'd hate to be the defnese lawyer dealing with "ESPN **WROTE** a full article about how dangerous these were, and you STILL let players use them. Everyone knows the risks of the BALL going into the stands, but that's unavoidable. Pieces of a bat, however, is avoided just by using the SAME WOOD BASEBALL HAS USED FOR THE LAST 100 YEARS, until the last 10 of course...."

Ouch.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

There was an article somewhere (ESPN?) about this. Apparentyl, nobody really used maple bats until Joe Carter or someone in the 90s. Now it's nearly 40% or so of baseball player.s

Problem is that they are very prone to breaking and having pieces flying everywhere, threatening players and fans. It's only a matter of time before a jagged hunk o' bat goes into the stands, and someone gets hurt.

And when they sue, they'll be bring into court things like the ESPN article. I'd hate to be the defnese lawyer dealing with "ESPN **WROTE** a full article about how dangerous these were, and you STILL let players use them. Everyone knows the risks of the BALL going into the stands, but that's unavoidable. Pieces of a bat, however, is avoided just by using the SAME WOOD BASEBALL HAS USED FOR THE LAST 100 YEARS, until the last 10 of course...."

Ouch.

It'd never happen. Fans assume the risk by attending, just like hockey pucks at hockey games. You are informed of the risk, and you chose to attend.