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bobby
87 Posts |
 Posted - 06/21/2011 : 10:01:20
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We played in a 12u tournament last weekend and faced a boy who was 6'4" and about 225 pounds. He hit a rocket back up the middle which hit our pitcher. It was a miracle that our pitcher wasn't killed. It amazes me that USSSA and really all tournaments continue to allow big barrel -10 and -9 bats at this age level. I would hate to think that it will take a serious injury or fatality to get someones attention and change the bat rules.Next years "change" requiring the USSSA 1.15 BPF stamp is not a change at all.The bats are the exact same.Someone needs to step up to the plate and make a change before it is too late.We read articles every month about young kids getting seriously hurt all across the country but nothing changes.Lets go back to wood bats or at least normal size barrels, or ban the -10,-9 bats.
Concerned Coach |
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rustybucket
67 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2011 : 16:11:06
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I'm all for safety, but changing the bats isn't going to solve this problem. Hell in the majors they use wood bats and pitchers are hit every year with batted balls.
one example of many.
http://www.aolnews.com/2010/04/24/pirates-pitcher-hit-in-face-by-line-drive/
Put a wood bat in the 6' 4" kids hand and he will still stroke them back up the middle. Would a few mph less on the line drive have given the pitcher time to react? I doubt it. Add in splintered bat barrels coming back at the pitcher and wood bats don't look so safe after all...
Again, I'm all for safety, and I'm the last one that wants to see ANY kid get hurt on the field, but will going to a drop 8 or a drop 5 even really make a big difference on this? This type of event has ALWAYS happened, but with today's news outlets the data is much more publicized.
I'm all for going to wood, I think it'd be GREAT, but I seriously doubt it's gonna happen. And my reason for going to wood isn't to protect pitchers.
I think that many times rules are enacted in the name of safety. You can't slide head first in most leagues, which I disagree with. So I watch runners slide in feet first at home and get hit in the head/neck/ribs/hands with a thrown ball, (If they were sliding head first the ball would miss them entirely). So this rule was made to save a few broken, jammed fingers, wrists..etc and now the players head is at the EXACT level that the hard throw is coming in at????? That doesn't make much sense to me... This is just one of the examples of a 'rule' that was made in the name of safety that could actually end up hurting more players.
Baseball can be a rough sport, injuries do happen... look at Pujols, are we going to have a rule now that runners can't stay in the baseline? Baseball can be a rough sport and 'freak accidents' can AND WILL happen. Making a new rule with not much thought or research doesn't do anything for the game, if anything it hurts it. |
Edited by - rustybucket on 06/21/2011 19:57:39 |
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DecaturDad
619 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2011 : 16:12:32
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Bobby,
First, I am glad your pitcher is OK. I would never want to see any of the boys hurt. But was this kid really using a -10 bat? At that size I would think he would be using a heavier bat. And if it was a heavier bat, how would you prevent a potential injury like this? |
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sportsman
37 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2011 : 09:28:20
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| The drops should change at each level as the kids change with the bases and pitchers mounds. It doesn't make alot of sense to leave the bats the same as 9 year olds but change field size, bases and pitching distances. Bat size drops should fall on a yearly basis or by-yearly basis because it makes a huge difference. Why do you think 12 year olds are swinging these bats? It's so they can hit it harder and further. If you don't think it makes a difference then why do High School kids have a drop 3 as the rule? They have this rule so kids at that age can't generate ridiculous bat speed thus putting players in danger. Wood bats aren't going to work from a cost perspective. |
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Coach Bertolani
30 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2011 : 14:31:38
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| You know this question was coming. Are any of your players using drop 10 or the Worth Lithium bat that has the ball coming off hot? |
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bobby
87 Posts |
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Spartan4
913 Posts |
Posted - 06/22/2011 : 18:07:44
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| The small barrel bats are just as hot if not hotter. I don't think it is a huge issue as most parents with a 6'4" 12 year old just allow them to play up and improve instead of dominate smaller boys. A 250ft shot isn't that impressive when the kid is a foot taller and 100 pounds heavier than the pitcher!! |
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BravesFan
533 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2011 : 20:24:50
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quote:
Originally posted by sportsman
The drops should change at each level as the kids change with the bases and pitchers mounds. It doesn't make alot of sense to leave the bats the same as 9 year olds but change field size, bases and pitching distances. Bat size drops should fall on a yearly basis or by-yearly basis because it makes a huge difference. Why do you think 12 year olds are swinging these bats? It's so they can hit it harder and further. If you don't think it makes a difference then why do High School kids have a drop 3 as the rule? They have this rule so kids at that age can't generate ridiculous bat speed thus putting players in danger. Wood bats aren't going to work from a cost perspective.
That gets too complicated, too many age groups and who will enforce it? Umps barely know what age group they are doing let alone figure out what drop bat they can use. |
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