Tag: baseball

Wood Makes a Return to Youth Baseball

We reported earlier this year that the NCCA had introduced new rules regarding what constitutes a “legal” bat, as some alloy metals were banned, because they gave an unfair advantage to players. But now Rhode Island has stepped up to the plate to ban all metal bats in its American Legion Baseball league for youth players.

This is just one of three states where the American Legion has reportedly mandated this switch from metal to wooden bats, citing safety as the main reason. While tradition has been cited, and thus the use of wooden bats is in line with those Major League Baseball, it has been argued that wood bats are in fact safer. Research has shown that balls tend to leave wooden bats less quickly, and this gives players on the field more time to react to line drives.

As we noted last year, the National Federation of State High School Associations adopted new guidelines that will come into effect in 2012 on the performance of non-wooden bats as well.

[Via Rockdale Citizen: Youth leagues mull different bat standards]

Made in America: Louisville Slugger

The first product that we chose for our ‘Made in America’ section had to be truly American. A company or product that reminded you of the good old U.S.A. when you heard the name. It only made sense to feature something from the game that is as American as apple pie… baseball and the Louisville Slugger.

Continue reading Made in America: Louisville Slugger

Get a Grip – a Tater Grip

This season has seen the “power” of baseball bats greatly reduced, at least in college, high school and little league as new regulations on bat size have taken affect. But one area that is still seeing forward development is in the “grips” – or more accurately the Tater Grip, which are now available nationwide at retail.

Tater Grip’s new patented, proprietary technology, ultimately a slide and shrink-to-fit installation system, allows ball players to custom design a bat handle label which is then visible through the slide-on, clear rubber grip.

Tater Grip comes packaged air-tight in a proprietary solvent which expands up to three times its normal size when exposed.  When the grip is removed from the package simply slide the grip over the bat knob, and within a couple of hours, it forms and shrinks to the bat handle’s size.

(Video after the jump)

Continue reading Get a Grip – a Tater Grip

New Brain Bucket Developed for Little League, Introduced at “The Dome”

 

For years batters have walked up to the plate whilst wearing protective headgear. Now soon pitchers may be required to take the mount with helmets on as well. This wee Easton-Bell Sports announced the development of new headgear at the Helmet Technology Center, internally known as “The Dome.”

Easton-Bell Sports CEO Paul Harrington, along with Little League International President Stephen Keener, California Interscholastic Federation Executive Director Marie Ishida and Marin County high school baseball player Gunnar Sandberg in Scotts Valley, introduced a new helmet prototype. The Easton-Bell Sports pitching helmet prototype uses lightweight energy managing materials to provide protection to the most vulnerable areas of the head, without compromising comfort or performance. The helmet is made of expanded polystyrene polycarbonate, which is attached to a comfortable liner and elastic strap. Continue reading New Brain Bucket Developed for Little League, Introduced at “The Dome”

NCAA Issues New Rules on Baseball Bats

With baseball season about to swing out, there will be a significant change in the swinging. The NCAA has changed its rules on what constitutes a “legal” bat. Some alloy metals have been at least temporarily banned, as these reportedly give an unfair advantage to players.

What does this mean exactly? For one, college hasn’t struck out aluminum bats in general. While still banned in the Major League, the aluminum bats remain legal – but the so-called “sweet spots” has shrunk, leaving approximately an area of about three-inches where the bat can make solid contact. Bats that have too much of a spring effect are reportedly “not legal.”

While this is affecting college baseball the most, some high school baseball teams are feeling the hit too. Last August the California Interscholastic Federation had announced high schools baseball teams’ bats would have to carry the Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution to be considered legal for this season. But as of this week it was reported that some stores still don’t have the bats – and training is already underway. Let’s hope this is resolved by opening day.

Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution

Will 3D Change the Way the Game is Played

There has been a lot of talk this year about 3D, and what 3D means for sports. But most of the talk has been centered around how those sitting on the couch will experience the game, not in how it is played. So far the emphasis has been in watching sports in 3D on TV, but this weekend The New York Times reported that another facet of 3D is in the works, which could make the way the athletes prepare for the game – big and small. Continue reading Will 3D Change the Way the Game is Played

AT&T U-Verse Offers Multiview of Cubs Games

 

If you can’t get out to the ballgame, but still want to root, root, root for the home team you can do so from home of course, but it isn’t quite the same. You’re always stuck watching what the TV director wants you to see. That is until now. This year AT&T and WGN-TV are offering a new TV app that lets users view up to four different camera angles of the Chicago Cubs home games at one time. Users can choose from the main WGN-TV Chicago game broadcast as well as six alternate camera angles. This gives viewers the ability to feel like they’re in the stands at Wrigley Field. Continue reading AT&T U-Verse Offers Multiview of Cubs Games

Aluminum vs. Wood: Are Non-Wood Bats Too Dangerous?

Do aluminum bats give an unfair advantage, and more importantly are these bats potentially dangerous?

If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball you know that “crack” sound all too well. It is the sound of the bat making contact with the ball. But it is a sound that is often lacking in high school baseball, where aluminum and other metal – as well as other space age materials – are also allowed. Some are claiming that these lighter bats mean that there is an increase in the exit speed that could be considered dangerous. In fact, in recent years there have been incidents of injuries of players.

As a result the National Federation of State High School Associations has adopted new guidelines that will come into affect in 2012 on the performance of non-wooden bats. While still not allowed in the majors, aluminum bats were introduced in 1971 as a cheap alternative to wood – although the earliest metal bat was patented in 1924. The majors have never allowed anything but wooden bats, citing competitive and safety reasons, but since the 1970s aluminum bats have been popular with little league and amateur baseball, including at the high school and college level.

The irony is that while aluminum was often a cheaper alternative to a quality wooden bat, advances including titanium bats, lightest grade but still strong aluminum Louisville Sluggers and even double walled bats, and finally composite bats have given players the edge – but at a cost. Today a good wooden bat might cost $50 to $70, while the most advanced bats can cost $400 or more! The argument for aluminum is that it is nearly impossible to break and thus worth the extra money; that and the fact that it can give a performance edge.

Of course safety is what matters most. An advantage in performance not only endangers the other players, but it can spoil the nature of the game.