Rule change proposal re: metal & wood bats

[retep]

So, due to my inability to understand why this rule exists, I am going to try and change it.

I fully understand why after hitting one HR at DeFemery, you can not ever use metal. However, seeing that after so many at bats, only and handful of people have ever hit a HR at Curt Flood, I see no reason that this rule should remain in effect.

I propose that the I HR = No Metal rule should only apply to DeFemery.

I am not saying this because I feel I am being cheated of HRs at Curt Flood. I am saying this because I am being cheated out of base hits and doubles at Curt Flood: all because of one, freak at-bat.

I have seen everyone use a Metal Bat at Curt Flood, so no one should give me any grief about how wood is better than metal. That is not what this discussion is about.

[tallguy]

You know what, I agree with you on this one. Defremery is very different from Curt Flood. It really doesn't make a lot of sense to have the same rule for two such wildly differing parks. But, I propose a slight variation. If you want to continue hitting with metal despite having hit one out at that park before, you may do so, but repeat jacks at that park will not count, they will become triples, for the purpose of scoring and advancing runners.
So if you really think it was a freak occurence, unlikely to re-occur, you aren't really risking much to use the metal bat.

[Guest]

I prefer to use wood bat when I have one, so I don't feel affected. At large parks like Curt Flood or Raimondi, it shoud not matter since high school and semi pro leagues play on those fields with aluminum bats. So my two cents for your choice of bats; at large fields use whatever you like and at fields like DeFremery where safety and property damage may be compromised by aluminum bats, then employ a common sense compromise.

[Baseball=Life]

Yeah, you guys are right. What you're saying is reasonable. If, as Paul mentions, someone like Peter starts raking out HRs at Curt Flood with a metal bat, then we need to at the very least reassess. I am not so attached to the romantic notion of wood bats being old-school that I'm unable to understand a very obvious point about how different the fields are. So, again, I think you guys are right and let's do it. Once Peter (or anyone) hits out too many HRs at Flood, though, we'll have to reel them in.

[retep]

One variation I thought of was one HR per game. If you hit a HR that day, no more metal. If you don't hit a HR for months, use metal all u want.

This will allow HRs to be a possibility, but not dominate.

Yes, theoretically, someone could hit one HR per game, and that's not very good. But lets not worry about that until someone else hits even a second HR at all (to left).

Would this chill Paul’s concerns.

[Southpaw Slim]

I like Paul's idea of turning HR's into triples, but I'm wondering if we shouldn't even make them a "ground rule double" instead. Triples need to be hit into cetain parts of the field, whereas a hit to the wall would most likely be a double.

And if someone is hitting a home run every game, I'd encourage them to use wooden bats after 3 weeks, no one per game rule.

But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

[joe shmoe]

im new to sunday baseball and so looking at the stats im below the top i bat under 400 and strike out a lot. i dont even have my own (i use a friends) bit when i dont connect i smoke it i haven't hit a HR yet but i imagine soon i will and i always metal bats i know metal hits balls harder then wood. but wooden bats break and i dont want to break some one elses bat because its theirs and i dont have the cash for a new bat why should my (soon to be) HRs be changed to triples or worse doubles. the way i see is if you dont mind losing a wooden bat then you should make a slugger use one.

[tallguy]

Your home runs should be changed to triples or doubles if they are not worthy of being called home runs.
Defremery is a fun place to play, I like it a lot, but it is very small. Who can deny that most of the home runs hit last Sunday would be doubles at Curt Flood, or more likely outs.
Anyone may use my hickory bat, I have no fear that it will break! Maybe you don't like it, most people think it's too heavy. You can keep using metal if you just change your stance or swing a tiny bit, and hit to center field or opposite field instead of pulling it. [/i]

[We Want The Cup]

I have a metal bat that costed me 300 dollars. It would be a shame if I hit one home run, and was not allowed to use it. At Curt Flood, the field is definitely big enough where there is nothing wrong with metal. And to handicap someone for making an achievement such as a home run is one of the strangest rules I have ever heard of. I have never actually played at Curt Flood, but I saw it. It is not DeFremery. Personally, as an outfielder, I want metal bats to be used because there is such limited action out there. Not that metal gives THAT MUCH boost. Metal is so overrated. It adds about 5-7 % of distance, and that is only if hitting it on the sweet spot.

Just thought I would throw in my 2 cents, because I am looking forward to playing some ball when I get back to Cali, but I am not buying wood bats, when I already have a 300 dollar bat to be used.

I say, if you take away metal bats from people who get a home run, take away the cleats from anyone who steals a base or gets a triple. Make any outfielder who makes a Web Gem wear a catcher's mitt. Make any spectator that successfully heckles someone causing a strikeout to tape his mouth. Make any umpire tie his hands behind his back after punching someone out. Make.... ok you get the point.

[retep]

I like Paul's idea of turning HR's into triples, but I'm wondering if we shouldn't even make them a "ground rule double" instead. Triples need to be hit into cetain parts of the field, whereas a hit to the wall would most likely be a double.

And if someone is hitting a home run every game, I'd encourage them to use wooden bats after 3 weeks, no one per game rule.

Can we deal with this issue when/if it becomes one? Lets not make rules for somehtintg that hasn't come close to happening.

[Baseball=Life]

Forget changing HRs into triples or doubles. The rule should simply be that, at non-DeFremery fields, if you hit HRs too frequently then you have to use a wooden bat. I honestly don't expect us to ever need to enforce this rule. Does anyone actually believe that anyone, including Anthony Y. with his $300 bat (that's ridiculous by the way), will actually hit HRs out of non-DeFremery fields with any type of frequency? I don't believe so. It hasn't happened so far.

Remember, Peter was just pointing out that he's only hit 1 HR out of Curt Flood, so why make him switch to wood.

The only question is what is the exact frequency that would be too much, that would trigger the mandatory switch to a wooden bat? I'm thinking if you HR every game for 3 games, or hit 3 over two games, then we've established a trend and you should switch to wood. Anything short of that frequency, keep swingin' your metal bat.

[retep]

I remeber part of the issue with metal was that there were some people (Will, Carlos) who were expected to his a homerun.

So, maybe that could be the "sense." Once it seems like we are expectting a HR from someone, then we make them switch. But I think it should be ok for someone to be a power hitter.

[TheLegend]

I think if you're hitting a HR less frequently than once every other game you should be able to use whatever bat you like at Curt Flood.

1:2 games= 81 HRs in the MLB season... anything less than that is almost kinda somewhat reasonable... and maybe even kinda cool.

[retep]

I think if you're hitting a HR less frequently than once every other game you should be able to use whatever bat you like at Curt Flood.

Now I need to invent an explosive bat that explodes on contatc! BOOM!

Metal? Left in the dust!

[gohlkus]

You could fashion one out of chalk and then wrap it in layers of aluminum foil. Then paint it to look like a real bat.

(Um, yeah.)