Interesting CWS statistic ...

[GoneGolfin]

When the 2005 CWS field was set, I immediately noticed that the representative schools were mostly built around pitching and defense and were at minimum balanced squads (pitching/hitting/defense). These are the types of clubs that have been winning championships since the deadening of the aluminum bat. Gorilla ball is dated.

The 2005 Championship series still remains to be played. But thus far, no team in the 2005 edition of the CWS has scored double digit runs. The interesting statistic is that this has happened only *two* times since the College World Series moved to an eight team field and to Omaha in 1950. It happened in 1966 and 1971. In fact, the only other year it happened was in 1948 when the CWS was a best of three series between two schools.

It is also interesting to note that an SEC team has not won the CWS since 2000 when LSU won its last title. All winners since 2000 have been built around pitching and defense, save the 2001 Miami team that was a balanced squad.

Brian

[Turbine]

Brian, stuff like that is why you deserve the big bucks.

Somebody PLEASE ante up.

[lxa656]

You speak of the aluminum bat; I have heard you on the radio shows and I apologize if you have stated your opinion on this already, but what is your opinions on the wooden bat in college and is it a realistic possibilty for the future?

[Clutch0364]

On the last episode of Real Sports on HBO they talked about the aluminum bat debate. They brought up a lot of good points and if anyone has a chance to see a replay it was a good show.

[Rebel02]

On the last episode of Real Sports on HBO they talked about the aluminum bat debate. They brought up a lot of good points and if anyone has a chance to see a replay it was a good show.

Has anyone heard "and thats a broken aluminum bat grounder to second"? No. If college baseball started using aluminum bats, the NCAA better strike a deal with Louisville Slugger or someone else to provide wood bats at a VERY low price because you can bet there will be a lot of broken bats. The thing with an aluminum bat is you buy a new and it can last you a couple years. Costs for teams will sky rocket is wood bats are used.

[GoneGolfin]

You speak of the aluminum bat; I have heard you on the radio shows and I apologize if you have stated your opinion on this already, but what is your opinions on the wooden bat in college and is it a realistic possibilty for the future?

I actually like the aluminum bat in college. As long as the manufacturers are not allowed to go nuts like the golf club manufacturers do. The standards that were implemented at the beginning of the decade seem to be working. The game is much more watchable by the mainstream that it was in the 90's. I think we now have a nice balance between run production and pitching. You see pitchers throwing inside a lot more than you did ten years ago. I think that when a pitcher cannot do that effectively, it takes away from the game.

I also think that if college baseball were to go to a wooden bat, it would take the game to the opposite extreme. I love a 2-1 pitchers duel with solid defense and strategy. But I also think that it makes these types of games more special when they do not become the predominant box score. I also think that it would be too expensive for college baseball. Teams would go through a lot of bats during the course of the fall and spring seasons. Some have suggested that Major League Baseball would be willing to foot the bill. But that is a lot of hardware that would need to be provided to all Division I programs. The dollars would be large and coordination would be difficult. I have a hard time seeing this happen.

Brian

[Clutch0364]

The one thing the showed on this show was how they test them. In testing they say they react abotu the same as a wooden bat but during testing they test it with a pitch being thrown at around 70 mph and a bat swinging at 67 mph. How many pitches in college baseball are being thrown at 70 mph and I could be wrong but I would think all of the players are swinging the bat faster than 67 mph.

They showed that the balls are coming off that bat sometimes at speeds faster than 114 mph.

Like you I agree with money is not there to use wooden bats but I woudl like to see them used if the money was there.

[GoneGolfin]

The one thing the showed on this show was how the test them. In testing they say they react abotu the same as a wooden bat but during testing they test it with a pitch being thrown at around 70 mph and a bat swinging at 67 mph. How many pitches in college baseball are being thrown at 70 mph and I could be wrong but I would think all of the players are swinging the bat faster than 67 mph.

They showed that the balls are coming off that bat sometimes at speeds faster than 114 mph.

Then they were testing with non NCAA sanctioned aluminum bats. NCAA sanctioned bats were deadened in 2000 to have exit speeds of no greater than 97 mph. Additional loopholes in the bat standard were also closed and implemented for the 2001 season.

I did not see the show, but it sounds as if this test was not a fair one.

Brian

[Clutch0364]

Then they were testing with non NCAA sanctioned aluminum bats. NCAA sanctioned bats were deadened in 2000 to have exit speeds of no greater than 97 mph. Additional loopholes in the bat standard were also closed and implemented for the 2001 season.

I did not see the show, but it sounds as if this test was not a fair one.

Brian

No that is what they were showing about how they tested them at levels that would meet the standard of it coming off at 97 mph. The test they do has the ball speed at 70 and the bat speed at 67 but when it is tested with a pitch of normal speed and of a normal bat speed it comes off the bat much faster than the ncaa has sanctioned them.

[lxa656]

I actually like the aluminum bat in college. As long as the manufacturers are not allowed to go nuts like the golf club manufacturers do. The standards that were implemented at the beginning of the decade seem to be working. The game is much more watchable by the mainstream that it was in the 90's. I think we now have a nice balance between run production and pitching. You see pitchers throwing inside a lot more than you did ten years ago. I think that when a pitcher cannot do that effectively, it takes away from the game.

I also think that if college baseball were to go to a wooden bat, it would take the game to the opposite extreme. I love a 2-1 pitchers duel with solid defense and strategy. But I also think that it makes these types of games more special when they do not become the predominant box score. I also think that it would be too expensive for college baseball. Teams would go through a lot of bats during the course of the fall and spring seasons. Some have suggested that Major League Baseball would be willing to foot the bill. But that is a lot of hardware that would need to be provided to all Division I programs. The dollars would be large and coordination would be difficult. I have a hard time seeing this happen.

Brian

Cool beans, it really doesnt matter to me either way, but i just wanted to get some other peoples views on the topic. Thanks guys!

[JMV JustMyView]

I actually like the aluminum bat in college. As long as the manufacturers are not allowed to go nuts like the golf club manufacturers do. The standards that were implemented at the beginning of the decade seem to be working. The game is much more watchable by the mainstream that it was in the 90's. I think we now have a nice balance between run production and pitching. You see pitchers throwing inside a lot more than you did ten years ago. I think that when a pitcher cannot do that effectively, it takes away from the game.

I also think that if college baseball were to go to a wooden bat, it would take the game to the opposite extreme. I love a 2-1 pitchers duel with solid defense and strategy. But I also think that it makes these types of games more special when they do not become the predominant box score. I also think that it would be too expensive for college baseball. Teams would go through a lot of bats during the course of the fall and spring seasons. Some have suggested that Major League Baseball would be willing to foot the bill. But that is a lot of hardware that would need to be provided to all Division I programs. The dollars would be large and coordination would be difficult. I have a hard time seeing this happen.

Brian

Mr. Brian for a avid golfer like yourself I am surprise you wouldn't want that extra edge that the golf manufactors are producing