Teams Not Likely to Drop Aluminum Bats
April 30, 2007

Copyright 2007, the Charlotte Observer
In My Opinion, by Kevin Cary

GASTONIA --Go to any high school baseball game in Gaston or Lincoln county and you'll hear the same unmistakable sound.

It has nothing to do with the pregame music -- each school has different musical tastes -- or even the sound of hamburgers sizzling on a grill. It's the sound each stadium shares every time a batter hits the ball.

"Ping."

Aluminum bats have been a part of high school baseball for decades, but last week New York City decided it would outlaw the bats for next season. Officials cited studies that showed balls hit by aluminum bats created more injuries than wooden bats because of the increased power. Councilman James Oddo told The Associated Press that the school system hoped to reduce the risk of injury to fielders with the ban.

The ban takes effect in September. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg had vetoed the bill, but the City Council overrode the veto by a 41-4 vote.

The move created a national stir, but don't expect local teams to have to worry about a change. Gaston and Lincoln officials have no plans to implement such a ban.

Safety is always a priority in sports, but I think the New York government took a step that will never happen here. Five years ago, a measure like that would have made more sense for local teams, but a rule change in 2003 has helped make aluminum bats safer for high schools.

That year, the N.C. High School Athletic Association decided to follow the same rules as the NCAA. In 2000, the NCAA passed a rule that created a new weight-to-length ratio for aluminum bats. Those bats must have no more than a minus-3 ratio, meaning a bat that is 32 inches in length can't weigh less than 29 ounces. Bats must be tested and certified with a BESR (Ball Exit Safety Ratio) logo, which means a batted ball won't travel more than 97 mph.

Prior to that, bats were unbalanced, with more weight toward the barrel. Those lighter bats created more bat speed and power, but the changes in 2003 forced high school players to adapt.

Many bought new bats that season, since older, uncertified bats could not be used. Local schools don't provide bats for players, so a few team members sometimes spent $200 or more to get a new one.

That might seem like a costly move, but it is still better than a wood alternative. Those bats cost just as much as aluminum and can break during a season. Coaches have estimated that teams could go through 10 bats or more during a season. That would mean an extra $2,000 that teams or players would have to spend.

Some teams and players can't afford their own bats, and that could create an awkward situation. A pitcher like North Gaston's Jake Buchanan -- who throws 90 mph -- could break five or six in a game with inside fastballs, and force a team to borrow it's opponent's bat.

Using wood bats would also give teams with good pitchers a big advantage. Buchanan won his first 10 decisions this season, and he might not give up a run all season facing wood bats. Teams in the summer college baseball Coastal Plain League, who use only wood bats, saw scoring drop by more than 50 percent than during the college regular season.

That would create a lot of 1-0 games and create pitching dominance that might alienate fans who like to see hits.

So, while the "ping" sound heard at games today might not be as appealing as the crack of a wooden bat, it is the best choice.