bat specifications for next year

[davidlimbaugh]

Meh. Bats that are used will only last a season or two anyway and they'll be legal in summer ball or for BP bats. The manufacturer should either take back bats that aren't legal or provide a sticker for an interim period for bats that meet the specifications but aren't in compliance with the labeling.

 

Pitchers. Throw inside. You're going to like the new bat specs.

 

The rule specifically rules out 'stickers' or 'labels' because of chance of being placed on a non-compliant bat.

[Coach Shelton]

I coach at a smaller single A school. We do not have a budget. We do not get the support of administration on the purchase of bats. We might buy 1-2 bats per year. I have advised all players not to waste their money until they know for sure what is going to happen. If they buy a bat, then they are risking only being able to use it for one year. We are not buying new bats for next year. We may be able to buy two of the new bats in the following year. This sucks for us! I think it's a racket! Someone will be making a killing on this move and it's not the schools. I understand it may be a safety issue and appreciate NFHS and TSSAA looking into it, but we are not college programs where all Varsity players get to uses new bats. Maybe buying new bats won't cause us to forego JV that year.

[ksgovols]

They're giving you a year to come into compliance. Our guys just bought 4 new Voodoos because the pricing was good before the new models come out. They'll get 2 years of high school ball, 2 summers and 2 falls out of them. Believe me, that's a lifetime for a high end bat. They don't last that long if you use them. Second, if you're paying $300 for Voodoos, you aren't shopping. I've bought 2 in the wrapper for $165 and $185. I can't believe what kids can get their parents to pay for a paint job. Now, they'll have to pay it for a dang label.

 

The bat manufacturer's will react by being in compliance starting in 2011 or discounting the old technology so that you're not out much money. That's what happened when the -3 rules came into effect across the board. The drop 5's and drop 7's were still legal for travel ball and they became a lot cheaper.

 

I wonder if compliant bats can be certified in some way for the short term or if those bats could be traded in for a discounted compliant bat for a short term solution.