Wack!!! Just the other day in a Plymouth State College baseball game 6 different pitchers were drilled with a combined 7 line drives back at them. None of the pitchers were injured in the event, but all were certainly surprised by the needed reaction time to keep from harms way never mind having to make an outstanding play. Few were able to make a clean play on the ball, some knocked the ball down in order to make the play and others were unable if not were forced to steer away from the ball due to excess speed from the ball during the game.
All of the pitchers from that day could easily recall several instances of close calls on the field from come backers. Most have been harmed with bruises, lacerations, broken bones and fractures in the past. Danger is apart of the game. Injury and the likelihood of injury are not. In any case, fortunately for those players they were not among the thousands found in statistics of baseball injuries from aluminum bats at the intercollegiate level.
For a few decades now, NCAA baseball has allowed the use of aluminum bats to be used during competition. Since 1985 and the introduction the highly revolutionized Black Magic bat offensive numbers have significantly increased greatly. The size and weight of these modern bats have shifted in size and weight considerably. As a result, player hazards and player development problems for collegiate-players have also shifted considerably; but for the worst.
Players in today’s game use a weight-to-size difference of three ounces. As a result, players were forced to slow their swing down in hopes for less impact upon the ball. Players have, however, changed their bats and their exercise regime for a faster and harder swing. This change occurred 3 years ago. A few years have past and players have become accustomed to swinging a heavier bat.
Players in today’s game are much stronger, faster and skilled than ever before. Therefore, the use of aluminum bats in today’s game is only leading to a greater chance of serious injury to a player than before. Prior to the use of aluminum bats, players used wooden bats. The numbers of injuries annually to players are incomparable to those of today. There were far fewer injuries then there are today. Also, many of the injuries caused then were due to inexperienced and less knowledgeable players of the game.
“Any idiot can see that the ball jumps off an aluminum bat faster than off of a wooden bat,” said Jim Morris, head baseball coach at the University of Miami. These lighter bats allow for faster bat speeds during swings that result in a greater hit-ball velocity. Consequently, aluminum bats give a higher velocity to the ball than would a ball from a wooden bat. Hence, there is obviously an excellent chance of danger for all defensive players including our pitchers.