New Bats=Narrowing the Gap

[BruinVol]

Watching the regionals this past weekend I am seeing a serious narrowing of the gap between the "big boys" and the mid major teams. IMO the new bats are the biggest reason for that. We have 3 teams ATM that are surprise teams in the super regionals: Stoney Brook, St. Johns, and Kent State.

How does this effect the Vols? I see the answer to be that closing the gap for DS will be easier because of the style of play he wants to play and simply put the most talented teams dont win as much as the used to before the new bats.

[Rock33]

If both teams are playing with the same equipment what does it matter ? Not trying to argue but I am confused as to your point, a good pitcher wins most of his games, a good hitter is over .350 (college), a three run homer still counts for 3 for both teams. A home run hitter will hit home runs with a wooden bat and if the other team plays with the same equipment all would be equal ??? No ?

[BruinVol]

Originally Posted by Rock33

If both teams are playing with the same equipment what does it matter ? Not trying to argue but I am confused as to your point, a good pitcher wins most of his games, a good hitter is over .350 (college), a three run homer still counts for 3 for both teams. A home run hitter will hit home runs with a wooden bat and if the other team plays with the same equipment all would be equal ??? No ?

The new bats are allowing a lesser talented arm to silence a once highly feared group of elite hitters IMO. An arm that really knows how to pitch but lacks velo can get high draft guys out now. A guy like Craig Cobb would have been a pitcher of the year kind of guy in the SEC this year. While he was good In his career he would have been very special in this era of college baseball.

[volfan607]

Do bats really matter that much? Whether it's a wiffle ball bat or the latest alloy competition bat, players still have to be able to hit the ball.

[whocaresgobobcats]

Originally Posted by volfan607

Do bats really matter that much? Whether it's a wiffle ball bat or the latest alloy competition bat, players still have to be able to hit the ball.

You underestimate the BBCOR effect.

Yes, it does matter that much.

[31VFL]

Originally Posted by #1ArencibiaFan

You underestimate the BBCOR effect.

Yes, it does matter that much.

Yep, having hit with both, BBCOR makes a big difference.

[BruinVol]

Originally Posted by volfan607

Do bats really matter that much? Whether it's a wiffle ball bat or the latest alloy competition bat, players still have to be able to hit the ball.

I know in last nights draft at least 2 hitters were drafted in the top 60 picks that hit less than .275 in college this year. That's hard for me to fathom but that's the kind of thing I am talking about here. Small ball is the name of the game and that's why I feel DS may get this thing fixed sooner than later.

[I-bleed-orange]

There is definitely a difference in the style of bats. BBCOR has a much smaller "sweet spot" than the good ol' Stealths from Easton (my personal favorite bat) that you could hear a mile away, or any other bat since. I remember playing travel ball at PRP in Louisville one year and I jammed the hell out the guy (BIG guy) and he somehow still hit the dang ball 375 for a homer? I learn a little bit about pitching that day lol. But basically the BBCOR bats reduce the trampoline effect off the bat, so it comes off slower. Much more like a wood bat, and I'm sure the scouts love it because it gives them a better idea off how a prospect will perform when they switch to wood. I think the main reasoning for the switch was for the safety of the players though. Even a few tenths of a second can save a pitcher's life on a line drive back at him.

[CTVolsfan14]

I agree, it helps narrow the gap espicially to a small ball minded team. I pitch at a d3 school now, and have been pitching my whole life. BESR bats (before bbcorr) had much more pop then the BBCOR of today..

[punkcat]

Curious about those bats. I heard an announcer say that the days of the power hitters in college bb are over. True?

[engie]

State boards had someone look up the bat brand of all the leading HR-hitting teams after Samford teed off on us in the Regional. The results were pretty astounding really...

1. Florida 68 Easton
2. Arkansas Little rock 66 Demarini
3. Samford 66 Demarini
4. Eastern KY 66 Demarini
5. Mercer 65 (Don't know but they were illegal)
6. Col of Charleston 64 Demarini
7. Austin Peay 61 Demarini
8. Richmond 61 Demarini
9. SE Missouri State 61 Demarini
10. Dallas Baptist 60 Demarini
11. Kentucky 56 (let out of Nike contract due to terrible Nike bats, use whatever they want)
12. Buffalo 56 Louisville Slugger
13. Utah Valley 54 Demarini

Florida is just a freak of nature team that plays in a launching pad. Outside of them, it's pretty obvious which bats are superior...

[BruinVol]

Originally Posted by engie

State boards had someone look up the bat brand of all the leading HR-hitting teams after Samford teed off on us in the Regional. The results were pretty astounding really...

1. Florida 68 Easton
2. Arkansas Little rock 66 Demarini
3. Samford 66 Demarini
4. Eastern KY 66 Demarini
5. Mercer 65 (Don't know but they were illegal)
6. Col of Charleston 64 Demarini
7. Austin Peay 61 Demarini
8. Richmond 61 Demarini
9. SE Missouri State 61 Demarini
10. Dallas Baptist 60 Demarini
11. Kentucky 56 (let out of Nike contract due to terrible Nike bats, use whatever they want)
12. Buffalo 56 Louisville Slugger
13. Utah Valley 54 Demarini

Florida is just a freak of nature team that plays in a launching pad. Outside of them, it's pretty obvious which bats are superior...

Not to get off topic but wow! You should go on the Wilson payroll. That's a pretty nice list for their product.


Btw mercer uses reebok but their field is the biggest launching pad in the country.

[engie]

agreed...

Upon seeing this data, it bothered me that we're stuck in the Easton contract.

IMO, the bats(at least our Eastons) went too far the wrong way... here's an article interviewing our guys: New college bats draw mixed reviews - The Dispatch

[BruinVol]

I thought I had heard that DS had switched over to demarini? Did that not happen?

[31VFL]

Originally Posted by engie

State boards had someone look up the bat brand of all the leading HR-hitting teams after Samford teed off on us in the Regional. The results were pretty astounding really...

1. Florida 68 Easton
2. Arkansas Little rock 66 Demarini
3. Samford 66 Demarini
4. Eastern KY 66 Demarini
5. Mercer 65 (Don't know but they were illegal)
6. Col of Charleston 64 Demarini
7. Austin Peay 61 Demarini
8. Richmond 61 Demarini
9. SE Missouri State 61 Demarini
10. Dallas Baptist 60 Demarini
11. Kentucky 56 (let out of Nike contract due to terrible Nike bats, use whatever they want)
12. Buffalo 56 Louisville Slugger
13. Utah Valley 54 Demarini

Florida is just a freak of nature team that plays in a launching pad. Outside of them, it's pretty obvious which bats are superior...

I use a Demarini right now, definitely has more pop than the Easton my brother has.