Everyone always wants the hottest, greatest bat around. Everyone wants to be the team superstar, the homerun hitter. More and more kids and adults alike spend hundreds, even thousands to get their hands on the hottest new stick. Technology is a beautiful thing! With the right hitter (or with high tech bats even average joe), a ball can travel 500+ feet speeding off the bat at over 100+ miles per hour. Wow, I know when I’m up to bat, I want every advantage. Well, apparently NYC has banned these aluminum powerhouses from High School games. The new wood only rule applies to high school games played in the city and people are in an uproar! I have to say, I have given this alot of thought and many have gotten into this conversation with many of my customers. From a manufacturer’s standpoint, it would be disastrous. Easton has already threatened suit against the city for passing the rule. They would lose SOOOOO much money. As a sporting goods retailer, I must assume that the manufacturers are making hefty margins on their products because I know that they are definitely NOT passing any of the profit onto their dealers. From a dealers point of view, it would be great for us. We have to lay out A LOT of cash up front in inventory. I would much rather stock a whole shop of $60 wood bats instead of $300 aluminum bats that are outdated after one season! I would definitely SUPPORT a ban on aluminum bats.
Another very important point: look at the Majors and the Minors…no aluminum used there! Wood separates the men from the boys (so to speak). Please…give me your thoughts. I would love to hear them. I know this may seem extreme, but financially, players will spend about the same, but players will be safer. Most kids can’t hit the ball to save their lives, let them learn proper mechanics with the wood, just like the old days!
Keep the kids safe…baseball should be fun, not scary in the field!
