Rawlings Power Forge bat?

Ron,

Thanks for your thoughtful response.

You ask: "Where do we draw the line?" My answer is: At the point where the players cannot reasonably react to the threat at hand. To take your specific example of the older batter getting brushed back, that player can reasonably be expected to react defensively to avoid a head or heart impact as he is trying to avoid a ball traveling over 60 ft. at 90 mph; however, the pitcher that threw the pitch may not be able to react to a 160 mph line drive hit back at him.

The solution to unfair advantage in tournament play can be largely eliminated by standards set at the national association level. If Little League International simply banned any bat with a greater than -5 w/l differential, then all the players in the LL World Series will have played the entire season with these more reasonable bats.

Now, let me extend the implication of your argument that it is necessary to "keep up with the Jone's". In two years I have seen the bats in our league (LL) go from an average of -8 to -10, and -11 is starting to show up. Also, the elastic character of the metal bats is also increasing (trampoline effect). If I understand your argument, if it is necessary to go to -15 to stay competitive then so be it -- basically, there is no limit.

Yes, we could start playing softball (but with -15 bats it may be whiffle ball!). I prefer hard leather balls and wood or compositite wood bats restricted to -5 (the same standard that high school has). Since my son is in LL, the standard should be set in Williamsport.

Sincerely,

Craig