New bat rule coming this spring

For area schools competing in baseball this fall, the opportunity is there to use the new bats which will soon be mandated by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

However, the opportunity to use the old bats is still there as well.

"The same rules which were in place for last spring's championship season will be in place for this fall," MSHSAA Communications Director Jason West wrote in an email. "The new specifications go into effect on Jan. 1."

The issue for changing the type of bat used in high school competition was agreed upon last summer but the process has taken a couple years.

Come spring, high school baseball players will no longer use bats with the BESR (Ball Escape Speed Ratio) standard. In their place are bats that meet the BBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution) standard.BBCOR bats play similarly to a wood bat which is meant to be safer for pitchers.

BESR bat's ball exit speeds were much faster and deemed unsafe for use by the NFHS.

"I think to keep it consistent with the other levels of baseball," Twin Rivers coach Denver Stuckey said. "I'm sure the bat companies, it probably was costing them money to have to make BESR for high school. Now you have one set of bats."

Safety for pitchers reaction time to line drives were the main concern.

"Injuries were the main reason for the change," Naylor coach Jeff Null added.

Stuckey, who played in high school at Kelly and collegiality at Southeast Missouri State before moving on to play in professional independent baseball, has never seen a pitcher get too hurt from a line drive.

"I've seen them get hit," Stuckey said. "I've never seen a serious injury I'd say. In fact, I hit a line-drive off a guy's leg and he acted like I broke it. He was fine.

"I've never seen one that's hitting anybody in the face that's really damaged them. I've seen several get hit in the chest and legs and stuff. It's a scary deal. My argument is if you worry about that, don't pitch."

As a pitcher himself, Stuckey could only recall one time fearing for his safety. And within good reason too. He was facing a future Major League most-valuable player.

"I faced Ryan Howard one time and I remember thinking if he hit one up the middle, I'd probably die," Stuckey said.

The new bats were used at the collegiate level last year and offensive numbers went significantly down.

According to a report on the NCAA website, the combined batting average was .282 for the 2011 season, the lowest since 1976. Pitchers' earned-run average were the best since 1980 at 4.70.

With not as much offense, game times for all three rounds of the NCAA Tournament (Regionals, Super Regionals and World Series) saw a 19-minute dip in average time to complete a game than the previous season.

"You're going to see a lot of 2-1 and 3-2 games," Twin Rivers senior Kaleb Doyle predicted for this season.

Stuckey felt that defense stood more of a chance against the batters with the new bats.

"I think you're going to see a lot of base hits with guys thrown out at second base," Stuckey said. "Most teams around here have three or four good hitters but your bottom guys aren't guys that are going to drive the ball over outfielder's heads. They're going to playing shallow and if they hit a hard ground ball through the infield, you could be seeing a close play at second."

Said Null, "Pitching and defense will be more important now."

Stuckey was unclear if the Royals had to start using the bats for the fall season but have been using them in practice.

"This summer we had them out here," Stuckey said. "We're still in 2011 and the rule change doesn't come until 2012. By the MSHSAA book, we can still use the other ones but I personally feel being in the Ozark Foothills Conference, our conference schedule is both fall and spring, we need to use one consistent bat. Since we have to use them in spring, why not use them in the fall?"

Null wasn't clear either if the new rule for bats was in effect but wanted to make sure that it's fair competition with both teams using or not using the BBCOR bats.

"You could start getting used to them though," Null said for this fall.

Added Stuckey, "I think we're going to use them unless we see the other team using the (old) ones. The kids -- they'd rather see the ball fly over the fence. In a few intrasquad games, we've had a couple balls hit the fence or close to that."

Greenville coach Jason Hill said for the fall season, he's going to ask the umpires what the other team is using so that their isn't a competitive difference between the two teams.

So far reviews of the bats haven't been so good.

"I hit with one the other day," Stuckey said. "It sounds dead. If you don't catch it on the sweet spot, you can tell there isn't as much spring or bounce."

Said Doyle, "They're horrible. They just don't have enough pop. It feels kind of like you're hitting a t-ball. It's like a thud.

"It's just like a wood bat."

When made aware of the bat change, Doyle didn't think too hard about it. Now he does.

"I didn't even know the ones we used were called BESR," Doyle said. "Coach said we we're going to use these new bats and I was like 'that's no big deal.' It's a big difference. It's a game-changer."

Hill has observed a big difference too.

"There's definitely a difference," he said. "I'm kind of from a school that if you make good contact though, you'll have success."

Early usage of BBCOR bats at Naylor has seen a drop in power.

"There are a lot more weakly hit balls," Null said. "The sweet spot isn't quite as large."

Said Hill, "The biggest difference is the length of the sweet spot. You have to hit it right on the button."

Hill reviewed a video put together by ESPN Sports Science that said on average, a BBCOR hit ball lands about 25 feet shorter than a BESR bat.

One Royals hitter in particular has found success with the new bats during practice.

"It's like using a wood bat," Twin Rivers sophomore Cade Lowe said. "They don't have any pop. You've gotta use your lower body more than anything."

Lowe hasn't tried to make adjustments away from his pre-BBCOR bat swing.

"Just focus," Lowe said. "I changed my stance a little bit, I didn't do a toe-touch in the spring during district time. I just needed something to get my timing back."

But even the guy with success gives the new bats a thumbs down.

"They're awful," Lowe said.

Although there is a lot of hype early about the bats, Hill said once games getting the general thought process of using a new bats will dissipate.

"After awhile, the kids will forget they are using new bats," he said. "The new kind of wears off. Right now, it's what they are talking about that they are not getting the same results."