The Unbreakable Bat

A 55 yr old guy invented a way to structure a wooden bat so that, he claims, it will not break.

"It is made from 12 wedges that are combined with adhesive and clamping pressure. The result is that the outside of each wedge has a tight grain surface, guaranteeing the best hitting surface at every spot on the bat."

I bet Fausto can break it.

over 3 years ago obobcatu 36 comments 0 recs |

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I bet Shoppach can break it.

by afh4 on Aug 27, 2008 12:29 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

MARIANO RIVERA HAS BROKEN MORE UNBREAKABLE BATS THAN ANY OTHER PITCHER EVER

< / FOX >

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Aug 27, 2008 1:41 AM EDT reply actions

An unbreakable bat made of Wedges…. I knew he was stubborn, but unbreakable?

proverbial "moron in a hurry"

by 94neverout on Aug 27, 2008 8:33 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I would post a picture of Bruce Willis in a raincoat, but I just did a Mr. Glass picture in a recent game thread and frankly one Unbreakable reference a week is plenty.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Aug 27, 2008 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions

by NickFantana on Aug 29, 2008 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

There seems to be a need for this sort of thing, with the price and apparent frailty of Ash and Maple these days. Maybe he’ll make a million dollars.

Also, nobody fire Shelton.

by jhon on Aug 27, 2008 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

wood failure is part of the game. you’re taking away the tree element by adding adhesives.

by Brick. on Aug 27, 2008 10:40 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Well said.

by jhon on Aug 27, 2008 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

The trees did nothing wrong! I am the Lorax and I speak for the trees, for the trees have no voice!

Andy Marte is free at last! Now, if only he could hit a breaking ball...

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Aug 27, 2008 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually the phrasing is

I am the Lorax and I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues
And I’m asking you sir, at the top of my lungs

I only know this becasue I read it to my daughter every 7-15 days or so.

by talonk on Aug 27, 2008 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I have no idea what this is from.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Aug 27, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

You never read The Lorax from Dr. Seuss as a child? Wow.

There was even a TV version of it in the 70s I think.

Check the wiki link for a reference to Lake Erie polltion.

by talonk on Aug 27, 2008 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m picturing a hilariously rough plywood bat. It makes sense to construct these bats out of composite wood. If it’s mlb legal, i’m surprised it took so long. Plus, The Lorax was my favorite book as a kid. I learned to read on Dr. Seuss – hopefully I’ll read it to my kid someday, should I make a kid.

by joeee on Aug 27, 2008 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Link to the video

Andy Marte is free at last! Now, if only he could hit a breaking ball...

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Aug 27, 2008 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I stand corrected and recommend your post because everyone who reads the Lorax to their children deserves commendation.

Andy Marte is free at last! Now, if only he could hit a breaking ball...

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Aug 27, 2008 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

The Lorax did nothing for my kids. I read it to each of them once or twice but they were never too into it.

The Cat in the Hat, on the other hand – I read it so many times I can still recite the first five or ten pages from memory.

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Aug 27, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

This is just a slippery slope. First it’s modifying bats .. next it will be cybernetically enhanced baseball players.

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roberto.

by Toxicadam on Aug 27, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

feeling homesick for Mr. Alomar or Mr. Hernandez?

Anyways, great Styx reference (I always felt they were an underappreciated band).

by talonk on Aug 27, 2008 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

How about, Mr. Roberto Clemente?

Andy Marte is free at last! Now, if only he could hit a breaking ball...

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Aug 27, 2008 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Raffy Palmeiro used to advertise a solution for wood failure.

by JulioBernazard on Aug 27, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

LOL – (rec)

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Aug 27, 2008 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I suppose that makes Fasano the anti-Palmiero.

by Fredward on Aug 28, 2008 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t understand how a bat that is reconfigured wood is within the rules if a corked bat isn’t within the rules. Doesn’t a wooden bat have to be made from once piece of unineterruped wood?

I never exhaled.

by elsandito on Aug 27, 2008 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

Yes, a bat is supposed to be made from a solid piece of wood, but that is not the only reason corked bats are illegal.

Rule 1.10 (a) reads:

“The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2¾ inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.
’NOTE: No laminated or experimental bats shall be used in a professional game (either championship season or exhibition games) until the manufacturer has secured approval from the Rules Committee of his design and methods of manufacture.”

More importantly, Rule 6.06(d) says:

"A batter is out for illegal action when—
‘He uses or attempts to use a bat that, in the umpire’s judgment, has been altered or tampered with in such a way to improve the distance factor or cause an unusual reaction on the baseball. This includes, bats that are filled, flat-surfaced, nailed, hollowed, grooved or covered with a substance such as paraffin, wax, etc.
’No advancement on the bases will be allowed and any out or outs made during a play shall stand.’

So, while this bat may not comply with Rule 1.10, as long as it did not improve the distance the ball could be hit, it would seem that the rules could be changed to allow it.

Using a corked bat (or any other bat that is made to increase the distance factor) is more of a problem for violating Rule 6.06 – making the player who used it out no matter what and keeping any other runners from advancing on the play.

(And unless you have Jason Grimsley on your team, the bat is likely to be scrutinized by the Commissioner’s Office after the game as well)

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Aug 27, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I’m sure that Rule 1.10 could be changed if newer bats proved to last much longer while performing the same as (or very similar to) traditional wood bats.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Aug 27, 2008 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Isn’t it true that most times the ball wouldn’t travel as fast or far from off the bat if the bat breaks? If so, the new bat would not perform similarly to the traditional bat.

I never exhaled.

by elsandito on Aug 27, 2008 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

But if a bat breaks in a stadium and no one’s there, does it make a sound?

"It's hard to win when you don't score." Cliff Lee, 9/28/05.

by Harry Doyle on Aug 27, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

A ball breaking a bat loses a ton of energy, so right, it slows down. But that’s like saying that the problem with fixing a problem is that the problem is fixed.

by joeee on Aug 27, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Well then what do we do for the pitcher to maintain the balance of power? We already lowered the mound. Part of the reason for taking steroids out of the game is to maintain the integrity of historic player records. With more rabbit in the baseball, a lower mound, bringing the fences in, will there be any relationship at all with hitters who batted many years ago?

I never exhaled.

by elsandito on Aug 27, 2008 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

When I read this link I remember Rob Neyer talking about a “new” wood bat that lasts much, much longer than a traditional wood bat. He mentioned it again when writing about the link above. Here is the link to information about the Baum Bat, a wood composite bat that is supposed to last about 200-500 times as long as a wood bat..

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Aug 27, 2008 3:59 PM EDT reply actions