Posts Tagged ‘baseball’

Metal And Wooden Bats – Which Do You Choose?

Sunday, September 27th, 2009
by Michael Kennedy

The selection of bat for the game of baseball is more important than other aspects because there are many factors that affect the bat's swing, like the weight, length, material. One should take into account all these factors while selecting the bat that suits ones own need. There are bats that satisfy each and everyones need. Though most competitors prefer wooden bats, it has been proved that you get a better swing with metal bats also. Some leagues have rules which decide the bat to be used.

Rules are provided by every league on the material that should be used to make the bat. They also mention the circumference of the barrel. Instead of being removed from the game for not referring to the rules, inquire about the rules and regulations to be maintained while using a bat from umpires or coaches. Note: Corked bats are not allowed except for practices.

You can be sure about which bat to buy by seeing the print on the packaging of the bat. It may contain sentences like, "Approved for such and such leagues". Such bats fulfill your needs and restrictions.

The cost of a baseball bat varies from $20 to $500. The cost of the bat has nothing to do with its quality. It is important that you find a bat that supports your strengths and hides your weaknesses. It is also very important to practice regularly.

Nowadays, bats come with extravagant features like thin walls, wooden choices and formation; they can set any ball flying. But these bats may not be strong enough to sustain fractures and breaks. As we know, Babe Ruth didn't require a modern streamlined bat to hit a number of home runs.

If you are practicing regularly in a batting cage metal bats are more suitable for you. The metal bats have more withstanding power than the normal wooden bats and they can withstand the hard and fast pitch of the batting cage. Moreover modern bats are filled with either nitrogen or helium gas so as to provide the "Trampoline effect" which makes the ball bounce from the bat easily and hence to travel large distance.

On your journey to find the perfect baseball bat for you it will be necessary to visit several stores and try a variety of bats. Your ultimate goal in deciding on the length of your bat is to find one that feels like it is an arm extension. In regards to weight, the bat should allow you freedom in swinging and not be heavy to the point of imbalance.

Now, I think this is all enough for you to buy a Baseball bat. If not, here are the last tips I can think of: Try not to choose a bat that will last for a few years, especially for kids. It should fit for the season. So, don't just sit there, go out and find a bat that is ready to become your extension; to make hundreds of balls fly!

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Buchholz Makes Good With Boston

Monday, August 24th, 2009
by Lenny Brantley

Say what you will about Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz, but he's heard it all before: he's too immature, he's too skinny, he's not ready for this level of play, he's not worth the hype.

This past Wednesday, having taken the mound for just the 7th time in 2009, he faced off against Roy Halladay, one of the best pitchers in baseball. This was a game that mattered very much, and the Blue Jays were favored to win it.

Despite the expectations, Buchholz came out and looked like Halladay usually looks. Allowing just 1 ER in 6.0 innings pitched, Buchholz outshone the all-star Halladay, who gave up 4 ER in only 5.0 IP. Buchholz is a work in progress, but has continuously improved during his stint with the Sox in 2009.

While Buchholz's performance against Halladay is obviously impressive, the two starts before this one were nearly as difficult. One was against CC Sabathia of the Yankees. During this game, Buccholz only allowed two earned runs in six innings pitched. The other one was against Justin Verlander of the Tigers, in which case Buchholz surrendered just one earned run in seven innings pitched. Simply put, he's been solid.

Buccholz has taken a bit of time before catching on in 2009, as his most notably bad experience took place during a start against Baltimore. It looks like he's quickly building on his experience and putting his bad starts behind him.

There is no coincidence this is happening since the July 31st trading deadline has passed, a deadline where his name was brought up regularly for weeks leading up. Now that he is assured he's staying with the Red Sox the rest of this season, Buchholz knows this is his time to prove he belongs and he's taking full advantage of it.

Each time he takes the mound, Buchholz is looking more and more like a future force to be reckoned with. He's maturing before our very eyes at the young age of 25, and it should be a pleasure to see him develop from here.

You have to like thinking ahead to a rotation featuring Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Matsusaka and Buchholz in 2010, but there's a lot of baseball this season to be played and more opportunities for him to evolve into an ace of his own.

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Meet the New National League West

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
by Claude DiSoto

The NL West in 2008 was easily the weakest division in the National League, and perhaps the weakest division in baseball. The division averaged over 10 more losses than wins, and for a while it looked like a team with a losing record would win the division. 2009 tells a different stories, as three teams have turned it around.

A 57-54 average record at first glance may not seem like anything special, but it's better than the average records found in both the NL East and NL Central divisions. This recent turnaround has been led by the Dodgers, Giants, and Rockies, all improved in 2009.

The teams have had additions like Orlando Hudson for the Dodgers, Edgar Renteria for the Giants, and Jason Marquis for the Rockies, but the real secret to the winning for the Dodgers, Giants, and Rockies (D-backs and Padres still the same) is the players they have stepping up.

The most dangerous team so far in the West would be the LA Dodgers. Much of the team's success in 2009 results from its drastically improved pitching rotation. Chad Billingsley is having a great season, but so are Clayton Kershaw and Randy Wolf. Hiroki Kuroda has been serviceable as well, creating a very deep rotation in LA.

Other players have also put up solid numbers for the Dodgers. Andre Ethier has 23 home runs and 73 RBIs, and Matt Kemp has 15 home runs and 69 RBIs, plus a .315 batting average.

In San Francisco, the efforts of Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum have completely turned this team around. Both are legitimate contenders for Cy Young awards in 2009, and there's no better one-two punch in baseball today. Pablo Sandoval, in his first full season, has stepped up as the team's best hitter.

The Rockies have lost Matt Holliday, but that doesn't seem to matter. Todd Helton is in the midst of a revival year, Troy Tulowitzki has bounced back hard after a slow 2008, and Brad Hawpe is having a great season.

With the Dodgers having the best record in the NL and Giants and Rockies both at top of the wild card chase, the league had better watch out for them in the playoffs .

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