OT - Baseball Bats

[southcarolina]

As some of you may know, i have two kids who play baseball. My younger one has a bat that he loves. Yesterday, i noticed that the plastic endcap had been pushed into the barrel of the bat. With a little elbow grease i was able to pull the cap out and tap it back into its proper place with a hammer.

My question: Is this bat still any good? Its a relatively high end bat that i got cheap because it was 2 years ago's model. And like i said he loves this bat. He has hit many many screaming line drives with it. But is it dead now?

Also, a related question... if this bat is dead, i am considering buying him a replacement bat.....the DeMarini Voodoo. Has anyone ever used one of these? The reviews i have read online have been mostly positive. I know DeMarini was the sh*t when i was playing softball. But that was a few years ago....

[southcarolina]

I dont know if this makes any difference but this is his "old" bat...


http://www.aasportsoutlet.com/images/insanity%20youth%20baseball.jpg

[fightingdoxies]

Sorry SC, i have a three year old. But i must say i can't wait to start having these types of problems. He just started soccer. My biggest concerns is that he doesnt pick the ball up and that he doesn't tackle anybody. so far so good

[southcarolina]

Sorry SC, i have a three year old. But i must say i can't wait to start having these types of problems. He just started soccer. My biggest concerns is that he doesnt pick the ball up and that he doesn't tackle anybody. so far so good


When my youngest played soccer for the first time, the coaches 4 yr old was on the team as well...he would stop the ball and pick it up with his hands almost everytime it came to him. After about the twentieth time it was hilarious.

I love kids sports. Just absolutely love them. I pretty much plan my life around my two kids games and practices this time of year. My coworkers think im insane because im constantly burning two or three hours vacation to leave work early to go watch a game. But what the hell am i gonna do....go to the mountains for a week? Pfffft. I'd rather watch the ball games.

Start him early FD. You'll be amazed how much 20 minutes of playing catch or kicking a soccer ball in the front yard once or twice a week will improve his skill level. And nothing is more fun than being the dad of the best kid on the team. Nothing. :D

[Mikiemo83]

like FD, I too have kids too young for this dilemma - Sorry

and the guy I work with kids who play refuses to spend $15 on a bat never mind by a nice one so he is no help

[southcarolina]

like FD, I too have kids too young for this dilemma - Sorry

and the guy I work with kids who play refuses to spend $15 on a bat never mind by a nice one so he is no help



You tell your coworker thanks a whole F'ing lot. See if i ever ask his advice again. Bastard.

[Mikiemo83]

You tell your coworker thanks a whole F'ing lot. See if i ever ask his advice again. Bastard.
I did just that and he is pouting in his office the cheap bastard

it is strange but all parents with kids I know the kids play soccer not baseball. it is sad the fields are empty

I am playing catch with my kids and we got the ESPN batter up machine last year so they can hit and fetch..we play against a building so the levels are hits, this year we get into running bases and taking out the second baseman while breaking up a double play

[southcarolina]

I did just that and he is pouting in his office the cheap bastard

it is strange but all parents with kids I know the kids play soccer not baseball. it is sad the fields are empty

I am playing catch with my kids and we got the ESPN batter up machine last year so they can hit and fetch..we play against a building so the levels are hits, this year we get into running bases and taking out the second baseman while breaking up a double play

Yeah i hate that interest in baseball seems to be waning in the US. Our league is growing though. Our League President is ultra dedicated to growing our league. We've increased from like 250 kids 4 years ago to almost 400 this season. We have i think 6 or 7 guys who played in the Majors who coach in our league, plus numerous minor leaguers and college players.

I like soccer too, but there is just something about being at a baseball game that really appeals to me.

[fightingdoxies]

I did just that and he is pouting in his office the cheap bastard

it is strange but all parents with kids I know the kids play soccer not baseball. it is sad the fields are empty

I am playing catch with my kids and we got the ESPN batter up machine last year so they can hit and fetch..we play against a building so the levels are hits, this year we get into running bases and taking out the second baseman while breaking up a double play

I am dying to start my son playing baseball. but it was hard enough to find a team that allows three year olds. im afraid im going to have to wait two more years for baseball.. thats going to kill me. of course i do run into another problem. the teams around here are named after pro teams. Can you imagine my son playing for the Blue Jays??? Or worse me coaching the Blue Jays etc. I talked to my wife about it.. she says im just being stupid. Ugh she just doesn't understand me

[southcarolina]

I am dying to start my son playing baseball. but it was hard enough to find a team that allows three year olds. im afraid im going to have to wait two more years for baseball.. thats going to kill me. of course i do run into another problem. the teams around here are named after pro teams. Can you imagine my son playing for the Blue Jays??? Or worse me coaching the Blue Jays etc. I talked to my wife about it.. she says im just being stupid. Ugh she just doesn't understand me

Both of my kids started playing tee ball when they were 4. I'm sure there is some league somewhere that will let him play.

[SamBam39]

Hey SC. Part of the endcap function is to help with the vibration you get with a metal bat. If your son doesn't notice any appreciable difference with the vibration then it should be ok. I have not used the Voodoo but have played with the DeMarini Ultimate Weapon and the White Steel and like both very much. I believe the Voodoo is a baseball bat and I have only used softball bats.

[3 Point Stan]

I only use wooden bats these days (maple all the way). But throughout high school and college, I swore by a Black Magic. Not sure you need to get into this grade of bat just yet (and besides, I am sure there are better options now anyway).

For Youth bats though, I think you can get a decent (and new) Easton Cyclone or Worth Copperhead for ~$25. Not sure what price range you're in.

But I'd have him take some extended BP and examine the action of the ball off the bat.

[Mikiemo83]

wood bats were not allowed when I last coached

man this thread made me look into bats again..it has been a few years and the prices are down to reasonable now

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3023452&cp=2344491.1284538&pg=2&cp=2344491&fbn=StorePrice%7CUnder+%2425.00&fbc=1&categoryId=2344514&fr=StorePrice%2FDSP%2F00000000%2F00002500&parentPage=search&searchId=27509935113

[3 Point Stan]

wood bats were not allowed when I last coached

man this thread made me look into bats again..it has been a few years and the prices are down to reasonable now

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3023452&cp=2344491.1284538&pg=2&cp=2344491&fbn=StorePrice%7CUnder+%2425.00&fbc=1&categoryId=2344514&fr=StorePrice%2FDSP%2F00000000%2F00002500&parentPage=search&searchId=27509935113
Funny because thinking about it prompted me to do the same thing.

I got out and took some BP with an aluminum bat last year and it felt so odd. There's nothing better than the feeling of good contact with a wooden bat.

A few co-workers and I try to get out every Friday during lunch and hit a bag of balls each. Shagging flies and fielding grounders when you're not hitting is as close to what I imagine heaven being as I can describe in words.

[southcarolina]

For Youth bats though, I think you can get a decent (and new) Easton Cyclone or Worth Copperhead for ~$25. Not sure what price range you're in.



This is the bat im looking at:

http://www.justbats.com/products/detail_view.asp?i=7575

I usually look to spend 50-75 bucks on a bat. The Wicked Insanity cost me ~100 bucks, but i was desperate, and it was the only bat in the store that was 29 inches, under 20 ounces and less than 200 dollars. Plus it was marked down from $229, so it was a bargain :)

The Voodoo's look to retail at around 179-199 each. But with the 2009's getting ready to come out, i found this site that is doing a buy one get one for $149 on the 2008 model. I figure we can get two, use one and put the other in a closet until the first one breaks or gets worn out.

I know it seems silly to spend that much on a youth bat, but unfortunately we live in a relatively affluent area, and it ends up being an arms race. There is a difference between a 30 dollar bat and a 200 dollar bat. You'd be appalled the number of kids that are playing coaches pitch swinging a 300 dollar Easton Stealth. I really cant afford that, so i have to bargain hunt. 150 bucks for two bats that are normally 180 bucks is a pretty good deal. My kid gets the performance out of the bat he needs to keep up with the Jones, and i dont have to spend a huge fortune to get the bat.

[3 Point Stan]

The 2-for-1 factor makes that a fantastic deal.

You should even see if another parent wants to split the cost with you. Because while saving it is a good idea, he might be swinging something bigger than a 29" bat by the time you even need the second one.

[pookie]

Hope your bat's ok SC. I feel your pain. Bats are expensive.... especially when they get into high school and senior league.

I bought one of these last summer.....
http://64.78.59.69/graphics/00000001/ls_cb82x_b.jpg

And just bought one of these last week.....
http://www.cheapbats.com/images/cb9x_pop.jpg

[southcarolina]

I was reading about the Exo's .....they are aparently the sh*t right now.

This is the bat that most of the kids used at this past weekends tournament. This is the bat my kid went yard with :)

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-11930413061568_1999_35153633

Great pop, but it was brand new before the tournament, and its ruined with dents and flat spots now.

[southcarolina]

Follow up:

My kid playdd a game last night and smashed three balls with his bat, one a pretty deep line drive to center field, and two very hard ground balls that two infielders were brave enough to let bounce off them. Two kids that im sure woke up with big bruises this morning.

But the verdict seems to be for now that the bat is not dead.

Too bad, i almost had the wofe convinced to buy the new bats :D