Oddo's Bat Crusade
Opponents of the ban note that a similar proposed ban on metal bats is currently stalled in the Montana state legislature, although the Montana governor has signed a resolution expressing a preference for wooden bats.
The Montana bill, LC1473, was tabled in the business and labor committee on February 9th, and hasn't moved since. In fact, on February 28, the ban "Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal," which doesn't sounds like it'll be law anytime soon.
The bill's sponsor in New York, James Oddo -- who has been pushing unsuccessfully for a ban for years -- insists that the bill has a chance here because "the Speaker and the legislature here are willing to stand up to the onslaught of the metal bat cartel."
Oddo isn't changing his mind, in any case. "No editorial, no lobbying campaign, no personal attacks, will make me waiver from that," he said.
-- Azi Paybarah
Bring it on Jimmy!
This is a fight FOR the safety of kids and against the politics of money. Jimmy is on the side of the angels, and I am on Jimmy's side too. I can tell you personally that he has the support of the Committee Chairman this time ...and the fact that the industry has hired three lobbyists and two PR firms to stop the bill won't make a difference. Every 12 year old knows that a ball hit off a metal bat goes farther and faster than off of wood. THIS bill is a no brainer no matter what BS science the lobbyists quote.
Good to see Councilman Fidler has nothing better to do on a Friday afternoon than comment on a blog
Obviously that is Chairman Fidler speaking before. Way to go off the logic of a 12 year old, to base your legislation.
This is a total waste of time. Oddo is a joke, and Quinn can not let this go even if she wanted to. The mayor has said no to this bill, and she is his lapdog.
Better luck next time Fidler and Oddo.
I have nothing better to do on Friday night either.
And to the last poster, you wouldn't want to bet on it, would you?
And clearly a 12 year old knows more than you do about the trampoline effect of an aluminum bat, jocko.
PS Which bat company did you bill for that post, lobby-boy??
While I usually think ill of the follies of the Quinn era Council, and I don't think many people would say that the aluminum bat issue is major one or even a minor major one; I think Member Oddo is correct. As a Little League/Pony League coach, I have observed that the ball moves much faster off the bat, especially when the pitch is a fastball. Because of the shortened distance at the Little League/Pony League level between the Rubber and the batter's box, pitchers have far less time to respond to line drives hit from aluminum bats than wood bats. This is a good, easy, minor initiative.
All of that being said, you would think that Oddo, Fidler, and Quinn would be examining the dearth of new parks and new green parks developed under Bloomberg. Randall's Island is a tragedy, but it is symptomatic of a much more disturbing policy of the Bloomberg Administration.
So, yes, take care of the bats, but do spend some time on how Bloomberg's Administration has beggared the parks and the New York City historic committment to the Parks and Park development that has been a hallmark of the City since the creation of Central Park.
In other words, Doctoroff has not one iota of the "good" part of Robert Moses, and only the bad.
I thought that the speed with which balls fly off aluminum bats was capped by high school and college regulations to perform like wood. Is this not true?
Boy, for all of Councilman Fidler's criticism of lobbyists, he sure doesn't seem to have a problem taking their money. His last campaign was partly financed by dozens of well-known lobbyists. Well, I guess the brilliant 12 year olds who Fidler uses to trump scientific evidence aren't yet old enough to flll his campaign coffers
There is a standard that is applied, but if you heard the evidence at the committee hearing, you would know it is based both on flawed science and a lawsuit that prevents the inventor of the machine that is employed from testifying as to the scientific flaws.
And as to the last commenter, Fidler has received campaign contributions from the lobbyist who is representing the aluminum bat industry, so obviously he can't be bought.
As a youth baseball coach, let me mix in here: Fidler and Oddo are right on this one. The sworn testimony of the coaches and those who see the game up front is indisputable: the ball springs off an aluminum bat at a much faster rate. Just look at Eastern Sports own website, where they themselves tell you this. It's sort of a no-brainer, really. The reality is, a pitcher or third baseman of high school years, 13 to 18, just doesnt always have the reaction time to avoid getting clocked in the head by a bullet off an aluminum bat. And high school sports by their very nature are designed to encourage everyone to participate, the more and the less skilled alike. The issue here comes down to a fraction of a second, and that can make the difference between a safe fun game and a tragedy. Listen to Brandon Patch's mother, go to the website his mother began in his memory, (Google will get you there) and see if you don't agree. Purists will tell you wood bats make for a superior game, with scores of 4 to 3 rather than the slugfests which aluminum often results in. It's back to 'real' baseball with wood, where strategy counts in a game, but that's not the point of the proposed ban. It's a safety issue, period. What we don't need is a tragedy in a NYC high school game that might have been prevented, after which we all rush to change the rule. There's a reason why major and minor league baseball don't use aluminum, and New York City school children deserve no less protection. The Long Island Catholic High Schools have also banned aluminum, and it's just a matter of time till the rest of us 'get it'. As to the snide comments about Fidler and his motives: as Youth Services chair, probably no one has done more to protect our most vulnerable citizens. Let's see how many of you are with Fidler when he pulls an all-nighter in the near future participating in the 'count' which he lobbied tirelessly for, of homeless youth in our city. Those kids sure don't shower the Council with money to protect their interests. Ask the advocates for children about where they think his heart is. Say what you will, his only agenda is the kids of New York, and as a father, his guiding light is simply to do the right thing, however that may manifest itself. If more councilmembers had the, well, intestinal fortitude to do the right thing as Fidler and Oddo do, we'd have a better city. As I said, I do coach youth baseball, and see this all first hand. The truth is the truth.
What a complete waste of time. Oddo and Fidler are two of the most irrational and illogical people on earth. How in the name of God did either of them get elected?
This dumb bill is a perfect example of the fundamental flaw of term limits - nothing is holding these people accountable because they know they're on their way out anyway. At least we can take comfort in the fact that Oddo or Fidler will never win another election.
Why is it that anyone who dares to criticize Oddo and Fidler over this issue suddenly labeled as "in bed with the lobbyists and the industry?"
This sounds to me like a page borrowed from the Karl Rove playbook - since they don't have a smidgen of real evidence in their favor to discuss, Oddo and Fidler instead simply label anyone who dares to look at this issue rationally as a pawn of the bat industry. Next thing you know Oddo will be plastering City Hall with posters reading, "Wanted: Osama Bin Easton."
Something needs to be done here and it's good to see the wheels are in motion.
Having worked on projects that required me to visit numerous public schools in NYC, I can tell you without a doubt that there are plenty of issues affecting public school kids in New York that are far more pressing than what kind of bats they are using in baseball games.
Additionally, from my own baseball experience I've always felt that the main advantage of an aluminum bat to younger players isn't the power, but rather the durability. Most kids can't afford to pay $30-40 for a new wood bat every time they break one, which is quite frequently. Spending a little more on a bat that can last your whole high school career is far more practical. I would see a campaign from the councilmen to regulate the bats as more worthwhile than trying to eliminate them.
I guess that statement makes me a 'lobby boy', but unless I�m quite mistaken, the companies that manufacture wooden bats aren't exactly charitable organizations themselves. Honestly I think the councilmen would be simply better served spending their time on an issue that actually matters. After all, aren't there are over a million children currently enrolled in NYC public schools? How many of them can this initiative really be benefitting?
To quote Jim Morris, head baseball coach at the University of Miami, "Any idiot can see that the ball jumps off an aluminum bat faster than off of a wooden bat."
Kids in the public schools sometimes throw 90mph (Jason Marquis), and hitters like Manny Ramirez and Bobby Bonilla come out of these schools. This is a very dangerous situation for infielders and especially pitchers.
A player from the the city champion Monroe Eagles was injured badly last summer in just such an accident.
Just ask yourself why we don't use aluminum footballs.
Plus, wood ALWAYS sounds better than aluminum.
Maybe it's why fans are leaving the game, since little league, pony, and high school baseball are less enjoyable to watch without the "crack" of the bat.
The great left handed pitcher Bill Lee once said:
I realize this is a start but not sure it is the answer.
What about softball? The pitcher in softball releases the ball from about 30-35 away. Much closer then in baseball. Does this bill include the girls?