Sosa ejected for using a corked bat.

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

It doesn't... look here A Study of the Barrel Constructions of Baseball Bats

A variety of laminated wood bats are now on the market. They offer patented joining methods, combinations of wood materials and fiberglass, and Kevlar or carbon reinforced handles and barrels. The question arises; does the epoxy in a composite-encased barrel enhance the bat?s performance? For that matter, what is the performance effect on a wood barrel if it is ?boned?, flame tempered or cryogenically frozen? The answers to these questions have not been determined, but it is likely that they have more of an effect on the bat?s durability and marketability than its batted-ball performance.

Even if you look at websites selling laminated by, they'll mention how much more durable they are, but won't mention a performance increase. Example

BTW, that studies talk about corked bats as well... very interesting.


EDIT: Here's another quote from that study:

Adair also states that the wood bat has poor energy efficiency, similar to that of the ball (if the COR of the ball is 0.500 then its kinetic energy efficiency is the square root of the COR or 71%). The efficiency of the aluminum barrel is closer to 99% if it stays in the elastic range, and the resulting energy exchange has been referred to as a ?trampoline effect?

very interesting but they didn't test the performance of laminate bats at all.

maybe its that the harder bat gives more of its stored energy back?

 

[Looney]

Well, it's basic physics... the less tension, the more energy is absorbed. Take a bowling ball and bounce it on concrete... it won't bounce as high as if you bounce it on a bed.

 

[Zebo]

Pu the fence at 500 ft and let them use aluminum. Nuff said.

 

[Zebo]

While you're at it raise the basketball hoops to 11', ny god, these guys today are at least a foot taller than when the game started.

And loose the body armor in BaseBall.

 

[DrPizza]

People will start? I already am questioning "how long has this been happening?" What horrible luck (and horrible coincidence) to get caught the first time he does it.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
People will start? I already am questioning "how long has this been happening?" What horrible luck (and horrible coincidence) to get caught the first time he does it.

you don't know taht it's his first time..

he said "he never meant for it to happen"

I'm sure he used it and never meant to get caught ..

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

It doesn't... look here A Study of the Barrel Constructions of Baseball Bats

A variety of laminated wood bats are now on the market. They offer patented joining methods, combinations of wood materials and fiberglass, and Kevlar or carbon reinforced handles and barrels. The question arises; does the epoxy in a composite-encased barrel enhance the bat?s performance? For that matter, what is the performance effect on a wood barrel if it is ?boned?, flame tempered or cryogenically frozen? The answers to these questions have not been determined, but it is likely that they have more of an effect on the bat?s durability and marketability than its batted-ball performance.

Even if you look at websites selling laminated by, they'll mention how much more durable they are, but won't mention a performance increase. Example

BTW, that studies talk about corked bats as well... very interesting.

EDIT: Here's another quote from that study:

Adair also states that the wood bat has poor energy efficiency, similar to that of the ball (if the COR of the ball is 0.500 then its kinetic energy efficiency is the square root of the COR or 71%). The efficiency of the aluminum barrel is closer to 99% if it stays in the elastic range, and the resulting energy exchange has been referred to as a ?trampoline effect?

very interesting but they didn't test the performance of laminate bats at all.

maybe its that the harder bat gives more of its stored energy back?

I've hit with 5 types of bats so the following is from experience:

- Pure wood (Louisville Slugger) - Small sweet spot, heavy, hardly any "jump" off the bat to speak ot, breaks if you take a pitch on the hands
- Aluminum (Original Easton Aluminums)- Small sweet spot, heavy, hardly any "jump" off the bat to speak of, doesn't break if you take a pitch on the hands
- Alloy bats (eg. latest gen. Easton and Louisvilles) - HUGE sweet spot, ridiculous "jump" off the bat (at least 20% more distance, probably more), usually dent after awhile
- Carbon reinforced/ Laminated (I forget the brand, I think Louisville made them) - Similar to wood but more durable, possibly a little more "jump" but difficult to tell
- Laminated bamboo (Brett Bros) - Lighter than wood, longevity like carbon reinforced bat, slightly more jump than wood.

The alloy bats that are made these days are ridiculous, put one of those in a Jason Giambi's hands and he'll hit 600ft bombs

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
doesn't the cork kinda give the bat a little more bounce?

Not if it's surrounded by wood. Not like the wood would bend with any significance to make a difference.

didn't see it but the cork does lessen the structural integrity of the wood so you are more likely to break the bat.

like i said tho, barry actually uses a heavier, harder bat than the kind most of the league uses. he is such a great hitter tho that if he gets a pitch to hit he gets to it and puts it in play rather than fouling it off like a lot of hitters do. he obviously doesn't have a problem getting around to the ball, so the harder wood gives him more pop than he would with a northern ash bat.

Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield, these guys have EXCEPTIONAL bat speed. In Shef's case that's his biggest problem he often gets around too fast. he pulls a lot of ball foul that way.

For guys with bat speed like that, corking wouldn't help as much.

if you watch sammy hit during the HR competitions tho, he's in a different league from bonds. Bonds or Sheff can get great hits HR's occasionally but they can't hit as many in a row on soft pitching like Sosa does.

Sosa probably did use a corked bat in the competition and he probably does in games too.

 

Damn, imagine being the person who made the bat for him - you can't say "no," because it's Sammy Sosa, but it's totally immoral and against the rules!

He is a jerk though, why'd he take that huge risk?

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

That's what i'm not entirely understanding why he used cork. The heavier the wood, would mean the more momentum he'll have on a swing...

imagine getting a heavy bat around on a 97 mph fastball and then getting a lighter bat around on it. much easier to move the lighter bat in time than a heavier bat. thats a reason why i don't buy the corked bat used for home run exhibitions argument. in an exhibition he knows exactly what is coming so using a denser bat instead of one he can whip around faster would be better since more energy is imparted to the ball with the denser bat.

VERY nice observations.

Like hitting softball vs baseballs.

When i'm playing softball I like big heavy wooden bats. when in a batting cage with 70 mph baseballs, (i know i'm a wimp) i prefer lighter aluminum bats.

extreme example but i think the principles the same.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Damn, imagine being the person who made the bat for him - you can't say "no," because it's Sammy Sosa, but it's totally immoral and against the rules!

He is a jerk though, why'd he take that huge risk?

how hard can it be to make a corked bat ? i doubt he would have someone else make the bats for him.. as it would leave evidence.
Maybe he made those in his garage ?

 

[Lager]

Someone break Barry's bat.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Sammy Sammy......tsk tsk

 

[MrDingleDangle]

this sux for sammy...he lost everyones respect today....

anyway about corking a bat, here is an excert from The Physics of Baseball ...which is done through experiments from a prof. at Yale

http://www.bostonbaseball.com/whitesox/baseball_extras/physics.html

 

[rival]

i'd like to see if the bats actually marked as being corked, i would be more likely to belive that he was only using it in practice, as stupid as that sounds...
i doubt its marked, he shouldve painted it some obscene color to avoid any mixup

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: coldcut
Someone break Barry's bat.

as has been stated earlier, barry likes harder wood heavier bats than normal. he also chokes up a bit on the bat.

i doubt he corks.

 

[Lager]

Someone break Eckstein's bat. I heard he hit two Grand Slam last year.

 

[Marauder-]

Wow - just got to this thread - it really does make you wonder on what's going to happen next.

 

[BigSmooth]

The sad part is, corked bat or not, he was a great hitter. It's not easy to hit 500 home runs, no matter what.
You give Rey Ordonez a corked bat and a healthy dose of 'roids and he's still going to suck.

But Sammy just tainted his legacy forever. I don't buy any "oops!" arguments, this was intentional.
Sad.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
The sad part is, corked bat or not, he was a great hitter. It's not easy to hit 500 home runs, no matter what.
You give Rey Ordonez a corked bat and a healthy dose of 'roids and he's still going to suck.

But Sammy just tainted his legacy forever. I don't buy any "oops!" arguments, this was intentional.
Sad.

haha did you see the look on his face ?
he looked like the person " that got caught red handed"

Rofl he looked so nervous for the interview.

 

[MainFramed]

Is it possible that he has been using this in the past to help with his home run's? I haven't really been following this thread, just noticed it actually, and I dont follow baseball so if someone already said this...sorry

 

[MainFramed]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
The sad part is, corked bat or not, he was a great hitter. It's not easy to hit 500 home runs, no matter what.
You give Rey Ordonez a corked bat and a healthy dose of 'roids and he's still going to suck.

But Sammy just tainted his legacy forever. I don't buy any "oops!" arguments, this was intentional.
Sad.

haha did you see the look on his face ?
he looked like the person " that got caught red handed"

Rofl he looked so nervous for the interview.

yeah he was super nervious lmao

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: MainFramed
Is it possible that he has been using this in the past to help with his home run's? I haven't really been following this thread, just noticed it actually, and I dont follow baseball so if someone already said this...sorry

to be honest i dont' think anyone buys this "OOOOOPPPSS it was a mistake and first time ever" routine.

either way, he can't verify 100% that he never cheated before and I just don't see anyway that he will ever be able to convince the majority of people that this was indeed a 1 time first time mistake.

Loss of credibility.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

Originally posted by: MainFramed
Is it possible that he has been using this in the past to help with his home run's? I haven't really been following this thread, just noticed it actually, and I dont follow baseball so if someone already said this...sorry

to be honest i dont' think anyone buys this "OOOOOPPPSS it was a mistake and first time ever" routine.

either way, he can't verify 100% that he never cheated before and I just don't see anyway that he will ever be able to convince the majority of people that this was indeed a 1 time first time mistake.

Loss of credibility.

I agree. While Sosa's achievements are still great, this will always cast a shadow on them. Not too badly, but figuratively speaking, he'll forever have an asterisk next to his name.

 

[Novgrod]

the yale professor who wrote about baseball physics is out of his gourd. he doesn't know how to cork a bat.