Ipswich Men's Softball League 2017

We are open to hearing everyone's opinion on using wood bats in the league.  Please comment below.  Please do not use any profanity or bad mouth any player that comments as well.  This is an open forum for all voices to be heard.

 

 scot

If we decide woods bats adding $20 to everyone's dues (based on 15 players per team) would give the league $1,200 to buy bats. Plus people will buy there own. Seems reasonable.

13 minutes ago

  

 Patrick

I have been looking at Mens leagues in all of Mass. I have not found one league that is wood bat only. Everyone I have found is going by ASA Stamped bats. I suggest that we change the rules to ASA stamped bats that are on the allowed list. There are ASA stamped bats that get taken off the list. I found a Mens League in Sudbury that follows this rule and allows graduating seniors in HS to play in their league.

10 hours ago

  

  scot

Magnolia, best league in mass, it's switching to wood. Peabody our Beverly is wood. Pat, that had always been the rule. No one will enforce it. We don't have to go word but at least single wall.

32 minutes ago

 

 Craig

Is everyone up to an increase in dues to support purchasing a few wood bats? If players are responsible to purchase their own bat, we are going to have fighting between players/teams on a weekly basis "if" you don't share. Current dues are $90

11 hours ago

  

  scot

People buy gloves don't they? Your point doesn't fair very well seeing that there are only a few of us that bring the current bats. Everyone going to start paying me to us my bats every game? We can go single wall then. It's about creating a safer game for the pitchers and infielders on our rock filled infields. Giving everyone just a split second longer to react. You and Pat suggestions to make it safer is people wear masks (stupid) or we go with ASA bats, which I have heard has been the rule since I started and none of you have enforced the rule even when you have know a bat was illegal.... Last year's black bar.

23 minutes ago

 

 Brad Eaton

Look around ask around most are using wood if u need a metal bat to be successful play tennis

11 hours ago

  

 charlie

Just throwing it out there what about a different ball? I mean if we're talking about switching equipment I'm sure there is a softer ball

12 hours ago

  

 Scot

No, Pat it's not because of one bat. We need to slow it down a bit. I have been talking to Mike Santiano and he has talked me into single wall bats. This would give people more time to react, allow bat sharing and bring more parity to the league.

16 hours ago

  

 Craig

Safety is always the number 1 concern. I agree you cannot put a price on safety, which is why they have made masks for this purpose; certainly cheaper than everyone supplying their own bat. These mask's range from $19.99 and up. Many pitchers from modified leagues around the country use these masks; a viable option.

17 hours ago

  

           Scot

                   So you are recommending all infielders and pitchers to wear masks?

                   17 hours ago

 

                Craig

                            Not all. Whoever feels unsafe has an option to make it safer for themselves should they choose to wear a mask.

                            I play infield and feel safe. My glove is all the protection I need. Sure a pitcher is in the line of fire, but they can

                            purchase a mask to improve their position with PPE.  I've played with Gino in Danvers; slow pitch and the guys

                            crank it. It's a co-ed league with girls on the mound using the same bats we currently use in our league.

                            16 hours ago

 

                   Scot

                                 Wearing a mask, although an option, is a little silly. Sorry.

                                 14 hours ago

 

                     Craig

                                      A little silly? Tito wore a mask while playing infield; I believe he thought it was the right equipment for the

                                      job. Buying all new bats to me is a little silly. My bat cost me a little over $400 a few years ago; I'm not

                                     ready to put it to sleep. I understand what you are saying, but in all the years the Over 30 was around (40

                                      years) and now into our 4th season as the Ipswich Men's Softball League, we have been blessed with

                                     limited amount of injury. I'm all for the discussion, and including everyones input, but arguably don't see a

                                     cause for concern.

                                    13 hours ago

 

 perna

My only caveat if we choose to go with wooden bats would be that we no longer have to share bats. Aside from losing a certain number of swings in a composite bat, odds are one is not going to break it unless one does something stupid like throwing it off a post of the backstop, therefore I have no issue with sharing a composite bat. The odds are much higher on a wood bat breaking just from making contact incorrectly. Granted, we are not talking fast-pitch, but the odds are still considerably higher. Not only that, you want your wood bat the way you like it, not with someone else gooping pine tar on it, etc. Aside from the bat sharing, I do not have a preference one way or the other. Whatever the group decides is fine by me. I completely understand the safety issues, and do not envy the pitchers in the line of fire. That being said, I do have friends that have had their league go wood, and the league deteriorated shortly thereafter as it can be perceived as not so much "fun" for many players.

19 hours ago

  

 Scot

Safety & parity in the league. Can't put a price on safety. Even if we went single wall people are going to have to buy bats. Going to hate revisiting this after someone gets it off the face. We have a lot of "older" pitchers and the league is getting younger with better hitting players.

19 hours ago

  

          Patrick

                  I think that the idea of introducing wood bats comes from the use of one bat in the league last year. I am in favor of

                  reviewing the league rule of allowed bats and switching to ASA Stamped bats before going to wood.

                  18 hours ago

 

 Patrick

I understand the safety aspect of using a wood bat. But from what I have been told the difference in hitting is huge. Also I have heard that people would be opposed to sharing bats. If this is the case I would have to leave the league. At this time I would not be able to supply my own bat at $80-$100 a bat.

19 hours ago