From the NCAA:
This correspondence is being sent on behalf of the Baseball Rules Committee, alerting the college baseball bat manufacturing community to an important action being taken in regard to certain bats that have been used in NCAA competition. After significant dialog and review of research collected during the Division I Baseball Championship, the committee is proposing an immediate and indefinite moratorium on the use of composite barreled bats. The committee believes this action is needed in order to protect the integrity of the game and to enhance the safety of the student-athletes.
Baseball America's take:
Posted Jul. 20, 2009 5:24 pm by Aaron Fitt
The NCAA has devised a solution—at least temporarily—to its bat rolling dilemma. Multiple sources have confirmed that the NCAA has issued a moratorium on bats that use composite barrels, which tend to overperform near the end of their life cycles and are susceptible to a form of tampering known as "bat rolling."
This is a positive step to address a major issue that has exploded in college baseball over the last two seasons. We’ll have plenty more on the composite bat debate in this week’s On Campus.
For those unaware, bat rolling and bat shaving became an issue that in the season with rumblings from Vandy coach Tim Corbin. Since then the NCAA has looked into different makes, different bat manufactures, and different bats and their performances to see if any program or supplier are not conforming with NCAA guidelines. As many Buckeye fans know with the recent change to Nike, different bats have different results good and bad. In an attempt to level the playing field and not allow different programs to have an on the field advantage based solely on which bat they are provided with, the NCAA looks very closely and serious into any tampering or illegalities of bats.
There is more to this story and more will come out in the upcoming weeks.
Showing posts with label Aaron Fitt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aaron Fitt. Show all posts
Monday, July 20, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
9 Innings with Baseball America's Aaron Fitt
In the pursuit of giving you the best Buckeye baseball coverage as well as supplementing any Big Ten coverage, The Buckeye Nine does what it can to provide you with exclusive content.
With the success of the last 9-Innings with College Baseball Today's Eric Sorenson, The Buckeye Nine sought after another prominant figure in the college baseball commnity in Baseball America's Aaron Fitt.
Aaron Fitt is the lead college writer for Baseball America. If you have questions or comments about college baseball you can e-mail him at collegeblog@baseballamerica.com.
Fitt's blog and weekly columns can be found here, and with the coverage I provide and link from Fitt you know he is one of the best in the business. Understandly Fitt is hard press for time right now, the questions aren't as in-depth or deep as what normally would be covered and focus more on the Big Ten than Ohio State. However, in the end Fitt does a great job of answering the questions and providing us with insight. The Buckeye Nine thanks Fitt and appreciates his time and efforts in covering college baseball.
First Inning
B9: Who are the top Big Ten prospects?
AF: Arnett is actually the best prospect in the league: he is a likely late-first-round pick, whereas Phegley looks like a second-round type because of questions about his defense. Wimmers looks like a top-three type for next year, and McCallum could go in the top six or so this year. The guy to get really excited about for next year is Michigan's Ryan LaMarre, who I think has a chance to go in the first round. Great all-around tool package.
Second Inning
B9: Do you still believe Indiana is capable of making a run and winning the conferences auto-bid?
AF: Absolutely. Gun to my head, I'm taking the Hoosiers to win the conference tournament. Too much talent, and they've played well down the stretch.
9 up, 9 down
B9: Is Illinois in a position where they must win the BTT to reach a Regional or are they an at-large team?
AF: A week ago, I thought the Illini were in pretty good shape for an at-large bid, but dropping that series to Purdue was a killer. I think they've still got a shot at an at-large if they can at least reach the championship game of the Big Ten tourney, unless Indiana wins the tournament. If the Hoosiers win the tournament, Minnesota and Ohio State will get the two at-large bids, and Illinois will be squeezed out.
Perfect through 3
B9: Who has a better chance and reason to host a regional OSU or Minnesota?
AF: Minnesota is more deserving because of a stronger nonconference schedule (and a solid performance against that schedule), but Ohio State has a much better chance to host because of superior facilities.
Half way home
B9: Are you surprised Michigan struggled to a 7th place finish?
AF: Very surprised. There's a lot of young talent on that team, and a few quality veterans. They were extremely excited about their team early on, and I thought they were the team to beat in the Big Ten heading into March. But I was wrong. Hugely disappointing season.
Call to the bullpen
B9: Lesser known Big Ten players who will be drafted and surprise people?
AF: Here's a sleeper: Scott Kelley from Penn State, a smaller guy with plenty of athleticism and arm strength. Has been up to 94 this year, though works more in the 90-91 range. Not a top-10-rounds guy, but probably a top 15 guy.
7th inning stretch
B9: Is there a Big Ten team or teams with Omaha potential?
AF: I don't see it, though I'd give Minnesota an outside chance.
Last at-bat for the home team
B9: Big Ten Pitcher of the year Arnett or Wimmers?
AF: Really, really tough choice this year... I go back and forth, but I'll go with Wimmers. That no-hitter gives him a signature moment that will be the tie-breaker.
Closing it out
B9: Big Ten Player of the year Phegley or McCallum
AF: McCallum, again not by much. But he's the best player on what I believe is the best team in the league, and he's a better defender (though at a position that is not as demanding). Just a better all-around season.
With the success of the last 9-Innings with College Baseball Today's Eric Sorenson, The Buckeye Nine sought after another prominant figure in the college baseball commnity in Baseball America's Aaron Fitt.
Aaron Fitt is the lead college writer for Baseball America. If you have questions or comments about college baseball you can e-mail him at collegeblog@baseballamerica.com.
Fitt's blog and weekly columns can be found here, and with the coverage I provide and link from Fitt you know he is one of the best in the business. Understandly Fitt is hard press for time right now, the questions aren't as in-depth or deep as what normally would be covered and focus more on the Big Ten than Ohio State. However, in the end Fitt does a great job of answering the questions and providing us with insight. The Buckeye Nine thanks Fitt and appreciates his time and efforts in covering college baseball.
First Inning
B9: Who are the top Big Ten prospects?
AF: Arnett is actually the best prospect in the league: he is a likely late-first-round pick, whereas Phegley looks like a second-round type because of questions about his defense. Wimmers looks like a top-three type for next year, and McCallum could go in the top six or so this year. The guy to get really excited about for next year is Michigan's Ryan LaMarre, who I think has a chance to go in the first round. Great all-around tool package.
Second Inning
B9: Do you still believe Indiana is capable of making a run and winning the conferences auto-bid?
AF: Absolutely. Gun to my head, I'm taking the Hoosiers to win the conference tournament. Too much talent, and they've played well down the stretch.
9 up, 9 down
B9: Is Illinois in a position where they must win the BTT to reach a Regional or are they an at-large team?
AF: A week ago, I thought the Illini were in pretty good shape for an at-large bid, but dropping that series to Purdue was a killer. I think they've still got a shot at an at-large if they can at least reach the championship game of the Big Ten tourney, unless Indiana wins the tournament. If the Hoosiers win the tournament, Minnesota and Ohio State will get the two at-large bids, and Illinois will be squeezed out.
Perfect through 3
B9: Who has a better chance and reason to host a regional OSU or Minnesota?
AF: Minnesota is more deserving because of a stronger nonconference schedule (and a solid performance against that schedule), but Ohio State has a much better chance to host because of superior facilities.
Half way home
B9: Are you surprised Michigan struggled to a 7th place finish?
AF: Very surprised. There's a lot of young talent on that team, and a few quality veterans. They were extremely excited about their team early on, and I thought they were the team to beat in the Big Ten heading into March. But I was wrong. Hugely disappointing season.
Call to the bullpen
B9: Lesser known Big Ten players who will be drafted and surprise people?
AF: Here's a sleeper: Scott Kelley from Penn State, a smaller guy with plenty of athleticism and arm strength. Has been up to 94 this year, though works more in the 90-91 range. Not a top-10-rounds guy, but probably a top 15 guy.
7th inning stretch
B9: Is there a Big Ten team or teams with Omaha potential?
AF: I don't see it, though I'd give Minnesota an outside chance.
Last at-bat for the home team
B9: Big Ten Pitcher of the year Arnett or Wimmers?
AF: Really, really tough choice this year... I go back and forth, but I'll go with Wimmers. That no-hitter gives him a signature moment that will be the tie-breaker.
Closing it out
B9: Big Ten Player of the year Phegley or McCallum
AF: McCallum, again not by much. But he's the best player on what I believe is the best team in the league, and he's a better defender (though at a position that is not as demanding). Just a better all-around season.
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