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MLB's Next Crackdown May Be Maple Bats

Harder wood splits easily, sending shrapnel into stands

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 3, 2008 3:10 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Barry Bonds may soon be the face of another Major League Baseball investigation: into the dangers of maple bats. The slugger's choice of wood has a growing following among players, but incidents of flying shards injuring fans and coaches have sparked a movement to ban the bats, USA Today reports. A safety summit on June 24 will take up the issue.

"A bat could easily snap and go right toward the pitcher, and he's not paying attention because he's looking at the ball, and it jams into his stomach," says Oakland pitcher Chad Gaudin. "I'm sure if that happened, God forbid, they would ban them."

Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman ducks from a broken bat from Florida Marlins' Hanley Ramirez during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sept. 5, 2007, in Washington.
Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman ducks from a broken bat from Florida Marlins' Hanley Ramirez during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sept. 5, 2007, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Chicago Cubs Kosuke Fukudome, of Japan, gets a broken bat single in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 24, 2008.
Chicago Cubs Kosuke Fukudome, of Japan, gets a broken bat single in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 24, 2008.   (AP Photo/John Heller)
Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto gets a broken-bat single to drive in two runs in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, May 28, 2008.
Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto gets a broken-bat single to drive in two runs in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, May 28, 2008.   (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Joel Pineiro walks past a broken bat stuck in the ground during spring training baseball practice, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008, in Jupiter, Fla.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Joel Pineiro walks past a broken bat stuck in the ground during spring training baseball practice, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008, in Jupiter, Fla.   (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
Seattle Mariners pitcher Miguel Batista ducks as a piece of broken bat flies past him from Los Angeles Angels' Vladimir Guerrero in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007.
Seattle Mariners pitcher Miguel Batista ducks as a piece of broken bat flies past him from Los Angeles Angels' Vladimir Guerrero in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007.   (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
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COMMENTS
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Commish is concerned about maple
MLB.com

Bat maker blames craftsmanship, not wood
Los Angeles Times

Kids need better sports safety gear: researchers
Chicago Tribune

 
MLB • Barry Bonds • injury • baseball • baseball bat • Chad Gaudin • maple bats

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