[Dyre Straits]

Do you think the penalty fits the offense?

Does the fact that no other bats were found to be corked have any influence on your decision?

Do you think an appeal will result in a reduction of the penalty?


Should this have been a poll?

[JavaFox]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't know that much about sports, so I can't really say whether or not an 8-game suspension is harsh or not. But, I mean, if the bat was corked, it was lighter, right? I don't see how he can claim innocence when a pro-baseball player ought to have a grip on how much a bat ought to weigh.

[Renegade[CSR]]

Originally posted by JavaFox
Yeah, I don't know. I don't know that much about sports, so I can't really say whether or not an 8-game suspension is harsh or not. But, I mean, if the bat was corked, it was lighter, right? I don't see how he can claim innocence when a pro-baseball player ought to have a grip on how much a bat ought to weigh.

Its not really the weight that makes the significant difference, although it does factor in quite alot. The ball bounces off of cork at a much quicker rate than it does off wood, so a cork bat would result in much more home runs, etc. In addition, the bat will be lighter as aforementioned and you will be swinging considerably faster. This results in a pretty lethal combination

I personally think that 8 games should be enough, it seems as though thats a standard suspension for using a corked bat. It is usually brawls that result in longer suspensions. Doesn't look like MLB cared who the offender was, and were unbiased in their decision.

[Dyre Straits]

I tend to lean toward believing he made an honest mistake. It was the only corked bat found in the whole 13 dozen or so bats they examined. I think he'd be foolish to knowingly use a corked bat in a game with the knowledge that he's broken so many in the past. Just the likelihood of breaking another one in a game would be a big deterrent in my mind.

I'm just hoping that Sammy didn't resort to intentionally doing it. He just seems to be a decent person and I know we can all make mistakes....no matter how good and decent we may be.

Anyway, I think the 8-game suspension will have served its purpose in making him stop and and consciously consider the bat he picks up. And if he DOES intentionally use a corked bat in batting practice, that one needs to be taken away from the playing field and dugout area during official play.

[sinjin]

actually, i think they examined (xray) 83 bats...even grabbed a couple out of the hall of fame.

if i brought up a corked bat to the plate...i'd be damned sure to bring the handle with me to first base if it shattered and then run out to retrieve the other half. sammy didnt. therefore, i must believe he had no knowledge the bat was corked.

8 games is a suffient suspension...as far as the stigma attached to him now...i'm sure we'll all forget after awhile.

[craig588]

I'm not really up on the whole sports thing, but some of my friends are. For what I have been told it was only during a practice game, or am I mistaken? I don't think you shouldn't be suspended for cheating while practicing. It sounds kind of dumb though becuase if you wanted to practice you would use regulation equipment.

[sinjin]

err, no. he used the bat during a regular season game. his 'excuse' was that is was a batting practice bat accidently brought up to the plate.

[Junk]

Originally posted by Renegade[CSR]
Its not really the weight that makes the significant difference, although it does factor in quite alot. The ball bounces off of cork at a much quicker rate than it does off wood, so a cork bat would result in much more home runs, etc. In addition, the bat will be lighter as aforementioned and you will be swinging considerably faster. This results in a pretty lethal combination

not true.

i saw on espn that louisville slugger had used their pitching/batting machines on a corked bat and a non-corked bat. the results were the same.

the only benefit of corking a bat is the added speed the hitter gains from swinging a bat that isn't solid wood whilst maintaining the larger barrel.

8 games is sufficient. i just hope that sosa/the mlbpa doesn't appeal the suspension..

[Renegade[CSR]]

Originally posted by Junk
not true.

i saw on espn that louisville slugger had used their pitching/batting machines on a corked bat and a non-corked bat. the results were the same.

the only benefit of corking a bat is the added speed the hitter gains from swinging a bat that isn't solid wood whilst maintaining the larger barrel.

8 games is sufficient. i just hope that sosa/the mlbpa doesn't appeal the suspension..

Its pretty well known that a corked bat provides more punch towards the ball and leads towards more home runs. I also mentioned weight being a factor in it as well, and honestly I don't know how you could prove its not the cork if it goes farther anyways.

Aside from that, I believe what Jim Rome said is quite accurate, which is that he used the corked bat because hes struggling. It was most likely a last ditch effort to bring himself out of a slump, and noone goes up to the plate with a corked bat without knowing it, so thats a significantly poor excuse.

[sinjin]

think i heard that a corked bat reduces swing speed by like .01 or something of a second...adding about 4 feet to the flight of a ball.

[JavaFox]

Yeah, I don't know. I know it was the only corked bat found belonging to the man, but unintentional? Maybe I'm just talkin' out of my ass, but shouldn't a Major Leaguer (especially one like Sosa) be able to TELL that his bat is lighter? I find it hard to believe that he grabbed it and didn't think anything was amiss.

[Crash Override]

ok I might not be liked after saying this

most of you have no idea what in the hell you are talking about

there are a few in this thread who are showing some form of intelligence but the rest seem to suffer from laziness


Here are the real facts on corked bats.

The difference between a corked bat and a real bat is 1 thing.

A corked bat removes the sting from hitting a faster pitch.

It however does not make the ball fly faster or farther.

Nor does it make the bat any lighter.


The reason behind Mr Sosa having used a corked bat for practice is that he didnt want his hands to hurt come game time.

The same thing happened to Joe Morgan several years ago. He had been using a corked bat during a practice and the bat hadnt been put away as it should have been. Since the corked bats look like all the others he didnt know it when he stepped up to the plate. The way he found out was that his hand didnt hurt after connecting with the ball.

Another note in this case. Albert Belle only receieved a 6 game suspension when he actually used a corked bat on purpose and then later tried to have a teammate get rid of the evidence. Why is sosa getting a much harder punishment?

He has cooperated in every way that he could with them.

He has also stated that no matter what, even if it is for practice he will never use a corked bat again so the mistake can never be made. All of the bats that they have checked including the HoF bats didnt have any cork in them at all. The man has hit 505 home runs without using cork........why would he start now?

[Junk]

Originally posted by Crash Override
A corked bat removes the sting from hitting a faster pitch.

when you REALLY connect with a pitch, when you hit it as squarely as possible, you do not feel the ball, thus no sting. regardless of the weather. if you're not making good contact, however, then i can understand..

Nor does it make the bat any lighter.

when buck showalter showed how to cork a bat for baseball tonight, it ended up being an ounce lighter than the one he started with..

Another note in this case. Albert Belle only receieved a 6 game suspension when he actually used a corked bat on purpose and then later tried to have a teammate get rid of the evidence. Why is sosa getting a much harder punishment?

found this in the seattle times. maybe they served belle with 10 games and after an appeal, he was only forced to serve 6 of them.

Player - Team - Year - Suspension
Wilton Guerrero - L.A. Dodgers - 1997 - 8 games
Chris Sabo - Cincinnati - 1996 - 7 games
Albert Belle - Cleveland - 1994 - 10 games
Billy Hatcher - Houston - 1987 -10 games

here's an interesting take on the effects of corked bats. to each their own, i guess..

[JavaFox]

Originally posted by Crash Override
ok I might not be liked after saying this

most of you have no idea what in the hell you are talking about

Hey, man, no offense taken. I know I know nothing about sports. It just seemed to me that cork would be lighter than normal wood, but I guess I was wrong.

Ah, well, thanks for the info.

[Mac Daddy]

Nice Crash .... hee hee
Hey BUD thanks for being honest .....

As basic physics would imply making the swinging object lighter would indeed lessen the velocity
Which brings us too Sami's corked Bat ... I read this in the paper last week ....

He uses it to entertain the fans before the game ... But keeping in mind his hands at game time ....

Ohh well if I had his money 8 days seems pretty minor ... I thought it was a dumb call myself

[Falstaff]

His job is hitting balls into the grandstands and bringing his team mates home by swinging a bat, not to mention the millions he earned, I think he has probably used cork before and gotten away with it, and so has every other athlete...He is an expert at his profession or sport if you will, he broke a bat, he whether he intended to or not, broke the rules...nuff said...just a little speed bump in the season and though regrettable...very very forgettable...

[JavaFox]

He is indeed appealing the punishment, BTW.

[Falstaff]

I cannot bring myself to believe that he didn't know what he was doing.....It boggles mind...I think he is full of excrement...he knew damn well what he was doing....

[Crash Override]

Originally posted by fallang_jeff
His job is hitting balls into the grandstands and bringing his team mates home by swinging a bat, not to mention the millions he earned, I think he has probably used cork before and gotten away with it, and so has every other athlete...He is an expert at his profession or sport if you will, he broke a bat, he whether he intended to or not, broke the rules...nuff said...just a little speed bump in the season and though regrettable...very very forgettable...

so you are driving down the road and a cop pulls you over because you were going 5 over the speed limit however at no time did your speedometer ever show that.....seems its broken

the officer looks up your record and sees you have no speeding record whatsoever, he listens to your story and then writes you a ticket for the full amount of the penalty.

Do you feel like you got shafted and take it to court along with evidence showing that your speedometer was indeed broken and now fixed and argue that the officer should have handed you a fix it ticket due to your spotless driving record or do you sit back and let it just happen?

[Sarcasm mode] I say you deserve the ticket and the cop should have raped you for all the money he could get on it. After all you broke the law, doesnt matter if you knew it or not[/Sarcasm mode]

[digerati]

Originally posted by Crash Override
so you are driving down the road and a cop pulls you over because you were going 5 over the speed limit however at no time did your speedometer ever show that.....seems its broken

the officer looks up your record and sees you have no speeding record whatsoever, he listens to your story and then writes you a ticket for the full amount of the penalty.

Do you feel like you got shafted and take it to court along with evidence showing that your speedometer was indeed broken and now fixed and argue that the officer should have handed you a fix it ticket due to your spotless driving record or do you sit back and let it just happen?

[Sarcasm mode] I say you deserve the ticket and the cop should have raped you for all the money he could get on it. After all you broke the law, doesnt matter if you knew it or not[/Sarcasm mode]

Only difference is that a corked bat isn't a brocken bat. It's something you pay for to get altered or you do yourself. Now if you removed the little chip that caps how fast your car can go and you get caught speeding at 165 then yes you should get raped for the full amount of money and be damn glad that you didn't get your license removed permanently.

[Crash Override]

Originally posted by fallang_jeff
I cannot bring myself to believe that he didn't know what he was doing.....It boggles mind...I think he is full of excrement...he knew damn well what he was doing....

you remind me of my fiances cousin johnny

someone who has no clue about the history of baseball but watches it on tv

cork is not much lighter than a regular bat

a matter of one ounce is not enough to feel

i honestly cant tell the difference between 5 and 6 ounces just by the feel of something

[Crash Override]

Originally posted by ^_^
Only difference is that a corked bat isn't a brocken bat. It's something you pay for to get altered or you do yourself. Now if you removed the little chip that caps how fast your car can go and you get caught speeding at 165 then yes you should get raped for the full amount of money and be damn glad that you didn't get your license removed permanently.

see I like people like you


[You mode] I dont like the situation handed to me so I will change it so I can corrupt the situation so it fits my view of reality more. Did I mention I am a millionaire?[/You mode]

[digerati]

Originally posted by Crash Override
see I like people like you


[You mode] I dont like the situation handed to me so I will change it so I can corrupt the situation so it fits my view of reality more. Did I mention I am a millionaire?[/You mode]

So your gonna tell me that a professional major player just happened to have a corked bat for no reason at all? Considering they all buy their own custom bats. And if he did "use it for practice" he would make damn sure he knew which bat it was. Just like you'd know which car was street legal or not before you drove it. Not good idea to go speeding on your skyline in the middle of the day.

And I'm not a millionare. Sammy is.

[JavaFox]

Hey, now... let's play nice in here.

[digerati]

He started it! ::runs and hides behind papa javafox::

[Crash Override]

Originally posted by ^_^
So your gonna tell me that a professional major player just happened to have a corked bat for no reason at all? Considering they all buy their own custom bats. And if he did "use it for practice" he would make damn sure he knew which bat it was. Just like you'd know which car was street legal or not before you drove it. Not good idea to go speeding on your skyline in the middle of the day.

And I'm not a millionare. Sammy is.

I cant believe how little you really know about baseball.

Then again I do have a relative who has played the game so

Matt Nokes.....former catcher for the Tigers and the Yankees.

I know alot about baseball *shrugs* and I can tell you right now there was nothing to distinguish that bat from the others. This is not the first time its happened in baseball. Joe Morgan did it a long time ago when he had a practice bat that had cork in it. He thought it had been put away and it hadnt. He got that bat and batted with it. He knew it was corked instantly as he didnt feel the usual sting.....and contrary to popular opinion any time you have a wooden bat and it hits a solid object travelling at nearly 100 miles per hour its almost always going to hurt.

[Zardon]

chill

[Crash Override]

/me is chilled

at no point during any of the posts have i been angry

[digerati]

So then he could tell the difference?

[Crash Override]

Originally posted by ^_^
So then he could tell the difference?

he could tell that it was corked after hitting the ball not before

which means its entirely possible he didnt know until he made the hit