Finally some proactive news out of MLB with regards to the exploding maple bats, even though it’s taking root in the minors:

New regulations will prohibit bats made from ultra-light maple. The low-density wood often is found in bats with big barrels and thin handles, creating a whip-like action when swung. Softer red maple and silver maple — not commonly used — will be completely eliminated by the 30-plus companies approved to make bats.

The bans apply to players who are not on 40-man rosters and have no major league experience. Baseball often tests new rules on minor leaguers, be it drug tests or pace-of-game ideas, because most of them are not in the MLB players’ union and such moves do not require union approval.

Lest you think this is just for the minor leaguers:

As part of the safety initiative, any big leaguer whose bat broke at least 10 times last year must consult with a panel of MLB and union bat experts to determine if there is some extenuating problem.

Baseball also is changing the specifications for all bats, slimming the maximum diameter of the barrel from 2.75 inches — which had been the standard for more than 100 years — to 2.61 inches. Trying to change the geometry of bats, the minimum size of bat handles is being increasing by about 1-50th of an inch.

(click “view full post” to read more, including some of our prior ramblings on maple bats)

There’s an interesting discussion on MLB on XM this morning following the scintillating gold medal hockey game yesterday. I say “interesting” but really, I’m trying to be kind because I love MLB on XM. [Well, I loved MLB on XM when they had Scott Graham running the morning show with either Billy Ripken, Dan Duquette or Buck Martinez as the co-hosts. Then they changed things up and brought Rob Dibble from the 4pm slot to the morning drive, wrecking my morning drive but improving my drive home. And Graham is nowhere to be heard and it's a big loss.]

Dibble was repeated beating the “MLB should at least explore putting baseball back into the Olympics” horse to death today to the point that I turned the channel. I never turn off MLB on XM during my drive, but today, I did. Sadly, I can see this happening as Dibble can be impossibly infuriating. Upon getting to the office and checking the news/chatter of the day, I see that MLB on XM posted this on Facebook:

After seeing yesterday’s exciting Gold Medal Game, would Major League Baseball be wise to take a cue from hockey and shut down the sport for two weeks to allow Major League players to take part in the Olympics? (assuming that baseball returns to the Summer Olympics!)

(click “view full post” to read more)

Help support a friend, won’t ya?

For the 6th year, Major League Baseball®, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and Louisville Slugger® are “Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer“.

One winner per Major League Baseball team will be selected as Honorary Bat Girl or Boy and will represent his or her favorite Major League Baseball team as an “honorary” bat girl or boy during the Mother’s Day game.

All of the entrants are worth voting for, but since my wife passed this along, I’m asking you to throw your vote in the direction of “Patty’s BFF”. Three or four clicks and you’ve voted. That’s it. And you’ll have my thanks.

Amazingly enough, there was no real mention of Rusty Hardin, Brian McNamee, dirty needles or any stuff like that. Instead, it was a husky looking Clemens appearing at a charity event in NJ. Good to see, I guess.

That’s quite the outfit, Rocket! Shiny black shirt, white belt, brown jeans, iPhone. I can’t mock the gut and extra chin as, well, he is 47 years old and no longer a competitive athlete…

The Rocket seemed right at home, wrapping his arms around kids and elders, moms and 20-something groupies. There was no hint of weariness from the ongoing federal perjury investigation into whether Clemens lied before Congress in 2008, when he denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs. Sources have told the Daily News that the investigation is continuing, but Clemens seemed unburdened by the possibility that he could face criminal charges.

Clemens was gracious when two Daily News reporters asked whether he knew where the investigation stands.

(click “view full post” to read more)