Top Division I coaches comment on aluminum and wood bats

Coaches comments on aluminum and wood bats

Some comments from coaches at top Division I college baseball programs on aluminum vs. wooden bats:

“Playing baseball with a wood bat is the way the game was made to be played. But it isn’t going to happen. It isn’t our mission to prepare players for pro baseball.” — Texas coach Augie Garrido.

“You’ve got to remember that I’m the pitching coach, too, so I would like to see the game played with wood bats. But the thing that probably gets unnoticed is the bat manufacturers that have put so much in finances into helping the college game. That would go away.” — Cal State Fullerton coach Dave Serrano.

“A basketball is a basketball and a football is a football. Every other sport uses the same equipment. But in ours we have aluminum and wood bats. It would make sense to use wooden bats, but the aluminum bats are big business. I don’t know what kind of act it would take for us to change.” — Oral Roberts coach Rob Walton.

“Our game has never been healthier, never been more popular. I take some pride in the fact we’re the highest level of aluminum-bat play.” — Tulane coach Rick Jones.

“Aluminum is better for our game because we don’t have players that can handle the wooden bat well enough to make our game as exciting as it needs to be.” — Oklahoma State coach Frank Anderson.

“Now that the bats are toned down from when they got a little bit out of control, I’m a fan of the aluminum bat. It separates us from the summer leagues and minor leagues.” — North Carolina coach Mike Fox.

“Unless Major League Baseball ever made a decision to say, ‘We’re going to underwrite college baseball,’ I don’t think it (wood bats) will happen.” — South Carolina coach Ray Tanner.

“I like the game the way it is right now. It’s pretty popular and our attendance is growing. The game is pretty balanced offensively right now after we went through a little spell there where it wasn’t.” — Notre Dame coach Dave Schrage.

“At least with the aluminum bat, you know everyone has the same tool in their hand. That’s why I have to be totally in favor of aluminum.” — Wichita State coach Gene Stephenson.

“The aluminum bat still makes it a game that the little guy can play.” — Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn.

“It’s all financial. When you start talking about what bats, there’s probably several mid-major and smaller programs around the country that can’t afford to have wood bats.” — Texas A&M coach Rob Childress.

“Anything that needs to be done to reduce offense can actually be done with the ball. What did baseball do in the 1920s? They came in with a live ball because they wanted more runs, more home runs. Well, if you want less offense, change the ball. It’s not rocket science.” — Rice coach Wayne Graham.