Let’s be civil. The Flathead Beacon encourages vigorous discussion and lively debate, but we will delete comments that attack other readers, make accusations we can’t verify, stray too far off topic, criticize local businesses (call them if you have a problem), convict someone of a crime, use profanity or are simply judged to be in bad taste. We don’t always have someone moderating comments, so we ask for your help: If you see a comment that violates these ground rules, or you simply deem it offensive, please e-mail editor [at] flatheadbeacon.com. The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.
By Missedyourmark on 10-29-09
Typical. I’d understand if the kid was 8 or 9 but this fella was 18 years old. An “adult”. Able to make his own decisions and old enough to know the dangers inherent in baseball. There is plenty of information out there about how much faster a ball travels off of an aluminum bat. If they’re so concerned about it, I hope they use the money to get more awareness out rather than just being punitive about it. But to sue a company when they knew full well the danger is just not right and it wasn’t right, based upon that arguement, to award damages.
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By Kokanee on 10-29-09
Have to agree with you on this one. Just read the story on the AP. Wouldn’t want anyone to lose a loved one due to negligence on a product. Like you said sports can be dangerous people die from head trauma all the time perhaps they should sue the ball manufacturer as well I sure have never seen warnings printed on the ball.
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By SanDiegoSteve on 10-30-09
Hmmm, are all the people in Montana as stupid as this jury? What grown up person doesn’t understand that metal bats are lethal weapons in the hands of a good hitter? Baseball is dangerous. If you don’t know that, you aren’t very bright. Maple bats can splinter and stick in someone’s jugular vein, but that’s the risk you take playing baseball, or any other sport. I feel very badly that this family lost their son, it’s tragic. But they also should not have received one red cent out of it.
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By Vud on 10-30-09
You’d have to know what instructions the judge gave this jury and the testimony they heard. Absent that your opinions are all guess work at best. ——————————————————————————————————
Some interesting reading:
THE PHYSICS OF A LINE DRIVE
Technological improvements in aluminum bats have many people worried about the speed at which amateur baseball is played.
The NCAA adopted a standard for aluminum bat performance in 1999 that said the exit velocity of a batted ball should not exceed 97 mph under test conditions. Those conditions were set based on the performance of a wood bat swung at 85 mph and a pitch thrown at 70 mph.
At faster pitch and swing speeds, too many wood bats broke for a comprehensive study. Research has shown that a baseball pitcher needs between approximately .35 and .4 seconds to react to a ball hit back at him as he stands 54 feet from impact.
Here are examples of how far baseballs travel at different velocities off of bats in .36 seconds, which would represent a relatively fast reaction time for a pitcher:
1. 93 mph (the standard of maximum exit velocity an NCAA baseball committee recommended in 1998): 49.1 feet.
2. 97 mph (the standard of maximum exit velocity set by the NCAA in 1999 based on a machine swinging a wood bat 85 mph at a pitch traveling 70 mph. An aluminum bat that produces speeds in excess of 97 mph under the same machine conditions is illegal in college baseball): 51.2 feet.
3. 100 mph (the recorded speed of a ball hit with an aluminum bat that struck Gophers pitcher Ben Birk in a March game, causing multiple facial fractures): 52.8 feet.
4. 111 mph (the recorded speed of a ball hit with an aluminum bat that narrowly missed Gophers pitcher Mike Kobow in a recent game): 58.6 feet.
5. 120 mph (a top velocity a top hitter could expect off an aluminum bat in game conditions): 63.4 feet.
THE TRAMPOLINE EFFECT
Because of what is called the “trampoline effect” a springy rebound off an aluminum bat similar to a tennis racquet an aluminum bat creates a greater increase in exit velocity than a wood bat. In game situations, where pitch speeds and swing speeds are even greater, aluminum bats can generate exit velocities of 120 mph.
DO THE MATH
The kinetic energy of an object is determined by multiplying one-half of its mass by its velocity squared. Therefore, an increase in the velocity with which a baseball leaves a bat increases its energy at an even greater rate.
For instance, a ball traveling 111 mph the recorded speed of a ball hit with an aluminum bat that narrowly missed Gophers pitcher Mike Kobow in a recent game has 31 percent more kinetic energy than a ball traveling 97 mph. A ball hit at 111 mph reaches a pitcher in approximately 0.33 seconds.
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Comments on: Montana Jury Awards $850,000 in Aluminum Bat Lawsuit
Let’s be civil. The Flathead Beacon encourages vigorous discussion and lively debate, but we will delete comments that attack other readers, make accusations we can’t verify, stray too far off topic, criticize local businesses (call them if you have a problem), convict someone of a crime, use profanity or are simply judged to be in bad taste. We don’t always have someone moderating comments, so we ask for your help: If you see a comment that violates these ground rules, or you simply deem it offensive, please e-mail editor [at] flatheadbeacon.com. The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.
By Missedyourmark on 10-29-09
Typical. I’d understand if the kid was 8 or 9 but this fella was 18 years old. An “adult”. Able to make his own decisions and old enough to know the dangers inherent in baseball. There is plenty of information out there about how much faster a ball travels off of an aluminum bat. If they’re so concerned about it, I hope they use the money to get more awareness out rather than just being punitive about it. But to sue a company when they knew full well the danger is just not right and it wasn’t right, based upon that arguement, to award damages.
By Kokanee on 10-29-09
Have to agree with you on this one. Just read the story on the AP. Wouldn’t want anyone to lose a loved one due to negligence on a product. Like you said sports can be dangerous people die from head trauma all the time perhaps they should sue the ball manufacturer as well I sure have never seen warnings printed on the ball.
By SanDiegoSteve on 10-30-09
Hmmm, are all the people in Montana as stupid as this jury? What grown up person doesn’t understand that metal bats are lethal weapons in the hands of a good hitter? Baseball is dangerous. If you don’t know that, you aren’t very bright. Maple bats can splinter and stick in someone’s jugular vein, but that’s the risk you take playing baseball, or any other sport. I feel very badly that this family lost their son, it’s tragic. But they also should not have received one red cent out of it.
By Vud on 10-30-09
You’d have to know what instructions the judge gave this jury and the testimony they heard. Absent that your opinions are all guess work at best.
——————————————————————————————————
Some interesting reading:
THE PHYSICS OF A LINE DRIVE
Technological improvements in aluminum bats have many people worried about the speed at which amateur baseball is played.
The NCAA adopted a standard for aluminum bat performance in 1999 that said the exit velocity of a batted ball should not exceed 97 mph under test conditions. Those conditions were set based on the performance of a wood bat swung at 85 mph and a pitch thrown at 70 mph.
At faster pitch and swing speeds, too many wood bats broke for a comprehensive study. Research has shown that a baseball pitcher needs between approximately .35 and .4 seconds to react to a ball hit back at him as he stands 54 feet from impact.
Here are examples of how far baseballs travel at different velocities off of bats in .36 seconds, which would represent a relatively fast reaction time for a pitcher:
1. 93 mph (the standard of maximum exit velocity an NCAA baseball committee recommended in 1998): 49.1 feet.
2. 97 mph (the standard of maximum exit velocity set by the NCAA in 1999 based on a machine swinging a wood bat 85 mph at a pitch traveling 70 mph. An aluminum bat that produces speeds in excess of 97 mph under the same machine conditions is illegal in college baseball): 51.2 feet.
3. 100 mph (the recorded speed of a ball hit with an aluminum bat that struck Gophers pitcher Ben Birk in a March game, causing multiple facial fractures): 52.8 feet.
4. 111 mph (the recorded speed of a ball hit with an aluminum bat that narrowly missed Gophers pitcher Mike Kobow in a recent game): 58.6 feet.
5. 120 mph (a top velocity a top hitter could expect off an aluminum bat in game conditions): 63.4 feet.
THE TRAMPOLINE EFFECT
Because of what is called the “trampoline effect” a springy rebound off an aluminum bat similar to a tennis racquet an aluminum bat creates a greater increase in exit velocity than a wood bat. In game situations, where pitch speeds and swing speeds are even greater, aluminum bats can generate exit velocities of 120 mph.
DO THE MATH
The kinetic energy of an object is determined by multiplying one-half of its mass by its velocity squared. Therefore, an increase in the velocity with which a baseball leaves a bat increases its energy at an even greater rate.
For instance, a ball traveling 111 mph the recorded speed of a ball hit with an aluminum bat that narrowly missed Gophers pitcher Mike Kobow in a recent game has 31 percent more kinetic energy than a ball traveling 97 mph. A ball hit at 111 mph reaches a pitcher in approximately 0.33 seconds.