Wood Bat Makers

Comment

Comment by Andy on March 6, 2012 at 12:09pm

To all, one reason I stay away from this site is it seems disagreement is frowned upon. I am trying very hard to make something happen through baseball bats. If anyone is interested in my motivations go to my web site yayabaseballbats.com and look up the our story page. I am not an expert, I am a coach, and former teacher. I am an admitted self taught ignorant bat maker. Believe it or not I have learned what I have learned by keeping my mind open to the opinions and suggestions of others

Comment by Andy on March 6, 2012 at 12:04pm

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Roland, I was talking from my experience at various spring training facilities. Also I have seen the bats sent to players, in fact I have on in my hands right now, it is a Mariucci, it is painted all black and there is no white diamond for the ink stain. I also talked with several club managers who told me they purchase the bats for around $25 from one of the larger manufacturers. I realize that my opinions are subjective and I also know the bats are supposed to be of higher quality. I am not trying to be controversial or to make conflicts. Your information as always is pertinent and I believe accurate. My guess is if we go to a AA or A ball or rookie ball game and check the bats we will find that many do not conform to MLB standards. 

Comment by Roland Hernandez on March 6, 2012 at 11:56am

...

Andy...

 

Here are the facts...

 

1.  Yes, MLB annual fees are $13,000

 

2.  Yes, every MLB-certified manufacturer has to a carry a $10 million liability insurance coverage.  (not cheap)

 

3.  ONLY those MLB-certified manufacturers can supply bats to MLB and MiLB players  (AAA, AA, A, and even the Rookie Leagues).

 

4.  ALL MLB-certified bat manufacturers need to abide by the wood quality rules, which focuses on slope-of-grain  (straighter-than-3-degrees).

 

5.  Starting in 2011, there are now density limits for maple.   There is even a list of approved species...  which prohibits the use of the likes of Silver and Red Maple -  to take the place of the stronger Sugar maple.

 

6.  I don't know where your statement is coming from?..   "lower minor leagues... are not the approved with ink dot models". ..  this is incorrect.

 

And there no data exists that tells us..  "most [minor league bats] are cast offs that a company cannot even sell to Dick's sporting goods." 

 

I would agree that the minor leaguers probably receive wood quality that is lower than the major leaguers.   But the rules say that they still must be ABOVE the minimum quality levels -  which were set in 2009.

 

If bats are found to NOT meet the minimum quality, then those are said to be "non-compliant"...    that's because there are now wood quality rules that exist.

 

To say that MOST bats are cast offs is completely incorrect.

 

Roland Hernandez, Founder

http://www.rockbats.com/

.

 

 

Comment by Andy on March 6, 2012 at 11:13am

As far as labels, I am lucky I live in the Ukraine where laser engraving the labels is an affordable option. I image if my bats get to the MLB since they are not ash I will have to go to some kind of transfer Decal, sticker or paint for the logo.

Comment by Andy on March 6, 2012 at 11:09am

Martin as far as I know to use a bat in any MLB affiliated program it must come from a certified manufacturer. This included batting practice. I have several minor league players wanting to use my bats. MLB recently raised the fee to $13,000 plus an insurance policy and perhaps a small manufacturer has to be sponsored by a team. The most remarkable thing about all of this is almost all bats sold to and used in the lower minor leagues by the certified manufacturer's are not the approved with ink dot models. In fact most are cast offs that a company cannot even sell to Dick's sporting goods. I find this type of hypocritical behavior disgusting. I am hoping to get my bats approved this year, not for the market, as major league players are a pain in the ass, but because when you have an unknown label like mine, everyone asks who uses it and thinks that a bat is only good if it is in the MLB. I would put any of my bats against what is used in the minor leagues.

Comment by Martin on March 6, 2012 at 11:02am

Do you have to be MLB approved for bat use in minor league?  A class, AA class, etc. affiliated to a MLB team?

Comment by Pat Conboy on February 29, 2012 at 5:07pm

yeah thats what i thought about the irons. thanks!

Comment by Michael Paes on February 29, 2012 at 5:00pm

I use lazartran paper - does not work over dark painted bats, but looks nice over clear or stained bats.

 

I use a flat iron, and roll the bat over.  With a curved iron you might need different irons.  Do a search - this has been discussed before last year.

 

I am pretty low tech, but there are jigs that will hold the bat and roll it over the iron with pressure.  It is a pain in the butt, which is why so many companies have gone to labels, but for me doing the vintage bats I do not have that option.

Comment by Pat Conboy on February 29, 2012 at 4:48pm

how do you make the labels, do you have to have a special printer? and with the branding iron do you have a curved brand for the shape of the bat? that would differ in different model bats right?

Comment by Michael Paes on February 29, 2012 at 11:13am

I use labels on my modern bats (make them myself), and brand my vintage bats.  Here is the company that made my brand, and they were great to work with:

http://www.brandingequipment.com/

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