New York City has banned the use of Aluminum bats in youth baseball leagues, saying that the metal bats, and the allegedly greater velocity they can put on the ball, create a greater danger for the pitcher and others at the games. Naturally someone sued, having lost in the legislature, apparently disagreeing with the legislature's beliefs, and trying just to get it thrown out because it's unfair. Or something. We all know how people get when they go the the courts to win political fights.
Well, fortunately for the rule of law, the city won in federal court, with the judge saying that the plaintiffs may be true, the City Council has that right to legislate. Who'd have thought?
What's interesting to me, though, is this quote in this AP passage:
Paul Seiler, executive director of USA Baseball, a Durham, N.C.-based national governing body for several baseball associations that was among plaintiffs, said in a statement that his group fears the ruling "will take a lot of fun out of the game for most high school players.""Except for the rare, great ballplayer, it's harder to hit with wood," he said.
Is it just me, or did Seiler just admit the city's case right here?
1) This doesn't inform the deep legal issues here but....
Baseball is not supposed to be frickin' pinball. I see it as an athletic game of chess, between two mastermind managers, with the players as the pieces to move about the board. Aluminum bats, DHs and other such efforts to rapidly accelerate scoring devolve the game the way the 24-second shot clock devolved the NBA. <end drunken sports rant>
2) NYC bans everything. That's their right; they relelected Mayor Banberg. So what? If I own a bnch of shares in ALCOA, my little boy can play Pony League in Secaucus. THis was an idiot law suit.
Congressman Don Young. The GOP's Ron Mexico.