BOLEN: EXPENSE ONLY DRAWBACK TO WOOD BATS

McDowell Capahas manager Jess Bolen said he would be all for using wooden bats in the future -- although that would greatly increase his team's operating expenses each year.

The subject of wooden bats is something that has been discussed by the National Baseball Congress for the past several years.

And a Friday Associated Press story said that NBC officials have now taken the first steps to using only wooden bats in a bid to increase safety, emphasize pitching and draw more professional scouts to the NBC World Series.

NBC officials said no changes would be made for this year's NBC World Series, set for late July and early August in Wichita, Kan.

But changes could be made as early as the 1999 or 2000 NBC World Series.

The Capahas are one of about 200 to 225 teams nationwide that are sanctioned by the NBC. The Capahas have been regular participants in the NBC World Series for more than a decade.

"They (the NBC) have been talking about using wooden bats for the past five years," said Bolen. "I said during SEMO games this year that I believe aluminum bats will be outlawed in Division I college baseball within five years.

"Southern Cal beat Arizona State 21-14 in the College World Series final this year. Nobody wants to see games like that."

For more than two decades, high school and college teams have used aluminum bats, which last longer. The aluminum bats give the hitter a distinct advantage, with studies showing that a ball hit 380 feet with a wooden bat would go 415 feet with an aluminum bat.

By using wooden bats, the NBC's teams would draw more professional scouts and the scouts would be able to better judge players against professional standards, the NBC said. The change would also mean lower scores and closer games, with fewer home runs.

"I think using wooden bats would be good," said Bolen. "It would definitely improve a hitter's discipline and the scouts would be able to judge talent better. And the way it is now, pitchers don't have time to react when the ball is hit back at them because it's going so fast."

But Bolen did say that the cost of using wooden bats would be fairly steep.

"I'd say it would add between $1,000 and $2,000 to our expenses every year," he said. "The last year we used wooden bats, we started with 144 bats and we had to buy more. I had one guy break four bats in one game.

"The aluminum bats hardly ever break. It's rare when one does."

While the Capahas could probably still use aluminum bats even if wooden bats were used during the NBC World Series, Bolen said that really wouldn't work out.

"If they (the NBC) went to them for the (national) tournament, we'd have to use them," he said. "If you're using aluminum bats all year, then switch to wooden bats just for the tournament, you couldn't do it. It would never work."

Added Bolen, "They (the NBC) have been talking about this the last five years. I think they'll go to it."

Some information for this story was provided by The Associated Press