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Shattering maple bats: raising concerns in the majors: alarming rate of splintered wood flying around ball parks this season has put players, coaches, umpires and fans on alert to avoid injury.
- Article from:
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Baseball Digest
- Article date:
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August 1, 2008
- Author:
- van Dyck, Dave
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Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2008 Century Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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EVERY BASEBALL PLAYER SEEMS TO have a story about a close call with the game's newest nemesis, the airborne bat barrel.
"Second game of the year in Cleveland," White Sox reliever Matt Thornton recalled. "I threw the pitch, snapped the bat in half. The ball was coming toward me and the bat was coming too. I went to field the ball and the head of the bat actually went into my glove.
"The ball squirmed through my legs. They called it a hit instead of an error. I'd rather have the error. Cost me an earned run."
Pirates hitting coach Don Long would like to find some humor in his story, too. Even if he could, he has only half a smile to use.
Long suffered a gash to ...