Baseball Corridor of Famer Fergie Jenkins joined the continued dialogue this week about using torpedo bats that has taken the massive leagues by storm after the New York Yankees’ robust outing over opening weekend.
Throughout an look on OutKick’s “The Ricky Cobb Show,” Jenkins, 82, mentioned how torpedo bats have turn into the newest innovation within the sport and will favor hitters.
“Well, when you look back at the game when I played in the ‘60s, ’70s, ’80s, the pitcher was pretty much dominant, and now we are like second-class citizens. Everything has been done for the hitter. Like, you say the clock, the bases are bigger, you have an over glove which gives you an extra 3–7 inches sliding into the bag ahead of the throw,” Jenkins mentioned.
Along with the rule adjustments that favor hitters, Jenkins mentioned the torpedo bats are simply the newest factor in baseball that may assist them.
“There is more of a hitting surface for the hitter, and I think it might increase the batting average a little bit, but you will get a better piece of wood on the ball and the ball will maybe travel a little further,” he mentioned.
“Who knows? A couple of extra base hits, and now one hitter sees one of his teammates use it. Now, he wants to use it. I can believe before the All-Star break every ball club is going to have a half-dozen hitters using that torpedo bat.”
Whereas the general hitting floor isn’t elevated with the torpedo bat, the barrel of the bat is moved to a distinct location. The objective of shifting the barrel is to maneuver the thickest a part of the bat to the place the participant makes probably the most contact.
Jenkins mentioned gamers who use the torpedo bat may see a rise of their numbers.
“I think the batting average, you might see maybe an extra 20 points on each player’s batting average. Instead of them hitting .255, .260, it might be .280,” Jenkins mentioned.
Whereas the bat has taken baseball by storm this season, New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton used a torpedo, together with within the postseason, when he mashed seven house runs in 14 video games.
Jenkins, who pitched from 1965-1983, didn’t need to take care of any of the brand new guidelines in his days. He pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Boston Purple Sox and Philadelphia Phillies in his 19-year profession.
Jenkins gained the 1971 NL Cy Younger with the Cubs and was named an All-Star thrice.
