Sammy Sosa ejected for using corked bat - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian · 06-03-2003, 09:46 PM

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/ne...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa was ejected from Tuesday night's game because he was believed to have cork in his bat.
The Cubs had runners at second and third with one out in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Sosa grounded out to second base, driving in a run. His bat split upon impact and home plate umpire Tim McClelland picked up the broken half. He called the other three umpires over to examine it.

The umpires then showed the bat fragment to Cubs manager Dusty Baker and then third base umpire Lance Barksdale took the shattered bat into the umpires' room.

The runners were sent back to the bases.

McClelland told official scorer Bob Rosenberg that Sosa was ejected because he had cork in his bat. Sosa did not come out and argue the call.

Sosa entered the game batting .285 and was playing his fourth game since being activated from the disabled list.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The only thing I can say about this is that I am very shocked.

Brad Russ · 06-04-2003, 04:38 AM

This doesn't surprise me at all. As soon as I heard this news, the first thing that popped into my head was, it's about time one of these 60+ homerun hitters got caught. The only thing that surprises me is that this didn't happen sooner. Iv'e always found it incredibly suspicious how for so many years, Roger Marris's homerun record was untouched, and now within five years it has been broken three times. Why was it untouched for 30 or 40 years, and now within 5 years it's been broken three times? Definitely not a coincidence in my eyes. I'm not going to start making accusations or anything, but I have a feeling there are many more people who are corking their bats, and bulking up on illegal substances. Hopefully all the other players who partake in this will learn a lesson from Sammy, and stop.

Brad Russ · 06-04-2003, 04:40 AM

I accidently hit quote instead of edit. Sorry.

MonarC · 06-04-2003, 09:40 AM

Ok this may sound like a dumb question but how does having cork in your bat make it wrong???

ks · 06-04-2003, 12:23 PM

Having cork in your batmakes your swing quicker and helps the ball travel further.

I'm really shocked by this. He has an interesting excuse, but I don't know what to believe. I'll wait and see what MLB turns up about all his other bats. It's sad it happened to Sammy, because everyone kinda sees him as this trustworthy type guy, but this just blew it I think.

We'll just have to wait and see...

ks

MonarC · 06-04-2003, 12:37 PM

thx for explaning

they should have bat inspection...

or maybe even give out bats that they know are real wood bats

just an idea

*PinkLady* · 06-04-2003, 12:53 PM

I wonder if the cork was in there during all of his home runs.

MonarC · 06-04-2003, 02:51 PM

i heard this on the news earlier

"say it ain't Sosa"

I hope he was set up cause I really like him!

ks · 06-04-2003, 02:53 PM

not a prob

CNN has been covering this story all day. I didn't realize it would be such a big idea outside ESPN and FOXSPORTS.

ks

MonarC · 06-04-2003, 03:23 PM

Some Quotes about this whole ordeal:

"It's going to be tough. Some fans are probably not too happy about it," Sosa said. "I've got to deal with that. ... I know that I lost the fans and they have been great to me. It's a mistake, and I take the blame for it."

"Just to put on a show for the fans. I like to make people happy and I do that in batting practice," he said.

"I was just trying to get ready and go out there and get ready for the game, and I just picked the wrong bat. I feel sorry. I just apologize to everybody."

"Deep down in my heart, I truly believe Sammy didn't know that was in there," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "But I just hope that this event, whatever it was, doesn't tarnish his career or take away all that Sammy Sosa's done. For baseball and for Chicago."

"Unfortunately, it's a dirty mark, when you consider all he's accomplished," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "It's really unfortunate for the game. Everybody's scratching their heads right now. ... It's embarrassing. He's too good of a player. It's too bad."

I really don't think Sammy did it

TJL · 06-04-2003, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by *~PinkLady59~*
I wonder if the cork was in there during all of his home runs.

That question will be dogging Mr. Sosa for the rest of his life, I fear.

Personally, I don't buy the "I use it for batting practice" excuse.

Corked Bats are ILLEGAL! You shouldn't have one, period!

Truth · 06-04-2003, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mdntrider7
Iv'e always found it incredibly suspicious how for so many years, Roger Marris's homerun record was untouched, and now within five years it has been broken three times. Why was it untouched for 30 or 40 years, and now within 5 years it's been broken three times? Definitely not a coincidence in my eyes

This was talked about in a conspiracy zone episode actully.. they took a look inside baseballs from today and from before the baseball strike in 94 and how homeruns increased 25% from 94 to 95 or something like that...

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 06-04-2003, 11:49 PM

God he's stupid. That's why I hate the Cubs. Go Sox.

Janice · 06-05-2003, 01:02 AM

Physicists Downplay Effect on Power With Corked Bat

By DONNA TOMMELLEO
The Associated Press

The boost a slugger gets from a corked bat is highly overrated. In fact, experts on the physics of baseball say such bats reduce a hitter's power.

"You have a slightly lighter bat and you're going to hit the ball a little less far,'' said retired Yale professor Robert K. Adair, the author of 'Physics of Baseball.'

The science and practice of corking bats is under new scrutiny following the ejection of Sammy Sosa from Tuesday night's game between the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Adair contends a corked bat actually may reduce by about three feet what would have been a 375-foot drive from a conventional wooden bat. While corked bats can increase bat speed and improve timing, he believes the benefits are minimal.

"This is not something that radically changes the game,'' Adair said Wednesday. "There's probably more superstition involved.

"You may hit the fastball a little more often. It's so marginal.''

A study at the Baseball Research Center at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell found the speed of corked bats increased just more than 1 mph, or about 1 percent.

Sosa, who has 505 career homers, was the sixth major leaguer to be disciplined for a corked bat since 1987. He said he accidentally used a bat intended for batting practice. His bat broke in half when he hit a ground ball in the first inning of the Cubs' 3-2 win.

Alan Nathan, a physics professor at the University of Illinois, also played down the benefits a long-ball hitter can derive from a corked bat.

"If your goal in life is to hit home runs, then I don't think a corked bat is going to help you too much,'' said Nathan, who has published studies on the subject. "On the other hand, if you're sort of a contact hitter, a singles hitter, then a corked bat probably can help you.''

A quicker swing means a batter can watch the ball longer before taking a cut.

"The longer you watch it, the more information you have as to how you want to swing at it,'' Nathan said.

Adair said the standard way for players to cork a bat is to drill a hole about six inches down the length of the bat and add cork, high-bouncing rubber balls or "whatever their fancy is.'' Sosa's bat contained a half-dollar size piece of cork about halfway down the barrel.

Baseball players are famously superstitious, and if a player succeeds with a corked bat once, he is apt to use it again. Also, the reputation of corked bats have a strong hold on players looking for an advantage.

"Let's say you're expected to hit about .250 and about June 4 you're batting .205,'' Adair said. "Your timing is off, you can't seem to hit and you see your $2 million going out the window. You take an ounce off the bat and maybe it makes a difference.''

06/04/03 15:56 EDT

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

*PinkLady* · 06-05-2003, 03:53 PM

Does anyone believe Sammy's story that the corked bat was one he used only in practice? Since cork wasn't in any of his other bats, I believe it...pretty much.

06-03-2003, 09:46 PM	#1
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	Sammy Sosa ejected for using corked bat http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/ne...=.jsp&c_id=mlb CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa was ejected from Tuesday night's game because he was believed to have cork in his bat. The Cubs had runners at second and third with one out in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Sosa grounded out to second base, driving in a run. His bat split upon impact and home plate umpire Tim McClelland picked up the broken half. He called the other three umpires over to examine it. The umpires then showed the bat fragment to Cubs manager Dusty Baker and then third base umpire Lance Barksdale took the shattered bat into the umpires' room. The runners were sent back to the bases. McClelland told official scorer Bob Rosenberg that Sosa was ejected because he had cork in his bat. Sosa did not come out and argue the call. Sosa entered the game batting .285 and was playing his fourth game since being activated from the disabled list. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The only thing I can say about this is that I am very shocked.

06-04-2003, 04:38 AM	#2
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	This doesn't surprise me at all. As soon as I heard this news, the first thing that popped into my head was, it's about time one of these 60+ homerun hitters got caught. The only thing that surprises me is that this didn't happen sooner. Iv'e always found it incredibly suspicious how for so many years, Roger Marris's homerun record was untouched, and now within five years it has been broken three times. Why was it untouched for 30 or 40 years, and now within 5 years it's been broken three times? Definitely not a coincidence in my eyes. I'm not going to start making accusations or anything, but I have a feeling there are many more people who are corking their bats, and bulking up on illegal substances. Hopefully all the other players who partake in this will learn a lesson from Sammy, and stop.
	__________________ St. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Currently my favorite song.

06-04-2003, 12:23 PM	#5
ks Certifiably Insane Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 21, 2000 Location: I live in my hole... Posts: 5,501	Having cork in your batmakes your swing quicker and helps the ball travel further. I'm really shocked by this. He has an interesting excuse, but I don't know what to believe. I'll wait and see what MLB turns up about all his other bats. It's sad it happened to Sammy, because everyone kinda sees him as this trustworthy type guy, but this just blew it I think. We'll just have to wait and see... ks
	__________________ "Ya gotta have a little faith." C.D. DeLerenzo

06-04-2003, 04:40 AM	#3
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	I accidently hit quote instead of edit. Sorry.

06-04-2003, 09:40 AM	#4
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	Ok this may sound like a dumb question but how does having cork in your bat make it wrong???

06-04-2003, 12:37 PM	#6
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	thx for explaning they should have bat inspection... or maybe even give out bats that they know are real wood bats just an idea

06-04-2003, 12:53 PM	#7
PinkLady Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 7,457	I wonder if the cork was in there during all of his home runs.

06-04-2003, 02:51 PM	#8
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	i heard this on the news earlier "say it ain't Sosa" I hope he was set up cause I really like him!

06-04-2003, 02:53 PM	#9
ks Certifiably Insane Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 21, 2000 Location: I live in my hole... Posts: 5,501	not a prob CNN has been covering this story all day. I didn't realize it would be such a big idea outside ESPN and FOXSPORTS. ks

06-04-2003, 03:23 PM	#10
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	Some Quotes about this whole ordeal: "It's going to be tough. Some fans are probably not too happy about it," Sosa said. "I've got to deal with that. ... I know that I lost the fans and they have been great to me. It's a mistake, and I take the blame for it." "Just to put on a show for the fans. I like to make people happy and I do that in batting practice," he said. "I was just trying to get ready and go out there and get ready for the game, and I just picked the wrong bat. I feel sorry. I just apologize to everybody." "Deep down in my heart, I truly believe Sammy didn't know that was in there," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "But I just hope that this event, whatever it was, doesn't tarnish his career or take away all that Sammy Sosa's done. For baseball and for Chicago." "Unfortunately, it's a dirty mark, when you consider all he's accomplished," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "It's really unfortunate for the game. Everybody's scratching their heads right now. ... It's embarrassing. He's too good of a player. It's too bad." I really don't think Sammy did it

06-04-2003, 11:49 PM	#13
AllIWantIsYourClutch peaceout. Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 02, 2001 Location: Illinois. Posts: 53,424	God he's stupid. That's why I hate the Cubs. Go Sox.

06-05-2003, 01:02 AM	#14
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Physicists Downplay Effect on Power With Corked Bat By DONNA TOMMELLEO The Associated Press The boost a slugger gets from a corked bat is highly overrated. In fact, experts on the physics of baseball say such bats reduce a hitter's power. "You have a slightly lighter bat and you're going to hit the ball a little less far,'' said retired Yale professor Robert K. Adair, the author of 'Physics of Baseball.' The science and practice of corking bats is under new scrutiny following the ejection of Sammy Sosa from Tuesday night's game between the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Adair contends a corked bat actually may reduce by about three feet what would have been a 375-foot drive from a conventional wooden bat. While corked bats can increase bat speed and improve timing, he believes the benefits are minimal. "This is not something that radically changes the game,'' Adair said Wednesday. "There's probably more superstition involved. "You may hit the fastball a little more often. It's so marginal.'' A study at the Baseball Research Center at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell found the speed of corked bats increased just more than 1 mph, or about 1 percent. Sosa, who has 505 career homers, was the sixth major leaguer to be disciplined for a corked bat since 1987. He said he accidentally used a bat intended for batting practice. His bat broke in half when he hit a ground ball in the first inning of the Cubs' 3-2 win. Alan Nathan, a physics professor at the University of Illinois, also played down the benefits a long-ball hitter can derive from a corked bat. "If your goal in life is to hit home runs, then I don't think a corked bat is going to help you too much,'' said Nathan, who has published studies on the subject. "On the other hand, if you're sort of a contact hitter, a singles hitter, then a corked bat probably can help you.'' A quicker swing means a batter can watch the ball longer before taking a cut. "The longer you watch it, the more information you have as to how you want to swing at it,'' Nathan said. Adair said the standard way for players to cork a bat is to drill a hole about six inches down the length of the bat and add cork, high-bouncing rubber balls or "whatever their fancy is.'' Sosa's bat contained a half-dollar size piece of cork about halfway down the barrel. Baseball players are famously superstitious, and if a player succeeds with a corked bat once, he is apt to use it again. Also, the reputation of corked bats have a strong hold on players looking for an advantage. "Let's say you're expected to hit about .250 and about June 4 you're batting .205,'' Adair said. "Your timing is off, you can't seem to hit and you see your $2 million going out the window. You take an ounce off the bat and maybe it makes a difference.'' 06/04/03 15:56 EDT Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

06-05-2003, 03:53 PM	#15
PinkLady Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 04, 2002 Posts: 7,457	Does anyone believe Sammy's story that the corked bat was one he used only in practice? Since cork wasn't in any of his other bats, I believe it...pretty much.