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Archive for January, 2010

Last for our review of Easton baseball bats would be the V12 Ozone. The unique feature of this model would be its all aluminum component. No composites are placed on this V12 Ozone instead V12 scandium alloy was used throughout the entire bat. The stiffest in all the Easton products, the V12 Ozone baseball bat has a flex rating of 100.

With a Moment of Inertia or M.O.I. of 60, the V12 Ozone baseball bat has the lowest swing weight among the Easton 2010 models. Upon using this model, it would give you a very light feel. If you are one of the loyal players that opt for all aluminum 1-piece design, this model is just right for you. Aside from its characteristics, this V12 Ozone model is also the most affordable of all the Easton baseball bats at $200 and would fit your budget.

To continue the review for the famous Easton baseball bats, let’s now look at the SV 12 models. Just like the Synergy and Stealth models, SV 12 models also used the Easton’s IMX composite technology but only on its handle. For the baseball bat’s barrel, SV 12 used the V12 scandium aluminum alloy.

The SV 12 models are composed of 2-piece hybrids and differ on the flex ratings. For the three SV 12 models, the most flexible would be the Ozone 65 with the lowest assigned number after the model. Ozone 90 and 95 would be expected to be stiff. Unlike the Stealth models, the Moment of Inertia or M.O.I. of the SV 12 models are a bit lower with the 70 mark. This would give the SV 12 models a lower swing weight and a lighter feel. These models are quite cheap compared to the Stealth and Synergy models at $300.

Sportsmanship seems to have gotten lost along the way. Winning, succeeding or advancing have become the curse of sport. The lesson parents seem to be teaching today is that winning, not fun, is the goal. But how can we instill the values of sportsmanship? Here are a few tips:

- Show by your actions and words every day, that you value sportsmanship. Set a good example. Actions speak louder than words.
- Expect and demand that everyone involved follows all the rules, including fans and parents. If they don’t they should not be allowed to participate. Leagues and teams should communicate the importance of sportsmanship to all participants on a regular basis, not just the beginning of the season.
- Have team discussions about sportsmanship throughout the season. Use this as a time to relate sportsmanship.
- Never tolerate violent behavior in practice or in competition.
- There should be clear and immediate penalties for unsportsmanlike actions, no matter what the surrounding circumstances are or how important a game is to a season. This applies to both athletes and parents.

Don’t you just hate it when your sweat stains your cap and you just don’t know how to get it off? Here’s a tip on how to get it off:
•Dissolve two aspirins in one-half cup of water and then pour the mixture directly onto the stains, allowing it to soak in for at least two hours. Add a few drops of Woolite, agitate with a toothbrush, and then rinse with clear water.
•Make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the stains with a toothbrush, and then add a teaspoon of white vinegar and continue to agitate with the toothbrush. Rinse with clear water.
•Wet the sweat stains with cold water, and then apply meat tenderizer liberally and work it into the stain. Rinse with clear water.
•Combine one-half cup of ammonia with one-half cup of water and pour the mixture over the stains, agitate with your fingers or a toothbrush, and then rinse with clear water.
•Combine equal amounts of pure lemon juice and water, and pour over the stains and allow to sit for at least a few hours. Rinse with clear water.
•Dissolve one-quarter cup of table salt in one-eighth cup of warm water. Allow the liquid to cool and then apply to the stains with a toothbrush. Rinse with clear water.

Many are concerned about stress placed on youth sport participants. Is there really stress in youth sports? Of course there is! Not only do the athletes experience stress, but so do the coaches, the parents, the officials, and the administrators. But before we conclude that this is negative, ask first: What is stress? Stress is produced when someone feels that their physical and/or psychological well-being is threatened. They perceive that they may be harmed in some way.

Is stress negative? What do you think? According to study, not necessarily. This type of stress is positive and is referred to as Eustress. Many of you may now be thinking, how can there be pleasant or pleasurable stress. Competitive sports activities are a source of both eustress and distress, as are any types of competitive activity. We might argue, for example, that the video game industry exists to provide a source of eustress! The enjoyment of competition is reported by young athletes as one of the top three reasons for which they participate in youth sports.

And who said that baseball is all about just the game? The Marlins are visiting our troops in Iraq Sunday until Feb. 1! They’re bringing gloves and baseballs in case they get a chance to play. And, they are also bringing some merchandise to give away like caps and shirts. Gonzalez even said that he’s bringing a dozen balls.
The Marlins will be the first to visit Iraq since the war started. When we walk away, we’ll probably get more out of it than we ever thought about going in,” Coghlan said. “For the troops, whatever we can do to take their mind off the everyday life they’re living over there, we’ll do.”
The military has already given its approval for them to bring some baseball gloves. Also joining them is the president of operations, Larry Beinfest, senior director of team travel Bill Beck and director of marketing and promotions Matt Britten. And of course, four members of the Marlins Mermaids dance squad.
Baseball is an all-American game and what other way can you bring a little joy to our troops who are in the middle of the war, away from their family?

Have you bought new glove lately? I bet your hand has been aching in it. Well, it’s part of it. That’s why it’s a good thing to break-in your new glove before using it in a game. Here are some tips that you can do to mold it to your own hands comfort. You have to be perfectly one with it to be in your best!
Rather than buying from a sporting goods store, save a dollar and use regular shaving cream that’s not gel. Use it all the time to condition gloves. Cheaper and works better. Beat the glove every which way but be careful not to injure your hand. Throw the ball into the glove repeatedly and as hard as possible.
Breaking in your new glove may take some time, so be patient with the process. Easiest and most ideal way to break-in a new glove is by using it rather than getting store bought foam. Everything else is cheating that process and can harm your glove, it takes a week or two, but your glove will last much longer.

Another famous model for the Easton baseball bats is the Synergy Speed 90 that is manufactured using the IMX composite technology just like the Stealth models. However, unlike the Stealth Speed 75 and 95, the Synergy Speed 90 is a 1-piece bat so it did not use the CXN but SST technology where SST stands for Easton’s Single System Technology.

Though a bit stiff, the Synergy Speed 90 has lower Moment of Inertia (M.O.I.) than the Stealth Speed 75 and 95. With the rating of 75, this baseball bat would give an average swing weight that makes it less heavy than the previous ones when swung. For about $400, this baseball bat is a good investment for adults in the amateur baseball games.

Easton baseball bats are among the brands being sought in the market for youth and adult baseball games. This specific brand features composite, aluminum, hybrid and even 1-piece and 2-piecee designs. For this article, the Stealth Speed 75 and 95 would be reviewed. The number 75 and 95 after the model name stand for the flex rating of the baseball bat. The higher the number of the flex rates, the stiffer the baseball bat. Between the two models, the Stealth Speed 95 has stiffer handle than the Stealth Speed 75.

Though composite bats are now banned for college games, these Stealth bats are still being used in amateur baseball. These 2-piece Stealth Speed 75 and 95 are made using CNX technology of Easton with Moment of Inertia (M.O.I.) of 80. This M.O.I. indicates the swing weight of the baseball bat where the center of gravity can be modified with the handling of the bat. The higher the M.O.I. of the baseball bat, the higher the swing weight that makes it most likely to be end-loaded. These Stealth Speed 75 and 95 are somewhat end-loaded that means the center of gravity is far from the handle making it heavier when swung.

Melvin said that he wanted 2 pitchers for 2010. Melvin got his guys. He already has Randy Wolf and on Wednesday, left-hander Doug Davis has come to terms on a one-year contract with an option to extend to 2011. The deal guarantees Davis $5.25 million and could pay up to $12.75 million if the option is exercised and Davis reaches all of his non-awards-related incentives.
The contract won’t be official until Davis passes a physical. And until that final step is complete, Melvin said he could not confirm that a deal was in place.
“We don’t have anything finalized yet,” Melvin said Wednesday afternoon, “but I guess we’re getting close.”
The Brewers are getting a pitcher with a track record of durability. Davis has made at least 33 starts and pitched at least 190 innings in five of the past six seasons. The Brewers are getting a pitcher with a track record of durability. Davis has made at least 33 starts and pitched at least 190 innings in five of the past six seasons.