It has taken me a while collecting GU bats to come to the (obvious in hindsight) conclusion that most bats sold as GU are used in BP and not a game. Since we all should share knowledge that would help differentiate between the 2, I thought it would be a good thread to ask 2 questions:
1. Please share your own thoughts on what makes you think a bat is BP versus game used. I am rapidly coming to beleive that some of the most beat-up specimens (and therefore expensive) are BP bats. What do you look for in general? If a bat has ball marks all over (not just in the LH or RH hitting area), do you think it is a BP bat? Do most players mark certain bats at BP or simply use a set of 3-4 both in BP and games?
2. What specific players have you learned well enough to state BP characteristics? Seems like if we shared info, it would help. We all know that Arod blonde bats (mostly G174's like the one in my office) are BP. I believe that Ortiz BP bats lack the volume of cleat marks seen on heavy-use gamers. Ortiz also uses a 34" bat for BP sometimes to force him to extend his swing. Gamers are all 34.5. Also, anything but a Rawlings Big Stick is likely a BP bat for Ortiz (though he used Nakona briefly in 2007 games). Tell us about the players you know well.
Matt
1. Please share your own thoughts on what makes you think a bat is BP versus game used. I am rapidly coming to beleive that some of the most beat-up specimens (and therefore expensive) are BP bats. What do you look for in general? If a bat has ball marks all over (not just in the LH or RH hitting area), do you think it is a BP bat? Do most players mark certain bats at BP or simply use a set of 3-4 both in BP and games?
2. What specific players have you learned well enough to state BP characteristics? Seems like if we shared info, it would help. We all know that Arod blonde bats (mostly G174's like the one in my office) are BP. I believe that Ortiz BP bats lack the volume of cleat marks seen on heavy-use gamers. Ortiz also uses a 34" bat for BP sometimes to force him to extend his swing. Gamers are all 34.5. Also, anything but a Rawlings Big Stick is likely a BP bat for Ortiz (though he used Nakona briefly in 2007 games). Tell us about the players you know well.
Matt
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