Aluminum bats have been lively in past seasons, upping the hits and averages of college players and resulting in lots of high scoring games. But this season, all NCAA baseball teams will be using new bats with a sweet spot that's been de-tuned from a 22 inches to 5 inches, to be more like wooden bats.
How will this change affect Bruin offensive and defensive strategy? Will we see more small ball? Will pitchers be more dominating than ever?
And how will fans react? Will they stay away in droves, bored by a season of scores more like soccer than baseball?