PDA

View Full Version : Vladimir Guerrero Bat Legit?



spartakid
01-17-2009, 01:05 AM
I've been looking for a Vladdy bat for a long time and I was wondering what your opinions are on this? I know he used this type of bat and I think I've seen the vg43 on the diablo's before, but what does the 43 stand for? Also, I'm usually skeptical when I see those white marks on the barrel from balls that don't look like they've imprinted. thanks, Ricardo

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120364814397&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=002

frikativ54
01-17-2009, 01:09 AM
I've been looking for a Vladdy bat for a long time and I was wondering what your opinions are on this? I know he used this type of bat and I think I've seen the vg43 on the diablo's before, but what does the 43 stand for? Also, I'm usually skeptical when I see those white marks on the barrel from balls that don't look like they've imprinted. thanks, Ricardo

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120364814397&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=002

I would ask the seller for a better picture of the whole bat. It looks a bit suspicious to me, though I'm no expert on Vladdi bats.

Capital-Sports
01-17-2009, 01:56 AM
for anyone who has played baseball, regular white marks appear on woodern bats from the batting cages, ones that pitch the yellow rubber balls

frikativ54
01-17-2009, 01:56 AM
for anyone who has played baseball, regular white marks appear on woodern bats from the batting cages, ones that pitch the yellow rubber balls

Good to know, thanks!

Dewey2007
01-17-2009, 02:26 AM
for anyone who has played baseball, regular white marks appear on woodern bats from the batting cages, ones that pitch the yellow rubber balls

I've never seen yellow batting cage rubber balls that made white marks with laces like the one seen in the pic of the Guerrero bat listing. These are marks that I've seen that are more consistent with batting cage balls. (pic courtesy of BigTruck260 from previous post).

http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=12509&stc=1&d=1205860978

scottanservitz
01-17-2009, 09:28 AM
Ok, I'll take a shot here. My first impression is the pics are poor. Second, the 34 is inches(as in bat length). Third, the knob has no signs of use that should correspond with the amount of hits that bat took. The centerbrand has what looks like contrived tar. But then again, the pics can't support this. Vlad gamers are hammered. He cleans his cleats, he hits every and any pitch anywhere close. The ball marks should be heavy and show signs of indention. The guy swings hard. No number on knob or bat barrel which Vlad does. I've never seen a Vlad gamer that clean. There just aren't enough nicks, scrapes, dirt, etc. I would hold out for a better example.
Scott

scottanservitz
01-17-2009, 09:30 AM
Oh sorry, don't know what the 43 stands for. Model number I suppose.

scottanservitz
01-17-2009, 09:46 AM
After a quick review of 2006, the only bats I could identify Vlad using are M9, Rt 66, Nokona and Xbat. No Diablo. Not saying he never used it, but on Getty for 2006 I didn't find one.
Scott

spartakid
01-17-2009, 12:11 PM
Thanks for your help guys, you reinforced my gut feeling, I think I'll stay away, not to mention $24 for shipping is steep. Ricardo

suicide_squeeze
01-17-2009, 01:01 PM
Dewey2007,

Correct! Batting cage balls leave the indented "golfball" dimpled look like your bat (albeit the dimples are obviously larger than a golf ball).....and they leave DARK marks (from the asphalt, dirt, etc. picked up by the rubber), not white.

That bat is not game used by Vladi, in my opinion, for ALL of the reasons scottanservitz mentioned.......It's like he took my words right out of my mouth. Size is wrong, bat usage is extremely weak, can't picture match the style, and the sticker on the knob??? C'mon.

spartakid
01-17-2009, 07:13 PM
Ball Park Heroes has a zinger right now. It has lots of pine tar looks good not to mention I've heard good things about them, besides the fact that they don't budge on prices really. Opinions?? Ricardo

http://www.ballparkheroes.net/Gameusedbats.htm

scottanservitz
01-17-2009, 07:17 PM
Ricardo,
That is a Vlad gamer......nice bat.

spartakid
01-17-2009, 07:37 PM
I just wanted to make clear that I've never had an experience with BPH, so as far as the not budging on prices, that's just what I've heard. It's not necessarly my opinion. In fact, I hope that what I've heard it wrong. Just wanted to make that clear.:) Ricardo

chuck70
01-17-2009, 09:20 PM
I do believe Mikita Sports has a Vladimir Guerrero game used uncracked X Bat for sale if you are still looking for one.http://www.mikitasports.com/guerrero_batsigned_large.html

spartakid
01-17-2009, 09:26 PM
Thanks for the refrence. I checked it out, but it doesn't have much pine tar on it. Ricardo

chakes89
01-17-2009, 09:47 PM
I have a bat that I use personally and it has the same marks

I was hitting around some cheap ball with hard, raised stitching and it left the same type of ball marks

I can get some pics if anyone would like

spartakid
01-17-2009, 09:51 PM
I have a bat that I use personally and it has the same marks

I was hitting around some cheap ball with hard, raised stitching and it left the same type of ball marks

I can get some pics if anyone would like

Yea, could you post some pics Chakes. thanks, Ricardo

spartakid
01-17-2009, 09:53 PM
So, this brings me to another question that I forgot to ask about, how can you tell, if it's even possible, whether or not ball marks are from the player, or if they were added afterwards? Do MLB baseballs leave distinct marks? Ricardo

chakes89
01-17-2009, 10:04 PM
Here are the pics I mentioned

I also use official minor league balls when hit around

The bat shows more use than I thought it did:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j225/chakes89/004-5.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j225/chakes89/005-5.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j225/chakes89/006-6.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j225/chakes89/008-5.jpg

spartakid
01-17-2009, 10:11 PM
I've noticed that many used bats don't have those type of ball marks, why? Is it becuase of the ball hit? Ricardo

chakes89
01-17-2009, 10:13 PM
I've noticed that many used bats don't have those type of ball marks, why? Is it becuase of the ball hit? Ricardo
It's more than likely due to the quality of the ball

spartakid
01-17-2009, 10:34 PM
Ok, thanks. Learning something new every day.

scottanservitz
01-17-2009, 11:47 PM
Also remember that MLB balls are mud rubbed by umpires to remove the sheen off of new baseballs. I believe up to 12 dozen per game. This lessens the white left on the bats on contact. I've never seen that much white on game used major league bats. Major league balls if you have ever gotten a foul ball or homerun, etc. are never that white. Even the ones just put into play. Just my observation.

Scott

frikativ54
01-17-2009, 11:57 PM
Also remember that MLB balls are mud rubbed by umpires to remove the sheen off of new baseballs. I believe up to 12 dozen per game. This lessens the white left on the bats on contact. I've never seen that much white on game used major league bats. Major league balls if you have ever gotten a foul ball or homerun, etc. are never that white. Even the ones just put into play. Just my observation.

Scott

Good work guys. I'd stay as far away from that first bat as possible.

spartakid
01-18-2009, 01:05 AM
Scott, that makes a lot of sense now, great insight about the mud, I never thought about that. Ricardo

spartakid
01-18-2009, 03:59 PM
Did someone but the Vlad zinger from BPH, becuase it's gone now??? Ricard0

chakes89
01-20-2009, 12:51 AM
Here is something interesting I found while looking through a sellers feedback on eBay that ties in with the Vlad bat

The following bats all have the same type of ball marks that the Vlad bat in question has:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290280732493

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290278518854

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290278001038

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290279082162

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290277244111

Anyone else seeing a pattern?

matt
01-20-2009, 03:10 PM
I have watched the "megmuffins" auctions for some time and have noticed that:

1. Meg is based in Scottsdale - home of lots of pre-season activity for many athletes at AZ Perf Institute plus spring training.

2. Meg sells big lots of game used practice balls (36, 48 and up)from training camps and minor leaguers. These are white balls, nat mudded balls.

3. As stated here, the ball marks tend to be smaller and whiter than regular season bats I have worked with.

4. There are a huge number of Diablo bats being sold by Meg this year, all without any jersey numbers on the knob or any prep.

To me, it is possible that Meg is getting a great supply of equipment from one of the AZ training facilities and selling them here. I am not saying anything is wrong with this if we all choke down the definition of "game used" to include pre-season or training.

The bats look like legit models, made for the players. However, it is possible that on "Diablo demo day" there are hordes of players (MLB and not) who get to try our Diablo models made for the real guys and hack em up in cages with typical white balls (remember that BP balls are white and not rubbed up). Perhaps the stars take some hacks too, but most of these bats do not look prepped for games to me, so I have stayed away. They are shiny and not market for the equipment managers.

I also recall several previous sellers on eBay who were located in AZ and often got similar stuff. They may be similar or the same seller here, as I recall that the names have changed over time. Would love Meg to weigh in so we can all understand the items better and bid on them. This is all my own speculation. I could well be wrong. Just explaining why I have stayed away from these.

Matt

Nnunnari
02-01-2009, 02:25 AM
Guys,
I just read this post, those ball marks are caused from hitting normal baseballs at slower speeds (bp). Hitting 90+ mph pitching leaves less defined ball marks and deeper seam marks than bp use.

Nick