It’s another day with fresh drama brewing at the Bronx! But this time, it’s the Torpedo bats that are creating a stir among the fans. These bats have been drawing significant attention ever since the New York Yankees smashed a record nine home runs on Saturday, covering a total of 3,695 feet. That’s how the Yankees secured a dominant 20-9 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. But why is this happening?

Well, the torpedo-shaped bats are a little different from the normal baseball bats. The design shifts the wood lower down the barrel, just after the label, creating a bowling pin-like shape. The Yankees’ hitters, including Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Volpe, and others, all used it to hammer the pitches, handing the Brewers a massive defeat. Fans are now divided—some see it as an innovation, while others believe it gives an unfair advantage.

According to Barstool founder Dave Portnoy, Torpedo bats are generating too much offense and ruining baseball. Given the long-standing Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, it’s no surprise that Portnoy would take this stance.

He said, “Yankees have a long history of cheating and being scumbags and this is just the latest but again, I think I saw someone of the twins or another team using it. But you got to get rid of the torpedo bat; it’s unfair to the pitchers, and it’s stupid for the game if you get sought off, hit the ball in the label again; that means you stink.”

Dave Portnoy  doubled down on his criticism, arguing that removing wood from the handle and replacing it with corked wood is unnecessary. According to him, it’s illegal as it increases the chances of hitting the ball hard and big. In turn, it makes it difficult for the pitchers to strike out the batters easily.

This concern seems valid, considering how frequently the Yankees are hitting home runs. However, baseball fans disagree on the use of this torpedo-shaped bat. Some think Portnoy’s statement is an exaggeration, while others agree with him.

Let’s take a look at what fans have to say.

Torpedo bat drama has left fans divided in their responses

The Yankees-Brewers game brought more questions than answers for the fans and the torpedo-shaped bat was at the center of discussions. One fan commented, “At this rate, the league will eventually look into it. Too early at this moment.”

This user believes the issue is in the early stages; however, in case every team starts using it and ends up scoring several home runs, it will cause a huge issue for the pitchers on the mound. And that’s when the Major League might look into it. 

An X user expressed his disagreement, citing Dave Portnoy’s untrue statement of calling Aaron Judge also playing with that bat. “Show evidence that Judge is using it,” the user was quoted saying. This indicates that he disagrees with Portnoy, who mentioned that just like Cody Bellinger, Anthony Volpe, and others, Judge was also using the same bat.

Echoing a similar statement as Dave Portnoy, another fan agreed with it, stating, “If the bats meet mlb specifications, what’s the problem?” Going by his statement, if the torpedo-shaped meets the specific MLB criteria, then there shouldn’t be any question regarding its usage. Still, it undeniably makes things much harder for pitchers.

Another fan argued that MLB should have tested the bat earlier, stating, “Like it or not, Dave has a point. I find it hilarious the Yankee faithful come out in defense of and rip Dave’s “bias” at the same time. The bat should have been statistically tested by @MLB and introduced to all teams if appropriate. There is no remedy now.”

Based on the comment, Dave Portnoy, despite being a Red Sox fan, has been true to his words. If the bat makes it easier for batters to hit home runs, then MLB should have checked it much earlier. However, according to this user, it’s too late now.

Another X user came up with an intellectual argument. “It’s legal. They haven’t cheated. But yes, it should be banned for the same reason aluminum bats are banned. Just cheapens the game and makes it too easy.” That’s true, given that scoring home runs becomes easier while making things too difficult for the pitchers. It must not be the scenario, as both batters and pitchers must have equal opportunities to take on the game.

What’s your take on the New York Yankees using the torpedo-shaped bat? Share your thoughts with us.