Leading off today: The judge in New York City's metal bat-ban says it's the kind of issue usually left to elected officials. Still, U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl did not immediately rule after hearing arguments Wednesday from lawyers for the city, bat manufacturers and school baseball programs.
Koeltl told David A. Ettinger, a lawyer for those challenging the ban, that the safety issues raised in the suit are normally reserved for legislators.
The law resulted from claims that metal bats cause balls to be hit faster.
During arguments Wednesday, Koeltl was told that the law resulted from legislators seeking to balance safety with the desire of young athletes to have the higher batting averages. "Aren't those the kinds of choices we leave to legislators?" Koeltl asked. "Those are the kinds of lines that depend on policy choices."
Ettinger contended that City Council needed to provide scientific evidence that the metal bats are unsafe. Manufacturers could then adjust the makeup of metal bats to make them safer.
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