Torpedo Bat

A new Major League Baseball season is underway, and during the opening weekend, the New York Yankees stole the headlines thanks to their home run barrage.

The team set a record by hitting 18 home runs in their first four games of the season, breaking the previous record of 16 by the 2006 Detroit Tigers.

According to the Yankees' website, which cites Stats Perform, the team also became the first in MLB history to have nine players hit home runs in the team's first four games and the first to have three players hit at least three in the opening four games.

Not only are those a lot of home runs, but everyone is noticing how multiple players on the Yankees are using the newly redesigned "torpedo bat"—also called a "bowling pin bat."

It is a legal bat, but it is designed with a thicker barrel and a thinner top, which reduces weight and makes the bat feel lighter and easier to swing.

ESPN.com explains that an MIT-educated physics professor designed a bat that "optimizes the most important tool in baseball by redistributing weight from the end of the bat toward the area 6 to 7 inches below its tip, where major league players typically strike the ball."

Alan Nathan, professor emeritus of physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, says, "You want to remove the weight where it doesn't do you any good. Now, the next logical step is not only to remove weight but move it somewhere else.”

According to writer Bill Chappell's article, "Nathan says, moving weight from the end of the bat closer to the hands reduces 'what's called the swing weight or in technical language, the moment of inertia of the bat, making it easier to swing, easier to control.’”

It's fascinating how science has led to these bat changes. Shifting weight to the right place on the bat creates a “sweet spot” for batters to hit home runs, so it will be interesting to see when or if more players embrace the newly designed bat.

How could we benefit from redistributing weight and embracing a redesigned way of life in our own lives?

Too often, we carry burdens and feel the weight of the world. We try to take care of challenges in our own strength by putting the weight on ourselves. We even try to earn salvation by our own efforts or go through the motions of burdensome religious activities.

But just like Nathan said, “You want to remove the weight where it doesn’t do you any good.”

What if we stopped trying to “swing” with the weight in the wrong place and instead took Jesus up on His invitation?

He says, in Matthew 11:28-30 (AMP), “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear], and My burden is light.”

Thankfully, we can redistribute the weight to Him. He took on the weight of sin and death on the cross and overcame it, and when we place our faith in Him, He removes the weight from us.

We find our “sweet spot,” and it’s “easier to swing” as we rest in Him, follow His ways, and live “lighter” with the freedom He provides.

Today, just like Nathan said about the bat, “not only to remove weight but move it somewhere else,” let’s likewise move the weight of sin and the burdens of life somewhere else…onto the Lord.

Let’s be encouraged by Psalm 55:22 (NLT), “Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for trying to do things on my own. I’m so grateful that I don’t have to carry the weight of sin or the burdens of life. Help me to walk with Jesus and rest in Him. I desire to live free and light by trusting You each day. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.