If you watched either of the first two games of the World Series, you may have noticed a unique flame tempered bat in the hands of Dodgers OF Kike Hernandez or 2B Logan Forsythe. Those bats, manufactured by Louisville Slugger (OTC: AGPDF), are made from northern white ash timber; with a Bernzomatic (WOR) blowtorch used to create the flame tempered design. Hernandez and Forsythe aren’t the only Dodgers (or Astros) players using Louisville Slugger bats though, as 11 others placed orders with the company prior to the start of the World Series. With 40 popular models to choose from, 3 different types of wood (rock maple and birch are the others) and 7 MLB approved colors/designs; Louisville Slugger can customize bats to the specific needs/taste of a player, ensuring he has utmost confidence when stepping to the plate.
Howie Long-Short: Louisville Slugger is owned by Wilson Sporting Goods Co., a subsidiary of Amer Sports Corporation (AGPDF). AGPDF issued Q3 earnings, reporting net sales were up 3% YOY (to $733.2 million EUR). Solid growth was reported in both EMEA and China, while the U.S. market remains a challenge for the company. Bernzomatic is owned by Worthington Industries (WOR), an S&P 400, global diversified metals manufacturing company. WOR is off to a strong fiscal ’18, reporting Q1 ‘18 net sales were up 15% YOY (to $848.2 million). The company will next report on December 18th.
Fan Marino: The Astros’ wild 11 inning Game 2 win, means that the series is heading to Houston tied at 1 game apiece. Game 3 is tonight, with first pitch at 8:09 EST on Fox (FOXA). As for the TV ratings, Game 1 drew 11.53 million viewers (down 19% from last year). Game 2 drew nearly 15 million viewers, just a 3% decline from the 2016 Cubs-Indians World Series.
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