Here's an opinion from a person who takes care of diamonds: Spikes create a lot of wear and tear at first and third base areas from the defense pawing at the dirt and from base runners as they move off the bases with the pitch and the amount of the damage they do at the pitching area ends up in trenches by the end of several games. I can put the best mound clay in and get it set up very good but that is no avail--the spikes just tear it up - - same for batter's boxes. When rubber cleats were used like they were before spikes, good mound clay would last an entire event and no trenches. I do have to say that the "spikes on concrete" sound is a great sound.
