Quote:
Originally posted by A.K.A.Blue
Although replies from anyone would be welcome (and certainly couldn't cloud the issue any more), I'd like to address this to IRISHMAFIA {Mike Rowe DASA DUIC NIF/ISF}.
In more than one thread, I've heard you refer to "the press releases" regaurding the A.S.A. banning of bats. The PR's you speak of are the ones linked at the bottom of A.S.A. certified equipment page, correct? Is this the only source for "official" information on this matter?
Ive been a player for 10 years now, and just this year decided to get A.S.A. certified. Ive been aforded the opportunity to train under the guidance of Dave Maudsley, Region 14 UIC and previous long time GSSA UIC, and consider it a great honer.
Settling for the "word on the feild"(concerning banned bats) was fine as a player, but as an official there is much more at stake. I would think the A.S.A. would hand down through the association to their certified umpires a more officially drawn document that each of us could use as a tool to clarify any disputes, rather than just a copy of a web page that any one with a library card can gain access to and print out. An ever-changing web page is not the "official" document I want to produce to an arggueing Manager to show my athourity and knowledge on this matter. Is there anything like this out there that I am missing?
As I said, I am very new at this, and have much to learn. Any help from you, and all those on this forum, is greatly appericiated.
One more ? concerning bats....... O.K. two ?'s..........
There are two lists, one of bats banned, and one of bats approved. Which is safer to go by? And what about the bats that seem to be not on either list? (I.E. Demarini Ultimate Distance 2x [model year 2000]) The "Distance" is on the banned list, and the "Ultimate Distance 2x Lite" is on the approved list. With the Demarini "Ultimate Distance 2x" not on either list , whats a blue to do? This sort of puts out the theory of Worth bats with an "E" or an "L" after the model number should be considered the same bat and banned, as it just designates an end loaded version of the same.
Last ? O.K. here goes..............................
What are your personal opinions on this matter? I'd be very interested in your opinion, if you can voice it. An E-Mail to me directly would be ok if a more public voiceing is a sensitive matter.
Money?....Safety?....Power?....What do you think?
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The web site may change, but the press release doesn't. That may be why ASA issued a completely separate press release instead of modifying the first. The press release IS your official document. I have had players show me lists of approved bats that were printed at the beginning of the season. There is no arguing with the managers as your uniform and assignment to that game are your authority. If a manager doesn't believe it, your better off with him not being there the rest of the evening.
You go by the banned bat list and yes, unless specifically noted, all bats of the same model are considered banned. I'm sure you have heard this before, but if you are going to error, error on the side of safety, within reason, of course.
I don't need to be private about this issue. This is a safety issue, pure and simple. By enforcing the given bat standards, of which the manufacturers were aware prior to production, ASA gains nothing except the appreciation of those who understand the danger of such equipment. The only people who can possibly make money off of this issue are the bat manufacturers. Of course, they've been doing everything they can since 1997 when they saw the standards coming to blame ASA concerning this issue. Even though ASA basically gave them more than two years to cycle their product and bring it up to code, the manufacturers continued to sell a product they knew was going to be declared illegal.
If I were a player, I would be pissed at the manufacturers, not ASA.
Of course, this is just my opinion, but I believe it to be accurate.