Quote:
Originally Posted by NCASAUmp
Hey, guys,
This was brought up on another forum. Let's say that during the pre-game equipment inspection, the umpire looks at a Freak Plus and approves it for that game. Two innings later, a batter steps into the box, hits the ball, and reaches 1B. Before the next pitch, the DC brings it to the attention of the umpire that a non-approved bat was used.
Do you call the out, eject the runner and return runners? Or do you let play stand and toss the bat?
Either way, I suspect an @$$-chewing is in order, and rightfully so. Question is: who gets to do the chewing? OC or DC (later followed by UIC)?  |
Though the umpire's manual instructs the umpires to check the equipment, failure to do so or making an error in judgment at this point is not a matter of rule. I've always considered the inspection as much a courtesy and preventive umpiring as it is an assigned duty. When it comes right down to it, insuring all equipment used is legal and/or approved by the sanctioning body is the responsibility of the team and players. A piece of illegal/non-approved equipment being missed, overlooked or not presented for inspection does not magically make that piece of equipment legal for that game.
Now, if the umpire was specifically asked to check a particular bat and errored in judgment and told the player the bat's use was permissible, I could understand if the umpire ruled on the out, but did not eject the player using the non-approved bat. Any resistence from the coaches or players will make further action easy.
As a UIC, I would applaud your Solomonesque resolution to the problem. And then I would ask WTF you were thinking when you told the player s/he could use that bat!!!