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I have no issues checking bats in NCAA play, as long as the teams make it as easy as possible on the umpires by ensuring ALL their bats are present and organized in the order of the list. And after a few times of checking, you'll know where to look for those miniscule model numbers.
My frustration grows when our crew enters a dugout to do the bat check, and the team:
- Doesn't have their bat list completed, or it's completed incorrectly
- Doesn't have all their bats present because a couple of coaches are using them in the outfield, a couple of girls are out there swinging them for pre-game practice (after already going through cage work, for crying out loud)
- Doesn't have the bats in any semblance of order
- Supposedly has all the bats ready for the check, but we can see more bats sticking out of bat bags in the dugout
Most teams are pretty good about it. It's just those few that seem to forget how to get it done right away.
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"Let's face it. Umpiring is not an easy or happy way to make a living. In the abuse they suffer, and the pay they get for it, you see an imbalance that can only be explained by their need to stay close to a game they can't resist." -- Bob Uecker
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