tape on bats

[DG]

Originally posted by LDUB

1-3-6 says the bat is illegal if it does not meet rule specifications. Read 1-3-4. It says "No foreign substance may be added to the surface of the bat beyond 18 inches from the end of the handle."

Call an out on a piece of tape, and you will be picking boogers, and quite likely overruled on appeal...

[Edited by DG on Jun 25th, 2004 at 11:48 PM]

[LDUB]

Originally posted by DG

Call an out on a piece of tape, and you will be picking boogers, and quite likely overruled on appeal...

[Edited by DG on Jun 25th, 2004 at 11:48 PM]

I would not call an out, I would just tell him to pull the tape off.

[LDUB]

Originally posted by jumpmaster
Originally I thought no big deal, however, after watching a few bunts unfold in front of me, I realized that this tape is in the same vicinity as where the BR places his fingers for a bunt and could, if the ball strikes that area, absorb some of the impact on the ball upon the bat.

OBR 6.06
A batter is out for illegal action when (d) He uses or attempts to use a bat that, in the umpire's judgment, has been altered or tampered with in such a way to improve the distance factor or cause an unusual reaction on the baseball. This includes, bats that are filled, flat surfaced, nailed, hollowed, grooved or covered with a substance such as paraffin, wax, etc. No advancement on the bases will be allowed and any out or outs made during a play shall stand. In addition to being called out, the player shall be ejected from the game and may be subject to additional penalties as determined by his League President.

I thought that we had the ruling on this one decided but I was reading, and I came across something. Looks to me like having tape on the bat to absorb some of the impact is causing an unusual reaction on the ball. Tape on the bat could also be covered under the part where it says "a bat that is covered with a substance". If that is the case, not only is the batter out, but he is ejected.

[jumpmaster]

NCAA 1.11 seems to be the answer.

As far as the eject/out don't eject/out arguement. I think that this is a case for preventive officiating. "Son don't do that". Of course, this case leads to the arguement for checking equipment prior to the game...

[ecurebel]

to me the tape up that far does not really mean anything because some of the bats like the conextion has a piece of plastice like substance that is there at the joint of the bats center connector. there are players still using pine tar even on metal bats, you just don't see it much until you get a little higher up..


i always put tape on my bat, my grips never really exceeded 18 inches but i did always build a knob at the end of the ball to have something to grab onto and absorb some shock if the ball would hit the end of the bat...