In upper level ball (American Legion and Large HS) I have noticed that about half-way up the bat, at about the area that the barrel begins to swell, a strip of athletic tape about 1/4 inch wide. In addition, while watching the CWS tonight, I have noticed tape up high on quiet a few bats as well.

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.

My question - guys that are calling upper levels - is making batters remove this tape considered booger pickin' or is it one of those "let it go"? My thinking is OBR Rule 1.10c states that any material beyond 18 inches from the end of the bat causes the bat to be removed from the game.

What say you?

Booger picking. The tape should mark the 18 inch point, and help the batters keep the tar off the fat end. A piece of tap adds no advantage to a bunt, IMO, and if the other team complains and it is above 18 inches I treat it the same as a pitcher's glove that is black with some tan laces (ie multicolor) and that is to remove it before it is used again, but no penalty.

If the tape is 18.5 inches up the bat I say let it go, but if it is at 22 or 23 inches, then I am going to have him pull it off. There is no reason for him to have tape on his bat, except if he is trying to gain an unfair advantage in some way. DG says it is so he knows how far up he can put pine tar, but this is legion/HS ball, but who puts pine tar on a metal bat? We all know how often a wood bat shows up in HS.

Why does this guy need tape on his bat? Well if this is where he puts his hand when he bunts, the tape could improve his grip on the bat. What if the tape was wrapped around the bat a few times so it was somewhat thick. Well if the ball were to hit that spot then the ball would not go as far. I just don't see any reason that he needs to have tape on his bat. If the tape is in an illegal spot, and there is no reason to have it there, why would I let him keep it on?

There are worse penalties than the bat being removed from the game. For example imagine hitting the game winning homer with 2 outs only to have your bat challenged because of a strip of tape to far up the bat and instead being called out ending the game.

When I coached I put tape on the bats so I could tell the difference in the sizes easily and to identify which ones I owned vs. the kids. I used different colors of electrica tape for different sizes. All that was needed was one turn of tape. When my sons played they put tape on their personal bats so they could easily identify their bat in a crowd of bats, something they learned from me.

See 1.10(c)NOTE:

Remove the bat from the game when discovered but don't call out the batter. And the batter should thank George Brett.

Thats fine, but just don't put it past 18 inches.

And don't pick boogers.

I am looking at an old copy of the NCAA rules because this year's rulebook is in my car. Therefore my rule number may be out of date.

Rule 1-11 requires NCAA bats (both metal and wood) to have a mark 18 inches from the handle. This is so umpires have an easy reference point for legitimate pine tar, etc. Some bats don't come marked from the factory so batters add a piece of tape to make them legal.

Peter

Pine Tar on Aluminum
 

You might be surprised at the number of kids who put tar on an aluminum bat.

I don't think it's pine tar, but it's something sticky. They got it in spray cans these days...

I'm an student manager for a D1 NCAA team... and yes it is still an NCAA rule that bats must have a mark at 18"... most bats these days have the paint change color there but at the college levels coaches tell the players to put a tape line there or the bat will not be allowed... And the umps do check those bats prior to game to look for the tape line...

They also do use a pine tar type substance, even on metal bats...

If it is FED he is out. 7-4-1a

7-4-1a references 1-3-6 to define an illegal bat. 1-3-6 mentions bats that have been altered or do not meet rules specifications are illegal. Rules specifications define length, width, weight and BESR label, but as far as I can find do not mention a piece of tape on the bat making it an illegal bat for purposes of 1-3-6. So remove the bat from play in FED, but don't call an out.

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]

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

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.

interesting
 

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...

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...