Changing bats

[David Emerling]

I'd be interested in some of your opinions -or- if you know of a rule or interpretation that handles this.

FED and OBR.

Can a batter request time for the expressed purpose of obtaining a different bat even though his current bat is not broken?

If not - could a team request an offensive timeout and, while the batter is conversing with the third base coach, another player emerge from the dugout and bring the batter a NEW bat? Should that be allowed?

Opinions?

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[Edited by David Emerling on Apr 7th, 2005 at 08:15 PM]