Illegal Bat

[UmpJM]

PCCougar,

You did not say what the "foundation" rule code is that the games were being played under - FED or OBR. This is material to your question, because the rule and penalty are quite different between the two.

OBR makes a material disctinction between an illegal bat and an altered bat. An illegal bat is one that is "out of spec". The penalty for use of such bat is simply the removal of the bat from the game once discovered by the umpire. Any previous use of the bat stands as if the bat were legal.

An altered bat is one that has been "modified" or "tampered with" in an intent to (presumably) give the batter an advantage by making the bat more effective in hitting the ball or hitting it harder. If such a bat is used (and discovered) any result advantageous to the offense that results from the batter becoming a runner while using the altered bat are nullified, while any outs obtained on the play by the defense stand. The batter is called out (whether or not he was out on the play) and is ejected from the game.

FED does not make the distinction between "altered" and "illegal" - if it's out of spec., it's illegal whether it was modified after leaving the manufacturer or not. In FED, if a batter completes his at bat while using an illegal bat, and the defense appeals before the next pitch or play, the defense has the option of taking the results of the play or the penalty for use of an illegal bat. That is, the batter is out, any runners return to their TOP base, and any outs obtained on the play are nullified.

FED also has the notion of a "defective" bat (e.g. dented, cracked) - when discovered, it is removed from play and any prior actions with the bat stand.

JM