LL Bat Question

[SAump]

I don't suppose those black bats used by MLB players are grown in the Black Forrest.

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Whats meant by that is- bats that are not painted my the manufacturer

Same way in LL with Batting Helmets- unless it comes from the factory that way, it cannot be used.

Im dead sure thats what is being implied. If it comes from the factory painted up, its legal, but it if you buy a bat and dig out a can of paint, it cannot be used (same with batting helmets)

Thanks for those people who see both sides of things. I have books, i read them. It is very true that the books (LL) are a little messed around. I pick up quickly on rules, but some stuff is just confusing. Some stuff is very hard to remember, like substitution rules, so if something does happen we have the book.. I dont know anyone that knows the book by heart. Its almost impossible, with all thats in there.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by LLPA13UmpDan

For LL guys out there,

Is there any specific rule that prohibits the use of wood bats? I cannot find it. This season i worked with a veteran umpire (30+ years) who allowed it, and didnt know of any rule that prohibited it. Any ideas?

You claim to be a LL umpire and you don't know the bat rule AND can't look it up?

1.10 The bat must be a baseball bat which meets Little League specifications and standards as noted in this rule. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick and made of wood or of material tested and proved acceptable to Little League standards.

[LLPA13UmpDan]

Im not lazy. I do read the book. Umpires should be encouraged to ask questions when they are not sure. I do watch and learn. I do not like how the book is written, true, but sometimes i cannot find the answer im looking for. So i ask questions!!!

[LilLeaguer]

Originally Posted by LLPA13UmpDan

Im not lazy. I do read the book. Umpires should be encouraged to ask questions when they are not sure. I do watch and learn. I do not like how the book is written, true, but sometimes i cannot find the answer im looking for. So i ask questions!!!

Yep, the Little League rulebook is almost impossible to read, and it has good stuff scattered all over it.

After I don't find the rule in the numbered chapter I expect it in (perhaps 6.00 - THE BATTER in this case), I head to the index. The index, strangely enough, is not at the end of the book, but occurs after Rule 9 and before the section on tournament rules. Of course, it doesn't have an entry on bat, but if you had followed your own hint, you would have found a subsection bat in the equipment section. It points to Rule 1.10.

But you'd be excused if you didn't find it; the index is pretty awful too. Full-text search sure would be nice. Now, there are probably copies of the Little League rulebook on the net, but they might be rarely shared, since Little League has strong feelings about guarding its intellectual property.

Luckily, Little League rules are derived from MLB rules, more or less, and those rules are online. Hop over to mlb.com and you can use your browser to search the rules. It's still divided up into chapters, so it might take time. The third instance of bat in Rule 1.00 is Rule 1.10. Now, you can't use MLB rule 1.10, 'cause it's not right for Little League. But with the hint on the rule number, you can find the right entry fairly easily.

I don't know about anybody else on this group, but that is what I do before I ask a rules-specific question on this board. (I never ask a Little League-specific question on this board, but that's another post.)