Was I being an OOO?

[TwoBits]

Did not notice a rattle during bat inspection, but to be honest I did not handle each bat and inspected some of them while they were hanging in the bat rack.

This was later in the game, so I'm pretty sure the batter had used this bat once before, making me look a little foolish that I was disallowing a bat that had been used in that game already. I did tell the offensive coach that it was possible the rattle began after the last at-bat, but he corrected me in saying that the bat has rattled most of the year and, of course, "We have been using that bat all year!"

David, it was very loud. The batter came up kind of twirling his bat, and I could here whatever it was sliding and rattling back and forth very clearly.

[jdmara]

Sounds reasonable to me TwoBits. The bat is not is proper condition to be used any longer. This rattle is a potential safety risk in my book.

-Josh

[piaa_ump]

based on your opinion that it was a loud rattle, I think that it sounds reasonable to exclude the bat.....

if the end cap has not come off or been pulled off and there is an aduible rattle inside then something has broken off or has become loose and may be a structural failure.......

NOT OOO in my opinion......

[Matt]

Originally Posted by TwoBits

Did not notice a rattle during bat inspection, but to be honest I did not handle each bat and inspected some of them while they were hanging in the bat rack.

Did you learn from this?

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by Matt

Did you learn from this?

That FED should leave it up to the coach to verify that all equipment is legal (like college ball) and not have the umpire check the equipment?

-Josh

[billken]

Originally Posted by jdmara

That FED should leave it up to the coach to verify that all equipment is legal (like college ball) and not have the umpire check the equipment?

-Josh

I don't check every helmet and every set of shoulder pads in a football game. Why does NF want us to check every bat? It's on the coaches in every other sport. The reason I won't do it in my area is because nobody else does it and I'm not willing to be the "gumdrop" that goes around digging for boogers. Don't give me a sob and a song about liability. Why make the coach mad before you ever make your first call? NF needs to get us out of the uniform and equipment policing business. You'd think that they would have already because they know we don't do it. At least not where I'm from.

[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE=billken;677521]

Why does NF want us to check every bat?

First off I agree 110% that we as officials should not check "bats / hats",

IMO, the Reason NF wants us to check them is to make certain all are using the same bat specs meaning -3. They do not want some 6'6'' strong player weighing 200 or more pounds coming to the plate with a -5 or greater bat.

Yes that should be on the coaches but NF most likely doesn't trust the coaches.

Pete Booth

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by billken

I don't check every helmet and every set of shoulder pads in a football game. Why does NF want us to check every bat? It's on the coaches in every other sport. The reason I won't do it in my area is because nobody else does it and I'm not willing to be the "gumdrop" that goes around digging for boogers. Don't give me a sob and a song about liability. Why make the coach mad before you ever make your first call? NF needs to get us out of the uniform and equipment policing business. You'd think that they would have already because they know we don't do it. At least not where I'm from.

Absolutely not one umpire working HS baseball in the San Diego area, which contains approximately 90 high schools, checks bats or helmets before the game. In fact we spend as little time as possible in the dugout (just long enough to fill out pay vouchers). We don't walk the field before games either. We arrive at the prescribed time, have a plate meeting that is short, sweet, and to the point, then we play Fedlandia baseball. We ain't no "gumdrops" here either!

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Absolutely not one umpire working HS baseball in the San Diego area, which contains approximately 90 high schools, checks bats or helmets before the game. In fact we spend as little time as possible in the dugout (just long enough to fill out pay vouchers). We don't walk the field before games either. We arrive at the prescribed time, have a plate meeting that is short, sweet, and to the point, then we play Fedlandia baseball. We ain't no "gumdrops" here either!

Does your governing body tell you that you must check the equipment prior to the game or have they given you direction not to check it? In Iowa, for instance, we've been told we must. I personally don't pick up the bats and thoroughly examine each one. I turn it to see if there are any cracks, dents, etc and to make sure there is the proper certification affixed. Some teams have 10 bats, I don't have time to go over them with a fine tooth comb.

-Josh

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by jdmara

Does your governing body tell you that you must check the equipment prior to the game or have they given you direction not to check it? In Iowa, for instance, we've been told we must. I personally don't pick up the bats and thoroughly examine each one. I turn it to see if there are any cracks, dents, etc and to make sure there is the proper certification affixed. Some teams have 10 bats, I don't have time to go over them with a fine tooth comb.

-Josh

To my knowledge, the governing body here, the San Diego Section of the CIF, has never mandated it or made it a point of emphasis.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by jdmara

That FED should leave it up to the coach to verify that all equipment is legal (like college ball) and not have the umpire check the equipment?

-Josh

I have been saying this for years. Finally the NCAA got smart..... how long will it take the FED to wake up and put the onus on the coaches and the schools?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by jdmara

That FED should leave it up to the coach to verify that all equipment is legal (like college ball) and not have the umpire check the equipment?

-Josh

That would be ideal, but lesson to be learned is if one is going to inspect equipment, to actually pick it up.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Matt

That would be ideal, but lesson to be learned is if one is going to inspect equipment, to actually pick it up.

Even picking it up, it's possible to not hear a rattling sound.

I check bats and lids because we're expected to, but it's a quick check, not one with a fine tooth comb.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Even picking it up, it's possible to not hear a rattling sound.

I check bats and lids because we're expected to, but it's a quick check, not one with a fine tooth comb.

It is possible. That isn't the reason I posed the question.

If I have to be so blunt, "How the **** can you inspect a bat while it's in the rack?" If he done what he (as dictated by the powers that be) had done that to which he was supposed, this MAY have been avoided.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Matt

It is possible. That isn't the reason I posed the question.

If I have to be so blunt, "How the **** can you inspect a bat while it's in the rack?" If he done what he (as dictated by the powers that be) had done that to which he was supposed, this MAY have been avoided.

Depends how high the bat rack sits. If I can spin the bat and check for dents, etc. and see the BESR label, I may not remove it from the rack.

I toss at least 2 dozen helmets a season, though. Big cracks. I wonder if other umpires check and they just put them back in the bag after -- or the umpires don't check.