Bat rattle

[MikeStrybel]

Almost all composite bats will delaminate at some point. Small bits of the material will break off and the rattle is normal. In fact, I have heard bats that were still in the protective wrapper rattle fresh off the store rack.

I probably wouldn't toss the bat out unless it sounded like a rain stick. It is not an altered nor broken bat.

This spring has been really warm around here. Bats are being broken in quickly and I just love the BBCOR response. So far, so good. enjoy your season.

[gordon30307]

Hey I have an idea. Why don't we just use wood. Like the good Lord intended! It will never happen but I can dream can't I.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

Hey I have an idea. Why don't we just use wood. Like the good Lord intended! It will never happen but I can dream can't I.

There's not enough. With just pro ball using wood, some projections have us running out of bat-grade ash in 5 years. If amateur ball adopted wood, that would drop to months.

[umpjim]

Latest news in TX about bat rattle:

To: All TASO Baseball Umpires

Subject: Bats:

Please be aware and make coaches and players aware that if a bat makes a rattling sound that it is considered a BROKEN BAT (1-3-5) and therefore, illegal for use in a game.

You should handle this situation in the following manner. If you hear a rattling sound as the player comes to bat, you should declare the bat illegal and apply 7-4-1a and 4-1-3 a-b. If you discover the bat after the bat has been used, you should only remove it from the game (1-3-4). The bat could have become broken after hitting the ball.

BBCOR bats have rings in the barrel that stiffen the barrel and they sometimes break. This results in the bat barrel becoming more flexible like the BESR bats.

Thank you,
Jay Evans, TASO Baseball Rules Interpreter

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by umpjim

If you hear a rattling sound as the player comes to bat, you should declare the bat illegal and apply 7-4-1a and 4-1-3 a-b. If you discover the bat after the bat has been used, you should only remove it from the game (1-3-4). The bat could have become broken after hitting the ball.

Agree.

Disagree: the batter has committed an infraction only by bringing the bat into the batter's box. If the illegal bat is detected before the batter enters the box, remove it without further penalty.

[nopachunts]

Agree with both ends. If you are in Texas, when the coach signs the blue card he is affirming his equipment is legal, his players are legally equipped, and have been instructed what to do if a piece of equipment is found to be illegal or not in compliance.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by nopachunts

Agree with both ends. If you are in Texas, when the coach signs the blue card he is affirming his equipment is legal, his players are legally equipped, and have been instructed what to do if a piece of equipment is found to be illegal or not in compliance.

That's true in every state that uses FED and already covered by the rules. A batter is not out under 7-4-1a until he enters the box.