Altered bat

[jimpiano]

The lead off batter singles to right in a slow pitch game.

The next batter picks up the same bat and steps into the batters box.

The umpire determines that the bat is altered, calls the batter out,ejects him from the game and confiscates the bat. ( By League rules the batter is suspended for the next game)

Was this the correct ruling?

[BretMan]

It might depend on what rule set the game is being played under. Different associations have different penalties.

Plus, it sounds like this league has their own "house" rule for handling this, what with the next game suspension and all, which doesn't match the penalty described by several associations.

For instance, this call doesn't match the ASA interpretation, but we don't know that the game was being played under ASA rules.

[Dakota]

Speaking ASA, the batter should have been DQed, not ejected. But, there is a note that in this situation DQ will be "treated like" an ejection (except that the team may play shorthanded). I assume that means the league sanctions would still apply.

Also, if no pitch had been thrown to the second batter, the first batter should also have been declared out and DQed.

[BretMan]

Tom,

You might want to take a peek at the 2007 rule book and rethink your answer!

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Tom,

You might want to take a peek at the 2007 rule book and rethink your answer!

Don't have the 2007 book yet, and I didn't think to check the rule changes, either. We don't get our books until the rules clinics, and they start next month. Oh, well, it's late at night. And I'm too cheap to order a book early just to be prepared for these forums... Ejected he is.

[BretMan]

Not only the ejection vs. DQ is different (yes, that is a 2007 rule change), but you can only call one of the players out.

See POE #4 in the 2006 edition (which has magically morphed to "Rules Supplement" #4 in the 2007 book).

Since the correct rule set for this game has been identified, no, that was not the correct call.

[jimpiano]

Actually the correct ruling, as outlined in our ASA clinic, is to call the first batter out and eject him for using an altered bat. In an ASA Tournament he/she would be gone for the Tournament. The bat is confiscated.

If a pitch had been delivered to the second batter then he/she is the one called out and ejected, with no penalty for the first batter.

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Speaking ASA, the batter should have been DQed, not ejected. But, there is a note that in this situation DQ will be "treated like" an ejection (except that the team may play shorthanded). I assume that means the league sanctions would still apply.

Also, if no pitch had been thrown to the second batter, the first batter should also have been declared out and DQed.

The rules are ASA. The League has added penalties for using an altered bat.