Altered or Illegal

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by SRW

I am fairly confident I know the answer to this, but I wanted to get the self-proclaimed expert's opinions.

Bat check prior to Mens SP game, ASA Rules. All bats apaprently legal at that time.

B2 hits a single, and the ODB gets the bat. ODB brings the bat to the PU and tells him that the bat is rattling. PU inspects the bat, sees that it is one of the bats he inspected prior to the game. He shakes it, and it indeed has audible rattles.

Illegal bat, or altered bat?

If the characteristics of the bat have changed since it was manufactured, what have you got?

I'd not penalize the ODB or B2. Just tell him to get another bat and to put that bat away. If it didn't rattle when you inspected it before the game, the rattle could have been the result of the hit.