Letter From ASA concerning bats

[NCASAUmp]

I wonder if they'll release a text-only version of the list, similar to what they used in the past. It'll make it easier to search through the list when going through a line of bats.

[Welpe]

I must say, the bat lists are nice and short now.

[NEohioref]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I wonder if they'll release a text-only version of the list, similar to what they used in the past. It'll make it easier to search through the list when going through a line of bats.

Do you really check all bats to see if they are on or off the list? We are told to look for the asa 2000 or 2004 inscription.Plus for cracks,dents, and tape.The last list I got was 9 pages long with multiple bats per page. And im cant find it now so im not sure if this was the legal or illegal list. (From what I know bat makers make new bats and new models every year) They also tell us unless the opposing teams coach has a issue about a bat he better have the list with him and up to date before we declare it illegal.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NEohioref

Do you really check all bats to see if they are on or off the list? We are told to look for the asa 2000 or 2004 inscription.Plus for cracks,dents, and tape.The last list I got was 9 pages long with multiple bats per page. And im cant find it now so im not sure if this was the legal or illegal list. (From what I know bat makers make new bats and new models every year) They also tell us unless the opposing teams coach has a issue about a bat he better have the list with him and up to date before we declare it illegal.

Yes, I check bats, but not against the approved list. That would be ridiculous.

All that has been done is that the bats which do not have the certification stamp on them since that is now required unless you, as the umpire, deem the bat to have been manufactured prior to 2000 and meets the specs.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Yes, I check bats, but not against the approved list. That would be ridiculous.

All that has been done is that the bats which do not have the certification stamp on them since that is now required unless you, as the umpire, deem the bat to have been manufactured prior to 2000 and meets the specs.

I still wish ASA would only allow bats that have the 2000 or 2004 stamp on them. Get rid of those old 10+ year old bats and end this debate. Umpire's discretion does not always create consistency.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I still wish ASA would only allow bats that have the 2000 or 2004 stamp on them. Get rid of those old 10+ year old bats and end this debate. Umpire's discretion does not always create consistency.

Unless it is the old iron-bat red Louisville, IMJ, the bat was made after 2000. There are still bottom-feeding teams (speaking financially... use hand-me-downs, etc.) that have those old red standbys on their bat racks.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Unless it is the old iron-bat red Louisville, IMJ, the bat was made after 2000. There are still bottom-feeding teams (speaking financially... use hand-me-downs, etc.) that have those old red standbys on their bat racks.

And I agree that these teams have it tough. If they're truly that hard-up for cash that they can't go out and buy a $30 to get with the safety program, then they should print out the list of approved bats to show us that the bat is okay.

The concept that is central to this whole bat issue is safety. If ASA takes steps to increase the safety factors of the game, teams will need to adjust. For example, if ASA previously allowed kids to wear metal cleats, then decided to restrict them to adults-only, you won't hear anyone complain too much about that. Why should the bats be any different?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I still wish ASA would only allow bats that have the 2000 or 2004 stamp on them. Get rid of those old 10+ year old bats and end this debate. Umpire's discretion does not always create consistency.

What is the purpose of having a bat certified? Safety, right?

And are the pre-2000 aluminum bats not safer than the composites to which the rule applies?

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

What is the purpose of having a bat certified? Safety, right?

And are the pre-2000 aluminum bats not safer than the composites to which the rule applies?

Most likely, yeah - They're 10+ years old, so whatever pop they had is most likely gone.

However, how is a brand new umpire to tell what came out before the 2000 cert? Require the stamps and be done with it.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Most likely, yeah - They're 10+ years old, so whatever pop they had is most likely gone.

However, how is a brand new umpire to tell what came out before the 2000 cert? Require the stamps and be done with it.

And since when is "It makes life easier on the official" a valid reason to change any rule in any sport?

Yepper, we are going to make sure this game and all them thar bats are as safe as we can possibly make it, and to prove our commitment to this, the first thing we are going to do is eliminate the safest bats in the game.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by NEohioref

Do you really check all bats to see if they are on or off the list? We are told to look for the asa 2000 or 2004 inscription.Plus for cracks,dents, and tape.The last list I got was 9 pages long with multiple bats per page. And im cant find it now so im not sure if this was the legal or illegal list. (From what I know bat makers make new bats and new models every year) They also tell us unless the opposing teams coach has a issue about a bat he better have the list with him and up to date before we declare it illegal.

Uh, yeah. Pretty much, pal. That's my job.

Last year, I kept up with the list updates as best I could - what got added, and when did it get added. However, the list eventually grew to over 100 bats (101, last I recall), which made this job tedious.

There are certain bats I recognize instantly as being banned (Synergy II, Freak, etc.), and those are no-brainers. There are also others that I recognize as being approved: Freak98, Cyclone, etc. However, if I encounter a bat that I haven't seen before (or one where I'm not 110% certain of its status), yeah, I check it against the non-approved list. And believe you me, I catch bats left and right, followed by the usual, "but we've been playing with this all season..."

And I know my list is up-to-date within 24 hours because, well... I'm a geek, and y'all know the rest.