Letter From ASA concerning bats

[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 IRISHMAFIA

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.

It happens all the time, Mike. Remember the "about to receive a thrown ball" phrase in the OBS rule? Taken out to make things easier. Remember the word "intentionally" appearing in the rulebook? Oh crap, wait... never mind that example.

It doesn't happen to just rules, but mechanics, too. Putting the BU in B in SP is one such example.

Making it easier for the officials doesn't just help the officials - it helps the game overall. When the officials can't consistently agree on what is a legal bat, we've got a problem.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

It doesn't happen to just rules, but mechanics, too. Putting the BU in B in SP is one such example.

Different animal. The NUS controls the mechanics and ASA General Council controls the rules.

Making it easier for the officials doesn't just help the officials - it helps the game overall. When the officials can't consistently agree on what is a legal bat, we've got a problem.

Not necessarily so. You are suggesting a contradiction is reasons for the change by outlawing equipment the meets the safety standards by a wide margin.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Not necessarily so. You are suggesting a contradiction is reasons for the change by outlawing equipment the meets the safety standards by a wide margin.

No, I'm stating that umpire consistency on this subject will vary greatly, even among veteran umpires. Some umpires have eliminated all bats without a stamp, regardless of age. I, on the other hand, do not eliminate the bat if it's one that I recognize from before 2000. If I don't recognize it, then it doesn't stay in the game.

And that is how consistency is going out the window. Bats that I allow in game 1 may get tossed in game 2 by other umpires. This makes us look like uncoordinated fools, and will only serve to piss off coaches and players. The only feasible remedy that I can foresee is to only allow stamped bats, nothing else. ASA developed the stamp for a reason: to easily identify bats that definitely meet the ASA standards for safety.

Well, at least before they got sent off to the doctor's office.

[Scooby]

I would like to see bats with only the 2004 seal be legal, Like the NCAA. Then the banned list could be real short. 4 bats.