ASA Illegal/Non-approved bat approved by umpire

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Though the umpire's manual instructs the umpires to check the equipment, failure to do so or making an error in judgment at this point is not a matter of rule. I've always considered the inspection as much a courtesy and preventive umpiring as it is an assigned duty. When it comes right down to it, insuring all equipment used is legal and/or approved by the sanctioning body is the responsibility of the team and players. A piece of illegal/non-approved equipment being missed, overlooked or not presented for inspection does not magically make that piece of equipment legal for that game.

In my opinion, if an umpire fails to check the bats at the beginning of the game, then they are blindly and in blanket-fashion telling the team, "I approve of all of your equipment." There is no excuse for not checking bats at the beginning of the game (unless it's an outlaw league/tourney).

An umpire should get his/her @$$ CHEWED if they fail at that one basic task. That's just plain laziness, and it completely opens them up in terms of liability should someone get hurt when an illegal or non-approved piece of equipment is used. Just plain irresponsible.