I see the point as requiring the bat be as safe as realisticly optimal. No one can stop the batter from then using it in a less-than-safe manner.

Requiring the batter to only hold the bat on the grip would make the vast majority of bunt attempts illegal.

"But the batter has NEVER been required to keep their hands on the grip, so there is nothing new there."

I can just it heard it... batter is gripping the bat above the 6" grip on bat and loses control of it and throws it into the stands cracking someones head.
In court for the law suit... judge to person with cracked skull, please show how she was holding the bat... they show that she was holding it above the 6" grip. Judge says so she was not using it correctly... ASA person, No your honor she is not required by book the hold it by the grip.

Yes but a motorcycle ride is only in danger of busting their own skull by not wearing their helmet.

That would be a time when it would be OK to remove a hand from the grip.

You are not likely to hit someone by losing control of a bat while bunting.

Ever seen that whole '360 behind the back' slapper/bunt dealio? :D

Which is irrelevant to my comment, but even if it were, using the helmet, or grip, does not preclude the possibilty the accident would not have happened if they were.:D

All other things aside...

What was their reasoning behind changing the grip from 10 to 15 inches to 6 to 15 inches?

There was no comment given for the change, it was part of the redefinition of the "grip".

Because the players have been trying to pass 6" off for 10" for years?









I'll just let that one sink in. :D

And from what I understand, Dave uses this line a lot....... :eek:;)

Knew my post would get some good replies.

I would like to know what they were drinking / smoking before they decide to make the change from 10 to 6.

You would think they had better rule changes to consider.

DOH! :p

Spoke with KR about this today in OKC, and he stated this was more of a slow pitch dealio and that there was a 'complaint' that SP players felt this was a waste of grip tape and 'expense'. (do SP players regrip their tape that much?... I have no clue)

but he also re-confirmed that the tape must 'begin at the knob' and that would be 're-inserted' in 2012 and was an over sight, and said this should come up in a future rules clarification on the website soon.