Legal Safety Grip?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by MrRabbit

My concern is why they allow as little as 6" inches of grip?
I have medium size hands and when I grip a bat I cover 7 1/2 inches of the handle.
It would seem to me that this could be a safety issue.

Which brings back the question as to how can you reference it as a safety issue if there is no requirement to actually hold the bat on the grip?

[MrRabbit]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Which brings back the question as to how can you reference it as a safety issue if there is no requirement to actually hold the bat on the grip?

No argument with that. But I find it funny that they called it a Safety Grip under Rule 3 Equipment in the 2011 book, do not have the 2012 book yet, but looked at the new rule on line and would take it that they dropped the word "Safety" from the rule, also did the word Safety get dropped from the knob rule?

Yet they are clear that it must have a grip.

So what is the the purpose of the grip if you do not have use it when batting and why if it is not for safety?

Why not just a bare handle?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by MrRabbit

No argument with that. But I find it funny that they called it a Safety Grip under Rule 3 Equipment in the 2011 book, do not have the 2012 book yet, but looked at the new rule on line and would take it that they dropped the word "Safety" from the rule, also did the word Safety get dropped from the knob rule?

The only time the word safe or safety are mentioned as it pertains to any part of the bat is when addressing multi-piece bats

Yet they are clear that it must have a grip. So what is the the purpose of the grip if you do not have use it when batting and why if it is not for safety?

Why not just a bare handle?

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

Maybe it is like some states where a motorcyclists must have a helmet available, but is not required to wear it. IOW, they are providing the perception of safety.

[MrRabbit]

"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.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by MrRabbit

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

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.

[MrRabbit]

All other things aside...

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

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by MrRabbit

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".

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by MrRabbit

All other things aside...

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

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









I'll just let that one sink in.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by MrRabbit

No argument with that. But I find it funny that they called it a Safety Grip under Rule 3 Equipment in the 2011 book, do not have the 2012 book yet, but looked at the new rule on line and would take it that they dropped the word "Safety" from the rule, also did the word Safety get dropped from the knob rule?

Yet they are clear that it must have a grip.

So what is the the purpose of the grip if you do not have use it when batting and why if it is not for safety?

Why not just a bare handle?

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.

[MrRabbit]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

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.

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.

[okla21fan]

Originally Posted by MrRabbit

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?