I'm calling a men's SP game last night. Bottom of 7 and the visitors (everyone's swinging the Miken) are beating the home team (their Miken broke over the weekend) by 18 runs. The visitors decide that things would have been different if they had their Miken and take it upon themselves to grab the Miken off of the visitors bench. The catcher notices this and nicely asks them to put it back. The batter states that the rules say that you can use the other teams bats. I tell him that my rule book doesn't have that rule and that he should use his own bat and get in the box so that I can get home before midnight. He puts up a minor stink but I eventually find 3 outs and get home in time for Sportscenter.

I thought I've done a thorough job of reading the rules but I may have missed this one. Or possibly it's a matter of interpreting a statement in the rule book. I've been playing SP for over 20 years and umping for about 10 and I have heard other players over the years make the comment about how you can use the other team's bats. If it is legal then I guess I spent way too much on bats over the years when I could have just been using the other team's. Can anyone cite a rule (ASA) that allows this? If not, does anyone have any history on this issue (legal in other associations, used to be legal in ASA, etc.)?

Thanks,
Tim

There's nothing in the book (that I know of) to prevent teams from sharing bats, but it sounds to me like you just got a typical "AA" rule tossed at you.

I agree with Tom. I don't know or see any rule that can prevent teams from using the other team's equipment. However, could this be considered possible USC? Just a thought.

Oh please guys!!!!! It's personal property!!!! If the guy wants to let the other team use it what's the beef????? Ya think we might be getting a little Anal here????

Maybe I need to clarify. I have no problem if players borrow another team's bat with their permission. That happens all the time. In this case a player is saying that the rules say the the other team has to let him use their bat even though they don't want him to use their bat.

Which is one of the dumber AA rules claim I've ever heard. Hell, ASA doesn't even allow the on-deck batter to stand on the opponents side of the field, let alone give them access to equipment they don't have the right to share.

Isn't that what BigUmpJohn and I both said???? The team was claiming a <u>right</u> to the other team's bats, not asking permission to use them!

I think what Bob is referring to is the question of a RULE involving personal property, not so much them being loaned out.

And I must say, this thread is a bit inane.

In a SP game a few nights ago, when I asked the home team if they were ready to take the field, one of the players said, "As long as I can borrow a glove from somebody."

So from the trunk of my car I retrieved my old Wilson A2000, still in good shape after the loving care I have given it over the past 22 years.

When I was in college, I worked summers for the local recreation department, which ran a summer softball league made up of teams from the various neighborhood playgrounds. One team never had gloves and always wanted to borrow the gloves of the other team. However, players were reluctant to comply, especially since this team of "borrowers" usually tried to make off with the gloves after the game.

That's it Mike, I couldn't believe someone thought there was a rule about it. Heck players borrow bats and gloves all the time. Especially in some of the leagues we have here.

I'm not sure inane quite captures it. How about puerile? Insipid? I know - jejune!

Could it be that Timmy is really Ed or does he just live in that same area? My answer to that player could have been, "Their catcher forgot his cup, which one of you guys is going to share yours?"

Hey---get ready to laugh-----:D

I had a FP partner that had recently come to our group from SP, and he NEVER remembered his cup! This would cause me to work the double header as the PU regardless if it was 100 degrees. After the 3rd time he did this, I told him that I was buying a cup and keeping it in my umpire bag, just for guys like him!! I also told his at our association's meeting. No one EVER forgot their cup again while I was their partner.

;) HAHAHAHA!! This is ONE female umpire that never suffered at the hands of the male umpires! ....don't pooh, pooh that either, because it DOES happen.