Illegal Bat Appeal

[Umpire AN]

Hi All,

 

I was looking for some support on what I should have done in the following situation (a Junior LL game):

 

Team A was at bat during the 1st inning, probably midway into the batting order. F2 turns around before the batter-in-question steps into the batter's box and asks me to, "Check the bat." I called time and looked for the BBCOR logo and examined the lenght of the bat for any issues regarding alteration. I even called my partner over for his opinion just in case, and he said there was nothing wrong with it. Everything was fine in my opinion, so I told F2 that there was no issue with it. The batter-in-question hits a single and no questions are further asked.

 

Fast-forward to the 3rd inning. The same batter using the same bat comes for an appearance. This time, Team B's manager asks again for me to check the legality of the bat. I told him that I already checked the bat. Team B's manager comes out and shows me in the rulebook the exact dimensions for the bat diameter, which I did not know at the time. Since the batter-in-question did not complete or even start his at-bat, I told Team A's manager to remove the bat from the game, charging no out or ejection. The Team B manager asked me that I must award an out due to the previous at-bat in the 1st inning, I told him that there were already plays completed so that I cannot do that. I did apologize though. The Team B's manager proceeded to say rudely, "Know the rules next time."

 

Now, I do admit that I did not know that rule (and the coach probably didn't either until he looked it up), but did I handle the situation correctly? If I were the coach, I would have pulled the rule-book at the first instance instead of wait for a second time.

[Larry in TN]

Here's the rule.  Nothing in there about going back to a violation that occurred earlier in the game.

 

LL Rule 6.06 - A batter is out for illegal action when - 

[...]

(d) The batter enters the batter's box with one or both feet entirely on the ground with an illegal bat (see bat specifications rule 1.10) or is discovered having used an illegal bat prior to the next player entering the batter's box.

NOTE: If the infraction is discovered before the next player enters the batter's box following the turn at bat of the player who used an illegal bat:

1. The manager of the defense may advise the plate umpire of a decision to decline the penalty and accept the play.  Such election shall be made immediately at the end of the play.
2. For the first violation, the offensive team will lose one eligible adult base coach for the duration of the game.
3. For the second violation, the manager of the team will be ejected from the game.  Any subsequent violation will result in the newly designated manager being ejected.

[mjr_2013]

I'm confused as to what was illegal about the bat... Was it thicker than 2 5/8"?

[JaxRolo]

I'm confused as to what was illegal about the bat... Was it thicker than 2 5/8"?

Agree! More info needed here!

[Jimurray]

I'm confused as to what was illegal about the bat... Was it thicker than 2 5/8"?

Me too. Are there BBCOR bats that have a greater diameter than 2 5/8? Or maybe they were using legal 2 1/4 non composite BPF 1.15 bats? Or maybe the other team had intel that someone put a BBCOR sticker on an 2 3/4 bat?

[sdix00]

Why was the bat illegal?

If it was illegal, the penalty is different in just about every youth league, so I keep a handy cheat sheet on what to do.

http://thesitch.postach.io/illegal-bat-the-sitch

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

[mjr_2013]

Or the coach confused you by only showing the LL Majors and Below section of 2 1/4" bats?

[JaxRolo]

Why you let him bring a rule book on the field?

[Rich Ives]

And it only needs to meet BBCOR if it has a composite barrel.

[Umpire AN]

Sorry for the delayed response:

 

The bat had a BBCOR logo on it and it was thicker than 2 and 5/8. I can't remember if the barrel was composite or not, but I'll keep that rule in mind.

[Jimurray]

Sorry for the delayed response:

 

The bat had a BBCOR logo on it and it was thicker than 2 and 5/8. I can't remember if the barrel was composite or not, but I'll keep that rule in mind.

There are no BBCOR bats that are thicker in diameter than 2 5/8 ( somebody correct me if there is an anomaly ). How could you tell if it was thicker than 2 5/8? If it said 2 3/4 on the barrel the someone put a BBCOR logo on it inappropriately. If it didnt pass a 2 5/8 bat ring then maybe it was a legal BBCOR but was damaged.

Based on your OP it appears one team had intel on what the other team was doing to the bat. Call me paranoid.

[kylejt]

Something doesn't add up. All BBCOR bats are 2 5/8".

 

Now, any Juniors player who actually uses a BBCOR bat when they don't have to, is a dope. Those things are bricks. In LL Juniors, you can use a 2 5/8" -10 33" bat that outperforms anything this side of an RPG.

 

But, if it had the BBCOR mark, and wasn't on the composite banned list, it's good to go.

 

Oh, and smart coaches let the player step into the box, before questioning bat legality. That gets the trifecta of outs, and two ejections. Before they climb in, it's just a removal of the bat.

[Richvee]

 

 

Now, any Juniors player who actually uses a BBCOR bat when they don't have to, is a dope.

Maybe he's not a dope. Maybe Mom and Dad just shelled out $300 for his high school legal BBCOR bat and Mom and Dad said guess what son, you're using the same one for LL.