Legal /Illegal bats

[Umpire in Chief]

This is being covered pretty well at officiating.com and I hate duplicating content; but here I go anyway.

Last year (2008) in the state clinic, legal vs illegal bats were covered briefly, and that year they specifically discussed the Mattingly bat and it's handle being legal.

Fast forward to the state clinic this year (2009) and bats were specifically covered in more depth outlining the Mattingly, the Demarini Vendetta and the Reebok Vector. We spent 5 or so minutes covering bats and these specific makes. It was put out there in no uncertain terms that the Mattingly was still legal and the Demarini Vendetta and Reebok Vector were illegal. Further, the presenter brought a Vendetta and showed us so we could recognize it. He further went on discussing how the Reebok Vector may be also marketing itself under a different name and it it looks like a Vector with the holes in the handle, it will also be illegal.

Now move to Friday and this email comes out from the VHSL:

Rule- Compliant Bats

The following bats are compliant for use in VHSL contests:

The Mattingly Bat

The Demarini Vendetta

The Reebok Vector O

This will also be sent in Weekly Update.

I really don't care one way or the other about the bats kids use specifically and think these kids really spend way too much on the bats, then the extremes kids will go to get the bats turned or broken in after paying close to $300 for the bat. Goodness. Is it really going to make that much of a difference versus the $50 model you get at Dicks or Modell's right off the shelf? If my kid wants a $300 bat, I hope he has a nice job.

[Bigdog]

Hey all,

My youngest son played on a travel ball team this past fall. One of, if not the, best power hitters on that team used a cheap/inexpensive bat. Last year in LL, my son hit a 400' HR with a $45-50 bat from Big5.

The point I try to put out there for anyone I talk to about this topic is that if they want to crush monster home runs, they have to just hit home runs; to hit home runs, they have to hit the ball hard; to hit the ball hard, they have to hit the ball solidly; to hit the ball solidly, they have to use good mechanics, see the ball well, and have a bat that is the correct size for them. If any of these factors comes up short, the whole process of hitting suffers.

Bigdog:cool:

[Bigdog]

Hey all,

Oh, yeah, the reply to the topic! I have not heard what CA officially says about these bats yet, but, if I understand the " smooth, round stick" part of the rule correctly, it applies to the barrel of the bat.

Bigdog:cool:

[LMSANS]

I have to ask...are you referring to HS rules? If so, do these bats have the NFHS logo on them?

[dawg-man]

At a recent GHSA meeting we were told that the Rebok bat would be legal. Maybe I am wrong but should not the National Federation make that decision on a national basis. We were told that kids had already bought this bat and the cost was around 450.00. We were also told that at a GHSA meeting earlier that the bats were to be illegal until Rebok stepped in.

[Umpire in Chief]

Yes they do say they meet NFHS standards. And that was one of the points in my state clinic is that it does say that it is approved but the FED has not actually approved.

[AllanA]

Our rule interp, Jay Evans, Stated that if the meet BESR, 36" length, and -3 drop that they are legal.

He is the rules interp. for TASO (Texas association of Sports Officials).

Allan

[LMSANS]

Our rule interp, Jay Evans, Stated that if the meet BESR, 36" length, and -3 drop that they are legal.

He is the rules interp. for TASO (Texas association of Sports Officials).

Allan

I thought Texas didn't use Fed rules?

[AllanA]

I thought Texas didn't use Fed rules?

Yep NFHS.

Allan

[mstaylor]

Here it is from the top.

Memorandum

To: Member State Association Executive Directors

From: B. Elliot Hopkins, CAA, Baseball Rules Editor

Subject: Baseball Bats

Date: February 5, 2009

___________________________________________________________________________

Please share this information with your staff, schools and baseball officials. The following baseball bats have been found rule-compliant by the NFHS for use in high school baseball:

1. DeMarini Vendetta

2. Reebok Vector O

BEH/lbt

[MCLEOD36]

Havent seen Vector yet, but my guess is Reebok would pass money around to make it legal. I am with BigDog, the funny thing is, these companies got smart a couple years back and went oh, lets change colors every 3 to 6 months. Both of my boys, 12 and 14, have had dad splurge in the past at $300, but now I go find a two year old bat, same specs for $65 to $75 perfect and great to buy two, one for games and one for practice.

[BrianC14]

I remember asking the question about the Mattingly bat being legal...(was it here on or umpire.org ?) ... the answer was, "Yes, NFHS had approved it, though it seems to me that their ruling contradicts the "no molded grips" part of the rule.