Illegal Bat

[Guest lester]

In the Fed rulebook, it specifies that a batter who enters the batter's box with an illegal bat shall be called out and the head coach will be restricted to the bench or dugout. It also says that the defense may take the penalty or the result of the play. What the Fed rulebook is not clear on is what happens to other runners. Do they return to bases occupied at the time of the pitch?

[Senor Azul]

Yes, the runner(s) would return TOP. See case book play below:

7.4.1 SITUATION D:  With R2 and R1, B3, using an illegal bat, hits a ground ball to F6 who steps on second base in time to force out R1, but then throws the ball into dead-ball territory. R2 advances to third base and then scores. B3 advances to second base. Prior to the next pitch, the illegal bat is detected and brought to the attention of the umpire-in-chief. RULING:  The umpire will give the defense the option of taking the result of the play or having the illegal bat penalty enforced, which would result in B3 being called out and R1 and R2 returning to the bases occupied at the time of the pitch. In addition, the penalties of 4-1-3b are applied to the head coach.

[maven]

We should never have occasion to apply the ruling in 7.4.1D, which represents an officiating breakdown.

If the batter enters the box with a bat previously ruled illegal, he should be called out prior to hitting the ball. If we discover that the bat is illegal after the at bat, a different case play rules that we should remove it from play but let the play stand: the bat might have become illegal as a result of hitting the ball.

The exception would be a batter using a non-certified bat; but again, ideally we catch that prior to his hitting the ball.

[Jimurray]

40 minutes ago, maven said:

We should never have occasion to apply the ruling in 7.4.1D, which represents an officiating breakdown.

If the batter enters the box with a bat previously ruled illegal, he should be called out prior to hitting the ball. If we discover that the bat is illegal after the at bat, a different case play rules that we should remove it from play but let the play stand: the bat might have become illegal as a result of hitting the ball.

The exception would be a batter using a non-certified bat; but again, ideally we catch that prior to his hitting the ball.

We don't inspect equipment in Texas. How would that be an officiating breakdown and how would catching a non certified bat happen before hitting the ball?

[Senor Azul]

From the 2016 BRD (section 85, pp.75-76):

FED:  A batter may not step into the batter’s box with an ILLEGAL bat as opposed to a DEFECTIVE bat…Note:  We now have two categories of impermissible bats: 1—ILLEGAL, which (a) are altered or (b) do not meet the specifications of the rules. A batter who enters the box with (or uses) such a bat is out when discovered, and 2—DEFECTIVE, which (a) are broken, cracked, or dented and (b) discolor the ball. Those bats when discovered are simply removed with no additional penalty.

The case book play referred to by Mr. maven that lets the results of the batted ball stand is 1.3.5 SITUATION D (scenario b). This case play is about a bat that is found to be cracked after the batted ball. The case play has an explanatory note that says if the umpire feels the damage to the bat was done during the course of play during that game, the bat may be removed from the game and replaced with no penalty to the offense.

The very next case book play, 1.3.5E, deals with a bat that is illegal (stuffed with ping-pong balls) so the play does not stand.

[ALStripes17]

We should never have occasion to apply the ruling in 7.4.1D, which represents an officiating breakdown.

If the batter enters the box with a bat previously ruled illegal, he should be called out prior to hitting the ball. If we discover that the bat is illegal after the at bat, a different case play rules that we should remove it from play but let the play stand: the bat might have become illegal as a result of hitting the ball.

The exception would be a batter using a non-certified bat; but again, ideally we catch that prior to his hitting the ball.

I wouldn't fault a HS umpire for a teenager sneaking in a decertified 33" Marucci Cat5 or Reebok Vector TLS (32" and 33")

I'm not looking THAT closely at every bat that walks up to the plate.

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[Radwaste50]

3 hours ago, maven said:

We should never have occasion to apply the ruling in 7.4.1D, which represents an officiating breakdown.

If the batter enters the box with a bat previously ruled illegal, he should be called out prior to hitting the ball. If we discover that the bat is illegal after the at bat, a different case play rules that we should remove it from play but let the play stand: the bat might have become illegal as a result of hitting the ball.

The exception would be a batter using a non-certified bat; but again, ideally we catch that prior to his hitting the ball.

 

We haven't inspected equipment for years we ask the head coach at the beginning of the game.  An illegal bat entering not a break down in my eyes that is why the penalty is on the coach.  All that being said the fact that we only allow wood bats in Fed ball in our state make me believe I could spot the bat when coming to or at the plate 

[Kevin_K]

On 6/23/2016 at 10:25 AM, Jimurray said:

We don't inspect equipment in Texas. How would that be an officiating breakdown and how would catching a non certified bat happen before hitting the ball?

Ditto for NJ.