Anyone have more info on this pine tar incident?

[mw94]

From the article it seems they called the batter out & then changed the call back to a homerun?

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/pine-tar-incident-in-college-game-between-ucf-and-memphis

[Velho]

Ugh, I feel for them. Looks like the crew stepped in it on this one.

From the NCAA rulebook:

The BAT, Section 12, 

(e)  It is mandatory that all bats have an identification mark 18 inches from the end of the handle No foreign substance that will in any way discolor the ball may be added to the surface of the bat beyond 18 inches from the end of the handle

(f)  For game and practice use, all nonwood bats must have a leather, rubber or taped grip securely attached to the bat handle.

PENALTY for e. and f.—If the bat is not marked 18 inches from the knob, or has pine tar or a foreign substance beyond the 18-inch mark, the bat must be removed from the game and the player warned. If the practice continues, the player is to be ejected from the game. If a bat’s handle should become loose and the bat must be removed from the game, the same practice is to be followed. Neither of these infractions is cause for calling the batter out.

 

[Jimurray]

12 minutes ago, Velho said:

Ugh, I feel for them. Looks like the crew stepped in it on this one.

From the NCAA rulebook:

The BAT, Section 12, 

(e)  It is mandatory that all bats have an identification mark 18 inches from the end of the handle No foreign substance that will in any way discolor the ball may be added to the surface of the bat beyond 18 inches from the end of the handle

(f)  For game and practice use, all nonwood bats must have a leather, rubber or taped grip securely attached to the bat handle.

PENALTY for e. and f.—If the bat is not marked 18 inches from the knob, or has pine tar or a foreign substance beyond the 18-inch mark, the bat must be removed from the game and the player warned. If the practice continues, the player is to be ejected from the game. If a bat’s handle should become loose and the bat must be removed from the game, the same practice is to be followed. Neither of these infractions is cause for calling the batter out.

 

So they got it right after all but how did that happen? Why do you have to put the bat next to the 17" HP  side when it should have  an 18" marker? At that point the rule requires the bat to be removed as it didn't have a marker. As Doug Harvey used to say, read some of the rulebook every day. I am guilty of not doing that but come pretty close.

 

[Velho]

7 minutes ago, Jimurray said:

Why do you have to put the bat next to the 17" HP  side when it should have  an 18" marker?

Good question. I looked at my HS son's deceased bat (a popular one used in college) and maybe the BBCOR logo is meant to be the 18" mark as one of the dots on the outer edge of the logo is approx. 18" from the end of the handle. His new bat (not main brand nor used in college that I'm aware of) has the BBCOR at 14" and nothing that stands out at 18". BAN 'EM ALL! 🤣

And seems like another checklist item for the pregame certification.

[Jimurray]

17 minutes ago, Velho said:

Good question. I looked at my HS son's deceased bat (a popular one used in college) and maybe the BBCOR logo is meant to be the 18" mark as one of the dots on the outer edge of the logo is approx. 18" from the end of the handle. His new bat (not main brand nor used in college that I'm aware of) has the BBCOR at 14" and nothing that stands out at 18". BAN 'EM ALL! 🤣

And seems like another checklist item for the pregame certification.

So, just a perusal of internet bats shows many without an 18" mark. The guys got the rule right, maybe with a consult. But tomorrow, well let's make it Tuesday when games would start again, who needs to check the 18' mark? The thing is, that batter might have been extending his pine tar to gain an advantage but now he will be under a microscope.

[Senor Azul]

Yes, they did overturn the out call to a home run. From the game recap for April 10 found at the Memphis baseball website--

UCF - Top of 1st

A. Sundean homered to left field, 3 RBI (1-2); B. McCabe scored; L. Boedicker scored.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – In the midst of what turned into a 10-run top of the first inning for the UCF Knights (20-12, 5-1), a three-run home run by C Andrew Sundean was overturned due to too much pine tar on his bat, UCF head coach Greg Lovelady and Memphis RHP Blake Wimberley (L, 1-4) were ejected, the benches nearly emptied, and the overturned call was overturned again, as the Knights sent 14 men to the plate and led 10-0 after half an inning in what turned into a 15-6 victory over the Tigers in the series' rubber match.

That brought Sundean to the plate, who appeared to hit a three-run home run to left field before the call was overturned upon a Memphis challenge that Sundean's bat was illegal due to too much pine tar.

A lengthy delay both to clear the field and check the rule book followed, and the umpires then reversed the overturn and gave Sundean the three-run home run, which made it 5-0 UCF

 

[flyingron]

Maybe there was so much pine tar that it obscured the 18" mark

 

[zoops]

Thoughts on their situation handling?  Seemed a little handsy but easy for me to say.  It was pretty obvious the coach wanted to be ejected, looked like he even swatted the umpire's hand away. 

[johnnyg08]

Looks like they only read the top part...there's a separate penalty that initially isn't really even a penalty for pine tar. 

 

[dumbdumb]

@johnnyg08

does this mean since they did not initiate a review to their dressing room to start with, that after having to eject 2 people with their initial ruling rather than retreat for whatever resources they have available to start with, that they can reinstate everything back to its original prior to any ruling made earlier. in other words, if they had gone back to their room originally, maybe there would be no ejections, since that was their final ruling when they came back out. can't some things just be a reset to undo things and make them whole again. now, if after going to the room and comming out with their final ruling, people get all bent out of shape and get ejected so be it.

does the coach have to serve the next game off in this case and the player also since they switched the ruling.

does this mean the bat was doctored after the original pregame check, or a bat that was not checked suddenly was used.

can the umpires carry a ruler and rule book in their back pocket just like carrying the stop watch in their pocket so they can speed up the game and use them immediately on the field.