Illegal Bats - Redeux

[wadeintothem]

Today was the Region 14 Rules Clinic on a rainy day in Sacto. Thinking of heybucket and this thread

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5171

I decided to go to the top and pose some questions on your behalf. Everything I told you in that thread was accurate.

Now I dont want to be put in a position where I am the messenger being shot over this info Contact your local ASA guys or whomever, I'm only trying to help by making sure you guys are informed.

1) Easton Stealth: According to the Region UICs, the MFG states the problem with the Stealth's is fixed. Even if that is true, there are plenty of those bats around. THat purple and white one was probably one of the most all time popular bats. As an FYI - at one tourney alone 62 were confiscated.

The Region and ASA is standing behind those confiscations and in fact spreading the word to make sure umpires are aware that the slight "wobble" and/or cracking in the Stealths is a sign of the bat breaking down and that bat is gone. It will be confiscated at bat inspection.

2)As brought up in that thread, the small "cracking" that is observed on bats: I specifically posed the question at the clinic exactly like this "Does that small spiderweb cracking that appears to be just in the paint or finish of the bat qualify as a crack?"

ANY CRACKS and the bat is removed. So, yes that bat gone. It was further stated that Kevin Ryan (the big boss of umpires for all of ASA) wants this and the dent issue STRICTLY enforced.

Any Dents in a bat, that bat is gone. ANY. Please dont ask me "yeah but what if" .. ANY dents or any cracks.

3) As brought up in the thread I asked about the Clarity - I asked if we had any authority to remove a bat if it discolors. Umpires have no authority within the rules (as of today) to remove a Clarity based on the changing of the colors of that bat. All other rules of course apply to this bat.

That the word I got as of today - word to the wise.

[DonnieS]

That the word I got as of today - word to the wise.

What about us?

[wadeintothem]

That the word I got as of today - word to the wise.

What about us?

Well.. if I can prevent the tears of one person, as the favorite warmed up home run bat is put in a golf cart and taken away..

Well it would be worth it.

Besides, I hate seeing grown men cry.

[softballmom74]

Does this mean the CF3 will get removed?

[bunt-n-run]

As a follow up (to the Eastons with the clearcoat)

I finally talked with one of the Folks at Easton and got the lowdown on the new clearcoat. According the rep, your older grey or blue Synergy's are basically the same bat as the '09 models. I was told that the older bats had the clearcoat applied first and then the graphic or paint as the finish coat. The newer bats have the paint or graphics applied first and THEN the clearcoat. When this clearcoat gets cloudy (or blotchy) it is an indication that the bat is getting hotter than the ASA 98mph mark. His claim is that, if the paint was removed from the older bats...they would probably have a cloudy clearcoat and would quite possibly be rated over the 98mph mark. He also added that the difference between the grey and the blue Synergy's was that the grey ones had a quicker break-in period and therefore were percieved to be hotter bats.
If you have an Easton bat in which the clearcoat is starting to get blotchy, it's not starting to breakdown...it only means that it's getting hotter.

So, according to Easton themselves, bats that are starting to get blotchy may no longer meet the required ASA max spec's. At some point you must wonder if these bats will become an issue and if/when they might start pulling them???

[3Bsnag]

Thanks Wade!

[bunt-n-run]

Does this mean the CF3 will get removed?

Look at the finish and if you see ANY cracks...sounds like it's gone

[Killer Rabbit]

Lucky that I still had the reciept with two months to spare. Looks like DD will be swinging the new Stealth Clarity as soon as they send a replacement.

[wadeintothem]

Just thought I'd give it a bump in case some folks missed it.

[SnocatzDad]

Wouldn't the blotchy spots in the clear coat consititute an "altered" bat and be removable on that basis??