The (brief) back-story:
One PSSC umpire (Gary) began to use bat rings on our bats without warning at Brad's game last Sunday and at our team's game on Monday (we happened to have the same ump for both days). A bat ring is a small plastic ring that you slide down an aluminum bat to check for any dents in the bat. If the ring makes it all the way down the bat cleanly, it has no dents. If it gets stuck, the bat has dents, and the ump ordered us to stop using these bats immediately. This was our fourth game of the season. This is also our fourth year playing PSSC softball. No one has ever used a bat ring on our bats in any other game this season or in the past four seasons. There is nothing whatsoever in the rules PSSC posts that deems a dented bat illegal.
Brad bought a very expensive new bat about 1.5 weeks ago. He'd used it in one game and one practice before his game last Sunday. The bat ring detected a very tiny dent in the bat- small enough that the ring still made it all the way down the bat. Brad was not allowed to use his new bat in Sunday's game.
Brad came home from the softball game extremely angry.
This is what happens when Brad gets angry.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bradley Hollidge
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 2:18 PM
To: Eric Long
Subject: Softball Policy
Greetings Eric,
I hope you are doing well and enjoying the wonderful weather. I have emailed you a couple times before over the past several years and you have been very receptive and helpful. I have played in at least two leagues every season over the past several years and a new policy began to be enforced, which I think should be brought to light. Let me premise this by saying that Gary (and Gunner) are by far the best umpires. Gary is knowledgeable, respectful, courteous, and overall the best umpire I have encountered since my baseball days. He is generally a nice and great guy. That being said, this past Sunday and Monday, bat rings have suddenly been used without warning or a grace period. I recently (1.5 weeks ago) bought a new bat and used it in one game and it was slightly dented on Sunday so I was unable to use it. The bat ring went around it, but not smoothly. I was able to use it on Monday based on Gary being told to be more lenient (Gary was the ump for my games on Sunday and Monday). I am currently sending the bat back to the company for a replacement. However, I have spoken to several people that have bought a new bat in the past month or two and this has become a problem. Below, you will find the flaws in this bat ring policy (at least for a rec league). I look forward to hearing back from you regarding this and I hope you have a great day.
1. The use of bat rings suddenly appeared with no prior warning and is inconsistent:
(A) Please see point #5 for inconsistency by a single umpire.
(B) There is no consistency between umpires. Evidence for this:
(B.i) I have never been bat ringed before Sunday and Monday.
(B.ii) Monday's other umpire on the opposite field does not use a bat ring. Evidence for point 1.B: I asked Gary if they were using bat rings at the other field on Monday. He replied, “I have no idea what they are doing over there.” I walked over to the other field after our game to gather more evidence. I asked the teams playing if their bats were bat ringed. They had no idea what a bat ring was and said that it had not happened. I asked a team captain from another night about the bat ring:he was unfamiliar with what a bat ring was and once explained, he said, “no, it did not occur.”
2. Using bats in under 60 degree (Fahrenheit) voids bat warranties and makes bats more susceptible to denting:
A few examples:
Demarini: http://www.demarini.com/en-us/forms/customer-service
Easton: http://www.eastonbaseball.com/customer-service/usa-bat-forms?nav=bp&src=ft/
Louisville Slugger: http://www.slugger.com/tips/batcare.html
We begin playing softball at the end of March; obviously, more than a few of these games will be played in below 60 degree weather. If we are playing in 60 degree (or less) weather either:
(A) the bat ring rule should not be used,
(B) we should be reimbursed for damaged bats,
(C) games at temperatures below 60 degrees (F) should be cancelled, or
(D) we should be provided adequate replacement bats for those games (see point #2A for further explanation of replacement bats).
I believe two of these are logical solutions.
I have spoken with several people that have purchased a new bat (myself included) within the past month (mine was purchased 1.5 weeks ago and used in one game, now two [I was unable to use it Sunday and was able to on Monday]) and it was already dented (I have contacted the bat company). These bats range from cheap $30 bats to $150 bats (what I bought to avoid this very problem) and cover several different bat brands. I have contacted the state representative of your balls who ensured me that it was not the balls that were causing the problem, and even if they were waterlogged, would not damage bats. The variety of bats affected has left one common variable: use in under 60 degree temperatures.
2A. Because only two of our bats passed the bat ring test, Gary offered and brought us some replacement bats. These bats were three wooden bats (this was not a wooden bat league). If there are to be replacement bats, they should be quality aluminum bats with a variety of models (or at least the top model such as Easton Rivals SG1), lengths, and weights: 26 ounces (many girls use this weight), 28 ounces (most people use this weight), and 30 ounces (stronger/bigger people typically use this weight). While I know how to hit with a wooden bat, most people do not and do not know that they have smaller sweet spots and do not allow the bat to be hit as hard, creating an unfair advantage if the other team has adequate bats. Furthermore, this takes away the fun of a rec league softball game.
3. Gary cited safety as the reason for this policy. I know that safety and fun are the most important aspects of these “beer league” softball games. Safety is the reason for the list of legal bats. I will argue that dented single-wall bats do not significantly decrease the safety of the game and actually increase the safety of the game while providing evidence for this argument.
3A. When asked how dented bats could affect safety, he replied, “the balls can go crazy ways”. I will provide sound scientific evidence to prove this is not a statistically significant argument. PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT FOR EXPLANATION.
3B. Dents actually improve the safety of the game. With these single-wall bats, dents negatively affect the structural integrity of the bat and as a result, they decrease the trampoline effect of the bat barrel. Thus, the ball is not hit as hard. With composite bats and multi-wall bats, this is not true. Denting actually improves the performance and makes the bat more and more “hot” until it cracks. Thus, this should not apply to single-wall bats.
4. The game is a fun, rec league game. This new policy has negatively affected the enjoyment of the game for our team and our two opponents by getting everyone worried about their bats. Other teams are worried about this as well. Strictly enforcing obsolete rules takes away the fun of a rec league softball game where nothing is actually at stake.
5. There were inconsistencies in Gary's explanation as to why he was suddenly enforcing the bat ring rule and I do not like being blatantly lied to. Evidence for this argument:
(A) I had Gary all last spring on Sundays at Belmont Plateau and no bat ring was used. I had him several other times on occasion last year and no bat ring was ever used.
(B) On Sunday, Gary said that he didn’t use the bat ring at the first few games because people buy new bats for the start of the season, and this is about the time they can become dented. On Monday, however, Gary changed his explanation and said that he had used a bat ring every game that he umpired.
(C) We have had Gary previously this season on Monday and no bat ring was used.
(D) At Monday's game, Gary said he'd spoken to the commissioner about this and was told to be lenient. I am sure this conversation would not have happened on Monday if he had been using the bat ring during the first few games of the season or all of last year.
(E) The bat I used the first two games of the season (umpired by Gary with no bat ring) was severely dented and I used it with no problems.
(F) No players understood what was going on when the bat ring was being used or why they couldn’t use their bat if it didn’t pass.
I think the discrepancies in his stories provide evidence that he knew he just started doing this. Again, Gary is a great and respectful umpire. I believe he did this to attempt to cover his tracks and attempt to get the game started without further dispute.
6. Gary admitted that the bat ring policy was that of the ASA (American Softball Association) and not necessarily of PSSC. The ASA rules are not posted on PSSC's website for the teams to review. I have tried to find them and asked Gary about it. He said they are only given to ASA umpires when approved, and to ASA registered teams (which, as you know, we are not). Thus, we don’t have access to the very rules that are being imposed on us. They should be readily available to the participants if we are to follow these rules and regulations.
7. If bats are to be bat ringed, they should also be inspected to make sure illegal bats are not used. This has already occurred where a bat was ringed and used in a game, then found to be illegal. I would prefer (for safety) if the bats were inspected to make sure they are legal rather than round.
Thanks,
Brad Hollidge
This is the attachment Brad referenced in point 3A:
(click to enlarge)
And this was PSSC's reply:
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Eric Long"
To: "Bradley Hollidge"
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 2:06:03 PM
Subject: RE: Softball Policy
Hi Bradley,
We have spoken to Gary and the rest of our umpire staff. There should be no more issues regarding dented bats.
Thanks!
The moral of this story: Never, ever piss off Brad Hollidge with something he can use science to dispute.
