Odd Tape Job

[godwulf]

I got this Jose Guillen bat from a fellow board member recently, and neither one of us really understands what's going on with the tape job. He mentioned that he'd seen similar tape jobs on pitcher's bats - something about reminding them where to put their hands when bunting.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0da00b3127ccef9be5f9ae7ff00000040O02EbsmzVu0ZA9 vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0da00b3127ccef9bee46e26fe00000040O02EbsmzVu0ZA9 vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0da00b3127ccef9be08c4262200000040O02EbsmzVu0ZA9 vPhw/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

My first thought, when I saw a picture of it, was that some batboy or equipment guy had just taped it to keep the pieces together - except that it's much too careful and precise a job for that, and anyway, the bat isn't even broken in that area.

Any thoughts?

[Mulligans]

No idea...Just a guess??? Vibration?

[PwKw13]

It looks like this Vlad Guerrero bat has the same tape job (under all the pine tar!).

http://cgi.ebay.com/VLADIMIR-GUERRERO-2009-GAME-USED-SIGNED-ANGLES-BAT-/160425231096?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255a16c2f8

[woodbat]

Good post. I have a Cardinal bat with a similar tape job that I have always wondered why. Although he was not a pitcher, the bunt theory might be an answer. I have never seen another bat of Bien Figueroa to compare. In fact I have never seen another Cardinal bat taped like this. He only saw action in 12 games in 1992, (9 @ SS and 3 @ 2B). His uniform number was #50, but this bat has #62 on the knob and cupped barrel end. So I have to believe it came from his AAA days in Louisville. Nobody on the Cardinal roster in 1991-92-93 wore #62.
Any one have similar tape patterns or thoughts??

Don
woodbat@bellsouth.net

[godwulf]

The tape job on the Guerrero and Figueroa bats appears to be similar, in the spacing and number of "bands", certainly, but what's different about the Guillen bat is how high up on the bat - I mean, on top of the Louisville Slugger brand - the tape actually is. There's no way tape on the barrel like that would be allowed in a game, I'm sure, so it must serve some purpose related to practice. Maybe the bunting practice idea is the right answer.

[Nnunnari]

They're probably covering slight cracks, I can see the crack on the Figueroa bat.