I had a situation in a tournament over the weekend where a player came to bat and his batting glove was not fastened so the flap was hanging down. I called time and asked him to fasten the glove. I interpreted this as being a rule based on the properly equipped rule where players cannot have loose articles hanging from their uniform. I always thought this was a rule. It made sense to me because it could distract the pitcher during the pitch or a fielder when the ball comes off the bat. It could also become an issue if a pitched ball hit the flap of the glove. Well after I told him to fasten it he informed me that it was broken and it would not stick. So I had to tell him to tape it up, tuck it in, or remove it. His coach became irate saying that I was making this rule up.
It's one of those things that I've probably only had happen a few times and on each occasion previously the player simply fastened it and we continued.
Is this either a specific rule, or is it emphasized under the properly equipped rule in certain states. Do many states allow the batter to bat with gloves that have flaps hanging down?
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