Great Guerrero Bat Controversy Ends--They Were Made Entirely of Wood

The controversy over whether Dodger outfielder Pedro Guerrero used a doctored bat, given to him by San Francisco outfielder Jeffrey Leonard during Saturday’s game against the Chicago Cubs, is over.

Bruce Froemming, one of the umpires working the Dodger-Cub series, said Monday that the umpires sawed off the ends of two of Guerrero’s bats, including the one in question, and found nothing but wood.

“It’s over with,” Froemming said. “I called Ed Vargo (National League supervisor of umpires) and he said he opened four or six of those model of bats and there was no problem. The Japanese manufacturer of the bat just finishes it off differently than (other) bats.”

Cub catcher Jody Davis had asked to have the bat checked after noticing what he called a funny mark on the end.

Guerrero was more amused than angry at Davis’ request to check the bats, but before Monday’s game between the Dodgers and Giants at Dodger Stadium, Leonard, the original owner of the bats, called Davis’ request ridiculous.

“I can’t believe that,” Leonard said. “Davis is either saying I can’t hit without help or maybe he was just trying to hassle Pete. I used the same bats against the Cubs, and Davis never said anything to me. And I know he was looking at them.”

Leonard said that since the bats he gave to Guerrero had to be destroyed to prove that there was nothing illegal implanted, he wants to give Guerrero another batch.