Tanner and Leggett are both ready to move on

CLEMSON -- Clemson baseball coach Jack Leggett spoke to reporters before South Carolina coach Ray Tanner following Tuesday's game. So when the Clemson baseball coach woke Wednesday morning and read news reports of Tanner's comments regarding the ongoing bat controversy, he was surprised at how large the story had become.

Leggett called Tanner on Wednesday as the subplot swirling round the rivalry had become "a little bit crazy."

"I'm the kind of person that doesn't want to harbor anything, let it sit in there for a long period of time," Leggett said. "I wanted to go on the phone. I think Ray was glad we were on the phone. I think we were both relieved we talked about it."

Leggett declined to reveal what he and Tanner spoke about during a 45-minute conversation Wednesday morning. Leggett said the conversation helped begin to repair what Tanner considered a damaged relationship following Leggett's decision to have umpires check Jackie Bradley Jr.'s bat Sunday.

Leggett continued to decline to say whether the issue was bat warming, a process of warming bats via sleeves or heat sources to reduce vibration and perhaps enhance performance.

"We both apologized a little bit to each other," Leggett said. "I think we both feel bad that our (on-field) efforts were overshadowed.

"Obviously, I felt strongly about some things as he did. I think we're going to leave it between us and let you know that we hashed it out."

Leggett went out of his way to say this was not about one player, the player being South Carolina star Jackie Bradley Jr.

"I would not want Jackie Bradley Jr. to take this as us against him or us trying to discredit anything he has done," Leggett said. "He's certainly one of the better players I've had the chance to coach against."

Leggett does not believe all bats are performing equally this season. South Carolina uses Rawlings bats and has homered 13 times in 10 games this season. Clemson uses Easton bats and has homered six times in 10 games this season.

"The standards are the same," Leggett said, "but I'm not sure all the companies, which had to scramble to quickly meet the new standards, all got it right. They all sound different. ... I think there is probably a little bit of frustration."

While Leggett continued to decline to address the subject of bat-warming, which is not illegal, he was asked if it might be unethical.

"I think in all parts of life not everything is written in the rule book," Leggett said. "I trust Ray Tanner, I trust what he is thinking and what his philosophy on things is. I was defending my team just as he was defending his team.

"We're both ready to move on."

Follow Travis Sawchik on Twitter @travis_sawchik.