The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee, citing the return to a more balanced brand of baseball, made no immediate changes concerning specifications for baseball bats and balls that are used in NCAA play.

The committee did, however, establish several limits to hold bat and ball performance at current levels during its annual meeting July 10-13 in Indianapolis.

"The committee feels we have a very positive game right now and the balance between offense and defense has been restored," said Don Kessinger, associate athletics director for internal affairs at the University of Mississippi and chair of the committee. "We made several changes to close potential loopholes and keep the game where it is."

Safety and integrity

At its annual meeting in Indianapolis July 10-13, the committee considered recommendations from the NCAA Baseball Research Panel and reviewed results from laboratory testing, performance and safety during the 2000 season, and recommended that no changes be made in specifications for the 2001 season.

"We agree with the research panel that the recommendations the group made a year ago restored the balance of the game and made metal bats perform more like wood bats," Kessinger said. "The panel was concerned this year that there might be areas in the protocol that would allow for increases in performance. We have addressed those potential problems."

The committee discussed safety and integrity of the game as potential reasons for further changes to be made. The group reviewed injury data and statistical information and decided that changes have made the bats more wood-like and that the game is being played with an acceptable amount of risk.

The committee added the following items relating to baseball equipment:

The establishment of a moment-of-inertia (MOI) standard for each bat length and weight based on bats previously certified by the NCAA Bat Certification Program. The moment of inertia affects how weight is distributed along the barrel of the bat during the swing. All currently certified bats will meet the MOI standard. The MOI of future bats may not be less than the lowest MOI for bats of that length and weight recorded during the certification process for the 2000 season. The committee will continue to monitor the effect of MOI on the integrity of the game.

During the 2001 season, the NCAA will conduct random testing of baseballs for coefficient-of-restitution (COR) compliance. All baseballs used for regular-season and postseason play must have a COR value of between .525 and .555 to be eligible for play in the 2002 season. The NCAA will collect data to determine if an additional or substitute standard is necessary.

Effective January 1, 2003, a sliding scale for swing speed based on the bat length will be implemented as part of the NCAA Bat Certification Program. The scale will be based on the original exit speed standard of 97 miles-per-hour for a 34-inch bat.

The committee supported the Baseball Research Panel's recommendations that further study be conducted on the possible effects of bat "work-hardening" and that the NCAA collect data to determine the accuracy of the NCAA Bat Certification Program testing procedures.

The research panel had recommended a change in COR of baseballs from .525-.555 to .515-5.35. The rules committee voted to measure baseballs for all competition, instead of championship competition only, at the current COR.

"We want to be sure that baseballs being used throughout the season are meeting the standard, and we think that is the first important step," Kessinger said. "We may want to make adjustments in the future, but we want to take this one step at a time."

Kessinger said the committee had the same concern about creating an MOI standard. The research panel had recommended a minimum standard for the 2002 season.

"Again, we may want to adjust the MOI in the future, but we want to get another season of competition under our belts with the certified bats we are using today before we do that," Kessinger said. "We agree with the panel regarding a sliding scale for swing speeds during testing, but we want to hold off on that for another two years.

"The bottom line is that two years ago, coaches were calling members of the committee to say that something was wrong and we needed to make some changes in specifications for the bats," he said. "After this season and the changes we saw in the field as a result of the new specifications, those coaches were calling to say they liked how the game was played this year."

According to season statistics in college baseball over the last 20 years, batting averages, scoring and home runs had remained at a similar level until the last five years. From 1981 to 1995, batting averages were steady at .296, home runs at .80 per game, and scoring from 6.49 to 6.52 per game.

From 1995 through 1999, batting averages increased to .301, home runs to .91 per game and scoring to 6.8 per game. In the just completed 2000 season, following changes to bat specifications, batting averages returned to .297, home runs to .80, and scoring to 6.53.

The Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet and the Divisions II and III Championships Committees will consider the rules committee's recommendations when those groups meet in the fall.

Other highlights

Baseball Rules Committee
July 10-13/Indianapolis

Decided to alter the rule relating to batters being hit by a pitched ball. The committee added wording to reemphasize and clarify this rule. When a batter makes no attempt to avoid being hit by a pitch (or attempts to be hit by the pitch), the ball is dead and the pitch shall be called a ball or strike. The committee took this action in response to the increasing number of batters who are attempting to be hit in order to reach base.

Changed wording concerning offensive interference. The rule will now read: "No offensive team member either in or out of the lineup shall deliberately physically or verbally hinder, confuse or impede any defensive player who is attempting to make a play."

Clarified the designated-hitter rule concerning that player becoming a position player later in the same game.

Altered the 12-run rule, decreasing the number of runs to 10. If teams mutually consent or a conference rule is in place, a game may be stopped (ruled complete) only after seven innings if one team is leading by at least 10 runs. Each team must play an equal number of innings.

Allowed National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics rules to be used when teams play on an NAIA member institution's home field.