Bat Checks Eliminated

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Is baseball the only (sport) that now has a penalty given to the coach for illegal equipment?

NFHS softball does- after a prescribed team warning on the first offense.

Originally Posted by kylejt

Nowadays it really doesn't matter if a bat is rolled, or not. Current testing procedures actually roll a bat until failure, and test is along the way. If it tests over the limit at any point, it doesn't pass.

The testing procedure (advanced break-in, or ABI testing) doesn't have anything to do with bat doctoring.

The ABI test is conducted under controlled conditions. It's designed to simulate a bat's performance after being broken in from normal use. After being subjected to a defined, controlled loading, a bat must still meet the BBCOR specifications. If it does not, then it cannot be BBCOR certified (ie: the manufacturer may not affix the BBCOR certification label, rendering the bat unusable for NFHS play).

Not every bat sold is tested in this manner. Random bats from the manufacturer are sampled, then discarded after testing. So, if you buy a brand-new BBCOR bat, it has not been rolled (which seemed to be your implication with "it doesn't matter anyway").

Bat doctoring involves applying an unknown force applied in an unknown manner to an otherwise legal bat. It could be loaded well beyond what might be termed "normal use", causing the bat to perform in excess of the BBCOR specs. In short, it can create a bat that is "hotter" than a legal one broken in from normal game play. A rolled bat can create a performance advantage not intended by the rules, as well as safety issues (excessive batted ball speeds or possible breakage upon contact).