Scoring, home runs down in spring training with new balls in play...

[posty 2,304]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31159501/scoring-home-runs-spring-training-new-balls-play

With the slightly tweaked baseballs in play, scoring and home runs are down in spring training.

Through Sunday, spring training games are averaging 9.4 runs, the lowest-scoring output in the preseason since at least 2015 and down more than one run from 2019 spring training (10.5 per game). In each of the past four preseasons, spring training games have averaged more than 10 runs.

Home runs also have declined this spring to 1.11 per game, the lowest in the preseason since 2017, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

In early February, Major League Baseball informed teams that subtle changes to the baseball were being made for the 2021 season, with the goal of improving the consistency of the ball. According to the Associated Press, an MLB memo to teams stated that the new balls will fly 1 or 2 feet shorter on hits that travel more than 375 feet. Over the past three seasons, 80.9% of home runs have traveled more than 375 feet.

In 2019, the last 162-game season, a record 6,776 home runs were hit. Following that season, a team of scientists, commissioned by MLB, determined that manufacturing inconsistencies had caused there to be less drag on the baseball and contributed to the surge in home runs in recent seasons.

As part of the tweaks, Rawlings loosened the tension of the first three wool windings within the ball. The change lessened the ball's weight by less than 0.1 of an ounce without altering its size, and decreased its coefficient of restitution (the bounciness of the ball), which in recent seasons had trended to the high end of the range MLB tries to maintain.

"Measurements from both Rawlings and the UMass Lowell test laboratory show that the desired effect was achieved," Alan Nathan, a professor emeritus of physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, told Sportico in February.

Pitchers have noticed the changes to the ball in spring training. After a March 9 start against the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres lefthander Blake Snell said the laces on the balls are "a lot thicker" and that the ball didn't appear to be traveling as far.

"I hung a curveball and it didn't go as far as I thought it was," Snell said. "I mean, he didn't even swing hard, but I'm used to pop flies are usually homers.

"It's definitely a different ball," he added. "I can promise you that it's different."

Oddsmakers aren't quite sure the changes to the ball will result in a noticeable decrease in runs and say they're taking a wait-and-see approach before making any significant changes to their numbers at sportsbooks.

"It's just going to be a feel thing," Randy Blum, a baseball oddsmaker for the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas, told ESPN. "If it's a quarter-of-a run difference, I don't know if that will have a huge effect. If it was something drastic, after two or three weeks, then we'd have to have those discussions."

"Overall, though, I don't think it's going to be a huge difference, and we really need to give it some time, before we start reacting to something like this," Steve Buchanan, an MLB analyst for DraftKings, said. "Obviously spring training is saying something different, but it's a small sample."

The MLB season begins Thursday.

[edjr 5,602]

How many times has MLB denied over the years they had no control over the making of the baseballs 

[posty 2,304]

2 minutes ago, edjr said:

How many times has MLB denied over the years they had no control over the making of the baseballs 

Too many for sure...

[edjr 5,602]

Just now, posty said:

Too many for sure...

and how they have turned their back on the players that brought the game back jacking all those HRs. gross.

[posty 2,304]

11 minutes ago, edjr said:

and how they have turned their back on the players that brought the game back jacking all those HRs. gross.

Yup...

[bostonlager 2,478]

Good. Maybe they will start playing baseball again rather than HR derby.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,796]

56 minutes ago, bostonlager said:

Good. Maybe they will start playing baseball again rather than HR derby.

Word

[Cdub100 3,417]

Chicks dig flyouts to deep left.

[supermike80 1,304]

1 hour ago, posty said:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31159501/scoring-home-runs-spring-training-new-balls-play

With the slightly tweaked baseballs in play, scoring and home runs are down in spring training.

Through Sunday, spring training games are averaging 9.4 runs, the lowest-scoring output in the preseason since at least 2015 and down more than one run from 2019 spring training (10.5 per game). In each of the past four preseasons, spring training games have averaged more than 10 runs.

Home runs also have declined this spring to 1.11 per game, the lowest in the preseason since 2017, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

In early February, Major League Baseball informed teams that subtle changes to the baseball were being made for the 2021 season, with the goal of improving the consistency of the ball. According to the Associated Press, an MLB memo to teams stated that the new balls will fly 1 or 2 feet shorter on hits that travel more than 375 feet. Over the past three seasons, 80.9% of home runs have traveled more than 375 feet.

In 2019, the last 162-game season, a record 6,776 home runs were hit. Following that season, a team of scientists, commissioned by MLB, determined that manufacturing inconsistencies had caused there to be less drag on the baseball and contributed to the surge in home runs in recent seasons.

As part of the tweaks, Rawlings loosened the tension of the first three wool windings within the ball. The change lessened the ball's weight by less than 0.1 of an ounce without altering its size, and decreased its coefficient of restitution (the bounciness of the ball), which in recent seasons had trended to the high end of the range MLB tries to maintain.

"Measurements from both Rawlings and the UMass Lowell test laboratory show that the desired effect was achieved," Alan Nathan, a professor emeritus of physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, told Sportico in February.

Pitchers have noticed the changes to the ball in spring training. After a March 9 start against the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres lefthander Blake Snell said the laces on the balls are "a lot thicker" and that the ball didn't appear to be traveling as far.

"I hung a curveball and it didn't go as far as I thought it was," Snell said. "I mean, he didn't even swing hard, but I'm used to pop flies are usually homers.

"It's definitely a different ball," he added. "I can promise you that it's different."

Oddsmakers aren't quite sure the changes to the ball will result in a noticeable decrease in runs and say they're taking a wait-and-see approach before making any significant changes to their numbers at sportsbooks.

"It's just going to be a feel thing," Randy Blum, a baseball oddsmaker for the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas, told ESPN. "If it's a quarter-of-a run difference, I don't know if that will have a huge effect. If it was something drastic, after two or three weeks, then we'd have to have those discussions."

"Overall, though, I don't think it's going to be a huge difference, and we really need to give it some time, before we start reacting to something like this," Steve Buchanan, an MLB analyst for DraftKings, said. "Obviously spring training is saying something different, but it's a small sample."

The MLB season begins Thursday.

Great.  That'll be this years excuse as to why Miguel Cabrera sucks again

[bandrus1 413]

Josh Bell doesnt care

[bandrus1 413]

1 minute ago, supermike80 said:

Great.  That'll be this years excuse as to why Miguel Cabrera sucks again

his AARP card isnt enough?

[supermike80 1,304]

32 minutes ago, bandrus1 said:

his AARP card isnt enough?

Or his BMI

[frank 2,154]

2 hours ago, edjr said:

How many times has MLB denied over the years they had no control over the making of the baseballs 

Never.

[frank 2,154]

 

[Cdub100 3,417]

45 minutes ago, supermike80 said:

Great.  That'll be this years excuse as to why Miguel Cabrera sucks again

He's the last of the spend to win era. Prince fielder finally came off the books last year. Here until 2024

Miggy makes more than the next 8 guys combined.

[JustinCharge 2,397]

34 minutes ago, Cdub100 said:

 Prince fielder finally came

TMI

[edjr 5,602]

2 hours ago, frank said:

Never.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2019/07/09/mlb-juiced-ball-rob-manfred-home-runs/1685182001/

:yawn:

[Cdub100 3,417]

2 hours ago, JustinCharge said:

TMI

Well his wife was banging another player so it's no wonder she left him. Women don't want a 2 pump chump nor a guy who takes 8 years to come.

[bandrus1 413]

Miggy on place for for 162 HR this year

[edjr 5,602]

4 minutes ago, bandrus1 said:

Miggy on place for for 162 HR this year

Ironically that is how much the Tigers still owe him in millions

[supermike80 1,304]

11 minutes ago, bandrus1 said:

Miggy on place for for 162 HR this year

LOL yes!!! First at bat.....

 

[bandrus1 413]

This is awesome

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNIjCJUDXV9/?igshid=1uy498rhde1ea

[edjr 5,602]

1 minute ago, bandrus1 said:

This is awesome

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNIjCJUDXV9/?igshid=1uy498rhde1ea

He barely swung. Sure they aren't juiced

[BufordT 371]

'This Should Be the Biggest Scandal in Sports'

Good article on the latest crackdown on MLB cheating.  It's estimated that 70% of MLB pitchers are using some kind of foreign substance on the ball to increase spin rates.  The higher the spin rate the harder it is to hit the ball.  Starting next week, MLB umpires will be able to randomly check pitchers for foreign substances.

Interesting note.  Gerrit Cole's spin rate was down 6% across all pitches in his last start when he gave up 5 runs to the Rays.  Trevor Bauer's spin rate was down 10% in his last start. 

 

[posty 2,304]

27 minutes ago, BufordT said:

'This Should Be the Biggest Scandal in Sports'

Good article on the latest crackdown on MLB cheating.  It's estimated that 70% of MLB pitchers are using some kind of foreign substance on the ball to increase spin rates.  The higher the spin rate the harder it is to hit the ball.  Starting next week, MLB umpires will be able to randomly check pitchers for foreign substances.

Interesting note.  Gerrit Cole's spin rate was down 6% across all pitches in his last start when he gave up 5 runs to the Rays.  Trevor Bauer's spin rate was down 10% in his last start. 

 

Good...  Like people didn’t know that something fishy was going on when Trevor Bauer put up great numbers...

[JustinCharge 2,397]

media always looking for the hot button angle to offend people and get them riled up.  Everyone cheats at sports.  Everyone.  Sorry.