Some changes are coming to Major League Baseball in the form of an altered Spring Training schedule and a slightly different baseball. The latter may have the bigger impact on the season as a whole, as The Athletic’s Eno Sarris and Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) report that the league has sent a memo to teams outlining some changes made to the Rawlings baseballs that will be in use during the 2021 campaign.
The new ball will be reduced in weight by under one-tenth of an ounce, and will also be slightly less bouncy (as determined by the coefficient of restitution, or COR). While the end result of these changes won’t be entirely known until we see the baseball in action during the season, the changes seem to have been made in order to “increase consistency in the ball” and also deaden it to some extent. An independent lab cited in the league memo detailed a reduction by one or two feet of distance on fly balls hit beyond 375 feet, and an analyst who spoke with Sarris and Rosenthal believes “it’ll be like adding five feet of outfield walls to every wall in the big leagues.” The analyst believes an overall five percent reduction in home runs is possible, though it isn’t yet known how the newer ball will be affected by drag.
Home run totals have soared over the last few seasons, which has led to criticism in both fan and league circles that the sport is becoming too homer-heavy and strikeout-heavy at the expense of more traditional and action-oriented station-to-station baseball. If the new ball is indeed successful at reducing home runs, Sarris and Rosenthal write that there is some risk “that it will leave the game with all those swings and misses and fewer big flies,” but it should also be noted that pitchers will surely also have to make some adjustments to how they grip and throw a slightly lighter ball.
In a more clearer attempt to deaden the ball, five more teams will join the Diamondbacks, Mariners, Rockies, Red Sox, and Mets in storing baseballs in a humidor prior to the game. The addition of a humidor at Chase Field prior to the 2018 season led to a noteworthy dropoff in the Diamondbacks’ homer totals, and it is still too early to really gauge the impact for the Mets, Sox, and Mariners since their humidors were only in place for the anomalous 2020 season.
The changes to Spring Training will be more immediately visible, given how camps are set to open in a little over a week. The 15 teams in the Grapefruit League will be split into pods in western or eastern Florida, according to Rosenthal and The Athletic’s Matt Gelb (via Twitter). The plan is for the “East” teams to play 24 games against each other and then four intra-squad games, while teams on the “West” side of the equation would play a 28-game schedule against each other. This would seem to imply that the 15 teams will be split into three pods of five teams, which also makes geographical sense since only five Grapefruit League teams (the Marlins, Mets, Cardinals, Astros, and Nationals) are based in Eastern Florida.
It isn’t yet known if a similar strategy will be planned for the Cactus League. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale (Twitter links) reports that split-squad games are being eliminated, so the schedule will be reduced to some extent. The league and the players’ union are aiming to have health and safety protocols for Spring Training arranged by tomorrow, and more specifics could be revealed at that point. Since some tickets for previously-scheduled Grapefruit League games had already been sold, Rosenthal tweets that teams will individually handle those situations.
crumpy24
So they just admitted that they juice the baseballs
Larmando
Pretty much
LongTimeFan1
@Larmando
No they haven’t.
Al Hirschen
And played with the stitching causing more pictures to develop busters and to lose effectiveness on there snapping on the pitch
machumizer
This is an entirely different sentence then i think you meant to write.
FredMcGriff for the HOF
But let’s keep the all time hits leader banned from baseball. Over 30 years hasn’t been long enough….
HalosHeavenJJ
Because a guy on the hook to organized crime would never throw a game, right?
schellis 2
Not as a player he wouldn’t
HalosHeavenJJ
I love it when Rose fans jump in claiming to know which games he might have thrown.
the fact that being in debt to gamblers is a path to throwing games is the reason he’s out. whether he did that by using bad bullpen match ups as a manager, by fake hustling to second and getting tagged out as a player, or not at all doesn’t matter.
Dude broke the cardinal rule and lied about every step of the way, including about not betting as a player.
troll
rose never played for the cardinals to break their rules. games are fixed anyway, if truth were told.
Daver520
He never threw ANY games the Commissioner acknowledged that and do did the investigation… he only bet the Reds to Win … and you are correct he broke the cardinal rule of Baseball “betting period” .
NOW why did the Players on the Astros who ACTUALLY directly affected the outcome of the World Series get ZERO discipline ?!?!?!?!
Pete has eventually owned up to his mistake and paid his dues (done his time) its not a fair punishment unless it works BOTH ways
Balk
Daver520…Nothing works both ways these days…nothing. It’s one way or the highway.
its_happening
Rose’s HOF chances died when he came out with a 2nd book that contradicted his first book regarding the betting. Basically another form of perjury. Can’t trust what he said then and can’t trust what he said now. Too bad, because he is one of the best talkers when it comes to baseball, history, reciting lifetime stats against other pitchers etc.
HalosHeavenJJ
He never bet to lose but what about all those games he didn’t bet? Hmmm….
He couldn’t have possibly done anything to affect the outcomes of those games because OTHER people, most notably the organized crime figures he often owed massive amounts of money, had bets on those games, right?
It sucks those guys on the Astros cheated to win. And they should have been punished IMO, but at least we know they were trying to win. Can’t say the same of Rose or any other gambler.
HalosHeavenJJ
@guests, what you can trust are the books from the organized crime figures who faced trial. They show bets from Rose as both a player and a manager. People with more time than I have looked up the results of those games and the ones he didn’t bet were losses at a very solid rate.
MWeller77
Whether or not Rose should be admitted to Cooperstown is a valid debate, but saying that he only bet on the Reds to win misses the point. The harm to the integrity of the game is caused by ANY betting by the manager, regardless of whom they bet on.
The article I’ve linked below does a good job of explaining, but to sum up:
* When the manager DOES NOT bet on the team, gamblers on the inside might decide that this is a good night to bet AGAINST the team
* The manager may have made decisions (about the pitching staff, e.g.) that were based on his betting plans, thus affecting the integrity of the game
thegruelingtruth.com/baseball/pete-rose-bet-reds-l…
Fan0Sports4
Or the fact that MLB is now part of said gambling establishments making a deal with MGM sporting casinos
BuJoBi
@Mweller
I like the approach you took in your comment. Give people a different way of looking at a debate, and more Information instead of just taking a side.
For what its worth lol
its_happening
Halos I am aware of that. However, if he were as forthcoming rather than blatantly lie from the beginning he’d have way more support and perhaps the ban would have been lifted by now.
Fever Pitch Guy
You are all missing the point. Even if Rose never bet against his team, his managing was still influenced by bets he had on his team. When he had a lot of money riding on a certain game, he would make decisions that could cost the team in multiple future games. He would put his best players in situations with increased chance of injury. He would burn out his best pitchers, leaving them unavailable for days. Winning bets was more important than winning the most games possible.
Rsk3228
Yes it has.
Balk
Exactly, it’s ok to juice the balls to add all the homers but let’s keep the hitters banned and out of the Hall for what they did. Garbage. MLB is a joke
zacharydmanprin
Yes, for violating the cardinal rule in baseball…also, because he agreed to the lifetime ban.
Arnold Ziffel
I used to against Rose in the HOF, but now feel MLB owes him an apology after endorsing ‘Draft Kings’ , a gambling site. It is not fantasy baseball.
CKinSTL
@Arnold regardless of whether or not there is betting on MLB, such as Draft Kings, players/managers/umps are not allowed to partake because it is a conflict of interest. Absolutely nothing has changed in that regard.
Arnold Ziffel
CK, I get that but MLB endorsing a gambling site certainly lowers the bar. Your Cardinals should be arrested for theft after stealing Arenado from my Rocks.
whyhayzee
Arguing about who gets in the Hall of Fame is silly. Where you need to take the discussion to is whether someone should be removed from the record books. There’s the REAL argument. The Hall of Fame does whatever it wants, you have NO say in that. They decide who is in. Sorry. Now the record books is where the real discussion needs to be centered.
Spike 13
Read the Dowd report.
tigerdoc616
No, they are not, just admitting they need a consistent product and changing the parameters might help reduce HR’s. They will never admit the balls were juiced
LongTimeFan1
@crumpy24,
Your comment is distortion of this action by MLB. In no way is this evidence of prior changes, i.e., juiced ball. It merely adjusts the ball from where it was in quest to reduce homers.
Balk
Longtimefan1…the fact that you can’t see that MLB took a ball and adjusted it and knows that lightning it or winding it tighter effects the travel of the ball isn’t evidence is crazy. They are and have been for years using science to adjust the game. When players and fans alike get tired of the effect it has on the game they switch it again. It’s a joke. Just play ball. Go back to the days when a ball was created so hitters can try and knock the cover off it.
solaris602
I clearly remember seeing Manfred interviewed multiple times between 2 and 4 years ago, and when he was asked if the ball was juiced he always blew a gasket and got super defensive. Now MLB is all but admitting they were juiced and have already begun the process of un-juicing them. How about we just ban hypocrisy from the game and call it a day?
Baseball 1600
I’m glad they’re trying to revert the ball. May not be a popular opinion, but I wasn’t enjoying the spike of homeruns and spike of strikeouts. I like it when the ball is put in play and defenders are forced to make a play.
its_happening
Yep. When both sides are involved in plays it makes for a better game.
DrDan75
@baseball
The most disconcerting thing to me is the erosion of actual baseball highlights. Offensive highlights are mostly home runs, maybe a double or two, sometimes a great defensive play. There’s very little if any inning by inning recap anymore of how the game unfolded and played out. If the game was a pitchers’ duel, you’ll just see strikeout after strikeout by pitchers on both teams. And by “strikeout,” I mean only the third strike.
Oh, and on mlb.com highlights, they make you watch a fifteen or thirty second ad per highlight. I know they have to pay the bills, but it gets old fast when you’re trying to keep up with games and see some baseball action that you missed. .
SalaryCapMyth
I don’t think your opinion is the unpopular one. I welcome the change to the baseball. I would like to see less home runs, less strike outs and the ball put in play more.
Appalachian_Outlaw
Generally speaking, I’d prefer the ball not to be changed so that when guys chase records it’s an even field, and for ease of seeing how guys do from year-to-year without the question of if it’s the ball. I realize that ship has long sailed though, so I’m cool with it. I like HRs, but I also like a lot of other facets of the game. Some variety would be good.
SalaryCapMyth
Good post, Outlaw. I would like to see that kind of consistency for the same reasons you do. The ship has indeed sailed on that but perhaps moving forward it can become that eventually.
Catuli Carl
Now they just need to move the mound back a foot or two to reduce Ks.
jdgoat
Gonna be a lot of guys who have down years offensively then. I cant say that’s necessarily a bad thing though. They needed a bit of a correction.
92jays
They forgot to mention all the blisters pitchers have been getting
Diggydugler
Quick, re-sign Sanchez!
Ducey
Sanchez would get blisters even if they used a nerf ball
Luc 2
What’s better Cheetos or Doritos
Diggydugler
Obviously Jalapeno Cheddar Doritos.
Captain Dunsel
Dipsy Doodles every time.
rememberthecoop
Flaming hot nacho cheese Doritos all day long. (Well, not all day long cuz you’d be fat and your stomach might not agree with it too much ha).
Curveball1984
Doritos by galaxies
prov356
Try Funyons and sour cream.
troll
try cheeto pie
SalaryCapMyth
@prov356. I’m actually going to try that!
prov356
You’ll be hooked.
sufferforsnakes
Popcorn
User 2802304835
David Fletcher will not be affected by the ball change. He’s an all-around world class player and a world class guy
For Love of the Game
Thanks, Mom!
Sincerely,
David F.
Curveball1984
hahaha
HalosHeavenJJ
True. Had the pleasure of getting to know him and his family in recent years.
SalaryCapMyth
@Halos. Have to say I’m kind of low key jealous.
HalosHeavenJJ
Thanks. I’ve interviewed David several times in the minors and wrote a story on his dad, who is an awesome guy. I started meeting up with his dad for a few innings at games and we’ve become friends.
DarkSide830
here I thought I was Fletcher’s biggest fan
bobtillman
Well, we’ll probably have a LOT more strikeouts, as teams morph from Launce Angle nonsense into a more rational method of hitting a baseball. It’s going to take a while to unlearn the fabrication the Super Ball brought. Ultimately, this could be a huge change.
Spring Training? Good ideas, but dropping the games to 7 innings would prevent the necessity of all those 4-A types in camp just to guarantee the regulars get to their tee times. Makes sense in the Covid world.
Curveball1984
7 inning games will never make sense. Not even in T-ball.
TmanTheGoat
Yeah…no. Teams won’t stop using launch angle even if they ball do change.
TmanTheGoat
Yeah…no. Teams won’t stop using launch angle even if the balls do change. Especially with the shift being as prevalent as it is
HalosHeavenJJ
A more standard ball would be nice. Seems in the last few years you’d see one go to the bleachers and another be a routine out on the same type swing.
I miss the game with balls being put into play.
rememberthecoop
So do I; however, I also like home runs. Who doesn’t? I don’t think less homers is a good idea, but I’m conflicted because more action is good for baseball.
Curveball1984
Ban the shift. Problem solved.
For Love of the Game
Better yet, infielders have to be in sequence (1B, 2B, SS, 3B); the SS and 3B have to be on the left side of the diamond and the 2B has to be on the right side.
its_happening
Or let the defense play the way they want to. Stack all 9 guys on one side of the field if you want. The shift is the last thing that needs to be tinkered with. Besides, the fact that runners have exploited the shift by taking extra bases brings actual intrigue and excitement not normally seen. It would be a travesty to ban the shift.
DarkSide830
2 infielders one each side. problem solved.
Appalachian_Outlaw
Agreed, there should be a maximum of two IF on either side of the diamond. If the defense violates the rule, make it an automatic walk for the batter. The shift is absolute garbage, and is responsible for the 3TO style of play more than anything else now.
Sliderdownandin
So what about bringing an OF to play as an infielder late in the game? Is that outlawed too?
its_happening
Having strict rules on where defenders are allowed to play is garbage. If the offensive team cannot exploit the defense then that’s their problem.
Defensive violation. What a crock…
Nes
I don’t get announcing changes to the ball 2 weeks before spring training as much as I don’t get not announcing a decision on the DH yet!
seamaholic 2
Oh I’m sure the teams knew about this.
rememberthecoop
There is no DH in the NL this season (barring some last minute upset). I believe that has been made clear. It’s a bargaining chip for the new CBA.
tigerdoc616
Three pods in FLA will be interesting. Certainly will cut down on travel time, especially for my Tigers who are the only team still in central FLA. Mets, Cards, Astros, Nationals and Marlins in the east pod. Then likely the Tigers, Yankees, Phillies, Blue Jays and Pirates in one pod, and Rays, Orioles, Twins, Red Sox and Braves in the other. Actually like this idea going forward, COVID or no COVID. Grapefruit League not as compact geographically as the Cactus league. Since the games are practice anyways makes a lot of sense to play just a few teams and cut down on travel. If you go to spring training in FLA would be better for me as a fan not to have to take a long drive to see some of my team’s games.
zacharydmanprin
I have spoken to players that absolutely hate ST in Florida and a few have said it determined whether they signed as a free agent. 3-4 hour bus ride to sit in the parking lot for an hour while they determine if the game is to be called due to weather or not. Then 3-4 hours back. And you still haven’t got a work out in.
Diggydugler
Yes, all the players I have talked to said if the team is one of the 15 teams that plays its spring training games in Florida they would not sign a multimillion dollar contract with them to play baseball occasionally.
rememberthecoop
Wait – “Nightengale reports that split-squad games are being eliminated”? OK, so split-squad games are being increased then.
Curveball1984
Nice
sambino
Why can’t MLB just bring back the baseballs they used before MLB started using the juiced baseballs?
HalosHeavenJJ
Just noticed the lack of split squad games. Those are always good for getting extended looks at players. And often for scoring cheap tickets from scalpers (scalping is legal in AZ).
drtymike0509
Scalping is legal in florida as well…
Curveball1984
Manfred has no clue what he’s doing. He’s trying to make money, right? Has he seen the baseball kids today that trend on YouTube? All they talk about is how the mid 90s to mid 2000s was the best era of baseball. Gee… what’s the common denominator there? Roid-era. Now they’re coming back due to the recent ball-juicing and Manfred wants to deaden it. Listen, I love old school baseball as much as the next guy, but at the end of the day it is entertainment and a business. The casual fan is the dollars they are looking for and no casual fan tunes in to see a sac bunt. No one. Granted they don’t tune in to see a ton of K’s either, but that has nothing to do with the ball — that’s the player. I just don’t see how this helps the future of MLB at all.
its_happening
And yet with all these homeruns the interest, viewership, ratings are not up.
Action brings eyes. A throw to the plate to gun down a runner is an action. Going first to home is an action. Stretching a double into a triple, or a single into a double is an action. If your game consists of long 400+ foot bombs, strikeouts, walks and the odd single and double, you don’t have an element of intrigue or excitement.
With social media, casual fans can actually learn about the importance of the sac bunt and why a situation asks for it. Understanding breeds interest.
Curveball1984
People don’t watch games, but they do watch quick videos. It’s a different era. Banning the shift would go a long way in doing the exact same, making sure the ball stays in play.
its_happening
Banning the shift will make the game even more boring. Go on social media. People are posting runners exploiting the shift. It’s something different. And that is good for the game.
They watch quick videos. Does not mean it has to be the homerun. They are repetitive and boring on social media.
bobtillman
There’s very little “entertainment” watching 3-outcome baseball; it would be like a Super Bowl with only field goals. And more than third of at-bats resulted in the 3 outcomes last year. No wonder why nobody watches.
Triples and stolen bases are more entertaining than home runs.
DarkSide830
nothing is ever good enough for people on this site
Appalachian_Outlaw
Okay, small rant incoming- I hate the term “casual fan”, and I loathe the idea of catering to this mythical market of people. If there were such a thing as a casual fan, you wouldn’t pry money out of them.
I casually follow boxing, for instance. I watch highlights here and there. I don’t label myself a fan. No matter what that sport has done though, I’ve never once spent a cent on it.
I feel like when it comes to money, it takes real genuine interest to get people to part with it. I think trying to fundamentally alter baseball would be a mistake. The easiest way to grow the game is for it to embrace the players personalities.
MoRivera 1999
What do you call fans who eat in a restaurant or swim in a pool during the game. Baseball fans? Casual fans? How about those at the game who spend more time reading their phones or books than watching the game? Baseball fans? Casual fans? How about all the people spending all their time socially chatting up people around them, hardly ever stopping to watch the game? Baseball fans? Casual fans? How about all the people in the corporate boxes/suites eating food and glancing at the game occasionally because they got free tickets as the guest of a vendor or other business connection? Baseball fans? Casual fans? Personally, I think there are thousands of casual fans at every game, but maybe that’s just me.
its_happening
Don’t care if you don’t like the term. Deal with it.
The whole point is to reach more fans. You answered the term all by yourself except you have some knock on a term you just validated.
Vizionaire
Raise the seams and inforce the rule againt foreign substance.
barryr
Why were there humidors being used by the Mariners, Boston, and the Mets (but not the Yankees homerun haven)? What was the purpose of this?
mlbfan
The Mariners don’t need a humidor, at least not for the night games. Unless the humidor can reduce the moisture in the baseball.
prov356
I wonder if a slightly lighter ball will have a positive effect on the pitchers’ elbows. TJ seems to be a standard event now for a pitcher.
vtadave
Split squad games continuing confirmed.
goalieguy41
Raise the mound
its_happening
I’ll second that.
LordD99
So you’re in favor of more strikeouts.
its_happening
I’m in-favor of hitters making adjustments on two strikes rather than swinging out of their shoes. The K’s is more on the hitters and their approach, not the mound height.
mils100
I like the idea of slightly deadening the ball but more importantly have a consistent baseball. the range of what was considered ok for a game-use ball was too wide and to narrow this down w/ a goal of all balls acting roughly similar is a good idea.
One of the things I wished they did was leave balls in play for longer. I know they were throwing balls out of play left and right last year w/ COVID restrictions (since we know touching a baseball isn’t a COVID concern, maybe not needed any longer) and how every ball that gets dirty gets thrown out, maybe some of that can be eliminated to slightly improve pace of play..
LordD99
If the slightly deadened baseball throws MLB back to the “dark ages” of 2017, it will increase the value of what I’ll call true HR hitters. Big men who naturally hit the ball a long way. Judge, for example, if he could ever stay healthy enough, remains a 45-50 HR threat. Joey Gallo will always remain a 40-HR threat if a team can live with the BA. The big guys really didn’t benefit from the super ball at all so this reduction will be mostly meaningless to them, although it will increase their value since fewer players will be hitting HRs. Those whose production will change are the medium- to upper-medium-range power hitters. A Yelich or Bregman type will still be fine hitters, but become more 25-30 HR threats, not 40-HR threats. Even an Alonso perhaps gets reduced to a 30 or 35 HR threat. Trout, of course, will remain Trout.
Of course, this is all based on the new ball actually working as planned. This change could accomplish the opposite as the Athletic article notes they’re changing the weight of the ball too, and that might counter the other changes. Last, until MLB pitchers are using this ball in game action, we won’t have any idea how this will impact pitchers. Sure, they tested the ball last year but not with MLB pitchers facing MLB hitters in game conditions. Maybe pitchers can get a better grip on this baseball, causing a total collapse in hitting. Or, maybe the change in stitching means pitchers breaking balls will be less effective.
It really is surprising MLB owners are ok with these changes and at this late date. It can greatly impact the investments they make in specific players.
its_happening
Might help the pitchers in the fact that the ball is lighter, but why not raise the seams on the baseball to improve the grip on the four seam and the curve/slider? That would also help. But raising the mound back to 15 inches would also help. The biggest concern, in my opinion, is the health and durability of starting pitchers. The league still hasn’t addressed it or acknowledged that this is a big problem.
jim stem
Have you seen the balls that Alonso hits out? They are bombs, not wall scrapers. He’s a big dude.
But overall, I agree. The opposite field line drives and lazy fly ball homers should be reduced.
Rsox
I wonder if MLB is using this as a trial run for the upcoming season. I don’t think any one realistically believes we will get a full 162 game season and have cross country travel. The NHL is doing something similar for its regular season so it could be something to keep an eye on
sufferforsnakes
Already canceled my plans to attend Spring Training in Goodyear, when the Tribe announced that their practice facility would be closed to the public. That’s why I go, to see the players of the future up close.
its_happening
Kinda miss them being in Winter Haven. Went down to see them a couple springs.
Gwynning
It’s either “clearer” or “more clear”, never “more clearer”. English is hard but reading bad English is harder. Sorry, just nitpicking through some educational aspects here, carry on.
stormie
A 1-2 foot reduction on 375+ foot fly balls doesn’t equate to walls being 5 feet farther away and certainly won’t drop the HR rate by anywhere close to 5%.
Blue Baron
“In a MORE CLEARER attempt…” Huh? Did this guy pass high school English? Try MORE CLEAR or, better yet, simply CLEARER. The dumbing down continues.
atmospherechanger
In 2019, AAA home runs increased 59% when they switched to the MLB ball.
mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/09/03/triple-a-homers-incre…
Aaron Sapoznik
MLB is apparently trying to reduce the impact of the ‘super ball’ variants it has been using for the better part of the past 35 years.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
It turns out that the only part of his job that Rob Manfred is good at is not being as bad at his job as Tony Clark is…
jim stem
Smaller spins faster, so pitches might break more. Less COS means balls may not ‘pick up speed’ after contact. Look for more strikeouts and more lazy fly ball outs and lower ERA’s.
Spike 13
Hitting .220 with 40 bombs gets you a 20m contract. Hitting .270 with 18, gets you a minor league contract with an invite to major league camp. Launch angle and defensive shifts are here to stay I’m afraid.