[ad_1]
Earlier this week, after Noah Syndergaard Stating to reporters that grabbing a baseball on a cold night had seemed like wanting to throw an ice cube, I texted a former Mets lifter (who now plays with another team) to ask him if he could not. he was in agreement.
"These baseballs are nil," he replied. "They are smoother and the seams are smoother and harder to grasp."
I asked what would happen if he annoyed the ball, which he replied that it was useless to do it when the referee was putting a new ball in play almost every time launch.
Meanwhile, in what is clearly creating frustration among pitchers, this season is announcing as another record year for power in the Major League Baseball, according to the excellent work done by Robert Arthur of Baseball Flyer, which uses tracking information available in each stage.
"When baseballs become more aerodynamic, they travel farther, given a certain initial speed," Arthur said in an article published after the first week of the season. "A deep flying ball that could have been caught on the warning track may instead (with only a 3% change in drag) enter the first row of stands (for a home run)."
In 2017, 6,105 homeruns were scored at home, prompting debate in the league on a change in baseball. The following season, a commission chaired by baseball physicists Rawlings and MLB revealed that baseball – and not the environment that surrounds it – was primarily responsible for increasing the number of home runs , the study taking into account the structure of the ball, air resistance, bounce and weight. As if by magic, the total baseball circuit dropped to 5,585 circuits during this season. Unsurprisingly, and to the chagrin of most launchers, 2019 should lead to another season of consistent racing like 2017.
It is important to note that the 2017 commission found no manipulation of the ball by MLB or Rawlings. Instead, they attributed the change in the ball to the unpredictable change in the materials used to make baseball, any of them being able to be the result of climate, manufacturing practices and / or purchased materials.
I mean, I heard my wife and her friends say how much the texture of the clothes seemed different from the one of ten or so years ago, which according to studies, is probably the result of genetically modified cotton. So, I suppose that a similar change could be at stake in baseball.
The pitchers notice the difference of sensations, however …
Unfortunately, no current pitcher (either on the Mets or with other teams) wanted to comment on this on the record because he did not want to make accusations to the MLB or to irritate the Union of Players. the MLB. Although the MLB is aware of the conversation outside the game about a potential difference in the ball, it has not yet received a direct complaint from MLBPA.
However, of the seven pitchers I've talked to (four starters, three lifters), six said the ball had given them a different feel this season, saying in particular that they thought it was was smoother and the seams were shallower – which made it difficult to grip during throws.
Interestingly and importantly, four of the six most complained pitchers have an average fast ball speed of at least 96 mph. Their changes and average sliders all at least 89 mph. Meanwhile, the other two pitchers and the one who noticed the zero difference all have an average fastball speed below 96 mph and an average pitch of less than 89 mph.
I find it interesting because the stronger a thrower launches, the more the ball is hit. And, it seems to me that throwers who give up harder hits would be more inclined to be frustrated and would turn to blame the ball.
All in all, the league's most successful pitchers to date in 2019 are all guys with an average fast ball below 150 km / h and deserving throws under 90 mph – a list that includes Matthew Boyd, Marcus Stroman, Trevor Bauer, the favorite surprise story of all Mike Minor, and Mark German, who plays at home at Coors Field. Luis Castillo and Gerrit Cole are outliers, but not many.
Meanwhile, Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom were both in trouble before their most recent debut, Zack Wheeler was mainly solid, and Steven Matz was great outside of his terrible outing to Philadelphia.
"The ball may not be different, Mike, but I just think the drummers are used to these guys at high speed," said the former Yankees coach. Joe Girardi said Mike Francesa at the WFAN last week. "They see it in the minor leagues, they see it at the beginning of the match, they see it from the sources, and I think it's no longer such a big problem."
According to two current pitching coaches and one former with whom I spoke earlier this week, the ball does not look like them. On the contrary, as Girardi told Francesa, they believe that the rise is a byproduct of more pitchers throwing louder and hitters who simultaneously change their approach to the board. This second point is often called "The Fly-Ball Revolution", born from the exit speed, the typing speed and the launch angle.
Unsurprisingly, three batters and one current hitter coach say the ball is no different, though everyone said they would prefer to rely on their pitching counterparts to think about it.
Last week, after being pounded by the Brewers on a cold, wet night in Queens, Noah Syndergaard makes his comment of ice cube.
"The grip depends on the weather and it's harder to grab a baseball when it's cooler," said the Mets manager. Mickey Callaway said before Thursday's match. "Sometimes, and I think that's the case with Noah, you grab the ball differently to get more brake action, and then your break ball changes a bit."
The happy accident, though, according to what Callaway saw last week during Syndergaard's work, is that having to change his grip might make it more efficient because it seems to create a bigger gap between his fastball and offside.
Indeed, on a wet day at 75 degrees in Queens Thursday afternoon, Syndergaard threw nine innings, withdrew ten batters and allowed no race.
In the end, whether the ball is different or not, the story above indicates that it may be time for the league's pitchers to adapt to what they're doing. see opponent hitters. The batters made adjustments to catch up and lead to the league's increasing speed and obsession to throw fast balls.
So, as is usually the case every 10 years in baseball, pitcher coaches and their students have to adapt.
My advice is to come back to think like Greg Maddux instead of Nolan Ryan.
Matthew Cerrone (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Contact) is the main author of MetsBlog.com, which he created in 2003. He also hosts the podcast MetsBlog, which you can subscribe here. His new book, The Bucket List of New York Mets fans details 44 things every Mets fan should experience in their lifetime. To check it, click here!
[ad_2]
Source link