WS balls making it hard to throw a slider

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

Interesting piece from Verducci here on the World Series baseballs being different from regular season balls, making it hard to throw a slider well:

https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/10/29/world-series-baseballs-leather-justin-verlander-yu-darvish-ken-giles-kenley-jansen

Pitchers and coaches from both sides doing the complaining. They've even done blindfold tests in the bullpen and the players can identify the WS balls every time. Especially pitchers like Giles and Darvish, who rely on the slider as their out pitch, are being affected.

This would seem to favor guys with fastball command, especially, going forward.

 

[oumbi]

I am truly ignorant of this entire topic, so, why would MLB switch the baseball for the most important games of the season?

 

[simplicio]

That's idiotic. MLB needs to get a handle on their manufacturing and stop making secret surprise changes to the ball.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

I am truly ignorant of this entire topic, so, why would MLB switch the baseball for the most important games of the season?

Higher scoring games, more homeruns. It's been a topic of conversation all year. The general belief out there is that there is a margin of deviation by the manufacturers for what baseballs can be used in live games, all of which can fall within the margin for acceptable MLB balls. I'm not sure which metrics exactly are the right ones but apparently Manfred is allowing all the baseballs (still within the allowable margin) that would make the ball travel farther. This is why whenever he's asked he gives a response of "all of the baseballs are within the regulations" instead of "we have not made any changes in the baseball selection process."

It's also believed that this is the reason for increased blisters amongst SP this year.

 

[Papo The Snow Tiger]

I don't think I'd be overstating the situation to call it a scandal if it's true that Manfred et. al. are allowing somewhat different balls to be used in the post season that would generate more offense. Instead of guaranteeing the integrity of the sport at its ultimate moments they're trying to drum up more interest by increasing what they might think may be the entertainment value. They're heading down the slippery slope toward the WWF.

 

[glasspusher]

I am truly ignorant of this entire topic, so, why would MLB switch the baseball for the most important games of the season?

I sure wouldn't do it, but then again I wouldn't approve that hideous world series patch.

 

[glasspusher]

By all means, tweak a game slightly between the rest of the season and the world series. It's not like tiny changes to the game will have any difference on play at this point in baseball's history.

 

[VORP Speed]

You wouldn't use slicker balls as a reliable way to increase home runs. That would be crazy. You could just as easily get somebody hurt or create a bunch of boring walks. Seems much more likely a manufacturing/quality control issue with the run of balls for the post-season.

It really would be super interesting if this is the explanation for why certain slider-reliant pitchers have been neutered in the post-season.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

You wouldn't use slicker balls as a reliable way to increase home runs. That would be crazy. You could just as easily get somebody hurt or create a bunch of boring walks. Seems much more likely a manufacturing/quality control issue with the run of balls for the post-season.

It really would be super interesting if this is the explanation for why certain slider-reliant pitchers have been neutered in the post-season.

I think this is the likely answer. Manufacturing baseballs is a very low-tech process. I think someone just screwed up.

 

[charlieoscar]

Baseballs have various measurements that are all plus or minus a certain percentage from the standards. It wouldn't be difficult to pick balls with the plus/minus on the side that produces "juicier" baseball but that are still within the tolerances.

Ans as an aside to this, they use juiced balls in the home run hitting contest at the All-Star Game.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Baseballs have various measurements that are all plus or minus a certain percentage from the standards. It wouldn't be difficult to pick balls with the plus/minus on the side that produces "juicier" baseball but that are still within the tolerances.

Ans as an aside to this, they use juiced balls in the home run hitting contest at the All-Star Game.

The only measurement that can give you an idea of the ball's liveliness is Coefficient of Restitution. This is done by taking a sampling of balls from a batch and testing them. The test isn't performed on the actual balls that will be used, because it involves shooting a ball at a high speed against a metal plate. I'm interested in what measurements you're referring to and how "juicier" baseballs are used.

 

[charlieoscar]

The only measurement that can give you an idea of the ball's liveliness is Coefficient of Restitution. This is done by taking a sampling of balls from a batch and testing them. The test isn't performed on the actual balls that will be used, because it involves shooting a ball at a high speed against a metal plate. I'm interested in what measurements you're referring to and how "juicier" baseballs are used.

Well, if a ball were wound somewhat more tightly, might not its diameter be slightly smaller than expected and might that ball not be more lively? What if the weight of the ball is lower? Seems to me that when I visited the baseball lab at UMass Lowell some time back that they measured more than just COR.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Well, if a ball were wound somewhat more tightly, might not its diameter be slightly smaller than expected and might that ball not be more lively? What if the weight of the ball is lower? Seems to me that when I visited the baseball lab at UMass Lowell some time back that they measured more than just COR.

If it's in the range for size and weight, no, not noticeably.
If you really want a juiced ball, it's not a small adjustment. It's a significant change to the construction of the ball, specifically the core. I'd love to get one of the Derby balls and cut it open.

 

[soxhop411]

But sure manfred, try telling us the balls are not juiced.

 

[crystalline]

You wouldn't use slicker balls as a reliable way to increase home runs. That would be crazy. You could just as easily get somebody hurt or create a bunch of boring walks. Seems much more likely a manufacturing/quality control issue with the run of balls for the post-season.

It really would be super interesting if this is the explanation for why certain slider-reliant pitchers have been neutered in the post-season.

Not sure about that - pitchers can repeat their release point with slicker balls, as seen with the splitter and two-seamer.
If you were tasked with increasing HR a reasonable thing is to try to decrease pitch movement, and you could do that by decreasing seam height or making the ball slicker.

If it's true that Manfred's non-denial means they're selecting certain balls, selecting low seams and smoother leather is a somewhat rational thing to do.

but yeah probably manufacturing variation is the occam's razor answer

 

[barbed wire Bob]