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Study: Inconsistent seams, player behavior behind HR uptick

By JAKE SEINER shipped, and they also son ones. The aerodynam-
AP Sports Writer have suggested a study ics of the baseballs were
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Base- with a larger sample size found to be notably differ-
balls used during the 2019 to explore the possibility ent even within each sea-
regular season had less that carry is influenced by son. The committee cited
drag on average, con- the rubbing mud applied “significant ball-to-ball vari-
tributing to a power surge to bright, white baseballs ation in the baseball drag
that resulted in a record before they are used in that is large compared to
number of home runs, ac- games. the year-to-year change in
cording to a study commis- The group also confirmed the average drag.”
sioned by Major League suspicions by players and The committee conclud-
Baseball and released by coaches that the “juiced” ed that 60% of the home
the league Wednesday. ball was carrying less during run surge across 2018-19
The report produced by a the 2019 postseason. Car- could be attributed to an
committee of science pro- dinals manager Mike Shildt increase in carry, with 40%
fessors said inconsistencies said during the NL Champi- due to players attempting
in the seams of the base- onship Series that St. Louis’ to hit more fly balls.
balls, as well as “changes A baseball lies on packed dirt after for a short batting practice analytics team believed fly The scientists were set to
in player behavior,” were during a tour of the under construction baseball field at the new balls were traveling 4 1/2 address reporters at base-
chief culprits for the spike Texas Rangers stadium in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Dec. 4, feet less on average. That ball’s winter meetings later
2019.
in home runs. Batters con- Associated Press backed a study published Wednesday. They will be
nected 6,776 times in the by data scientist Rob Ar- joined by MLB executives
regular season, smashing sewn by workers at Rawl- dors at all 30 ballparks “to thur at Baseball Prospects Morgan Sword and Chris
the record of 6,105 set in ings’ factory in Costa Rica. reduce the variability in showing the balls suddenly Young, as well as Rawlings
2017. The 27-page report was storage conditions,” and had less drag. president and CEO Mi-
The committee says it did written by Alan Nathan, install atmospheric track- The scientists could not chael Zlaket. MLB owns a
not find evidence that MLB Jim Albert, Peko Hosoi and ing systems in each sta- determine why the play- minority stake in Rawlings,
intentionally altered the Lloyd Smith. dium. off balls weren’t flying as and Peter Seidler, the San
baseballs and believes the A series of recommenda- They believe Rawl- far, though. MLB has said Diego Padres general part-
inconsistencies were due tions were provided. The ings should begin track- the postseason balls were ner, has chief oversight of
to “manufacturing vari- scientists say MLB should ing dates that baseballs pulled from the same the equity firm with a ma-
ability.” The balls are hand consider installing humi- are manufactured and batch as the regular sea- jority share.q