# MLB: July 2019 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [July 1, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345 "2019-07-01T14:30:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/61 "2019-07-10T17:18:38Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The external stitching. Is the difference in the external stitching then affecting the tightness of the ball’s construction then? The hypothesized stitching difference isn’t causing pitchers to complain the ball isn’t breaking like before. Nor is it causing greater drag and slowing pitches. At least, not that I’ve heard. For Verlander and his HR rate: he’s getting shelled independent of park, right? Because Minute Maid has a ridiculously short left field porch, but I haven’t heard complaints that he was only getting hit hard there. When did hitting instruction begin to emphasize higher launch angles for players’ swings? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/62 "2019-07-10T17:19:53Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I love baseball but this is the least exciting KIND of baseball played in my lifetime. Amen to that. I’m starting to blame the balls. My theory is that the stitches are too low and don’t let curves bite enough and cause balls to carry farther. My solution: use fatter thread on the baseballs. Pitchers will be able to throw sharper breaks and the ball won’t go as far. And when did we start having to take the ball out of play the instant it contacts bat or ground? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/63 "2019-07-10T18:07:21Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > When did hitting instruction begin to emphasize higher launch angles for players’ swings? It looks like it’s really only become a “thing” in the past three to five seasons (since around 2015). A few supporting articles: > **[Why MLB hitters are suddenly obsessed with launch angles](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/sports/mlb-launch-angles-story/?utm_term=.20bc390af2c2)** > > With increasingly sophisticated data available, major league hitters are focusing on getting the ball in the air. > **[Olney: Is the obsession with launch angle helping or hurting hitters?](https://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/16792/olney-are-hitters-obsessed-with-launch-angle-helping-or-hurting-their-game)** > > Using a new metric hasn't paid off for hitters equally as they try to provide extra power that not all of them can deliver. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/64 "2019-07-10T18:13:17Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > For Verlander and his HR rate: he’s getting shelled independent of park, right? Because Minute Maid has a ridiculously short left field porch, but I haven’t heard complaints that he was only getting hit hard there. Too late to add to the previous post: [Here’s his home and away stats for 2019, from ESPN.com](http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/6341/justin-verlander): Home: 55 IP, .173 BA, 12 HR allowed (average of 0.22 HR per inning pitched) Away: 71 2/3 IP, .164 BA, 14 HR allowed (average of 0.20 HR per inning pitched) Not huge sample sizes, but Minute Maid Park doesn’t appear to be a major contributing factor. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/65 "2019-07-10T18:24:12Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Too late to add to the previous post: > > [Here’s his home and away stats for 2019, from ESPN.com](http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/6341/justin-verlander): > > Home: 55 IP, .173 BA, 12 HR allowed (average of 0.22 HR per inning pitched) > Away: 71 2/3 IP, .164 BA, 14 HR allowed (average of 0.20 HR per inning pitched) > > Not huge sample sizes, but Minute Maid Park doesn’t appear to be a major contributing factor. Thanks for the stats and the post. It’s a bit of a factor in his [2018 campaign](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=verlaju01&year=2018&t=p). but it’s a bit weird to suss out. Home: 19 G, 117.1 IP, 429 AB, .193/.226/.380, with a SO/W ratio of 11.33, and an .835 WHIP. 2.84 ERA. 19 HR. Away: 15 G, 96.2 IP, 352 AB, .207/.261/.335, with a SO/W of 5.45, and a .983 WHIP. 2.14 ERA. 9 HR. It looks like he pitched better at home in many ways, but gave up enough extra home runs to screw with his ERA. Either way, an outstanding campaign, but I can see Minute Maid hurting him in 2018. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/66 "2019-07-10T20:12:48Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > And when did we start having to take the ball out of play the instant it contacts bat or ground? I have the same question. Growing up watching baseball, if the ball hit the dirt the pitcher would get it back to pitch it again, _and it was to the pitcher’s advantage_. (Or at least perceived that way). Get a scuff on it and maybe get a better grip or it breaks an extra inch or something. The batter would have to specifically request the ball be inspected, and the ump would look it over and either toss it out of play (if really scuffed), or shake his head and give it back to the catcher to throw back to the pitcher. Pitchers would tell stories of throwing a breaking ball in the dirt intentionally to get a good scuff for the next couple of pitches. Nowdays, if the ball even nicks the dirt, it is tossed. _And much of this is requested by the pitchers_! I’ve seen pitchers point to the ball and make sure it is tossed. Catchers immediately toss it w/o even trying to game the system a bit to give their pitchers an advantage. So either it’s become a hard and fast rule (no discretion on anyone’s part); OR, what was thought as an advantage all these years has been turned upside down. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/67 "2019-07-10T20:33:54Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > When did hitting instruction begin to emphasize higher launch angles for players’ swings? Josh Donaldson’s 2015 MVP season is the first time I noticed so much analysis on launch angle. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/68 "2019-07-11T13:36:40Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Amen to that. I’m starting to blame the balls. My theory is that the stitches are too low and don’t let curves bite enough and cause balls to carry farther. My solution: use fatter thread on the baseballs. Pitchers will be able to throw sharper breaks and the ball won’t go as far. And when did we start having to take the ball out of play the instant it contacts bat or ground? I strongly suggest reading the Athletic article. It’s not a suspicion. It’s fact. Changing the baseball is a dangerous solution, though. Changing the thread might return things to a more balanced kind of baseball, or it might wildly change things. It’s not just home runs; it’s strikeouts. Strikeouts are incredibly high, high without any sort of precedent. The average pitcher now strikes out 8.6 men per nine innings; BOB GIBSON **never once in his entire career had a season when he struck out that many men per nine innings.** The aforementioned Mr. Verlander is putting up a season of strikeouts and few hits allowed that no Hall of Fame pitcher before this era has even come close to. If you increase the break on the ball you might cause the likes of Justin Verlander to basically break baseball. Baseball does not need fewer balls hit into play. It needs more. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/69 "2019-07-11T14:00:40Z")
> **[Major League Batting Year-by-Year Averages | Baseball-Reference.com](https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/bat.shtml)** > > Major League Batting Year-by-Year Averages, Batting Totals and more on Baseball-Reference.com As Rick notes, home runs and Ks are beyond ridiculous levels. But runs, hits and batting average are not at historic levels. They’re really not that far out of line. So if you mess with the ball to make it pitcher friendly, it stands to reason Ks will go even higher while offensive numbers decrease. MLB does not want that. Most fans probably don’t, either. The fact is, and for a number of reasons, we’re never going back to 1985 baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/70 "2019-07-11T15:43:04Z")
I’ve read and heard that Sabermetrics advocates slugging as a path to winning games, and I could see an emphasis on that leading to more home runs and more strikeouts. Is that at all a factor in this scenario or is it purely a physical change in the balls they are using? Am I wrong in thinking that slugging is at a premium because of analytics? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/71 "2019-07-11T16:21:17Z")
I have been reading sabermetric research and articles for longer than that word has existed, and no, the general thrust of sabermetric thought has never been that slugging wins ballgames (well, not any more than traditional thought has held that. People have always seen the value of the long ball, at least since Babe Ruth.) By a wide, wide margin, the central thrust of sabermetrics about how to score runs has always been about getting on base. And players don’t get on base any more than they used to, because of course analytics works both ways; if getting on base is the most important thing your offense can do, preventing guys from getting on base is the most important thing your pitchers and fielders can do. > [@Barkis is Willin'](#): > > So if you mess with the ball to make it pitcher friendly, it stands to reason Ks will go even higher while offensive numbers decrease. MLB does not want that. Most fans probably don’t, either. My fear would be that you might end up with a situation where teams hit fewer (but still a lot of) home runs - say, 175 a season instead of 230 - but batting averages drop to .220 or something, and runs scored per game drops below 4/team. If you change stitching to make breaking balls break more, that might happen, along with an increase in strikeouts to the point that everyone is Randy Johnson. That would be an even duller kind of baseball. It would suck so bad. The incredible strikeout totals also mean that fielding is less important than it used to be, which I also dislike. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/72 "2019-07-11T18:25:07Z")
Sabermetrics like OBP and slugging. That’s why we have OPS, which is fairly new. OPS wasn’t really widely known until about the early 2000’s. Before that people just cared about batting average. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/73 "2019-07-11T18:53:40Z")
I’m late but wow that makes what 6 all-stars in a row for that other league in baseball… ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/74 "2019-07-11T19:57:13Z")
[Astros’ Marisnick suspended for 2 games for plate collision with Lucroy](https://apnews.com/512865f755124a358e80745f15ecbf0c): > [@](#): > > The suspension was announced Thursday before the AL West-leading Astros played a series opener at Texas in their first game after the All-Star break. Marisnick also was fined. > > Lucroy was carted off the field last Sunday after the collision at the end of the eighth inning of a game at Houston the Astros won 11-10 in 10 innings. The Angels catcher sustained a concussion and broken nose. Marisnick was called out for colliding with Lucroy and the call was upheld after a crew chief review. > > Marisnick said afterward that it was a “bad play” and that he hoped Lucroy was OK. He also posted on his Twitter later that he “made a split second decision at full speed” and he felt awful that another player got hurt. I watched the video of this the other night and I could see that Marisnick was upset and worried immediately after the collision. He knew he had fucked up, IMO and was instantly contrite. If I was him, tho, I’d prolly be asking “wouldn’t a 4 game suspension be a better idea? You know, to send a stronger message?” ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/75 "2019-07-12T00:21:12Z")
I think you totally misread Marisnick’s expression, **Bo**. At least one of the videos I saw several times shows Jake choosing his path and Lucroy stepping into it deliberately, leaving Jake no way to miss him. Of course Jake was upset that someone got hurt, but I’m pretty sure he knew who “fucked up” and it wasn’t him. (BTW he is appealing the suspension.) The call was ridiculous and the suspension is political and has nothing to do with what really happened. The rules are pretty clear and Jake did not violate them, but the catcher had a bloody nose, so… ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/76 "2019-07-12T00:31:25Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I think you totally misread Marisnick’s expression, **Bo**. At least one of the videos I saw several times shows Jake choosing his path and Lucroy stepping into it deliberately, leaving Jake no way to miss him. Of course Jake was upset that someone got hurt, but I’m pretty sure he knew who “fucked up” and it wasn’t him. (BTW he is appealing the suspension.) > > The call was ridiculous and the suspension is political and has nothing to do with what really happened. The rules are pretty clear and Jake did not violate them, but the catcher had a bloody nose, so… You have got to be kidding. Marisnick had a path straight to home plate and he veered off straight into Lucroy, who wasn’t even blocking the plate. [Slo-mo replay.](https://www.12up.com/posts/video-slow-motion-clip-of-jake-marisnick-jonathan-lucroy-hit-shows-astros-of-tried-to-avoid-contact-01df9c1vej75) ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/77 "2019-07-12T01:03:15Z")
you know its funny the juiced ball controversy reminds me of the steroid thing in the 90s and 00s the casual fans who go to watch a few games year and a few on tv are like "who cares it makes baseball exciting " they dont wanna see pitcher duels with no one on base … they want the live version of MLB hitz (a baseball version of nba jam ) And the hardcore fans who pour over stats replays and watch as many games are possible perdict "the end of baseball as we know it "… ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/78 "2019-07-12T01:57:18Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > you know its funny the juiced ball controversy reminds me of the steroid thing in the 90s and 00s > the casual fans who go to watch a few games year and a few on tv are like "who cares it makes baseball exciting " they dont wanna see pitcher duels with no one on base … they want the live version of MLB hitz (a baseball version of nba jam ) > And the hardcore fans who pour over stats replays and watch as many games are possible perdict "the end of baseball as we know it "… There’s research that a lot of the steroid issue w respect to offense in 94-06 ish, was due to the ball being monkeyed with then as well. Not that steroids weren’t flowing like water. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/79 "2019-07-12T03:32:57Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I think you totally misread Marisnick’s expression, **Bo**. At least one of the videos I saw several times shows Jake choosing his path and Lucroy stepping into it deliberately, leaving Jake no way to miss him. Of course Jake was upset that someone got hurt, but I’m pretty sure he knew who “fucked up” and it wasn’t him. (BTW he is appealing the suspension.) > > The call was ridiculous and the suspension is political and has nothing to do with what really happened. The rules are pretty clear and Jake did not violate them, but the catcher had a bloody nose, so… I don’t know what you can be looking at. That was about the most blatant hit I’ve ever seen. No attempt at all to touch home plate. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2019, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345/80 "2019-07-13T02:29:38Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > You have got to be kidding. Marisnick had a path straight to home plate and he veered off straight into Lucroy, who wasn’t even blocking the plate. > > [Slo-mo replay.](https://www.12up.com/posts/video-slow-motion-clip-of-jake-marisnick-jonathan-lucroy-hit-shows-astros-of-tried-to-avoid-contact-01df9c1vej75) Yeah, I’m with you there. Marisnick is running pretty much straight down the foul line, takes a step into foul territory, and then veers abruptly and awkwardly into fair territory on a trajectory that takes him directly into Lucroy. Lucroy in the meantime stays in fair territory throughout, with the exception of one foot that doesn’t cross the foul line. I suppose you can make the argument that Marisnick really did think that Lucroy was moving into his path and didn’t intend to run over him. But as I read the rule it’s not about intent, so that’s immaterial, and the video doesn’t seem to support that interpretation anyway. Should be pointed out that the catcher received a concussion and a broken nose, not just a “bloody nose.” Not sure where that came from! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2019/836345.md?page=5)