# Would moving the mound 6 inches closer to the plate..

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-moving-the-mound-6-inches-closer-to-the-plate/645083>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [December 25, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-moving-the-mound-6-inches-closer-to-the-plate/645083 "2012-12-25T01:49:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-moving-the-mound-6-inches-closer-to-the-plate/645083/1 "2012-12-25T01:49:56Z")

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make much of a difference in MLB batting averages?

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**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-moving-the-mound-6-inches-closer-to-the-plate/645083/2 "2012-12-25T02:26:58Z")

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IMO, yes. 6 inches is about a 1% difference in reaction time. Sounds trivial but IMO, very significant.

[Back in 1969](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1082211%2Findex.htm&ei=yg7ZUOPxO-bY2QXS0ICQBg&usg=AFQjCNGeCTWu5Ts6V3UFXWWi2WVF2cwS-g&sig2=Gin8ZDhH7-EzfPSqh5ABQA&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.b2I), they lowered the mound from 15" to 10". In 1968, Bob Gibson had a 1.12 era and Denny McClain won 31 games. Not sure if there was a cause and effect.