By Ryan Bologna
Coming off of a lockout based on the players’ distrust in MLB’s leadership, there is a conspiracy theory that is not doing anything to improve that relationship. It relates to baseball that is used in MLB games.
In all of the other major sports leagues, the balls or pucks that are used to play are pretty much the same every year, but that does not seem to be the case with MLB. Home runs are significantly down so far this season, with teams homering 0.90 times a game compared to 1.22 in 2021.
These kinds of fluctuations have happened before, and it has led to a conspiracy theory that some MLB players actually believe. Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is convinced that MLB changes the baseballs based on the upcoming free agent class. He is so sure of it that he said it was a fact to the media in 2021.
Pete Alonso thinks “it’s a fact” that MLB is manipulating baseballs based on FA classes 👀
pic.twitter.com/PZdRHGy8A4— Starting 9 (@Starting9) June 9, 2021
Looking back over the years, starting with 2018, teams hit 1.15 home runs per game. This was slightly down from 1.26 per game in 2017. 2018 is generally viewed as a season where the balls were more on the dead side than juiced. Bryce Harper and Manny Machado headlined that free agent class, so maybe there is something to Alonso’s notion.
After the 2019 season, starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg were the top free agents. Teams hit 1.39 home runs per game that year, and that was the season that is most notorious for having juiced balls. Alonso specifically mentioned 2019 in his press conference, so he might be onto something.
2020 was the 60-game season, and the ball was still lively then. There were some big signings in the ensuing offseason, but they were on both sides of the ball. The trade market was just as notable with Francisco Lindor getting traded to the Mets. This season should be viewed as a wash, and the manufacturing of the balls was likely slowed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 season is when it gets interesting again. The upcoming free agent class was headlined by shortstops like Carlos Correa, Corey Seager and Trevor Story. Going into that season the league told teams to expect a less lively ball, and home runs did go down. But what is most interesting about the 2021 season is that a study found that MLB used two different types of balls that year. What makes it even more curious is that MLB confirmed those findings and cited production delays lingering due to COVID-19 as the reason why they partially went back to older balls.
There are accusations that MLB sent the balls that fly farther to primetime and showcase games while sending the dead balls to games that will not get much viewership. These accusations are unconfirmed, but given what we know it does not seem like a far reach. Some people even looked into the data to see the difference and how it impacted their favorite team.
Given that MLB is said to have transitioned to using one type of ball for the 2022 season, and offensive production is way down, picking the over is probably not the best decision in general. Another factor is that MLB implemented humidors in all 30 ballparks this season. The humidor is notorious for being used in Colorado to reduce the distance fly balls will travel.
League average batting:
2017: .255/.324/.426 (.750 OPS)
2018: .248/.318/.409 (.728 OPS)
2019: .252/.323/.435 (.758 OPS)
2020: .245/.322/.418 (.740 OPS)
2021: .244/.317/.411 (.728 OPS)2022 so far: .233/.306/.371 (.677 OPS) pic.twitter.com/fAmJDyOM91
— Starting 9 (@Starting9) May 11, 2022
But the showcase games have seemed to be consistently high-scoring in recent years. The London games in 2019 had ridiculous scores, and the ball was flying out of the park for last year’s Field of Dreams game between the Yankees and White Sox. The Reds and Cubs will play at the same venue in 2022. Given the fact that the balls will probably fly far again, along with corn-driven humidity making baseballs fly farther (yes it’s a thing), expect a high-scoring game.
What ties this all together is MLB cracking down on pitchers using foreign substances during the 2021 season, which made for a tough transition for some. Mets pitcher Chris Bassitt said recently that each inning he goes out to the mound the balls feel different.
Chris Bassitt didn’t hold back tonight when discussing the HBPs.
“MLB has a very big problem with the baseballs. They're bad. Everyone knows it. They don't care. MLB doesn't give a damn about it."pic.twitter.com/6OivJN38xt
— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) April 27, 2022
MLB is still trying to perfect a ball that provides a good grip for pitchers and does not fly out of the park at a ridiculous rate. It is a tough task, but MLB has to figure out something quickly. Their players did not trust them much before, and they are only losing more patience now.
Photo Credit: HE Photography
