Stroman blames MLB for rise in blisters

[bones10]

http://www.tsn.ca/blue-jays-rhp-marcus-stroman-points-blistering-finger-at-mlb-1.795884

 

thought this is thread worthy, pretty embarrassing for Stroman to go the conspiracy nut job route.

[jays4life19]

BB pointed out in another thread that the MLB is using new balls that are harder which is the cause for the spike in HR's and blisters.

[bones10]

BB pointed out in another thread that the MLB is using new balls that are harder which is the cause for the spike in HR's and blisters.

 

An "epidemic" though? Hardly. Also is there proof that the mlb is using different baseballs?

[Abomination]

http://www.tsn.ca/blue-jays-rhp-marcus-stroman-points-blistering-finger-at-mlb-1.795884

 

thought this is thread worthy, pretty embarrassing for Stroman to go the conspiracy nut job route.

 

I'm not sure he's wrong. If anyone can tell a difference in the balls, it's going to be a pitcher.

 

Now whether that's causing the blisters or not, who knows. Speaking out and bringing recognition to it will certainly get people looking into it. It's not like he's attacking someone specifically.

[Abomination]

An "epidemic" though? Hardly. Also is there proof that the mlb is using different baseballs?

 

There's a number of studies that the ball used in 2016 and 2017 is a lot different that before that, but maybe not a big difference between this year and last year.

[Laika]

There have been articles written on the juiced ball this year. The math is somewhat convincing.

 

I think the seams are also different, which might contribute to blisters.

 

Eno is looking into blisters from his mixed reporting/numbers perspective. Apparently it's tricky to get the data together because many of the instances aren't resulting in DL time.

[Abomination]

I wonder if the changes to the ball is also increasing pitcher velocity?

[Laika]

Market research says fans like strikeouts and dingers more than the other outcomes.

[gruber92]

BB pointed out in another thread that the MLB is using new balls that are harder which is the cause for the spike in HR's and blisters.

 

If anything, it would have to be related to the stitching, not how hard the ball is. If the stitching is tighter, that would also contribute to the HR totals. Maybe they are using different threading which is contributing to the blisters? Come to think of it, they're seems to be a lot more hanging breaking balls and sliders this year, so maybe tighter and harder stitching? Who knows..

[Laika]

Here is the article you'll all want to read.

 

https://theringer.com/2017-mlb-home-run-spike-juiced-ball-testing-reveal-155cd21108bc

[bones10]

I am going to go ahead and use this evidence as an excuse why the Jays are such a bad team this year.

[gruber92]

I wonder if the changes to the ball is also increasing pitcher velocity?

 

If the stitching is tighter, then absolutely.

[Abomination]

If anything, it would have to be related to the stitching, not how hard the ball is. If the stitching is tighter, that would also contribute to the HR totals. Maybe they are using different threading which is contributing to the blisters? Come to think of it, they're seems to be a lot more hanging breaking balls and sliders this year, so maybe tighter and harder stitching? Who knows..

 

Actually, one number that jumps out is the vertical movement on sliders. Over the last 5 years, it was 1.0, 1.0, 1.1, 1.3, 1.5. Most other pitches don't seem to really be affected. Velocity on the slider has ticked up slightly over that time, but I'm not sure it's enough to account for the difference.

 

Interestingly, this coincides with a big drop in Tulo's ability to hit the slider.

[Spanky__99]

David Price left tonight's game with a blister, just saying.

[5minutesforframing]

Stroman needs to stop being a whiny bitch.

[Brownie19]

Didn't you guys hear Buck on Bobcat's show last night? He said clearly there is a change because these days, as soon as a ball hits the dirt, the catcher gives it to the ump without being asked and a new one is put in play. He said pitchers can't doctor up the ball like they use to be able to (said they would fray the laces, etc.).

 

Apparently he thought the global debate was whether the ball is different today than it was in 1979.

[KingKat]

Didn't you guys hear Buck on Bobcat's show last night? He said clearly there is a change because these days, as soon as a ball hits the dirt, the catcher gives it to the ump without being asked and a new one is put in play. He said pitchers can't doctor up the ball like they use to be able to (said they would fray the laces, etc.).

 

Apparently he thought the global debate was whether the ball is different today than it was in 1979.

 

I can't even remember a time when a ball that hit the dirt was left in play. I didn't even realize that was the case in Buck's time.

[Brownie19]

I can't even remember a time when a ball that hit the dirt was left in play. I didn't even realize that was the case in Buck's time.

 

Same - and that's my point. Buck was talking about how you used to be able to fray the laces and how infielders would wink at the pitcher when the ball had some imperfection on it. He was even talking about a day when they could rub up the leather and wrinkle it.

 

I'm thinking to myself - for the love of god - someone stop Buck and tell him we're talking about changes to the ball between 2015 and 2017....not 1972 and 2017. Bobcat asks him a legit question and he goes off about s*** from 40 years ago. That said, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.