MLB Changed Balls During the Season, Didn't Inform Players

[Can_of_corn]

Great timing on a move like this.

 

[Frobby]

Can’t see behind the paywall.  Will be interesting to see what other news outlets publish on this.   Seems crazy.  

[emmett16]

15 hours ago, Can_of_corn said:

Great timing on a move like this.

 

Glasnow gonna get paid….from his law suit.  

[SteveA]

19 hours ago, Frobby said:

Can’t see behind the paywall.  Will be interesting to see what other news outlets publish on this.   Seems crazy.  

Basically says both balls used were within weight specs.   The first set had centers that weighed about 127 grams, the second set had centers that weighted 124-125 grams.  The specs allow for the ball to weigh between 5 and 5.5 ounces, and that half ounce gap is about 14 grams, so the specs are very lenient.   It appears that 2 to 3 gram difference did make a difference in the performance of the balls.

The explanation is that Rawlings was producing the new balls but because of Covid related production cutbacks, they ran out so they started supplying MLB with baseballs from the previously produced inventory.   So in other words, they went back to the 2019-and-earlier ball at some point during the season.

[Can_of_corn]

The specs are notoriously loose for such a product.  Gives MLB a ton of wiggle room to adjust things.  Anyone else remember the "Happy Haitian" theory?

[justD]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10019597

In this article, the author quotes Pete Alonso as being one of several players who believe MLB (owners of Rawlings) messed around with this to impact the free agent market. I haven’t thought through how that would work, but as the author also points out, if they believe that, it’s another issue that clouds the ability to negotiate this CBA. 

Jomboy Media had their own take as well: 

It all seems pretty sketchy to me. 

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, justD said:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10019597

In this article, the author quotes Pete Alonso as being one of several players who believe MLB (owners of Rawlings) messed around with this to impact the free agent market. I haven’t thought through how that would work, but as the author also points out, if they believe that, it’s another issue that clouds the ability to negotiate this CBA. 

Jomboy Media had their own take as well: 

It all seems pretty sketchy to me. 

I agree that it's sketchy and I don't think it happened.

But you are right that if a core group of players think it happened, it's another impediment to a deal.