Justin Verlander Says MLB Is Juicing Baseballs To Goose Up Offense

Deadspin ^ | 07/08/2019 | Chris Thompson

[DFG]

Astros pitcher and American League All-Star Justin Verlander is convinced that baseball’s ongoing surge of home runs is not only the result of a more aerodynamic baseball, but is the result of a baseball that has been intentionally juiced during manufacturing in order to produce more offense. Verlander told ESPN on Monday that the ball is “a f*king joke” and “it’s not coincidence” that the ball is flying farther now that its manufacturer is owned by Major League Baseball.

[Kickass Conservative]

Smells like Collusion...

[a fool in paradise]

Enron Field was designed to be a homerun park for “livelier games”.

[The Toll]

The only thing they need to fix major league baseball is a shot clock. You could maw the lawn between pitches! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Go watch a Little League game, so much more fun and exciting.

[brownsfan]

Cry baby.

It’s well known baseball juices the ball from time to time. But it’s the same ball for everyone. Shut up, take your millions, and play.

[GaryCrow]

If I was married to Kate Upton the baseballs wouldn’t be the only ones juiced.

[karnage]

What was your first clue, Mr. Verlander?

[a little elbow grease]

You could mow the lawn between pitches! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

___________

LOL .......... maybe you have time to change the oil.

[brownsfan]

“The only thing they need to fix major league baseball is a shot clock.”

I saw a women’s international softball game the other day, it had a 20 second clock from the time the pitcher got the ball. Didn’t seem to hurt anyone.

Baseball is going astray. A pitch clock is a good idea, but a better idea would be emphasizing contact. Currently, it’s a home run hitter’s game. Grip it, rip it, strike out or hit a homer. That takes time, and is usually boring. Hitting for average puts the ball in play, forces defenses, generates runners, creates interesting situations.

If I were building a team, I’d build with players that got on base, hit for average and could run.

[Sans-Culotte]

Minute Maid Park.

[Sans-Culotte]

he only thing they need to fix major league baseball is a shot clock. You could maw the lawn between pitches! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

People who like MLB Baseball (like me) like it the way it is. People who don't like it, or think it is boring would still feel the same way even if there was a "pitch clock". Trying to change baseball to make it appeal to people who don't like it like trying to make a church more welcoming to homosexuals and other unrepentant non-believing sinners. They don't attract more homosexuals, and they drive away the people who were already going to church.

[a little elbow grease]

Cry baby. It’s well known baseball juices the ball from time to time. But it’s the same ball for everyone. Shut up, take your millions, and play.

_____________

Take it from a guy who played the game for a little money back in the 70's, many homeruns now are not deserved.

When a hitter makes contact with a ball that hits the bat about two inches from the end of the bat, and the ball goes over the wall .......... it's a bad joke on baseball.

The balls are different, the bats are different, and also and VERY importantly, most of the players are greatly stronger and bigger than back in my days.

So to me the game is not what it used to be and it's a shame. Batters don't care if they strike out because the money is with the long ball. Many of their swings are an embarrassment.

*****

But ............ PLAY BALL........... and keep an eye on rookie Bryan Reynolds for the Pirates --- HE IS A HITTER.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

“You could mow the lawn between pitches! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”

Now you tell me. I had it halfway mawed already.

:)

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Allow stranded runners to return to their bases in the next inning. That would liven things up.

[TruthWillWin]

.....that the ball is “a f*king joke” and “it’s not coincidence” that the ball is flying farther now that its manufacturer is owned by Major League Baseball.

Says a pitcher, hitters say not so.

[a little elbow grease]

Baseball is going astray. A pitch clock is a good idea, but a better idea would be emphasizing contact. Currently, it’s a home run hitter’s game. Grip it, rip it, strike out or hit a homer. That takes time, and is usually boring. Hitting for average puts the ball in play, forces defenses, generates runners, creates interesting situations.

If I were building a team, I’d build with players that got on base, hit for average and could run.

_____________

Yes sir. (see #12)

[brownsfan]

“Allow stranded runners to return to their bases in the next inning. That would liven things up.”

Nope.

Baseball is a game with a strong connection to it’s past. That would mess up statistics and leave hardcore fans howling.

(But I agree, it would liven things up).

[Alberta's Child]

Your approach to building a team wouldn’t yield much success. One of the reasons you see all this emphasis on home runs is that moving runners around the bases is statistically a poor approach to scoring runs.

Just look at the numbers. Take three hitters in a row who all have an on-base pct. of .400 — which is an excellent figure for MLB. Statistically, the probability of all three getting on base consecutively — which might result in one run being scored — is only 6.4%. Why would you ever build an offense this way if this is the kind of probability you’re dealing with under the BEST of conditions?

[a little elbow grease]

Comparisons are odious.

[brownsfan]

“Yes sir.”

Baseball fans get it. Casual fans just want to see how far the ball can be hit.