Are MLB baseballs juiced?

[Jim Owen]

One way to beat the sophisticated defensive alignments is to hit the ball in the air. So there’s a new focus on launch angle. Ain’t gonna hit .400 that way, but that’s not today’s goal.

Velocity of pitchers is up a bit. That also leads to more dingers. Catfish Hunter gave up more homers than Louis Tiant.

So there are reasons we might see more homeruns. In addition, the ball is juiced.

[Song Writer]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Side note: July 1st is Bobby Bonilla day. Anyone remember him? He hasn't played since 2001 but the Mets are still paying him $1.1 M every July 1st until he's 72 (2035) as part of his buyout. Talk about a general manager signing a bad contract.

Methinks thou doth protest too much!

First of all, the Mets made the deal thanks to Bernie Madoff. Enuff said right there. Second, the Mets used the money they saved on Bonilla to get Mike Hampton who went 15-10 and helped the Mets get back to the WS. But more importantly.......when Hampton went to Colorado the next year the Mets received the 38th pick in the 2001 draft as compensation.

You want to tell me Mets fans would give that pick back?

[Song Writer]

I attend a lot of Single A level games. Stats in Single A are not up this year. That's because they use a different ball than MLB uses. And here's the kicker....for the first time this year, MLB requested AAA to use the same ball they use. And stats ARE way up in AAA.

So home run totals in AAA and MLB are up.

Why?

Because chicks dig the long ball.

[Dirk Hofman]

Just means the players have found a way around the testing. Nothing more mysterious than that.

[DanR]

MLB is now part owner of Rawlings, the company that make the baseballs. Rob Manfred (MLB commisioner) is on record saying that while the materials in the balls are the same, the pills (the center core of the balls) are more precisely 'centered.'

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Dirk Hofman

Just means the players have found a way around the testing. Nothing more mysterious than that.

Can HGH only be tested via blood test? I don't think MLB has any blood tests, only urine. There are some good masking agents too.

[Dirk Hofman]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Can HGH only be tested via blood test? I don't think MLB has any blood tests, only urine. There are some good masking agents too.

New drugs that we don’t know about are always coming online. When the results and performances start looking funny you can bet there’s some new technique or substance. MLBs testing regimen isn’t particularly stringent. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner.