MLB Off-Topic

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I feel like the one foot difference would kill sinkerballers

It wouldn't kill them, they would learn to adjust but you're right, it would likely affect them the most.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It's a little more effort though, and it would build up over time. They'd also be overcompensating because they still would want to blow it by hitters.

Timing a hit by a one foot difference makes the difference between... well, you know that difference. The point is it would mean so much more offense from a timing basis. Pitches may be more effective low in the zone though, so who knows really. I think it would make a big difference, and heck it could lead to more stolen bases as well.

Again, one foot isn't that much... but I think that it would change the game. Not as much as juiced baseballs or anything like that, but I don't think it would be small.

Sadly, I don't think this one foot of difference would protect pitchers much more from 110+ MPH comebackers.

It's not more effort at all. Pitchers don't try to throw exactly to the catcher. They throw it through them. They won't have to work harder in any way to throw the ball 1 foot farther.

The overcompensation might happen, but that's up to the organization to instill the mindset that 61'6" is no different than 60'6" except for a very slight alteration of the release point. I really doubt a professional pitcher is going to think "Man I have to throw it 1 foot farther, I need to ramp up my intensity"

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[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It's not more effort at all. Pitchers don't try to throw exactly to the catcher. They throw it through them. They won't have to work harder in any way to throw the ball 1 foot farther.

The overcompensation might happen, but that's up to the organizing to instill the mindset that 61'6" is no different than 60'6" except for a very slight alteration of the release point. I really doubt a professional pitcher is going to think "Man I have to throw it 1 foot farther, I need to ramp up my intensity"

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I think too many of my thoughts come from the 40' vs. 43' thing in softball, which is a major difference. High school only went to 43' about ten years ago, and it went from a pitching sport to an offense sport in a matter of moments. But again, that's a 7.5% difference in distance, which is massive compared to a 1.65% difference.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I think overhand versus underhand is very much apples to oranges.


Don't get me wrong, I don't watch it a lot, but when I do I'm amazed at what softball fast ball pitchers are able to do. (Most specifically the rising fastball and the completely diving changeup).

I just don't think there is a tangible comparison between the two.

[CBoller1331]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If you stood on a mound that's 60'6" or one that's 61'6" and weren't told the distance, could you actually tell which is which?

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If you didn't tell me the difference then probably not.

But they are telling me the difference so I think it would be in my head a bit.

My early hypothesis is that this is going to lead to a statistically significant increase in the walk rate, which is not what they are looking for. Maybe one foot isn't as big a deal as I am making it, but I'm hoping this one doesn't make it to the bigs

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If you didn't tell me the difference then probably not.

But they are telling me the difference so I think it would be in my head a bit.

My early hypothesis is that this is going to lead to a statistically significant increase in the walk rate, which is not what they are looking for. Maybe one foot isn't as big a deal as I am making it, but I'm hoping this one doesn't make it to the bigs

I could see that for a bit. It's weird they're making the change during the season. With very little time to adjust, I'm sure guys will struggle with command early on until they get used to the difference.

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[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Fans won't be able to really tell the difference, unless you see a side by side difference, then maybe.

But players 100% will be able to tell. Players were even saying the baseballs felt differently a few years back, and they were right. That was a smaller change than changing the mound distance.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Unrelated, but for those who cared/missed my edited down Google Earth stadium search video, here is the unedited version. Yup, outside of talking about each stadium for a few minutes, it was indeed a four hour search. Stupid Tampa/Arlington/Cobb County/Boston, haha.

Remember, this was done at the beginning of last year's MLB season in July, in case I say anything that is outdated (including some stadium names).

Spoiler

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kHDtUg_bZK8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Fans won't be able to really tell the difference, unless you see a side by side difference, then maybe.

But players 100% will be able to tell. Players were even saying the baseballs felt differently a few years back, and they were right. That was a smaller change than changing the mound distance.

I personally disagree with that (as I mentioned earlier), but I don't think it won't be left with anything to consider. I mean after all, if the change was insignificant, then why make it in the first place? (I don't need the reasons to be applied to the MLB level whatever they are by the way, especially since I just don't think safety is a valid one of them)

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Good thing that MLB would need the MLBPA's buy-in for something like this so I'm pretty sure it won't go anywhere.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Someone posted the cumulative box score from the 1960 World Series (The Shot Heard Round The World) in a Facebook group I'm in, and the Yankees outscored the Pirates 55-27, but the Pirates got the ring thanks to Mazeroski.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Fans won't be able to really tell the difference, unless you see a side by side difference, then maybe.

But players 100% will be able to tell. Players were even saying the baseballs felt differently a few years back, and they were right. That was a smaller change than changing the mound distance.

I just disagree. From my own experience as a player and coach, a change in a baseball is a pretty big difference and I've always felt it's pretty easy to tell when a ball feels 1 oz heavier or lighter than it "should"

Like I said before, the distance change will take adjustment, but I really don't think it would be a big one. You'd be surprised how easy it is to recalibrate your release point to throw an offspeed pitch a certain distance: such as bouncing it in the dirt vs throwing it in the K-zone, which is essentially the change they would be making.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I think overhand versus underhand is very much apples to oranges.


Don't get me wrong, I don't watch it a lot, but when I do I'm amazed at what softball fast ball pitchers are able to do. (Most specifically the rising fastball and the completely diving changeup).

I just don't think there is a tangible comparison between the two.

The other thing that I keep comparing though is the percentage difference. If the MLB moved their mound back 7.5% as well, the difference should then be substantial. After all, they'd then be throwing from over 65 feet.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If you stood on a mound that's 60'6" or one that's 61'6" and weren't told the distance, could you actually tell which is which?

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Miggy could.

Remember when he pointed out the batter's box was too close a few years back?

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Miggy could.

Remember when he pointed out the batter's box was too close a few years back?

Too close to what? Home plate? The pitcher's mound?

Those are pretty easy to spot if you know the dimensions or stand in them relative to the plate all the time.

[canes21]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Too close to what? Home plate? The pitcher's mound?

Those are pretty easy to spot if you know the dimensions or stand in them relative to the plate all the time.

The mound.