They deadened the bats a few years ago in the name of player’s safety. Offensive numbers have gone down significantly over those years so they looked into ways to offset the dead bats. The lowered seams ball carries further and makes it harder for the pitchers to throw breaking balls. It is supposed to be the same balls that they use in the minor leagues, which they probably should have been using anyways.[/quote] I’d like to hear Metro’s comments on this.
Personally, if it causes more emphasis on power pitching and less on finesse, it takes away from the game. More throwing, less pitching. More muscle, less skill.[/quote]
Aroldis Chapman has to be the most exciting pitcher in the game to watch currently when he throws his fastball 99-103 mph and his slider is coming in at 91-93 mph. I don’t know about you but this is way more exciting to watch than a “finesse” pitcher is.
They deadened the bats a few years ago in the name of player’s safety. Offensive numbers have gone down significantly over those years so they looked into ways to offset the dead bats. The lowered seams ball carries further and makes it harder for the pitchers to throw breaking balls. It is supposed to be the same balls that they use in the minor leagues, which they probably should have been using anyways.[/quote] I’d like to hear Metro’s comments on this.
Personally, if it causes more emphasis on power pitching and less on finesse, it takes away from the game. More throwing, less pitching. More muscle, less skill.[/quote]
I don’t think it will take away the finesse of the game. Pitchers will still have to hit spots and change speeds. Their breaking balls just won’t break as much or as easily as before.
Once of the most devastating pitches ever was Pedro Martinez change up… Change of speed is probably more important to than crazy breaking pitches. Long run this might help protect arms as well… Not so many kids throwing sliders if they aren’t going to move
They deadened the bats a few years ago in the name of player’s safety. Offensive numbers have gone down significantly over those years so they looked into ways to offset the dead bats. The lowered seams ball carries further and makes it harder for the pitchers to throw breaking balls. It is supposed to be the same balls that they use in the minor leagues, which they probably should have been using anyways.[/quote] I’d like to hear Metro’s comments on this.
Personally, if it causes more emphasis on power pitching and less on finesse, it takes away from the game. More throwing, less pitching. More muscle, less skill.[/quote]
I agree with the premise here. With that said, college baseball desperately needs more offense. I heard Ron Polk speak about this a few weeks ago. In College baseball, realistically, the hitters SHOULD be ahead of the pitchers. Good high school pitchers are more likely to get drafted than hitters, and pitchers are more likely to get injured, so they usually go if they get drafted. Not to mention, college baseball, unlike college football and basketball, is in direct competition with minor league baseball for viewership at a similar skill level. Most people don’t watch either on television. College baseball needs to be a more offensive game if it is to continue to grow.
I understand player safety, but I think there are FAR more player safety concerns in other sports. The NCAA is killing college baseball. If there are a ton of homeruns this year, you can bet those flat seam balls will be outlawed as well.
Think about what is going to sell tickets to games. In the past 5 years we’ve had some amazing pitchers: Andrew Smith, Barnette, Roberts, Hudgens, Yermal, Ryan Butler, and that’s just a few. But more people bought tickets to watch Ryan Rivers crush baseballs than any of those guys. No offense to those pitchers. The average fan appreciates the big fly more than a dominant pitching performance.
Not to mention, the seam height is now the same as the major leagues. If they were relying on the seams in college ball, they weren’t gonna make it anyway.
They deadened the bats a few years ago in the name of player’s safety. Offensive numbers have gone down significantly over those years so they looked into ways to offset the dead bats. The lowered seams ball carries further and makes it harder for the pitchers to throw breaking balls. It is supposed to be the same balls that they use in the minor leagues, which they probably should have been using anyways.[/quote] I’d like to hear Metro’s comments on this.
Personally, if it causes more emphasis on power pitching and less on finesse, it takes away from the game. More throwing, less pitching. More muscle, less skill.[/quote]
Aroldis Chapman has to be the most exciting pitcher in the game to watch currently when he throws his fastball 99-103 mph and his slider is coming in at 91-93 mph. I don’t know about you but this is way more exciting to watch than a “finesse” pitcher is.[/quote] I wasn’t speaking strictly about whether or not the game would be more exciting. It definitely is more interesting to most people with more offense. On the other hand, home runs become less interesting if there are more of them.
I suppose, for me, games are more interesting if they are close, whether its 12-11 or 2-1.
They deadened the bats a few years ago in the name of player’s safety. Offensive numbers have gone down significantly over those years so they looked into ways to offset the dead bats. The lowered seams ball carries further and makes it harder for the pitchers to throw breaking balls. It is supposed to be the same balls that they use in the minor leagues, which they probably should have been using anyways.[/quote] I’d like to hear Metro’s comments on this.
Personally, if it causes more emphasis on power pitching and less on finesse, it takes away from the game. More throwing, less pitching. More muscle, less skill.[/quote]
I don’t think it will take away the finesse of the game. Pitchers will still have to hit spots and change speeds. Their breaking balls just won’t break as much or as easily as before.[/quote] Valid point(s).
