What?!? The baseball can make the baseball fly further?

Hmmm...interesting article from Collegiate Baseball. You mean it's been the baseball, the make-up of the baseball, that has caused balls to fly further than ever before? You don't say?

from baseballnews.com
Voting For Flat Seam Ball Will Take Place:

The NCAA now has researchers testing raised seam vs. flat seam college certified baseballs with a COR performance limit of .555 to determine what the “drag effect” is of both balls and if the flat seam ball flies further, according to Dave Keilitz, executive director of the ABCA.

“It will be interesting to see what NCAA researchers come up with,” said Keilitz.

“If the raised seam ball goes 350 feet, will the flat seam ball go 355 feet, 360 feet or further because it has less drag in the seams? Currently we don’t know the answer.

“They are nearing the end of their study and will then do some field testing with the ball before finalizing their conclusions,” said Keilitz.

According to Keilitz, previous testing showed significant differences in the distances balls travel that are approved for college and pro baseball.

“Previous research has shown that a minor league flat seam ball with a maximum COR of .578 hit 300 feet would go 20-25 feet further than a college (raised seam) ball with a maximum COR of .555,” said Keilitz.

That would translate to 26.6 to 33.3 feet further on a ball hit 400 feet with the minor league baseball.

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Where have we heard that before? Didn't we hear pitchers openly complaining about the hardness, an almost billiard ball like feel to the baseball back in the so-called steroid era? Weren't they complaining about the flatness of the seams back then as well? And pitchers would be the subject matter experts on the consistency and constitution of the baseballs.

It's like fixing a basketball game, you don't need to buy a superstar player. You fix the refs.

If you want to fix the amount of scoring in a baseball game. You "fix" the baseball.

You're welcome.

Can we not speculate on what the results of the study will show? I'm not sure we need a really long study to document the effects. We're doing a study on what is basically a known quantity, to determine the quantity.

My guess is it will be pretty significant. The prior studies seem to show about an 8-10% increase in the distance traveled by a fly ball. That seems to be about the effect we were seeing during the "steroid era"

What if it has been the ball all along?

The Physics of Sports:
http://home.roadrunner.com/~enloephysics/sports.htm

THE SPORTS OF BASEBALL & SOFTBALL

 Baseballs and softballs are examples of sports projectiles. The air flow around the ball is science that must be mastered by every baseball or softball pitcher. The air flow around a smooth ball is much different than the air flow around a ball with stitches. See the diagrams below. In the flight of a smooth ball the air molecules travel around the ball to the back where they meet and mingle and combine to push the ball forward. The pressure behind the ball is less than the pressure in front. When the ball has stitches as in a baseball or softball, turbulence occurs where the stitches are. The turbulence causes the air to stick to the ball just a little longer and reduces the wake (as in a boat's wake) which reduces drag. These stitches can also change the direction of the ball. A good pitcher uses the spin and the stitch alignment to throw curve balls.

Petit comes up large again for Giants

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_09_06_arimlb_sfnmlb_1&mode=video&content_id=30389219&tcid=vpp_copy_30389219

Petit's near-perfect outing

• 09/06/13
• 04:28

9/6/13: Yusmeiro Petit is almost perfect, going 8 2/3 spotless innings before allowing a hit, ultimately striking out seven D-backs

I would have missed this one too. I went to bed after five having nodded through those five not realizing how the Giants scored two runs. Of course, had I heard Kuip say "Petit, perfect through five!!", I would have instantly perked up.

 Petit continues his impressive run at a spot in the 2014 starting rotation.

  Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants - September 6, 2013 | MLB.com SF Recap:

SAN FRANCISCO -- Yusmeiro Petit barely missed baseball immortality, but gained legitimacy.

One strike away from becoming the second San Francisco Giants pitcher to pitch a perfect game and the 16th in franchise history to record a no-hitter, Petit yielded a single to pinch-hitter Eric Chavez that onrushing right fielder Hunter Pence dove for and caught on a heartbreakingly short hop.

Petit finished with a one-hitter in the Giants' 3-0 victory Friday night over the D-backs, continuing his quest to establish himself in the Major Leagues and end his 12 professional seasons as a journeyman.

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Giants Extra | A blog about the San Francisco Giants

This is a guy who has always put up solid minor league numbers. Petit was solid enough to be tabbed by Nate Silver's PECOTA rankings as a legitimate major league prospect. I saw Petit's name mentioned in the Index of Silver's most recent book The Signal and the Noise and read up a bit on his prior history.  The fact that he has not parlayed that success and potential at the major league may scream either AAAA player or late-bloomer as the Mercury News article suggests.

Let's hope for the Giants sake that he is finally figuring out how to get major league hitters out and win ball games.

from Mercurynews.com:
Giants Extra | A blog about the San Francisco Giants:

But the real story was Yusmeiro Petit. One good start, you say, OK, maybe it was just a fluke. A second good start, especially one that includes one walk and 10 strikeouts, and you sit up and say, “Hey, Sabes, we may have something here.” To be sure, against all odds, there seems to be some grist to this 28-year-old Venezuelan possibly being a late-bloomer.

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Manny Machado makes an incredible play look routine

9/1/13: Manny Machado barehands a slow grounder and fires to Chris Davis at first base, who makes an incredible stretch for the out


The best part of the Machado play is the way he transfers the ball from a five finger, change-up grip as he picks the ball off the ground to a normal two-finger grip. This allows him to get enough on the throw to make the play. 

This is the best value of instant replay, to get a better appreciation for the skill required to make some of these outstanding plays, which some of these guys appear to make routinely. 

Try making that type of transfer on the run while at the same time making an accurate throw. 

You have to wait / fast forward to the end of the clip to see the super slow mo of the transfer, but it is well worth the wait. If guys have been making this play in the past I have never before seen it with the naked eye. Good thing my eyes were fully clothed this time.  

Giants prospects to the Arizona Fall League | Giants Extra

Seems like Chris Stratton should be a front-runner for the last open spot. Or perhaps Martin Agosta.

from mercurynews.com
POSTGAME NOTES: Pence sets tone with longest homer of the season | Giants Extra:

— The rosters for the Arizona Fall League were announced and the Giants are sending pitchers Kyle Crick, Cody Hall and Adalberto Mejia, catcher Andrew Susac, first baseman Angel Villalona and outfielder Jarrett Parker. The roster has an empty spot for one more Giants pitching prospect. It’s a pretty intriguing group, and those games certainly won’t be the last time that Crick throws to Susac.

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What Parents Should Say as Their Kids Perform - Tim Elmore

H/T to Mrs. TheSlav for sending this and it bears repeating. At the Olympic level recent studies have documented that for those who rise to the highest levels, maintaining a continued positive and supportive role is one of the keys to development.

And it helps the participants to experience what many on the outside would view as an enviable and enjoyable ride.  

The Six Simple Words and the before and after competition statements are excellent. Not a word about winning or losing, issues the coach may or should be involved in, individual plays that did or didn't work out.

Good stuff.

from Growing Leaders with Tim Elmore:
What Parents Should Say as Their Kids Perform - Tim Elmore:

In my work at Growing Leaders, we enjoy the privilege of serving numerous NCAA and professional sports teams each year. After meeting with hundreds of coaches and athletes, I noticed an issue kept surfacing in our conversations. Both the student-athlete and the coach were trying to solve the same problem.  What was that problem?

The parents of the student-athletes.

- See more at: http://growingleaders.com/blog/what-parents-should-say-as-their-kids-perform/#sthash.AmOxZ9q7.dpuf

What we parents may not recognize is the pressure and angst this kind of involvement applies. May I tell you what student-athletes are telling me?

I love my mom, but when she does this, I get the feeling she doesn’t trust me.

My parents are great, but I feel like I have multiple coaches telling me what to do and I get stressed out over it.

I’m getting blackballed by my teammates because my mother keeps texting me and my coach, to give suggestions. I wish she would chill.

I feel like I’m never quite good enough; I can never fully please my parents.

What We Should Say When Our Kids Perform

The most liberating words parents can speak to their student-athletes are quite simple. Based on psychological research, the three healthiest statements moms and dads can make as they perform are:

Before the Competition:                                    After the competition:

1. Have fun.                                                    1. Did you have fun?
2. Play hard.                                                    2. I’m proud of you.
3. I love you.                                                    3. I love you.

Six Simple Words…

- See more at: http://growingleaders.com/blog/what-parents-should-say-as-their-kids-perform/#sthash.AmOxZ9q7.dpuf

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The Barry Zito Era: $126M for 3.5 WAR = $63M per ring

I hear the argument that the SABR metric oriented crowd makes that this was a horrifically bad contract or investment on the part of the Giants and I have to chuckle a bit. If WAR is the only valid measuring stick, then certainly and without a doubt, NOT a good deal.

But if you had told me when Barry Zito signed with the Giants prior to the 2007 season that by the end of the deal the Giants would have TWO world series championships, I would have to say, also without a doubt, this would be a great deal and a fantastic return on investment.

Now granted, the Giants did NOT win two World Series championships entirely due to the efforts of Barry Zito, but it would be foolish to minimize the contributions he made and the benefits he brought to the table. Some of which are very difficult to quantify.

Remember, this was a franchise that was transitioning from an offensive oriented, Barry Bonds led team to a defensive minded, pitching oriented team. Zito's stature and contract allowed a Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner to develop under a lower level of scrutiny than if mega-bucks Barry were not around to brutalize. He allowed those guys to develop while flying under the radar.

The team was also making the transition from a veteran oriented, Felipe Alou led team to a younger Bruce Bochy led squad.

Would Giants management and fans have preferred that the Barry Zito of 2007-10 produce more than 40 wins? Absolutely.

Did the 3 win record posted in 2011, almost seal the deal among fans that this was an epically bad signing? Absolutely.

Did the rebound in 2012 balance the scales of being left off the playoff roster in 2010? In a sense, I think it did. Some will say, the Giants won without Zito in 2010 because of this, dismissing ANY of his contributions to get them to the first championship. In fairness, you then have to acknowledge that you don't have the second championship without Zito.

On balance, the Zito era in San Francisco is in my opinion an unqualified success and is an almost heroic path that I can only liken to the path that NY football Giants fans took with a QB by the name of Phil Simms.

There were high initial hopes that were dashed for various reasons, some due to injury, some just lack of productivity. Eventually with Simms and the Giants, two Super Bowls were won.  One of those titles the Giants won with Simms on the DL and a backup finishing the work that Simms started. So, like Zito, some fans will retroactively short-change the accomplishments of Simms to validate their prior bashing by saying, "well, he really only won one title, Jeff Hostettler won the other one". I think I could have QB'd that team after they started something like 10-0. It was a credit to the confidence they had built WITH Simms at the helm that they were able to win it all in spite of losing their leader heading towards the playoffs. Fans who wanted to at one time run both of these perceived bums out of town, are eventually rewarded by basking in the glow of two trips to the sports mountain top. And fans and media pundits are left to re-jigger their prior missives about said bums and re-write history. There are many more Giants fans who will say they supported Simms all along then there actually were.

I have to admit that I did not fully support sticking with Barry Zito as much as I did earlier with Phil Simms, but in both cases, I'm glad the respective organizations DID stick with them. All of  the ex-post facto analysis and hand wringing of why the organizations were wrong but things somehow worked out right notwithstanding, I unequivocally salute Barry Zito for all the strength and perseverance he has demonstrated personally and which he brought to the Giants. To me, his contributions are immeasurable. Going forward, I would challenge the SABR crowd to find a metric that would adequately measure those qualities. Then we might really have something of value to discuss.

2013 Giants: Bringing no-hit stuff to the ballpark every night

The phrase "brings no-hit stuff every outing" is a good thing when referring to a pitcher, like a Matt Cain or a Tim Lincecum. When it can be used to adequately describe a team's offense, mayhem ensues. But this is our 2013 San Francisco Giants. You thought I was going to say "bringing boring back to baseball" didn't you. See I mixed in a curve ball.

from Yahoo Sports:
Rockies' Chacin toys with no-hitter, beats Giants - Yahoo! Sports:

"I knew he had a no-hitter going," said shortstop Crawford, whose missed catch was costly in the Rockies' four-run sixth. "It's just nice to get a hit, put something on the scoreboard."

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Brandon Crawford seems to believe that registering a "hit" is bringing something tangible to the scoreboard. Maybe that's part of the problem, we're setting our expectations a bit too low. The objective for the offense, Mr. Crawford, is to score runs. By doing that more times than ones opponent, you win games.

This is a baseball, fellas. And this is a baseball bat. Let's get back to basics here.

Strength Exercises For Baseball - SledgeHammer Time!!

Having used a sledgehammer this weekend to break up the concrete base of a basketball goal that was set-up near our driveway by a previous owner, I can personally vouch for the effect this type of work has on your grip and forearms as well as the core. Both areas of my body are very sore today, as are my shoulders, which are crying out for Advil.

Anything that is endorsed by Ted Williams ( the axe swinging work ) is good enough for me as far as translating into bat swing benefits.   I would think that the axe swinging and tree chopping would be as anaerobic as the sledgehammer swings.

from mammothstrength.com
Strength Exercises For Baseball:

SLEDGEHAMMER SWINGS: Ted Williams used to say that he developed his swing by chopping down trees. Any baseball player that saw his swing probably grabbed an axe and headed to the forest. Sledgehammer swings are a more convenient option these days. Doing overhead swings works your core, as well as your grip strength and forearms. This has a tremendous carry over to your bat speed.

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some more general info from ezinearticles.com:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Sledgehammer-Fitness&id=2992556

Ichiro logs 4,000th hit, but should it count

This is fine. Ichiro is the "Global Hit King" ahead of Pete Rose. And now the argument can be made that Sadaharu Oh with 868 HR's is now the "Global HR King".

from SABR.org
http://sabr.org/latest/sabr-asian-baseball-research-committee-salutes-ichiro-suzuki-4000th-career-hit

The Asian Baseball Research Committee of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) proudly salutes New York Yankee outfielder Ichiro Suzuki on achieving milestone hit 4,000 in his international professional baseball career.

“Since his MLB debut in 2001 Ichiro’s disciplined, zen approach to hitting has thrilled fans, earned the respect of his peers, and established his place in baseball history as one of the game’s greatest hitters,” said Bill Staples Jr., chairman of the SABR Asian Baseball Committee (http://research.sabr.org/asianbb).

Despite the fact that sports historians and writers have debated the significance of Ichiro’s combined career hits on both sides of the Pacific, his 4,000 hits is an incredible record worth appreciating.

Pete Rose (4,256) and Ty Cobb (4,189) are the only players in MLB history to reach 4,000 hits. However, some say that if Ichiro's statistics in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) are considered, then minor-league statistics should be included as well. MLB.com writer Bryan Hoch points out that only six players would reach the 4,000 hit milestone with the inclusion of “minor-league” stats:

• Pete Rose – 4,683 (4,257 MLB + 427 minors)

• Ty Cobb – 4,355 (4,189 MLB + 166 minors)

• Hank Aaron – 4,095 ( 3,771 MLB + 324 minors)

• Jigger Statz – 4,093 (737 MLB + 3,356 Pacific Coast League)

• Stan Musial – 4,001 (3,630 MLB + 371 minors)

• Ichiro Suzuki – 4,000 (2,722 MLB + 1,278 NPB)

And please, to all you bed-wetters out there:
WE ARE NOT GOING BACK BABE RUTH AS THE HR KING!!  

from baseball-reference.com:

Statistic Description: Home Runs Hit/Allowed

Rank	Player (yrs, age)	Home Runs	Bats	HR Log
1.	Barry Bonds (22)	762	L	HR Log
2.	Hank Aaron+ (23)	755	R	HR Log
3.	Babe Ruth+ (22)	714	L	HR Log
4.	Willie Mays+ (22)	660	R	HR Log
5.	Alex Rodriguez (20, 37)	649	R	HR Log
6.	Ken Griffey (22)	630	L	HR Log
7.	Jim Thome (22)	612	L	HR Log
8.	Sammy Sosa (18)	609	R	HR Log
9.	Frank Robinson+ (21)	586	R	HR Log
10.	Mark McGwire (16)	583	R	HR Log

So let's see where that leaves us. Four of the top ten HR leaders, soon to be two of the top five and 6 of the top fourteen -- 40% and more of the top HR hitters in the sport will be persona non grata to the sports Hall of Fame and it's voters.

You may as well do something to increase membership. Open it up to international players like other sports do. I'm sure you don't need the permission of the guys who like to sign things with the initials HOF after their name. They have a vested economic interest in keeping the membership exclusive.

Baseball keeps getting itself entangled in the "but, does it really count" argument. Again, it's good for talk radio, but not necessarily great for the sport overall. Four thousand hits is four thousand hits. It's a monument to consistency, excellence and longevity wherever it happened. I'm not going to get into this hair-splitting of hits as if hits were posted on the currency exchange. I mean what's the value of a Japanese(hit) today vs. and American(hit) vs. a Cuban(hit).

Sorry, not doing it. Too complicated, too volatile.

1 US Dollar equals
98.68 Japanese Yen
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