Two slugfests in Major League Baseball’s London Series have once again called into question the baseballs being used by the league and whether they’re being manipulated to bring about more home runs.
Commissioner Rob Manfred suggested that, while there was no intent behind it, the baseballs being used in 2019 have less drag, but that factor is simply going to vary from year to year.
More from Manfred at #LondonSeries : “[The ball is] a handmade product; it’s going to vary year to year, and we have one of those years where the baseball seems to be a low-drag ball and we’re getting a lot of home runs.”
— Meredith Wills (@Bbl_Astrophyscs) June 30, 2019
Manfred at #LondonSeries: “[Our scientists] do agree that there’s less drag. What they don’t agree on is exactly why, why it happened.”
— Meredith Wills (@Bbl_Astrophyscs) June 30, 2019
Manfred repeated the theory that the pill being more centered has reduced drag and led to more home runs.
MLB has ducked any blame for intentionally “juicing” baseballs, but home runs are at a record rate. Perhaps that’s exactly what they want, but lots of offense is at odds with Manfred’s pace of play initiatives.
