Why not? The ball has undergone more changes in the past 40 years than the Dodge Charger! Heck…one point the ball’s cover was sewn on and not both glued and sewn like today. I quit watching this crepe a decade ago once I realized that sports were no longer an escape from the real world, but it’s in the same sewer. Remember when the painted the “Green Monster” at Fenway black during the BLM love fest? Manfred is a cuck.
Clicked on the video because George Constanza insisted that I do so if I wanted to "win some games". 😁 Scoring sells tickets and garners views, so no surprise that the MLB might be up to shenanigans. After all, the NBA once rigged it's draft to land a college superstar into a major TV market.
@JabroniBaseball I SAY SOME WHAT YEAH. I THINK CERTAIN STARS GET BETTER PITCHES TO HIT SO THEY CAN BE BIGGER AND MORE MARKETABLE. UNTIL THE PLAYOFFS COME AND THEY STRUGGLE OR TEAM DIDN'T MAKE IT AT ALL BUT THEY HAD STAR PLAYER WITH A GREAT SEASON.
The shohei balls being exchanged after every at bat was to keep the ball clean until a hit. Usually, per game the same baseballs are used for like multiple ABs, but whenever In a historical record breaking AB they always change out the ball for a cleaner one. That’s the only nitpick I have with this video.
This is wrong for a multitude of reasons. One being that VERY rarely are balls used for more than one hit. Like almost never. I would say never because that's what I believe but I can't be 100%. Not only are they not used after a hit, they aren't used after a plate appearance. The vast majority of the time, if a ball it's the dirt, it's done. It has nothing to do with "clean" baseballs. It has to do with abrasions that would have an impact on the pitchers desired trajectory. Even if a scuffed ball would break more on an off speed pitch, which one would think is beneficial to the pitcher, it becomes inconsistent and impossible to locate. I'm not sure if you just flat out made this up or heard it somewhere and blindly repeated it but that's no excuse as even in this video it explains that the balls were marked specifically for the milestone chases to identify them. In 2024 the Red Sox led the league with just under 34.5 at bats per game. So that's the absolute high end. Assuming both teams have the outrageous 35 at bats, that would be 70 ABs for the game. A typical MLB game uses about 120 baseballs or 10 dozen as they phrase it. Even woth the inflated and extreme high at bats numbers being used alongside the average number used for balls per game, that STILL comes out to over 1.7 balls per at bats. So use this moment to educate yourself on both the logistics of baseball and that you shouldn't just pull information out of your *** and act like you know wtf you're talking about in comment sections
@@BrettShadowsame could be said to you. The pitcher can simply decide whether to continue using the same ball. There are also times where the ball is forcibly changed such as between innings. So if you're going to correct someone, check your approach and tone. You're also missing the point that he's mainly talking about the Shohei at-bat. Just because it "rarely" happens doesn't mean it doesn't happen at all.
@BrettShadow Yep. To see what a scuffed ball can do and why they take them out of play, do a search for Greg Maddox's filthiest pitch. The thing has a disgusting amount of break and looks more like it's controlled by magic than anything. He admits that he saw how scuffed the ball was after it was hit into the dirt and specifically gripped the ball to make use of that scuff.
Sadly we only have swing speed data from 2024. It's likely that swing speed has increased aswell as pitch speed. That increase in energy in the collision is definitely increasing exit velocity. Pair that with advances in bat manufacturing and the result is more homeruns. Even without changes in the Baseballs.
That was my first thought too, pitch speed is up along with home runs so maybe it isn't the ball at all. Issue is, my second thought is that pitchers constantly suggest the new ball isn't helpful to them so it contrasts the first line of thinking. Maybe the truth is somewhere between: the ball is harder to grip/control but flies faster in general Truthfully, offense surging could also be some weird analytics thing about swing angles or something in the same way the NBA offense has been surging because teams now opt for layups and 3s versus mid-range shots. When the traditional way is "mathematically suboptimal" coaches/managers will try their best to enforce that, maybe that's the case here to some extent
The old timers had physical jobs in the off season and were on amphetamines! They were just as strong and swung just as fast as today. They even used heavier bats to deal with the dead ball era. The balls are definitely juiced today.
It will never matter because they now own the company that manufactures them. They can put a big rubber bouncy ball with a leather shell on it and call it good because they said so. Plus many of the other reasons you covered. Yes, a little micro variance between balls is expected with it being hand made with natural materials. But seam height, hide suppleness/slickness (type of animal/process etc) diameter, core weight, filler material weight/type, storage procedures/standards always needs to be the same across the board. Or within even tighter variances. Like micrometers/milligrams etc...there needs to be rigorous and strict standards. Start with making the ball in the U.S. with American materials... Ever think of that MLB? But you have to do tons of testing in tons of different conditions to get an optimal result that makes it so no one can use the ball as an excuse. Which they obviously don't care about due it changing so frequently. Its all about selling tickets and ratings. The balls getting swapped out for Ohtani is another level of deception and unfairness, but it gets people to buy tickets. Normie fans love HR's but its ruining the game. Fix the ball so there's no excuses.
Changing the baseball is one thing. They did that in the 1920s after Ruth proved that more home runs = more money. Changing the specifications to favor hitters over pitchers is also not really a problem. That was the reason they lowered the height of the pitching mound in the late 60s. I don't even think it's a problem if they use a livelier ball for the All Star Game and postseason. But not being honest and using 2 or even 3 different types of balls at the same time during the regular season are pretty big problems.
Yup that’s exactly it. Things change, it happens. But the lack of transparency and just flat out dishonesty is the most concerning red flag in this whole situation
"But not being honest and using 2 or even 3 different types of balls at the same time during the regular season are pretty big problems." Even then, if it's truly random which of the three different balls are used in any given plate appearance, you could still argue that it's "fair" for the players (while still not fair compared to players of past eras), but that appears not to be the case (according to Dr Wills' research). How is it fair that the Yankee players get to hit the ball with more pop to it than players on other teams, when contracts are determined strictly by performance metrics like HRs hit? It's clearly not and that's a BIG issue.
I really don’t care if the balls are juiced or not. Baseball has been my favorite sport since I learned the game when I was around 8 years old. I will always love baseball ⚾️. I don’t love everything (such as the ghost runner at 2nd base in extra innings) but that’s not going to stop my love of the game.
I remember being a kid when Cecil Fielder hit 50 homeruns, it was such a thing to see since I was born in 77 and dont remember George Foster. Jose Canseco 40/40, Vince Coleman 3 strait years of 100 stolen bases...these were like OMG moments in Baseball. Now its sad, nothing has meaning anymore....shouldn't have mention Canseco though, but you know what I mean lol.
This past postseason especially in the NLCS there was an EXPLOSION of offense . There were 6 grand slams hit. I can't even remember what the lowest scoring game was the World Series.
Call me a fool for being a Mets fan who wants to retain Pete Alonso, a current free agent Well, call me a fool for wanting to retain Alonso, not for the first part Anyway, I have to now voice my possibly quantifiable doubt that Alonso's sluggy-ness has been declining due to his skills decreasing So, Judge sets the rookie HR record, subsequently eclipsed 2 years later by Alonso 3 years later, Judge legitimately, allegedly - that is, in a non-steroid fashion - breaks Maris' HR record. Meanwhile, Alonso's power numbers continue to slide down Now we find out Judge was being fed special pro-HR balls, while Alonso gets the balls which are now found to be less juiced than 2019, when he set the rookie record with 53 HRs What a *MESS!* And I say this to not in any way cast aspersions at Judge, a fantastic player and high-quality human being Let I ask all of yous: Would Judge have agreed to attempt to break the record with balls juiced especially for him and nobody else? I'll answer: *HELL NO!*
Well, as a sport, it doesn't really matter since both team is getting that HR boost. As a game, it just make the game lame in the long run since small ball game makes less sense. The problem is that...viewers wanted that.
The problem is that pitchers contracts are based on statistical values. Not to mention their face is 60'6" from someone possibly rocketing a 135mph projectile at their faces.
And no... viewers didn't want that. People who don't watch nor care about baseballs may think that, but viewers, ie FANS, want the game that they were expecting to get. Even if you say ok viewers want this... why the secrecy? Why not a public memo saying "In efforts to revive interest in the MLB product blah blah blah". You have a point... just not a good one.
@@BrettShadow Numbers don't lie. It is a stupid way to achieve that, but people do want to watch HR and actions, instead of a perfect game. It is unfortunate for pitchers but the offensive stat helps the hitters' contracts. I don't know why the secrecy, probably because player stats is uniquely a big part of the game and baseball fans wanted that. But the casual viewers probably don't really care about that. The possibility of being inconsistent and potentially benefits one team is a bigger problem. I would argue being public about it and making each ball more standard for the season might be better. After all the game evolves overtime and "rigged" stats doesn't seems to make things less legit anyway.
@mouseii88 Baseball didn't need rule changes. It needed (needs) marketing. It was so massive from inception that it got a "too big to fail" attitude. They went nuts with deals and contract. Yes player contracts are wild but I mean broadcast licenses and exclusives and made the game less and less accessible. They were fat cats and didn't have to compete for attention in the US sports marketplace for so long that they took it for granted. They lost all connection and participation in local youth developments and I don't mean some t-shirt night. I mean really being out there. That's how you hook lifetime fans. They don't market their teams or players. They make going to a game as a family of 4 cost about half a mortgage payment. The game or the home runs or the rules weren't and aren't the issue, it's that they let entire generations go by not actively engaging them. Not realizing that more than any other sport, baseball is passed down. Watch it with dad now son watches with his son etc... people don't care about the perfect game because they don't understand it. The game has an almost unlimited amount of incredible tiny details that happen on each and every pitch. In this day of diversity and the push for globalization, with some marketing baseball could be KILLING IT! They have been doing it for decades. It also doesn't help that baseball doesn't translate well to television. It's like nascar. I wasn't and am not now a huge nascar fan. But I got tickets to Texas Motor Speedway one year from work and holy crap. How much action and how fast they are really going doesn't show up in a camera lens following the one car in the front as it makes a circle. Same with baseball... I took this chick to a game once and she was blown away by the base running and the fielders moving and positioning. And that's the VERY basics. Like ol dude said first thing is cut the blackouts. Then remind people under 14 that baseball exist.
The only way you get a fair game with juiced balls being used is if every team or player has equal odds of having it used in a game or an AB, which, according to Dr. Wills' research, doesn't appear to be the case. Seeing as player's contracts are based on performance (HR counts being one of the most prioritized metrics for determining player value), it's kind of a big deal if MLB is knowingly singling out players or teams to use these stat boosting balls. That's without even going into the betting markets issue, which, for fear of MLB singling me out for a defamation case (territory that I fear I might have already crossed)... I'll say no more.
the explanation for Pujols doesn't make sense. If he hit more HRs with the juiced commemorative balls in 2022, why didn't he hit more HRs with the juiced balls around 2016-2021? The video even says he struggled then with an average of 20 HRs.
Most of that had to do with his inability to stay on the field. When he played, he did well but he was often injured. He still managed to find a way to 700 in 2022 by hitting the most homers he’s hit since 2019 by playing in only 109 games. Not impossible, but certainly suspicious, especially considering that he may be a few years older than he actually is according to an MLB exec and Octavio Dotel slipping up on his age once.
Juan Soto going to the Mets might re-open the question if Judge is still being fed the Goldilocks ball in 2024, because now we will have a season where we can see where Soto's hits actually go controlling for launch angle and exit velo while on a different team than Judge.
I’m just floored by how much research Dr Wills, Professor Sherwood, and others have done into the issue, it’s insane (in a “holy shit I couldn’t even begin to analyse that many variables” way haha)
Wow, great video. First time I've found your channel and you definitely earned my subscription. Hope this video blows up, it deserves a LOT more views. Very nice work putting all that together.
Well, baseball is a game of numbers: if the balls were *juiced* (and there's every reason to believe they were), no single team or player gained a competitive advantage over another, since all hitters and pitchers would have been in the same boat. Both teams in a given team would have had multiple home runs and strikeouts. Cy Young and MVP awards are relative: they're determined on the basis of your own numbers against those of your peers -- not of legendary players from the past. It's a well-known fact that in the 1960's, the strike zone was larger and the pitching mound was higher: hence, low ERAs.
I agree with everything you’re saying except on who may have benefitted most. For example, most of the juiced balls were found at Yankee stadium or commemorative baseballs like the Rangers 50th anniversary year. That alone means there’s a possibility that teams like the Yankees and Rangers potentially benefited 81 times a year. Definitely an advantage in the aggregate at least.
I feel like the humidors don't get enough discussion. Storing the balls with a humidor is supposed to "normalize" the balls, but it's easy to see how they might be contributing to more inconsistencies from park to park.
Some people in the comment section are just wildly funny. Why is Small ball dying? Because the numbers show is inefficient and doesn't work. People say the pictures are slow with no movement and that is just empirically not true I suppose velocity and spin rate i.e. motion are way up since the 1990s. Here's the thing. Sports like everything else change and evolve. Empty backfield high octane offenses are far more prevalent in the NFL, why because it works. Small ball is dying why because it was inefficient and didn't work. Humans have more freedom to self-determination and don't need to fit your neat little labels, why because biology is rarely black and white. No the world is not the same one we grew up with. That is because it is evolving and improving. Evolve with it or get left behind like the dodo and other evolutionary dead ends. Either way quit whining because things change. Do I think MLB is messing with the balls? Yes I do, but they are doing so because the people have said it's what they want. Corporate America has just developed the habit of being non-transparent and deceitful. And these teams are owned by the very same people that own these corporations. Did we really expect anything else?
If small ball was so bad and then why is it losing viewers? Part of the reason is no one wants to watch Hr’s and strikes outs all day. Just as no one wants to watch three’s all day. To be honest I don’t like the passing league that get passed off as the NFL. But, hey it’s more important that we watch the downfall of sports in America
Ideally, self respecting people would be honest and have the balls to speak up against obvious lies and deceit and hold the leaders of multi-million dollar businesses and organizations accountable to the social contracts that they make with the public. However, we don't live in an ideal world. Governments and corporations continue to be corrupt, not only because it's human nature to desire more power whenever we get a taste of it, but because power rules through fear and the majority of bystanders who aren't in a position of power don't have sufficient courage to overcome that fear. Thus, most choose silence (cowardice wins). Which is why I respect Verlander and the other players within this video who were outspoken about this issue. It takes courage to speak up against power.
Nah baseball is awesome either way. No sport is without its flaws and controversies but in my opinion there’s no greater game than baseball. You should definitely consider hopping back into it
Absolutely! Criminally underrated. Channel won't last long though. As soon as Manfred sees this, this channel will suffer more ramifications than if he would have just stolen a World Series. 😅
@LarryDanaDavid Possibly because that affirmation for the creator who put in the time, energy, and effort is rewarded monetarily. And that's how said creator is afforded the resources to continue making the content that the original commentor enjoys. Ask yourself the same question. Why did you feel the need to comment rather than just internalize that ponderance? Is it because you were so assured that the world needed to see how much above the masses and don't thrive for the attention of others? Ironic isn't it.
Yeah that’s what Manfred and MLB pushed forward but thanks to linking the batch codes to specific manufacturing weeks, we can safely debunk the pill theory. Deader baseballs were manufactured in certain weeks and more juiced ones were in certain weeks. Alternating back and forth between each other like clockwork.
IMO it doesn't matter at the end of the day its obvious that MLB is doing this and Honestly (besides pitchers maybe*) most people won't care and will understand why this is the case Honestly seems like they want to make the game more dynamic and engaging to watch which is fine. This issue is they for some stupid reason don't want to admit that they change the balls every once in a while the lack of transparency is annoying and every is tired of it as long as MLB comes out and says they will change the ball and talk it out with the MLBPA then this would be a non issue but its not and their insistence on denying so it really dumb.
I’m right with you on that. If they came clean and were honest about it. Nobody would care. It’s the fact that they’re hiding it and constantly getting caught
@@JabroniBaseball Nobody would care? Having just watched your excellent video, I'd guess that plenty of pitchers care. And given that betting on baseball is a big business in its own right (alas), I think that any sort of unfair advantage by the use of doctored balls is reason enough for us all to care.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video! I meant that fans wouldn’t really care if MLB came clean and said “hey we’re introducing new baseballs that have a little more pop in them”. As long as the playing field is even and it’s the standard moving forward of course. Pitchers would certainly be pissed but they would at surely adapt. Pitchers biggest complaints seemed to stem from the inconsistent nature of the baseballs which were causing injuries and grip issues first and foremost.
I don't care if they juiced balls, but yeah they should be open about it, AND more importantly the ball should be the same for everyone in every game. There shouldn't be special balls for certain players or teams or games. That's where it's BS. That would be like deflategate except the NFL was in favor of letting Brady use deflated balls. That would pretty much allow them to fix games. Teams like the Cowboys would get to play with deflated balls every game, and superstars like Mahomes. I would never follow a sport like that.
It's never a good sign when a company doesn't let a 3rd party test their product. If everything is legit, that 3rd party can only strengthen your case of legitness. As long as the 3rd party is legit itself and not biased against the company. All the more reason to encourage many 3rd parties to test your product and put all the conspiracies to rest.
When people think about the term “rigging” they think some Soprano BS with shady characters telling players to take dives and that’s RARELY how rigging and corruption ACTUALLY happens. They usually tell you they are doing it. What actually happens in the example of MLB are rule changes and equipment changes. That IS rigging! All the new rules about pitching changes and pitch clocks and the stuff they do to the ball and getting rid of the shift. That IS rigging and it’s deemed “legit.”
How can you say Ortiz had an “inexplicable” surge in power in 2016 when in 2013 he had 30, 2014 he had 35 2015 he had 37 how is 38 an inexplicable power surge?
I should have explained it clearer in the video. Not only was his home run total in 2016 in his age 40 season the highest it was since 2006. But his WAR compared to 2013 to 15’ are significantly different. 4.4 in 13’ 2.6 in 14’ 3.1 in 15’ BUT had a 5.2 WAR in 2016. The juiced ball wasn’t only causing homers, the increased exit velos helped him and others offensively in tons of categories that year when compared to years prior. He hadn’t clocked in a 5.2 war since 2007. He found a way to get better as he aged, if it wasn’t PED’s which he didn’t test positive for, then it’s likely(not 100% guaranteed of course) a juiced ball that helped.
I will never understand the point of view that HRs are more exciting than diving plays and close tag outs at the base/plate. The increase in "true outcomes" is really turning me off to the mlb and I would almost rather watch little league
There really needs to be a way were we had it all like in the mid 2000s. Players hit for power and average. Pitchers were getting strikeouts and web gems were a plenty
I just really think the beauty of baseball is its randomness and unpredictability pitch by pitch and that all of that randomness can be succinctly summarized in box scores and baseball card stats. The randomness is on a sharp decline recently and I think that's sad.
Yep. And I used to love watching the best pitchers. Ryan, Gooden, the 4 Braves aces and so many more. A good pitched game can be shorter. The problem with all sports now is the collapse of TV, overpaid, free agency, gambling ties, TOO MANY COMMERCIALS, blackouts, games are too long. I lost interest a long time ago. I watched some highlights of this years series, because of Freeman's heroics came up on youtube, but I didn't even remember who was in the last few WS.
Honestly, let em use juiced balls…but let pitchers use tack to even the playing field back out…as a lifelong baseball fan, who cares?? I just want to see good baseball, but when you handicap one side to stack the field for the other…it loses its appeal We want to see the best athletes in the game play to the limits of the games abilities…that’s why fans didn’t care about the steroid use (we all knew it, didn’t matter) until mlb said no, and we were like “yeah, that’s cheating” (I get that one, keep it out of the game) but if it’s standardized across the board, it doesn’t matter 🤷♂️ you’re measured to the same metrics across the field still
And don’t be shady about it…if you change something, let it be known…the backlash they’re facing is in their stance that nothing has changed, though experience proves otherwise… #StopLyingMLB
I will attest that storage methods of any leather have drastic effects on their condition. But you can see it in the stress across the laces and stitch holes. They spent millions to perpetuate a lie when they could just be up front about it and give the players a chance to adapt instead of calling them crazy and publishing false "scientific studies".
@JabroniBaseball yeah but at least back in the 90s the ball wasn't juiced so the dominant pitchers were still able to dominate the hitters on the juice. If they couldn't they could also do steroids and add 3-5mph on their fastball and recover better.
It's time to move the mound back at least a foot: both for safety reasons, and to put way more balls in play. Want shorter games? Halve the time in between inning change-overs: there's 18 minutes of total downtime shaved off per contest. Another radical idea I heard Farhan Zaidi mention: why not seven inning games? Yeah, I know, the traditionalist in me cringes as well. But it does make sense, if you want to get the contests consistently under 2.5 hours, and closer to 2 hours.
The pitching velocity is a non factor. They shot baseballs out of cannons at the same velocity into bats to confirm the juiced baseballs were going further than their predecessor. Plus we know the leather was smoother and the seams were almost non existent, which caused less air resistance when hit. That’s not even considering that at this point, MLB itself admitted to using a juiced ball and a more dead ball at the same time.
It seemed suspicious to me at the time when Boone brought out Nestor, someone one who hadn't pitched in a month. No Surprise, he threw two meatballs, and Shohei didnt get hod of his properly/verdugo made that catch and all that; but I cant help wondering if it was setup for the "hero" hit from Ohtani. He didnt and Freddie stepped up; but Ohtani was way bigger before the WS (more non baseball fans know Freddie now ). Things that make you go hmmm.
I always thought the inconsistency was from the leather. Since it’s an animal product no two hides are the same. Maybe they should look at making a fully synthetic ball to make them perfect.
You know I get (though don't like) the periods of Dead v. Live Balls in swaths of seasons. But I am a strongly against one thing: different baseballs within the same season, or even specific games or even hitters. I'm a strong proponent of a level playing field: everyone plays under the exact same criteria or standards. That's what sports should be. Think NASCAR's supposed same cars standards (a different issue worth debating). It's one thing to use different baseballs to level the playing field (if that's possible). But to use different baseballs in given situations to alter outcomes of games is the very definition of deception and hypocrisy. Being a lifelong Yankees fan, I love Aaron Judge. And I know he's a special player. But now I can't help but think that by MLB appearing to help him (and certain others) to put balls in the seats so the league can get eyeballs on the games is, though no fault of his own, not in essence tarnishing HIS legacy. There are plenty of fans who will never acknowledge Barry Bonds as MLB's all-time home run leader (personally I regard him as the leader, steroids or not). While Judge or Ohtani have no direct role in this level of deception, knowing what we know now about the current baseballs, how can we look upon what these two stars are producing with a clear conscious?
I'm really angered, although the word I want to use is the colloquial term for urinated Actually, this post - ideally - would be filled with actual cuss words, but then yootoob's autocratic CensorBots would pounce on me and punish me for being a bad boy Anyway, heading into September of 2024, there was still a non-zero chance for the CLEAR AND OBVIOUS NL MVP to actually win the award, namely Francisco Lindor And this post is not intended to argue this point, given that I'm right, and you're the opposite of right, and I thereby dismiss you with my middle _fanger_ But then Lindor injured his back, missed around 10 games Meanwhile Ohtarnicle put up some stupid September numbers - didn't he hit 3 homers and drive in 10 runs IN ONE GAME?!?!?! Well, even though I had to concede that Lindor did not deserve to be the first NLMVP to win in a Mets uniform, I was still very disappointed Might have to do with the fact that I don't think that Ohtarnicle is the greatest thing since sliced hokkaido Now we find out that there was possibly/probably/likely/definitely/absolutely a reason that Ohtarnicle put up those stupid September numbers I wonder if anybody else realizes how these MLB slobs/executives have screwed up the game I am filled with doubt that baseball game results are legitimate HOWEVER In this here comment section, nobody else seems to share my concerns They say, and I might add not as eloquently as I now will "Well, everybody has to deal with the same randomly juiced randomly used balls, so I'm OK with it because I LOVE MLB AND MLB LOVES ME!!!"
There shouldn’t be any doubt that they’re messing with the balls to make the game more exciting and pad stats. It’s common sense. I don’t care about this much, or steroids. It’s the history of elite competition
Steroids era joker, players are faster you need to have the talent , so what why was just a few players why was not every players? that theory is ridiculous
@@JabroniBaseball What about the bats ? Nobody is talking about the bats, i can certainly optimize a bat based on the exact parameters of the wood. And if i provide better wood to mlb players they will get results.
Hey, how about we add a pitch clock don't allow teams to shift pitchers have to face 3 batters or end an inning. oh yeah we did that I guess all that is left is the challenge system for MLB and a salary cap JMO
you are missing a big thing ohtani balls were exchanged only in that game after the 49th hr they started using it so it was probably used for 1 at bat where he hit 50th then it went back to normal accq to what he is saying it took a little bit of time to exchange baseball and he probably dind't want to waste other teams time
BTW the misuse of 'conspiracy' when really meaning 'hypothesis' or if more advanced, 'theory' or even frankly 'observation plus deduction/induction plus adult common sense' is an obvious rhetorical tactic, and I'm not clear why it's used so much here. Habit? And hopefully enough people know about the history of the creation of 'conspiracy theory', a term unused and unheard of prior to its invention out of whole cloth in the late 60's (in the face of fierce public questioning of 'official' conclusions re: the series of high-profile 60's assassinations, JKF, MLK, RFK, Malcolm X) as a delegitimization/marginalization tactic used when versions of reality are presented that are inconvenient, or worse, to the powerful. Prior to its effective introduction, citizens were EXPECTED to be skeptical of official narratives and open to better,, more logically and factually sound possible ones, which when presented with expected their serious and deep investigation of. That is, what's now dismissed, waved away, as 'conspiracy theory'. Credit where due...it sure worked.
Rigged... No, too many moving parts. Heavily influenced? "Absolutely". Altruism doesn't exist alongside *that* much money and power. Lol (Thanx for citing your sources, data *should* matter for both sides of the argument. Lol)
is major league baseball rigged? dodgers pay a 1/2 a billion dollar contract for one player that is differed a decade into the future....the mets pay 765 million for one player for 15 years adding to their nearly double than average team annual spending....nope not rigged at all nothing to see here move along.
The Dodgers still have to set aside roughly $46M/year for Ohtani even though he's only receiving $2M of it rn. The rest goes into an escrow that will earn interest. Structurally, it's not that different from him just having a $46M/year undeferred contract. It's just good publicity to talk about $700M and a 97% deferral.
INSTEAD OF CHANGING THE BASEBALLS, MAYBE THEY COULD'VE JUST MOVED THE PITCHERS MOUND A LITTLE BACK SO THAT BATTERS HAVE MORE TIME TO REACT TO PITCHES AND PICTHES HAVE MORE TIME TO BREAK
@JabroniBaseball YEAH THE DIFFERENCE IN SAFETY IS WILD. A BATTER HAS A HELMET BUT A PITCHER DOESN'T AND MOST THE TIME THE BALL IS GOING STRAIGHT BACK AT THE PITCHER EVEN FASTER THAN HE THREW THE PITCH SMH
Finally been saying this forever 🙌 👏 Great work 🎉 I am so sick of the comparison of Ohtani is new Babe Ruth? Go look at the stats and Ohtani has barely been around. And MLB and Yankees calling Stanton Lou Gehrig 😂 🤢🤮 So tired of the corruption and the blatant disrespect of our Legends and modern real Legends! Even Mookie Betts was sick of hearing about how great Ohtani is! Mookie is a all around better player than Ohtani...... Average doesn't matter defense doesn't matter evidently being a real ball player doesn't matter just HR???? Just to push Ohtani Judge Jerseys and make billions BS! So many great players being treated like garbage.
With shared revenue with all teams, why wouldn't the owners conspire to rig games. Not to mention the legalized sports gambling. Super stars are being paid ridiculous amount of money. Why would they care if the games are rigged
Pitchers complain about the baseballs, but it's really the pitching that's the problem. Look at how slow and straight these pitches are, as well as where they end up. Location, location, location is what pitching is all about, not velocity. Also, those pitches are not 94+. They take these readings from their rear ends. These pitchers aren't deceptive; they don't hit the quadrants; they have no movement on their pitches; the strikezones are too squeezed and you can't throw at anyone. It's a maelstrom of subpar play.
@@CDBookManGaming manufacturing of the ball has a lot to do with velocity, movement, location, and grip. Yeah they whine a lot but it's justified. No batter is going to whine about launching HR's, or even accidental/cheap HR's. The pitchers are the ones who need to go in for controlled testing when developing new balls. Mainly for research and feedback. If pitchers approve, they have no excuse to whine. But there also needs to be transparency on what materials/processes are being used so they're not using bouncy balls with a leather shell.
@@Arminian100 Nailed it, actually. It's almost entirely a combination of equipment deliberately made cheaply to maximize margins, and massive skilles issues in the modern player being trained in nothing but the worst habits.
I think there’s an easy fix for this issue. You simply make every base worth 1 point. A player gets a single it’s a point. A single with a runner already on base scores 2 points. If the previous baserunner advances to third that play scores 3. A single home run = 4 etc. That way there’s a healthy amount of scoring and the MLB wouldn’t have to worry about attempting to manipulate the baseballs. And this is a hot take but I think it would honestly be better for player safety and health if we ditch traditional baseballs entirely and try and make a hybrid tennis type of baseball
Your easy fix is to fundamentally change how the game is scored and played ? Lmao this is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. Go watch cricket ya casual smooth brain.
What are your thoughts? Do you think MLB could be rigged?
Why not? The ball has undergone more changes in the past 40 years than the Dodge Charger! Heck…one point the ball’s cover was sewn on and not both glued and sewn like today.
I quit watching this crepe a decade ago once I realized that sports were no longer an escape from the real world, but it’s in the same sewer. Remember when the painted the “Green Monster” at Fenway black during the BLM love fest? Manfred is a cuck.
Clicked on the video because George Constanza insisted that I do so if I wanted to "win some games". 😁
Scoring sells tickets and garners views, so no surprise that the MLB might be up to shenanigans. After all, the NBA once rigged it's draft to land a college superstar into a major TV market.
@JabroniBaseball I SAY SOME WHAT YEAH. I THINK CERTAIN STARS GET BETTER PITCHES TO HIT SO THEY CAN BE BIGGER AND MORE MARKETABLE. UNTIL THE PLAYOFFS COME AND THEY STRUGGLE OR TEAM DIDN'T MAKE IT AT ALL BUT THEY HAD STAR PLAYER WITH A GREAT SEASON.
@@JabroniBaseball Yep.
That fifth inning of game 5 looked rigged as hell. Four mistakes? That Hernandez double wouldn't have happened had Judge been positioned normally.
As far as I'm concerned, and I'm a life-long huge baseball fan, the only thing wrong with baseball still and has been is Rob Manfred.
In this situation, it’s clear that he’s either not being transparent with players and fans purposefully OR he’s surrounded by complete incompetence
@@JabroniBaseballOr it's BOTH!
The shohei balls being exchanged after every at bat was to keep the ball clean until a hit. Usually, per game the same baseballs are used for like multiple ABs, but whenever In a historical record breaking AB they always change out the ball for a cleaner one. That’s the only nitpick I have with this video.
This is wrong for a multitude of reasons. One being that VERY rarely are balls used for more than one hit. Like almost never. I would say never because that's what I believe but I can't be 100%. Not only are they not used after a hit, they aren't used after a plate appearance. The vast majority of the time, if a ball it's the dirt, it's done. It has nothing to do with "clean" baseballs. It has to do with abrasions that would have an impact on the pitchers desired trajectory. Even if a scuffed ball would break more on an off speed pitch, which one would think is beneficial to the pitcher, it becomes inconsistent and impossible to locate. I'm not sure if you just flat out made this up or heard it somewhere and blindly repeated it but that's no excuse as even in this video it explains that the balls were marked specifically for the milestone chases to identify them. In 2024 the Red Sox led the league with just under 34.5 at bats per game. So that's the absolute high end. Assuming both teams have the outrageous 35 at bats, that would be 70 ABs for the game. A typical MLB game uses about 120 baseballs or 10 dozen as they phrase it. Even woth the inflated and extreme high at bats numbers being used alongside the average number used for balls per game, that STILL comes out to over 1.7 balls per at bats. So use this moment to educate yourself on both the logistics of baseball and that you shouldn't just pull information out of your *** and act like you know wtf you're talking about in comment sections
@@BrettShadowsame could be said to you. The pitcher can simply decide whether to continue using the same ball. There are also times where the ball is forcibly changed such as between innings. So if you're going to correct someone, check your approach and tone. You're also missing the point that he's mainly talking about the Shohei at-bat. Just because it "rarely" happens doesn't mean it doesn't happen at all.
Nice try, Fed
@BrettShadow Yep. To see what a scuffed ball can do and why they take them out of play, do a search for Greg Maddox's filthiest pitch. The thing has a disgusting amount of break and looks more like it's controlled by magic than anything. He admits that he saw how scuffed the ball was after it was hit into the dirt and specifically gripped the ball to make use of that scuff.
Sadly we only have swing speed data from 2024. It's likely that swing speed has increased aswell as pitch speed. That increase in energy in the collision is definitely increasing exit velocity. Pair that with advances in bat manufacturing and the result is more homeruns. Even without changes in the Baseballs.
That was my first thought too, pitch speed is up along with home runs so maybe it isn't the ball at all. Issue is, my second thought is that pitchers constantly suggest the new ball isn't helpful to them so it contrasts the first line of thinking. Maybe the truth is somewhere between: the ball is harder to grip/control but flies faster in general
Truthfully, offense surging could also be some weird analytics thing about swing angles or something in the same way the NBA offense has been surging because teams now opt for layups and 3s versus mid-range shots. When the traditional way is "mathematically suboptimal" coaches/managers will try their best to enforce that, maybe that's the case here to some extent
Definitely looks like it ultimately could be the game evolving organically with player approaches and non-organically with material changes
The old timers had physical jobs in the off season and were on amphetamines! They were just as strong and swung just as fast as today. They even used heavier bats to deal with the dead ball era. The balls are definitely juiced today.
It will never matter because they now own the company that manufactures them. They can put a big rubber bouncy ball with a leather shell on it and call it good because they said so. Plus many of the other reasons you covered.
Yes, a little micro variance between balls is expected with it being hand made with natural materials. But seam height, hide suppleness/slickness (type of animal/process etc) diameter, core weight, filler material weight/type, storage procedures/standards always needs to be the same across the board. Or within even tighter variances. Like micrometers/milligrams etc...there needs to be rigorous and strict standards. Start with making the ball in the U.S. with American materials... Ever think of that MLB?
But you have to do tons of testing in tons of different conditions to get an optimal result that makes it so no one can use the ball as an excuse. Which they obviously don't care about due it changing so frequently. Its all about selling tickets and ratings. The balls getting swapped out for Ohtani is another level of deception and unfairness, but it gets people to buy tickets. Normie fans love HR's but its ruining the game. Fix the ball so there's no excuses.
What evidence do you have that making the ball in the US as opposed to a US territory would make any difference?
Changing the baseball is one thing. They did that in the 1920s after Ruth proved that more home runs = more money. Changing the specifications to favor hitters over pitchers is also not really a problem. That was the reason they lowered the height of the pitching mound in the late 60s. I don't even think it's a problem if they use a livelier ball for the All Star Game and postseason. But not being honest and using 2 or even 3 different types of balls at the same time during the regular season are pretty big problems.
Yup that’s exactly it. Things change, it happens. But the lack of transparency and just flat out dishonesty is the most concerning red flag in this whole situation
"But not being honest and using 2 or even 3 different types of balls at the same time during the regular season are pretty big problems."
Even then, if it's truly random which of the three different balls are used in any given plate appearance, you could still argue that it's "fair" for the players (while still not fair compared to players of past eras), but that appears not to be the case (according to Dr Wills' research). How is it fair that the Yankee players get to hit the ball with more pop to it than players on other teams, when contracts are determined strictly by performance metrics like HRs hit? It's clearly not and that's a BIG issue.
Precisely this
Makes you wonder about the huge contracts that MLB has with Draft Kings and other sports books.
Certainly is suspicious with the way MLB has embraced gambling
Every major US sport, football, hockey, baseball, basketball have embraced gambling. Does that mean all those leagues are corrupt and rigged too??
I really don’t care if the balls are juiced or not. Baseball has been my favorite sport since I learned the game when I was around 8 years old. I will always love baseball ⚾️. I don’t love everything (such as the ghost runner at 2nd base in extra innings) but that’s not going to stop my love of the game.
The ghost runner is brutal. Even mlb doesn’t 100% believe in it since they remove it during the playoffs
Sorry but that is the definition of a shill
I remember being a kid when Cecil Fielder hit 50 homeruns, it was such a thing to see since I was born in 77 and dont remember George Foster. Jose Canseco 40/40, Vince Coleman 3 strait years of 100 stolen bases...these were like OMG moments in Baseball. Now its sad, nothing has meaning anymore....shouldn't have mention Canseco though, but you know what I mean lol.
Justin Verlander was right!
He knows ball haha
You must have seen that pic of him in the mirror and caught some feelings😂😅
This past postseason especially in the NLCS there was an EXPLOSION of offense . There were 6 grand slams hit. I can't even remember what the lowest scoring game was the World Series.
Yeah it was nuts. Felt like every game had over 10 runs scored cumulatively
cause team priotize hr over ground hits
Call me a fool for being a Mets fan who wants to retain Pete Alonso, a current free agent
Well, call me a fool for wanting to retain Alonso, not for the first part
Anyway, I have to now voice my possibly quantifiable doubt that Alonso's sluggy-ness has been declining due to his skills decreasing
So, Judge sets the rookie HR record, subsequently eclipsed 2 years later by Alonso
3 years later, Judge legitimately, allegedly - that is, in a non-steroid fashion - breaks Maris' HR record.
Meanwhile, Alonso's power numbers continue to slide down
Now we find out Judge was being fed special pro-HR balls, while Alonso gets the balls which are now found to be less juiced than 2019, when he set the rookie record with 53 HRs
What a *MESS!*
And I say this to not in any way cast aspersions at Judge, a fantastic player and high-quality human being
Let I ask all of yous:
Would Judge have agreed to attempt to break the record with balls juiced especially for him and nobody else?
I'll answer:
*HELL NO!*
Well, as a sport, it doesn't really matter since both team is getting that HR boost. As a game, it just make the game lame in the long run since small ball game makes less sense.
The problem is that...viewers wanted that.
The problem is that pitchers contracts are based on statistical values. Not to mention their face is 60'6" from someone possibly rocketing a 135mph projectile at their faces.
And no... viewers didn't want that. People who don't watch nor care about baseballs may think that, but viewers, ie FANS, want the game that they were expecting to get. Even if you say ok viewers want this... why the secrecy? Why not a public memo saying "In efforts to revive interest in the MLB product blah blah blah". You have a point... just not a good one.
@@BrettShadow Numbers don't lie. It is a stupid way to achieve that, but people do want to watch HR and actions, instead of a perfect game. It is unfortunate for pitchers but the offensive stat helps the hitters' contracts.
I don't know why the secrecy, probably because player stats is uniquely a big part of the game and baseball fans wanted that. But the casual viewers probably don't really care about that.
The possibility of being inconsistent and potentially benefits one team is a bigger problem. I would argue being public about it and making each ball more standard for the season might be better. After all the game evolves overtime and "rigged" stats doesn't seems to make things less legit anyway.
@mouseii88 Baseball didn't need rule changes. It needed (needs) marketing. It was so massive from inception that it got a "too big to fail" attitude. They went nuts with deals and contract. Yes player contracts are wild but I mean broadcast licenses and exclusives and made the game less and less accessible. They were fat cats and didn't have to compete for attention in the US sports marketplace for so long that they took it for granted. They lost all connection and participation in local youth developments and I don't mean some t-shirt night. I mean really being out there. That's how you hook lifetime fans. They don't market their teams or players. They make going to a game as a family of 4 cost about half a mortgage payment. The game or the home runs or the rules weren't and aren't the issue, it's that they let entire generations go by not actively engaging them. Not realizing that more than any other sport, baseball is passed down. Watch it with dad now son watches with his son etc... people don't care about the perfect game because they don't understand it. The game has an almost unlimited amount of incredible tiny details that happen on each and every pitch. In this day of diversity and the push for globalization, with some marketing baseball could be KILLING IT! They have been doing it for decades.
It also doesn't help that baseball doesn't translate well to television. It's like nascar. I wasn't and am not now a huge nascar fan. But I got tickets to Texas Motor Speedway one year from work and holy crap. How much action and how fast they are really going doesn't show up in a camera lens following the one car in the front as it makes a circle. Same with baseball... I took this chick to a game once and she was blown away by the base running and the fielders moving and positioning. And that's the VERY basics. Like ol dude said first thing is cut the blackouts. Then remind people under 14 that baseball exist.
The only way you get a fair game with juiced balls being used is if every team or player has equal odds of having it used in a game or an AB, which, according to Dr. Wills' research, doesn't appear to be the case. Seeing as player's contracts are based on performance (HR counts being one of the most prioritized metrics for determining player value), it's kind of a big deal if MLB is knowingly singling out players or teams to use these stat boosting balls.
That's without even going into the betting markets issue, which, for fear of MLB singling me out for a defamation case (territory that I fear I might have already crossed)... I'll say no more.
the explanation for Pujols doesn't make sense. If he hit more HRs with the juiced commemorative balls in 2022, why didn't he hit more HRs with the juiced balls around 2016-2021? The video even says he struggled then with an average of 20 HRs.
Most of that had to do with his inability to stay on the field. When he played, he did well but he was often injured. He still managed to find a way to 700 in 2022 by hitting the most homers he’s hit since 2019 by playing in only 109 games. Not impossible, but certainly suspicious, especially considering that he may be a few years older than he actually is according to an MLB exec and Octavio Dotel slipping up on his age once.
Juan Soto going to the Mets might re-open the question if Judge is still being fed the Goldilocks ball in 2024, because now we will have a season where we can see where Soto's hits actually go controlling for launch angle and exit velo while on a different team than Judge.
I’m sure that’s something Dr Wills and other independent researchers would look into. Not a bad idea!
I’m just floored by how much research Dr Wills, Professor Sherwood, and others have done into the issue, it’s insane (in a “holy shit I couldn’t even begin to analyse that many variables” way haha)
She really put in a lot of work to prove that MLB isn’t being as honest as they claim OR they just don’t care to confirm her findings
Wow, great video. First time I've found your channel and you definitely earned my subscription. Hope this video blows up, it deserves a LOT more views. Very nice work putting all that together.
Thanks! It was a ton of fun making! Glad you enjoyed it!
Well, baseball is a game of numbers: if the balls were *juiced* (and there's every reason to believe they were), no single team or player gained a competitive advantage over another, since all hitters and pitchers would have been in the same boat. Both teams in a given team would have had multiple home runs and strikeouts. Cy Young and MVP awards are relative: they're determined on the basis of your own numbers against those of your peers -- not of legendary players from the past. It's a well-known fact that in the 1960's, the strike zone was larger and the pitching mound was higher: hence, low ERAs.
I agree with everything you’re saying except on who may have benefitted most. For example, most of the juiced balls were found at Yankee stadium or commemorative baseballs like the Rangers 50th anniversary year. That alone means there’s a possibility that teams like the Yankees and Rangers potentially benefited 81 times a year. Definitely an advantage in the aggregate at least.
I feel like the humidors don't get enough discussion. Storing the balls with a humidor is supposed to "normalize" the balls, but it's easy to see how they might be contributing to more inconsistencies from park to park.
There’s definitely some truth to that too
“Reported 42 years old”😂
We’ll never truly know haha
Its not about home runs. Its about runs per game. The whole premise is off.
It’s a little bit from column A and B
"Chicks dig the long ball dude." -- Tom Glavine/Greg Maddux
Some people in the comment section are just wildly funny. Why is Small ball dying? Because the numbers show is inefficient and doesn't work. People say the pictures are slow with no movement and that is just empirically not true I suppose velocity and spin rate i.e. motion are way up since the 1990s. Here's the thing. Sports like everything else change and evolve. Empty backfield high octane offenses are far more prevalent in the NFL, why because it works. Small ball is dying why because it was inefficient and didn't work. Humans have more freedom to self-determination and don't need to fit your neat little labels, why because biology is rarely black and white. No the world is not the same one we grew up with. That is because it is evolving and improving. Evolve with it or get left behind like the dodo and other evolutionary dead ends. Either way quit whining because things change. Do I think MLB is messing with the balls? Yes I do, but they are doing so because the people have said it's what they want. Corporate America has just developed the habit of being non-transparent and deceitful. And these teams are owned by the very same people that own these corporations. Did we really expect anything else?
If small ball was so bad and then why is it losing viewers? Part of the reason is no one wants to watch Hr’s and strikes outs all day. Just as no one wants to watch three’s all day. To be honest I don’t like the passing league that get passed off as the NFL. But, hey it’s more important that we watch the downfall of sports in America
Ideally, self respecting people would be honest and have the balls to speak up against obvious lies and deceit and hold the leaders of multi-million dollar businesses and organizations accountable to the social contracts that they make with the public. However, we don't live in an ideal world.
Governments and corporations continue to be corrupt, not only because it's human nature to desire more power whenever we get a taste of it, but because power rules through fear and the majority of bystanders who aren't in a position of power don't have sufficient courage to overcome that fear. Thus, most choose silence (cowardice wins).
Which is why I respect Verlander and the other players within this video who were outspoken about this issue. It takes courage to speak up against power.
Wow, ur spot on about a lot of that
Horrible timing on my part, I was thinking about getting back into baseball since the NBA isn't doing anything for me.
Nah baseball is awesome either way. No sport is without its flaws and controversies but in my opinion there’s no greater game than baseball. You should definitely consider hopping back into it
The NBA is undeniably rigged so idk it could be right up your alley
Both are boring. Watch EPL
The debate was over when they bought Rawlings.
100%
"At a reported 42 years old.." 😂😂😂
We may never truly know haha
Quality is so damn high, you deserve more views
Thanks! This one was a lot of fun to make!
Absolutely! Criminally underrated. Channel won't last long though. As soon as Manfred sees this, this channel will suffer more ramifications than if he would have just stolen a World Series. 😅
Lmaooo Manfred if you see this, end the blackouts for Christs sake
Why not just enjoy the video and not be upset over the lack of affirmation? The obsession with affirmation is an addiction.
@LarryDanaDavid Possibly because that affirmation for the creator who put in the time, energy, and effort is rewarded monetarily. And that's how said creator is afforded the resources to continue making the content that the original commentor enjoys. Ask yourself the same question. Why did you feel the need to comment rather than just internalize that ponderance? Is it because you were so assured that the world needed to see how much above the masses and don't thrive for the attention of others? Ironic isn't it.
The theory I heard was the pill was more preciously centered now and thus created less wobble, which would decrease drag.
Yeah that’s what Manfred and MLB pushed forward but thanks to linking the batch codes to specific manufacturing weeks, we can safely debunk the pill theory. Deader baseballs were manufactured in certain weeks and more juiced ones were in certain weeks. Alternating back and forth between each other like clockwork.
Lmaooo the Kermit Cole stray is wild😂😂
I couldn’t resist 😂
IMO it doesn't matter at the end of the day its obvious that MLB is doing this and Honestly (besides pitchers maybe*) most people won't care and will understand why this is the case Honestly seems like they want to make the game more dynamic and engaging to watch which is fine. This issue is they for some stupid reason don't want to admit that they change the balls every once in a while the lack of transparency is annoying and every is tired of it as long as MLB comes out and says they will change the ball and talk it out with the MLBPA then this would be a non issue but its not and their insistence on denying so it really dumb.
I’m right with you on that. If they came clean and were honest about it. Nobody would care. It’s the fact that they’re hiding it and constantly getting caught
@@JabroniBaseball Nobody would care? Having just watched your excellent video, I'd guess that plenty of pitchers care. And given that betting on baseball is a big business in its own right (alas), I think that any sort of unfair advantage by the use of doctored balls is reason enough for us all to care.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video! I meant that fans wouldn’t really care if MLB came clean and said “hey we’re introducing new baseballs that have a little more pop in them”. As long as the playing field is even and it’s the standard moving forward of course. Pitchers would certainly be pissed but they would at surely adapt. Pitchers biggest complaints seemed to stem from the inconsistent nature of the baseballs which were causing injuries and grip issues first and foremost.
I don't care if they juiced balls, but yeah they should be open about it, AND more importantly the ball should be the same for everyone in every game. There shouldn't be special balls for certain players or teams or games. That's where it's BS. That would be like deflategate except the NFL was in favor of letting Brady use deflated balls. That would pretty much allow them to fix games. Teams like the Cowboys would get to play with deflated balls every game, and superstars like Mahomes. I would never follow a sport like that.
It's never a good sign when a company doesn't let a 3rd party test their product. If everything is legit, that 3rd party can only strengthen your case of legitness. As long as the 3rd party is legit itself and not biased against the company. All the more reason to encourage many 3rd parties to test your product and put all the conspiracies to rest.
10000% correct.
When people think about the term “rigging” they think some Soprano BS with shady characters telling players to take dives and that’s RARELY how rigging and corruption ACTUALLY happens. They usually tell you they are doing it. What actually happens in the example of MLB are rule changes and equipment changes. That IS rigging! All the new rules about pitching changes and pitch clocks and the stuff they do to the ball and getting rid of the shift. That IS rigging and it’s deemed “legit.”
Ask chatgpt what happened when the NFL was sued for being rigged.
The NFL is the best example of potentially rigged system
Two thumbs way up. Now all MLB needs to do is use superballs for the cores, because we all want to see 600 foot homers! 😏 Liked & subscribed.
Thanks! Appreciate the support! I’d be so down to see that during the home run derby. Super juiced balls and Easton hype fires only
Oh wow. This got a lot juicier than I first expected. Nice work. Hopefully this picks up some traction. Amazingly researched!
Thanks! Yeah the more I was researching the more I was like damn this is gonna be a long video haha
Albert just always was good in St. Louis. If he never left I’m now of the mindset he never gets hurt and would have 800+ HRs.
How can you say Ortiz had an “inexplicable” surge in power in 2016 when in 2013 he had 30, 2014 he had 35 2015 he had 37 how is 38 an inexplicable power surge?
I should have explained it clearer in the video. Not only was his home run total in 2016 in his age 40 season the highest it was since 2006. But his WAR compared to 2013 to 15’ are significantly different. 4.4 in 13’ 2.6 in 14’ 3.1 in 15’ BUT had a 5.2 WAR in 2016. The juiced ball wasn’t only causing homers, the increased exit velos helped him and others offensively in tons of categories that year when compared to years prior. He hadn’t clocked in a 5.2 war since 2007. He found a way to get better as he aged, if it wasn’t PED’s which he didn’t test positive for, then it’s likely(not 100% guaranteed of course) a juiced ball that helped.
Follow the balls during the game….. game can be rigged, by when and which team gets to hit juiced balls.. umpires are in on it
I watched the entire video. Well done, sir!
Thanks! You’re a legend!
I will never understand the point of view that HRs are more exciting than diving plays and close tag outs at the base/plate. The increase in "true outcomes" is really turning me off to the mlb and I would almost rather watch little league
There really needs to be a way were we had it all like in the mid 2000s. Players hit for power and average. Pitchers were getting strikeouts and web gems were a plenty
I just really think the beauty of baseball is its randomness and unpredictability pitch by pitch and that all of that randomness can be succinctly summarized in box scores and baseball card stats. The randomness is on a sharp decline recently and I think that's sad.
Yep. And I used to love watching the best pitchers. Ryan, Gooden, the 4 Braves aces and so many more. A good pitched game can be shorter. The problem with all sports now is the collapse of TV, overpaid, free agency, gambling ties, TOO MANY COMMERCIALS, blackouts, games are too long. I lost interest a long time ago. I watched some highlights of this years series, because of Freeman's heroics came up on youtube, but I didn't even remember who was in the last few WS.
Honestly, let em use juiced balls…but let pitchers use tack to even the playing field back out…as a lifelong baseball fan, who cares?? I just want to see good baseball, but when you handicap one side to stack the field for the other…it loses its appeal
We want to see the best athletes in the game play to the limits of the games abilities…that’s why fans didn’t care about the steroid use (we all knew it, didn’t matter) until mlb said no, and we were like “yeah, that’s cheating” (I get that one, keep it out of the game) but if it’s standardized across the board, it doesn’t matter 🤷♂️ you’re measured to the same metrics across the field still
And don’t be shady about it…if you change something, let it be known…the backlash they’re facing is in their stance that nothing has changed, though experience proves otherwise… #StopLyingMLB
I will attest that storage methods of any leather have drastic effects on their condition. But you can see it in the stress across the laces and stitch holes. They spent millions to perpetuate a lie when they could just be up front about it and give the players a chance to adapt instead of calling them crazy and publishing false "scientific studies".
We just need to bring steroids back for baseball.
The juiced ball is the new steroid era
@JabroniBaseball yeah but at least back in the 90s the ball wasn't juiced so the dominant pitchers were still able to dominate the hitters on the juice. If they couldn't they could also do steroids and add 3-5mph on their fastball and recover better.
It's time to move the mound back at least a foot: both for safety reasons, and to put way more balls in play. Want shorter games? Halve the time in between inning change-overs: there's 18 minutes of total downtime shaved off per contest. Another radical idea I heard Farhan Zaidi mention: why not seven inning games? Yeah, I know, the traditionalist in me cringes as well. But it does make sense, if you want to get the contests consistently under 2.5 hours, and closer to 2 hours.
100% with you at the very least for safety reasons. It’s better than messing with the grip of the baseball trying to juice them.
Moving the mound back is retarded. 7 inning games I can get behind
Why didn’t you factor in pitching velocity also rising which basic physics would indicate further hit balls ie more homers..
The pitching velocity is a non factor. They shot baseballs out of cannons at the same velocity into bats to confirm the juiced baseballs were going further than their predecessor. Plus we know the leather was smoother and the seams were almost non existent, which caused less air resistance when hit. That’s not even considering that at this point, MLB itself admitted to using a juiced ball and a more dead ball at the same time.
All mainstream sporting events are rigged lol...come on....
The Kansas City Chiefs are exhibit A
@@JabroniBaseball The latest Tyson fight ALLLLLL the way down to to anything Don King is involved in...is exhibit B.
Whenever sports talk radio is more about betting than actual sports........................you know all games in all sports are rigged.
It seemed suspicious to me at the time when Boone brought out Nestor, someone one who hadn't pitched in a month. No Surprise, he threw two meatballs, and Shohei didnt get hod of his properly/verdugo made that catch and all that; but I cant help wondering if it was setup for the "hero" hit from Ohtani. He didnt and Freddie stepped up; but Ohtani was way bigger before the WS (more non baseball fans know Freddie now ). Things that make you go hmmm.
I always thought the inconsistency was from the leather. Since it’s an animal product no two hides are the same. Maybe they should look at making a fully synthetic ball to make them perfect.
That was my first thought too, but clearly from Dr Wills testing and findings, there’s something bigger than that happening here
You know I get (though don't like) the periods of Dead v. Live Balls in swaths of seasons. But I am a strongly against one thing: different baseballs within the same season, or even specific games or even hitters. I'm a strong proponent of a level playing field: everyone plays under the exact same criteria or standards. That's what sports should be. Think NASCAR's supposed same cars standards (a different issue worth debating). It's one thing to use different baseballs to level the playing field (if that's possible). But to use different baseballs in given situations to alter outcomes of games is the very definition of deception and hypocrisy.
Being a lifelong Yankees fan, I love Aaron Judge. And I know he's a special player. But now I can't help but think that by MLB appearing to help him (and certain others) to put balls in the seats so the league can get eyeballs on the games is, though no fault of his own, not in essence tarnishing HIS legacy.
There are plenty of fans who will never acknowledge Barry Bonds as MLB's all-time home run leader (personally I regard him as the leader, steroids or not). While Judge or Ohtani have no direct role in this level of deception, knowing what we know now about the current baseballs, how can we look upon what these two stars are producing with a clear conscious?
I'm really angered, although the word I want to use is the colloquial term for urinated
Actually, this post - ideally - would be filled with actual cuss words, but then yootoob's autocratic CensorBots would pounce on me and punish me for being a bad boy
Anyway, heading into September of 2024, there was still a non-zero chance for the CLEAR AND OBVIOUS NL MVP to actually win the award, namely Francisco Lindor
And this post is not intended to argue this point, given that I'm right, and you're the opposite of right, and I thereby dismiss you with my middle _fanger_
But then Lindor injured his back, missed around 10 games
Meanwhile Ohtarnicle put up some stupid September numbers - didn't he hit 3 homers and drive in 10 runs IN ONE GAME?!?!?!
Well, even though I had to concede that Lindor did not deserve to be the first NLMVP to win in a Mets uniform, I was still very disappointed
Might have to do with the fact that I don't think that Ohtarnicle is the greatest thing since sliced hokkaido
Now we find out that there was possibly/probably/likely/definitely/absolutely a reason that Ohtarnicle put up those stupid September numbers
I wonder if anybody else realizes how these MLB slobs/executives have screwed up the game
I am filled with doubt that baseball game results are legitimate
HOWEVER
In this here comment section, nobody else seems to share my concerns
They say, and I might add not as eloquently as I now will
"Well, everybody has to deal with the same randomly juiced randomly used balls, so I'm OK with it because
I LOVE MLB AND MLB LOVES ME!!!"
There shouldn’t be any doubt that they’re messing with the balls to make the game more exciting and pad stats. It’s common sense. I don’t care about this much, or steroids. It’s the history of elite competition
Great stuff bro 👌
Thanks! Appreciate the love!
Steroids era joker, players are faster you need to have the talent , so what why was just a few players why was not every players? that theory is ridiculous
Aaron Judge's surge in homeruns is due to his change in swing mechanics in 2017. Look it up.
I’m half with you on that. It’s like Mitchel Lichtman said, it’s more likely that both the ball and the batters evolved and changed together
Bro said "look it up"😅. Go to sleep kid
In 2017? That was his rookie year an he hit 52 he was a power guy from the start
@YOUNGPADAWON look up his story , his words in 2016 he sucked , went to a new hitting coach in 2017 he raked . He only hit 18 hr in college.
@@JabroniBaseball What about the bats ? Nobody is talking about the bats, i can certainly optimize a bat based on the exact parameters of the wood. And if i provide better wood to mlb players they will get results.
Hey, how about we add a pitch clock don't allow teams to shift pitchers have to face 3 batters or end an inning. oh yeah we did that I guess all that is left is the challenge system for MLB and a salary cap JMO
Salary cap and a salary floor honestly
How about a Golden At Bat! Then we can just go ahead and wear clown costumes on the field and embrace the game becoming an absolute joke.
you are missing a big thing ohtani balls were exchanged only in that game after the 49th hr they started using it so it was probably used for 1 at bat where he hit 50th then it went back to normal accq to what he is saying it took a little bit of time to exchange baseball and he probably dind't want to waste other teams time
BTW the misuse of 'conspiracy' when really meaning 'hypothesis' or if more advanced, 'theory' or even frankly 'observation plus deduction/induction plus adult common sense' is an obvious rhetorical tactic, and I'm not clear why it's used so much here. Habit? And hopefully enough people know about the history of the creation of 'conspiracy theory', a term unused and unheard of prior to its invention out of whole cloth in the late 60's (in the face of fierce public questioning of 'official' conclusions re: the series of high-profile 60's assassinations, JKF, MLK, RFK, Malcolm X) as a delegitimization/marginalization tactic used when versions of reality are presented that are inconvenient, or worse, to the powerful. Prior to its effective introduction, citizens were EXPECTED to be skeptical of official narratives and open to better,, more logically and factually sound possible ones, which when presented with expected their serious and deep investigation of. That is, what's now dismissed, waved away, as 'conspiracy theory'. Credit where due...it sure worked.
Rigged... No, too many moving parts. Heavily influenced? "Absolutely". Altruism doesn't exist alongside *that* much money and power. Lol
(Thanx for citing your sources, data *should* matter for both sides of the argument. Lol)
is major league baseball rigged? dodgers pay a 1/2 a billion dollar contract for one player that is differed a decade into the future....the mets pay 765 million for one player for 15 years adding to their nearly double than average team annual spending....nope not rigged at all nothing to see here move along.
I mean the spending wouldn’t make it rigged but to your point, the playing field certainly isn’t even
That was my first assumption as to what this video would be about.
The Dodgers still have to set aside roughly $46M/year for Ohtani even though he's only receiving $2M of it rn. The rest goes into an escrow that will earn interest.
Structurally, it's not that different from him just having a $46M/year undeferred contract. It's just good publicity to talk about $700M and a 97% deferral.
This 💯
Fuckin amaZing videO 👏👏👏💯👏👏👏
Thanks! Appreciate the kind words, it was a lot of fun to make!
this was really good
INSTEAD OF CHANGING THE BASEBALLS, MAYBE THEY COULD'VE JUST MOVED THE PITCHERS MOUND A LITTLE BACK SO THAT BATTERS HAVE MORE TIME TO REACT TO PITCHES AND PICTHES HAVE MORE TIME TO BREAK
Been saying that forever too. Just from a pitcher safety perspective alone
@JabroniBaseball YEAH THE DIFFERENCE IN SAFETY IS WILD. A BATTER HAS A HELMET BUT A PITCHER DOESN'T AND MOST THE TIME THE BALL IS GOING STRAIGHT BACK AT THE PITCHER EVEN FASTER THAN HE THREW THE PITCH SMH
Finally been saying this forever 🙌 👏 Great work 🎉 I am so sick of the comparison of Ohtani is new Babe Ruth? Go look at the stats and Ohtani has barely been around. And MLB and Yankees calling Stanton Lou Gehrig 😂 🤢🤮 So tired of the corruption and the blatant disrespect of our Legends and modern real Legends! Even Mookie Betts was sick of hearing about how great Ohtani is! Mookie is a all around better player than Ohtani...... Average doesn't matter defense doesn't matter evidently being a real ball player doesn't matter just HR???? Just to push Ohtani Judge Jerseys and make billions BS! So many great players being treated like garbage.
Thanks! It’s definitely something that we should all be skeptical of. Shouldn’t really compare players from different eras anymore
@JabroniBaseball Agreed, so much has changed over the years. Keep up the great work!
Will do! Glad you’re enjoying the vids!
With shared revenue with all teams, why wouldn't the owners conspire to rig games. Not to mention the legalized sports gambling. Super stars are being paid ridiculous amount of money. Why would they care if the games are rigged
Considering the evidence presented, it’s not a 0% chance
@JabroniBaseball it's 100% that some games are rigged. It's all pro sports NFL NBA MLB.
Cry about it it is rigged so be it
Pitchers complain about the baseballs, but it's really the pitching that's the problem. Look at how slow and straight these pitches are, as well as where they end up. Location, location, location is what pitching is all about, not velocity. Also, those pitches are not 94+. They take these readings from their rear ends. These pitchers aren't deceptive; they don't hit the quadrants; they have no movement on their pitches; the strikezones are too squeezed and you can't throw at anyone. It's a maelstrom of subpar play.
Almost everything you said is wrong.
@@CDBookManGaming manufacturing of the ball has a lot to do with velocity, movement, location, and grip.
Yeah they whine a lot but it's justified. No batter is going to whine about launching HR's, or even accidental/cheap HR's. The pitchers are the ones who need to go in for controlled testing when developing new balls. Mainly for research and feedback. If pitchers approve, they have no excuse to whine. But there also needs to be transparency on what materials/processes are being used so they're not using bouncy balls with a leather shell.
@@Arminian100 Nailed it, actually. It's almost entirely a combination of equipment deliberately made cheaply to maximize margins, and massive skilles issues in the modern player being trained in nothing but the worst habits.
@@badladyamiYou're just as wrong as the original comment.
I'm curious how you account for the fact that velocity is up across the league as is horizontal and vertical break due to increased spin rates
I think there’s an easy fix for this issue. You simply make every base worth 1 point. A player gets a single it’s a point. A single with a runner already on base scores 2 points. If the previous baserunner advances to third that play scores 3. A single home run = 4 etc. That way there’s a healthy amount of scoring and the MLB wouldn’t have to worry about attempting to manipulate the baseballs. And this is a hot take but I think it would honestly be better for player safety and health if we ditch traditional baseballs entirely and try and make a hybrid tennis type of baseball
Your easy fix is to fundamentally change how the game is scored and played ? Lmao this is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. Go watch cricket ya casual smooth brain.
Wish the dislike button wasn't rigged
@@BubbaStylefly Wish You Weren’t a bot
Nevertrustmlb