Just now, hovertical said:

so did THE MLb announce they changed the ball again? or will this be another instance where we find out later they altered them

League wide ops down dramatically so far

Just now, hovertical said:

so did THE MLb announce they changed the ball again? or will this be another instance where we find out later they altered them

I think it may be a matter of each ballpark having a humidor now, too. But players are mentioning different baseballs again too, yes.

Just now, Michael said:

I think it may be a matter of each ballpark having a humidor now, too. But players are mentioning different baseballs again too, yes.

out of curiosity, is next year's FA class more top end hitter or top end pitcher heavy?  I know that was another theory as to why they altered balls. if the hitters were the bigger prizes they'd deaden the balls and if it was pitching heavy...vice versa to dampen the production (conspiracy theory but there was some smoke there when they showed the stats)

4 minutes ago, hovertical said:

out of curiosity, is next year's FA class more top end hitter or top end pitcher heavy?  I know that was another theory as to why they altered balls. if the hitters were the bigger prizes they'd deaden the balls and if it was pitching heavy...vice versa to dampen the production (conspiracy theory but there was some smoke there when they showed the stats)

Yeah, I think Pete Alonso brought that up.

Unsure on FA class, time to look!

Edit - lots of option years that will sway the class it seems.

Also, Avi Garcia showing that he takes the expression, "The night is always darkest before the dawn" to heart. Just 2 days ago he did this:

Looks so much better last 2 days.

4 minutes ago, SonOfJack said:

They didn't announce it, players just think it is different.

I thought they did mention tweaking it as part of the initiative to have more balls in play and less strikeouts.  I could be wrong though.

1 minute ago, Rydawg said:

I thought they did mention tweaking it as part of the initiative to have more balls in play and less strikeouts.  I could be wrong though.

Pitch clock will do that, not changing the ball. Unless they change it so much that pitchers just can't comfortably grip it anymore.

Warm up the pen don

Bad

Third time through hold on to your butts

Stop getting cute and just go at him dammit.

Just now, Michael said:

Stop getting cute and just go at him dammit.

 

Just now, Michael said:

Stop getting cute and just go at him dammit.

He’s lost his fastball command

3 minutes ago, pollythewog said:

 

He’s lost his fastball command

Seems like he gets to two strikes and tries too hard to get the strikeout.

And he's trying to not make a mistake rather than trying to just make a good pitch.

2 minutes ago, pollythewog said:

 

He’s lost his fastball command

yep. it just went POOF...that seems to be his thing...he was super precise the whole game then POOF....just evaporated and turned back into the wild chucker we saw last year. 

There we go.

Love stallings reaction. More runs pls

Score more

7 minutes ago, pollythewog said:

Third time through hold on to your butts

Nah, he just lost command this inning.

Just now, hovertical said:

yep. it just went POOF...that seems to be his thing...he was super precise the whole game then POOF....just evaporated and turned back into the wild chucker we saw last year. 

I'm gonna lean towards my thought process here and say I think he's both trying to force the strikeout and trying to not make a mistake, and when you do that, you're seeing what happens. Focus on making a good pitch rather than trying to make it perfect and he'll be fine.

Say what you will about his bat, but without Sallings, they would have scored at least 3 runs on passed balls.

Great job getting out of that.  

Dang, go Berti!!

Berti!!!!

Berti leadoff triple!

Flying baby. Get this run home!!!