Pretty interesting article in the Athletic as to how MLB was alarmed by the increase in home runs in 2019, and set out to create a baseball that was less lively. They changed the physical properties of the baseball to make it lighter and more likely to stay in the yard. The stated aim was that balls that were hit 375 feet or more would travel 1-2 feet shorter. In recent years, the COR (coefficient of restitution -- bounciness) was supposed to be in the .530 to .570 range, but was trending toward the upper part of the range. The new ball is 2.8 grams lighter.
Oops.
https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-to-alter-ba...s-for-2021
From another article:
“In 2019, fly balls hit between 100-104 mph and at a 20-24 degree launch angle went for outs (including sac flies) just 18% of the time; using the inverse, hitters would reach base 82% of the time when they’d connect. In 2021, however, hitters are reaching base just 65% of the time. That’s still a solid figure, but it provides further evidence that, rather than convert home runs into other types of base hits, MLB has only reduced offense overall. That’s not a shocking conclusion, but at least it is consistent.”
https://theathletic.com/2577384/2021/05/...backfired/
Oops.
https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-to-alter-ba...s-for-2021
From another article:
“In 2019, fly balls hit between 100-104 mph and at a 20-24 degree launch angle went for outs (including sac flies) just 18% of the time; using the inverse, hitters would reach base 82% of the time when they’d connect. In 2021, however, hitters are reaching base just 65% of the time. That’s still a solid figure, but it provides further evidence that, rather than convert home runs into other types of base hits, MLB has only reduced offense overall. That’s not a shocking conclusion, but at least it is consistent.”
https://theathletic.com/2577384/2021/05/...backfired/
Audaces fortuna iuvat