College Ball Change

PG, do you know if this is just for D1, or all NCAA?  How bout JUCO and NAIA?

My understanding was that it is a conference by conference decision.  Is that not the case?

Because of the aerodynamics, it is my understanding this ball will travel about 20 ft. farther on warning track balls...perhaps bringing the HR back into the game...without an increase in exit velocity from the bat, thus not reintroducing enhanced danger to the pitcher.

 

Good thing if all true.  I need to ask my colleague who has studied some of this stuff in a wind tunnel.

That is my understanding too.

I read similar things Regarding the extra 20' without the increase in exit velocity. I think it is fantastic, because the HR has decreased too much.

Evidently Washington State Univ. did an extensive study, and the ball does travel about 20-25 feet further on an "off-the-bat" exit speed of about 90mph or so.  I read somewhere that although, yes, the breaking ball is more difficult to get bite on, the flat-seamed ball has more two-seam fastball life.  Also, I wonder if the the flat seam ball loses less velocity between pitcher's release and the plate, I mean enough to give just a tad more giddyup on the fastball as it enters the catcher's glove?

 

I believe the rule would take effect for the 2015 season, and it would only apply to D1 post-season play, although the thoughts were that all conferences would adopt the ball for regular season play as no coaches would want to play with one type of ball during season, and switch during post season.

The college coaches need to vote in favor of wood bats only if they want college players to experience the MLB.  

Wood bats may be too expensive for the lower divisions. I am not sure that some DIII conferences would want the expense. They get a discount on Bats they use but they are not furnished for free.

 

I would love to see wood back in College.

If the player has to buy his own bat that might be incentive to learn how to swing properly and pick the right pitches to hit.  . 

 

BTW, my son has used the same wooden bat for 13U and 14U league play and practice.  Hasn't broken yet.  

Wood bats are going to break in college. Doesn't matter how hard you try to hit it off the sweet spot every time. College pitchers are pretty good at getting you to miss.

Back to the topic. I'm still not sure if all college levels will be switching to the low seam ball. I've searched the Internet and can't find any results of a college coaches vote. I'm thinking maybe PG has some insider information he can share with us.

I spoke to a college coach from a pretty good D1 Conference sometime ago, and he didn't think his conference would be in favor of the switch. We will see though. I hope they do switch to the flat seam ball For several reasons: pros use it, ball travels farther, etc.

This article has pretty good data on this issue:

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com...study-on-ball-seams/

I guess that means the little crafty pitchers better develop a fastball and a deceptive change, Because we all know what happens to a curve ball that don't break.

Told my son about the change - he's a pitcher.  He said "Good, they should use wood bats too."  He's commented before that he likes the flat-seam balls.  Used them at PG events.  In his profile, one of the things they said was "nasty 10-4 slider with very good late life."  Guess he does OK with the flat seam.

Haven't you heard?  Wood bats break.   

 

 

Haha!!  That's good for the pitcher though.

Really glad to hear this and not surprised, given the opinions I'd heard. College baseball needs the long ball to return (at least, to some extent), and this is a great way to head in that direction.

 

In my opinion, economics prevent colleges from using wood exclusively; but, it's less the "economics" involving the necessity of replacing wooden bats as it is the "economics" of marketing metal bats.

 

The bat manufacturers need someone young players admire to use and endorse their metal bats. The profit margins on metal bats are large relative to many other products they sell.

 

Since professional baseball uses only wood, they've effectively taken themselves out of the position of serving as an endorser of any of the manufacturers' metal bats. That leaves the college programs in position to fill the void left by the pros; something they are exceedingly happy to do.

 

As long as college athletic departments are (more than) okay with the prospect of receiving equipment and dollars in return for using and endorsing individual manufacturers' metal bats, any thought of using wood won't cross the minds of college athletic officials; much less get put to a vote.

 

Lowering the seams? No problem.

 

Going to wood? Unthinkable.

Information I got said over 80% of the college coaches that voted favored the flat seam ball. Probably true about the ball traveling farther.  Nothing scientific, but we have seen HS kids hitting with wood hit that flat seam ball an amazing distance. In fact Joey Gallo hit one of the longest HRs ever hit at Petco against a 94 mph fastball.  17 year old kid with wood hitting one farther than most anyone in a Big League park. 

 

Question for the physics guys.  Most HRs especially the real long ones require backspin for carry. So depending on the amount of spin would it increase or decrease the amount of carry between flat and high seam ball?

 

I really enjoy these type discussions.  Always learn something from those that understand the science behind things.

 

College baseball is a great game with or without using wood.  I just wish the same equipment was used at all the higher levels, like in other sports. Pitchers just love it when they throw a pitch that shatters a bat. So long as the shrapnel doesn't go in their direction.

uhhh he is not seeing plus 90 FB's in on the hands.....