College Game New Ball

It's not you, bds! Been thinking the same thing. This is just today ...

 

 

The ball is too live..... its still cold the air is thick and I saw a 5'5 second baseman pound one off a score board today... Vandy and Illinois State put up 26 runs?

the scored listed here don't seem out of line. you have 2 outliers in Miami and Bama both in games they are the overwelming favorite in. Outside of those nothing in double digits, it seems to me the balls have done exactly what they are supposed to have done! If you want to go to even harder ones like they use in the minors I would be fine with that.

I absolutely love the new ball! It keeps games more interesting I watched a 15-10 game between Alcorn and Grambling State a couple of weeks ago on the MLB Network!

I went to watch Texas Tech play last week. There was 4 homers and 1 Grand Slam. The ball is definitely traveling further. To bad the kid we know gave up 2 of them..

I don't agree that it makes it more interesting. But for most, a hitfest is much better than a pitchers dual.  I agree the ball is too live. I feel badly for the pitchers.

I don't think that conclusions can be made due to weather factor. 

TPM, I meant that a hitfest is more exciting than a pitchers duel for me. There are still 2-1 games going on but IMO this ball is much better.

While I understand your point, its still too early to tell because of weather conditons. Batters have advantage in colder weather. JMO

The average person who attends the college game, IMO,  much rather would enjoy watching a hitfest rather than one of those really slow, boring low scoring games.

TPM, yes it will be interesting to find out how the ball flies once the weather warms up.

Better learn to live low in the zone.  To those with Milber's  is the new college ball like a minor league ball?  If so the college pitchers are still facing metal.....

 

I understand that the dead bats made for a small ball game, more bunting, stealing etc...

 

But won't all these runs extend the game time?

That 26 run game you mentioned says 4:08 in the box score. Hopefully, that will be an outlier when we look at the total numbers at the end of the season.

 

I do not have an MILBer or do I know any.But the core of the new college ball is supposed to be the same as the old ball. The core should be softer than the MiLB ball. 

I had hoped it would raise offense a little. What I have seen so far is more than I had hoped. But as TPM and others have mentioned. It is still early and I believe as it warms up maybe teh offense will come back down a bit. 

Interesting note from that game. I only counted three pitches over 80 mph in that game (admitting that I stopped watching after the starters went out).

roothog, yes not the best baseball but that was the only baseball on TV.

Yeah. I was watching, too.  At least until a game came on the SECN. I was just a little surprised at the lack of velocity at that level.

Yes I was too expecting a higher level of play.The nightcap game was much better but not the best. I think I saw one pitcher throw 68-71 as a fastball. But yes I was waiting for the SECN game I think it was between FSU and Georgia very well played game.

Early returns are in from www.d1baseball.com.

 

http://www.d1baseball.com/anal...through-three-weeks/

"power production is much higher with 40.1 percent more homers being hit"--D1baseball.com

 

I think it's clearer when it's expressed in terms of home run frequency. Last season teams hit homers at a rate of one every three games.  This season (so far)  the home run rate is approximately one every two games.

Wasn't last year an all time low in HR's? How about we see how the complete season compares to past seasons. Sorry to all of the pitchers dads out there. Maybe one day a year they can go back to the "old" ball . We can call it National Fly Out Day.

When all is said and done for this year, I'd like to know how the new ball with the BBCOR bat compares to the old -3.  I don't think it will be that close. More than last year, but not back to the days of old.

And you don't find that a significant increase? A 40% increase is a 40%. If it holds, it's a significant statistical increase. It means, theoretically, a 20 hr guy becomes a 30 home run guy. If it happened in the majors, would you not fin it a significant increase in power?

I saw 4 dingers yesterday in a 7 inning game.  Another 6-7 hit to the wall.  

 

 

Sounds like the hitters have finally gotten a chance to matter again! the kids better learn to keep the ball down... Their mistakes now can actually hurt them 

Yes need to keep the ball down, better pitchers will adjust

NCAA has a nice piece on the new ball.

 

http://www.ncaa.com/news/baseb...-average-remain-flat

 

 

This goes in line with what I am seeing... more homers.... thanks for posting this.

I have a theory (for what it's worth). While the ball is indeed carrying further which is represented by the 40% increase in home runs, the flatter seams also has provided pitchers with a little more velocity (around 2mph) and a little better movement and as a result a 12% increase in strikeouts means fewer balls in play. So, as to runs scored, the two factors have produced a push.

I can see maybe see a slight increase in velocity with decreased friction on the ball. But I dont think it can be that much,  2mph. I also would think the ball moves Less with less friction on the ball. 

 

That NCAA article is funny. How can fly balls that were outs in 2014 now become HR in 2015 not produce more scoring?

Watch the ball fly when the weather heats up.

Actually the physicas behind a moving baseball are strange. The less drag by spinning seams, the more turbulance causes movement. There have been reports of increased pitching velocity. I only picked the 2mph increase based on an isolated experience. My son pitched at a college prospects camp in November that was using the new balls and he was showing 2mph more velocity than what I wa clocking him at three days earlier with a high school ball. So, just a guess.