Crazy idea But - Would larger baseballs make games more interesting?

SearchPatrol · 12-22-2020, 05:54 PM

So before you totally write this off, please let me explain.

We talk about baseball becoming a 3 outcome game (walk, K & HR)
So what can be done to

a) Make the outcomes of at bats have more variance
b) Make at bats shorter

So what would put the ball in play more, without resulting in a higher home run rate.

So what I was thinking was, instead of using 9 inch baseball that weighs 5 ounces. start using girl softballs, 11 inch ball that weighs 6 ounces. Now, instead of using a 6 ounce ball, just make it so that it's only 5 ounces.

With a larger ball, I would think that would make more contact. And with more drag, less home runs. And also slower pitches so less swing and misses.

With players being bigger now than ever before, could this be a time to make the baseballs larger?

Thoughts?

MiamiMarlinsFan · 12-22-2020, 05:56 PM

No, thank you.

asujbl · 12-22-2020, 05:56 PM

Weird

Just go watch softball

NYRE2PECT · 12-22-2020, 05:59 PM

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Braswell10 · 12-22-2020, 06:06 PM

Might as well have them use two gloves while youre at it.

EastonElite · 12-22-2020, 06:08 PM

So like, lets just make a new game and call it baseball.

kabrune2 · 12-22-2020, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearchPatrol

So what I was thinking was, instead of using 9 inch baseball that weighs 5 ounces. start using girl softballs, 11 inch ball that weighs 6 ounces. Now, instead of using a 6 ounce ball, just make it so that it's only 5 ounces.

Are we getting NBA players with huge hands to pitch? I’d guess 50+% of MLB pitchers wouldn’t be able to grip the ball at that point.

What needs to be done is ban the shift, have designated zones that each position can set up in, this would fix the 3 true outcome baseball we’ve been seeing. Without the shifts players with pull tendencies will have a chance to get hits again, which changes the math around trading outs for more home runs with launch angles, now instead of having a .175-.225 BABIP with the shift a pull hitter should have a closer to league avg BABIP of around .300 (probably 10-20 pts lower as most pull hitters aren’t speedsters)

I’ve wondered how many HR’s Chris Davis would’ve hit if the shift was banned throughout his career. His BABIP was awful and made him unplayable, which caused him to change his launch angle which caused more K’s which were already high.

Boredlawyer · 12-22-2020, 06:18 PM

My thought is that not every passing thought needs to be a new topic.

rngrdanny22 · 12-22-2020, 06:27 PM

The first two words of the thread title were all I needed to know...

Wasn't disappointed.

Triple B · 12-22-2020, 06:36 PM

No. Just go watch softball.

premium1981 · 12-22-2020, 07:38 PM

This is the dumbest idea I have read on these boards. And I have seen a lot of dumb ideas. Why stop there? Let’s make the bats bigger, the mounds bigger, the fields bigger, the gloves bigger, the grass taller, the walls bigger, the bases bigger, and while we are at it, the jersey numbers need to be bigger.

danimal875 · 12-22-2020, 07:45 PM

The ball thing is nonsense, if you thought arm injuries were bad now... however I agree 100% with banning the shift, it is an unfair advantage for right handed batters, period, end of story. the first baseman simply cannot vacate their position. If Mike Trout had to hit into a shift all the time, his numbers would take quite a hit.

premium1981 · 12-22-2020, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danimal875

however I agree 100% with banning the shift.

Hitters should adjust. Shifts create bigger holes to hit the ball. Freddie Freeman loves poking the ball to left when they shift on him. Good hitters adjust. Bad hitters should practice more.

tonedef2oo8 · 12-22-2020, 07:54 PM

No.....

hxcmilkshake · 12-22-2020, 08:12 PM

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

SDcardguy24 · 12-22-2020, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearchPatrol

So before you totally write this off, please let me explain.

We talk about baseball becoming a 3 outcome game (walk, K & HR)
So what can be done to

a) Make the outcomes of at bats have more variance
b) Make at bats shorter

So what would put the ball in play more, without resulting in a higher home run rate.

So what I was thinking was, instead of using 9 inch baseball that weighs 5 ounces. start using girl softballs, 11 inch ball that weighs 6 ounces. Now, instead of using a 6 ounce ball, just make it so that it's only 5 ounces.

With a larger ball, I would think that would make more contact. And with more drag, less home runs. And also slower pitches so less swing and misses.

With players being bigger now than ever before, could this be a time to make the baseballs larger?

Thoughts?

superdan49 · 12-22-2020, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYRE2PECT

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Those new GPK Sapphires look really nice. Thanks for posting!

Archangel1775 · 12-22-2020, 09:03 PM

rngrdanny22 · 12-22-2020, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danimal875

however I agree 100% with banning the shift, it is an unfair advantage for right handed batters, period, end of story.

Tony Gwynn just did a barrel roll in his grave.

Vintage Collector · 12-22-2020, 09:07 PM

Have them fast pitch softball or golf ball sized baseballs. Lol

SaltyCracker · 12-22-2020, 09:09 PM

Adding a 5th base would be great.

superdan49 · 12-22-2020, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaltyCracker

Adding a 5th base would be great.

Yeah but that would ruin the Meatloaf song.

grade · 12-22-2020, 10:12 PM

The easiest way to change the game for more runs without changing much is just make the bases 12" closer (diamond smaller).

rcgdodge · 12-22-2020, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kabrune2

Are we getting NBA players with huge hands to pitch? I’d guess 50+% of MLB pitchers wouldn’t be able to grip the ball at that point.

What needs to be done is ban the shift, have designated zones that each position can set up in, this would fix the 3 true outcome baseball we’ve been seeing. Without the shifts players with pull tendencies will have a chance to get hits again, which changes the math around trading outs for more home runs with launch angles, now instead of having a .175-.225 BABIP with the shift a pull hitter should have a closer to league avg BABIP of around .300 (probably 10-20 pts lower as most pull hitters aren’t speedsters)

I’ve wondered how many HR’s Chris Davis would’ve hit if the shift was banned throughout his career. His BABIP was awful and made him unplayable, which caused him to change his launch angle which caused more K’s which were already high.

I hate the shift. Ban it.

If anything they should play with golf balls and metal bats. 1000ft HRs would be amazing.

UCCF · 12-22-2020, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcgdodge

I hate the shift. Ban it.

If anything they should play with golf balls and metal bats. 1000ft HRs would be amazing.

Plus every year, we'd get a new insert set from Topps of pitchers killed by line drives the previous season.

12-22-2020, 05:54 PM	#1
SearchPatrol Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 1,051 AndrewB	Crazy idea But - Would larger baseballs make games more interesting? So before you totally write this off, please let me explain. We talk about baseball becoming a 3 outcome game (walk, K & HR) So what can be done to a) Make the outcomes of at bats have more variance b) Make at bats shorter So what would put the ball in play more, without resulting in a higher home run rate. So what I was thinking was, instead of using 9 inch baseball that weighs 5 ounces. start using girl softballs, 11 inch ball that weighs 6 ounces. Now, instead of using a 6 ounce ball, just make it so that it's only 5 ounces. With a larger ball, I would think that would make more contact. And with more drag, less home runs. And also slower pitches so less swing and misses. With players being bigger now than ever before, could this be a time to make the baseballs larger? Thoughts?

12-22-2020, 05:56 PM	#3
asujbl Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 63,904 ohiosundevils	Weird Just go watch softball __________________ https://ohiosundevils.smugmug.com/ Browns/Cavs/Tribe/Buckeyes/Jackets/Devils TheFrenzy - “Blowout ain't a place for normies”

12-22-2020, 05:59 PM	#4
NYRE2PECT Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: San Antonio Posts: 8,304	Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Primarily retired from collecting, but doing a Greatest Sho-man binder thing. I do love California Angels baseball.

12-22-2020, 06:06 PM	#5
Braswell10 Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 9,477 o7star	Might as well have them use two gloves while youre at it. Last edited by Braswell10; 12-22-2020 at 06:09 PM.

12-22-2020, 06:36 PM	#10
Triple B Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 6,260	No. Just go watch softball. __________________ Wanted Dead or Alive! 1. 1997 Bowman's Best Jose Cruz, Jr Atomic Refractor Autograph 2. 1997 SPx Jose Cruz, Jr. Grand Finale /50

12-22-2020, 05:56 PM	#2
MiamiMarlinsFan Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Florida Posts: 13,939	No, thank you.

12-22-2020, 06:08 PM	#6
EastonElite Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 490	So like, lets just make a new game and call it baseball.

12-22-2020, 06:18 PM	#8
Boredlawyer Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 2,234	My thought is that not every passing thought needs to be a new topic.

12-22-2020, 06:27 PM	#9
rngrdanny22 Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 12,372	The first two words of the thread title were all I needed to know... Wasn't disappointed.

12-22-2020, 07:38 PM	#11
premium1981 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 11,474	This is the dumbest idea I have read on these boards. And I have seen a lot of dumb ideas. Why stop there? Let’s make the bats bigger, the mounds bigger, the fields bigger, the gloves bigger, the grass taller, the walls bigger, the bases bigger, and while we are at it, the jersey numbers need to be bigger.

12-22-2020, 07:45 PM	#12
danimal875 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 4,929 thunder_cards thundercards	The ball thing is nonsense, if you thought arm injuries were bad now... however I agree 100% with banning the shift, it is an unfair advantage for right handed batters, period, end of story. the first baseman simply cannot vacate their position. If Mike Trout had to hit into a shift all the time, his numbers would take quite a hit.

12-22-2020, 07:54 PM	#14
tonedef2oo8 Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 7,335	No..... __________________ *“ I am very good at calculating stuff. 160+60=210 “*

12-22-2020, 08:12 PM	#15
hxcmilkshake Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Apopka FL Posts: 11,569 hxcmilkshake	Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

12-22-2020, 09:03 PM	#18
Archangel1775 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Cali baby! Posts: 22,009	__________________ *There are the intangibles that set someone apart from the pack.So the blur isn't your inability to see his greatness, it's merely the inability to measure it.*

12-22-2020, 09:07 PM	#20
Vintage Collector Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 9,309 mitcards	Have them fast pitch softball or golf ball sized baseballs. Lol __________________ Vintage Collector's Ebay ID is - Mitcards All ebay auctions starting at 99 cents no reserve. I will also buy or trade My Cards for your Silver or Gold! Never Forget 9/11, Be Diligent and Safe!

12-22-2020, 09:09 PM	#21
SaltyCracker Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 5,472	Adding a 5th base would be great.

12-22-2020, 10:12 PM	#23
grade Banned Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 3,113	The easiest way to change the game for more runs without changing much is just make the bases 12" closer (diamond smaller).