Between the Astros and Red Sox investigations, controversial new rule changes, and the COVID-19 pandemic, Rob Manfred and the commissioner’s office have had their hands full these past few months. Another new story came to light Tuesday morning, this one regarding the baseballs in the 2019 postseason.
*juiced baseball scoop!*
so, those funky balls from the 2019 postseason? despite MLB's persistent denials, new scientific research and player testimony strongly suggest MLB used older, less juicy balls during the playoffs.
Here's what you should know:https://t.co/NyKsKWyOTj— Bradford William Davis (@_beewilly) March 31, 2020
To sum up the investigation’s findings, there were a large quantity of baseballs in the 2019 postseason that had the same “batch codes” as 2018 balls. The 2018 balls were not nearly as “juiced” as the 2019 balls. The study references “lace thickness”, which varied from ball to ball. Player testimonials also aligned with the study’s results.
“‘Everything we saw as players would have said that the baseball was different,’ said the pitcher, who requested to remain anonymous.”
From a Dodger standpoint, one can not help but wonder if Will Smith’s fly out to the warning track in game five would have been a home run with one of the 2019 balls.
I really thought Will Smith was sending us to the NLCS when that ball left his bat…. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/4sZ4JXs8WH
— Drizzy (@youngdodger12) January 6, 2020
Even the Dodgers dugout instinctively thought the ball would keep on traveling, much like every normal 2019 baseball.
Remember when the Dodgers started to prematurely celebrate Will Smith’s flyout in the 9th, it was that moment they lost this game #NLDS pic.twitter.com/IxBSnpu4a3
— Josh Callaway (@JoshCallaway714) October 10, 2019
While playing the “what if” game is fun, the Dodgers were still playing with the same inconsistent batch of balls as the Nationals. The de-juiced balls didn’t stop Anthony Rendon or Juan Soto from going back-to-back off Clayton Kershaw in game five.
MLB has publicly rejected the notion of juiced balls in the first place, much less the de-juicing of those same balls. However, as we all know, Rob Manfred isn’t exactly the most trustworthy commissioner in professional sports. Here’s to MLB resuming play sooner rather than later, as these scandals piling up are no good for the game.
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