The baseball thread.

**smmokan** · 05-16-2007, 08:48 AM

This is all I could find after a quick google search. Nothing on the size of the baseballs they use.

There is no single, official ball sanctioned by either league or by the Commisioners office. Rather, the commissioners office certifies that the balls of different sporting goods manufacturers are eligible to be used in official games, provided they meet the commissioner's specifications. Each team is allowed to use balls, from up to three different makers, during each season for their home games. The home team must select the balls from one maker only to be used during each series and must supply the visiting team with samples of the balls to be used in advance.
The use of different maker's balls causes lots of difficulty in comparing the stats of different teams, since no manufacturer's balls are identical. In 1980, things got very wierd when one manufacturer's balls, which were particularly lively, were adopted widely by four Pacific League teams: the Hawks, Buffaloes, Braves and the Lions. This particular lively ball had been used for a few years, but when it went into wide spread use in 1980, home run totals jumped by 28% and while the total number of hits remained stable, doubles and triples were way down but homers were way up. Perhaps a lot of hard hit balls that would have hit the fences, were gliding over them. The home run explosion which swept the league, did not occur in the home parks of either the Lotte Orions or the Nippon Ham Fighters--who had opted not to use the juiced ball.

At the conclusion of that season, the commissioner's office instituted a much stricter testing regime with "random" testing taking place twice a year at by an independent testing agency in Saitama Prefecture. The balls are then tested for coefficiency of restitution, the measure of how much energy the ball retains from a collision. It is uncertain how random this testing is as the makers are asked to supply balls for testing, rather than having them taken from those already supplied to teams for game use.

Other than twice monthly tests in Osaka and Tokyo for weight and whiteness, which are conducted by umpires and performed prior to stamping each ball with the commissioner's seal, all other testing is done by the makers themselves. This system appears open for abuse.The fact that the Nippon Ham Fighters, playing in a decent home run park--but not a band box--see 70% more home runs in their home games suggests that the balls are a factor

**iceman** · 05-17-2007, 01:29 PM

Sox 2-1 in the early game, Tavarez goes 7, Okajima and Papelbon shut the door.

**shmerham** · 05-17-2007, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

Sox 2-1 in the early game, Tavarez goes 7, Okajima and Papelbon shut the door.

2 good starts in a row. Who woulda thunk it?

**iceman** · 05-17-2007, 01:39 PM

Yeah those are 7 valuable innings, too bad we only got the two runs, it would've been nice to keep Okajima and Papelbon on the bench.

**Brock Landers** · 05-17-2007, 01:40 PM

How nasty has Okajima been? Filthy.

**pappag** · 05-17-2007, 01:43 PM

5 in the 9th down 5-1 to win.

Holy BATMAN!!

Go METS!

**iceman** · 05-17-2007, 01:54 PM

Sounds kinda familiar...

**pappag** · 05-17-2007, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

Sounds kinda familiar...

Well, both teams sport the best record in their respective leagues.

**iceman** · 05-17-2007, 02:01 PM

Hey, I was going batshit when the Sox pulled it off a few days ago against the O's, feel free to do the same today!

**pappag** · 05-17-2007, 02:05 PM

I'll hold it in until after Saturday's game against the Stanks.
I'm just glad I'll be in the stands instead of listening to Joe Fuck jerk off to Derek Jeter.

**Brock Landers** · 05-17-2007, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Nick Pappagiorgio

I'll hold it in until after Saturday's game against the Stanks.
I'm just glad I'll be in the stands instead of listening to Joe Fuck jerk off to Derek Jeter.

Or Joe Whorgan the next night. Wait...you are the lone Joe Morgan fan arent you?

**Brock Landers** · 05-17-2007, 05:47 PM

Anyone watching the sox game on nesn right now? Theyre showing clips of Remy between games of the doubleheader playing the air guitar and he falls down in the middle of it- just totally trips and falls on his ass. Hopefully someone sees it

**Phall** · 05-17-2007, 09:11 PM

I was at the 1235 Sox game today, FKNA Paplebon Rules, solid, solid closing.
28-12 right now, 9 1/2 up on the yanks if im not mistaken?

**MassLiberal** · 05-17-2007, 09:25 PM

yep, 9 1/2 games.

**iceman** · 05-17-2007, 09:32 PM

Yeah I saw Remdawg eat it, the guy's a classic.

**smmokan** · 05-17-2007, 09:51 PM

I'm not so sure there's going to be a race in the AL East this year. Through 40 games, the Sox look way too tough for the Yankees to catch them.

**iceman** · 05-17-2007, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by smmokan

I'm not so sure there's going to be a race in the AL East this year. Through 40 games, the Sox look way too tough for the Yankees to catch them.

Like any Sox fan would fall for that weak jinx shit and agree with you.

Personally I think we're fackin' doomed.

**shmerham** · 05-17-2007, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by iceman

Like any Sox fan would fall for that weak jinx shit and agree with you.

Personally I think we're fackin' doomed.

It's also in our blood to fear the worst regahdless of the circumstances. For instance, JD Drew and Beckett are both hurt, so 9 1/2 games does not seem like all that big of a lead to me.

**MassLiberal** · 05-17-2007, 11:04 PM

Going to tomorrow nights game, psyched to see Hansack pitch, he's been doing well in Pawtucket.

Games probably going to be rained out though.

**Brock Landers** · 05-18-2007, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by MassLiberal

Going to tomorrow nights game, psyched to see Hansack pitch, he's been doing well in Pawtucket.

Quite the optimist..."psyched" to see Hansack pitch? I love it though. Anyone want to go and see Smoltz pitch?unless it gets rained out, which is a strong probablility

**iceman** · 05-18-2007, 07:44 AM

Sounds like Drew will be fine, I missed him hitting the wall, I guess he crashed pretty hard?

btw, what's the matter with Timlin? I haven't seen a word on it.

That Hinske catch/facial last night was pretty sick.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 05-18-2007, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by iceman

btw, what's the matter with Timlin? I haven't seen a word on it.

Shoulder or elbow tendinitis. Bob Ryan (I think) had a good article in the Globe yesterday about the Sox' injuries and finding out what they're made of right now. He also points out that the significant guys missing time right now are the people you'd expect to miss time, and they're missing it for the reasons you'd expect: the old workhorse (Timlin) has tendinitis, the guy with hand eczema has a skin problem on his pitching hand (Beckett), and the guy who always gets some weird injury got some weird injury (Drew).

As for the AL East... I don't know how the Braves are recently, but I wouldn't want to play the Mets right now.

**shmerham** · 05-18-2007, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by iceman

btw, what's the matter with Timlin? I haven't seen a word on it.

Unfortunately, his shoulder isn't responding to treatment. He hasn't made any improvement.

**Brock Landers** · 05-18-2007, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by Steven S. Dallas

As for the AL East... I don't know how the Braves are recently, but I wouldn't want to play the Mets right now.

Braves are right there with the Mets, maybe a game back? Both teams playing well.

EDIT- http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/ Remy's air guitar solo and subsequent faceplant