|
||||
|
|
Talk Sports Discuss everything that is sports-related, like MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, MLS, NASCAR, NCAA sports and teams, trades, coaches, bad calls etc. |
|
Thread Tools |
12-31-2019, 12:14 PM | #1 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: May 2016
Location: St Petersburg Florida USA
Posts: 5,417
|
If they got rid of the mound would there be fewer home runs?
With the mound a pitch travels downward to the batter. Meaning a slight upper cut to give the bat max time in the ball's path may help home runs.
But of the ball came in closer to flat a more level swing to maximize contact potential might mean more line drives and fewer home runs. Seems decreased velocity from no mound would mean more hits. |
12-31-2019, 01:25 PM | #2 |
All Star Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Where the Action is
Posts: 1,774
|
That would explain why there were so many homers in the 60's, when the mounds were higher
|
12-31-2019, 01:47 PM | #3 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 693
|
Easier solution would be to dump the juiced balls
|
12-31-2019, 02:12 PM | #4 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: May 2016
Location: St Petersburg Florida USA
Posts: 5,417
|
|
12-31-2019, 02:59 PM | #5 | |
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Ban land in 3...2...
Posts: 2,943
|
Quote:
Or moving the mound back, which would have a similar effect of changing the angle of the incoming pitch. Along with making the strike zone bigger. Both moves would increase the value of making contact. Which is the game most fans seem to want. Don't know how much difference it would make in HR rate though. Not sure that the decrease in angle would do as you say and flatten out swings enough to really impact HRs. HR's per game went up when the mound was lowered for the 1969 season. There were also changes made to the strike zone which obscures how change lowering the mound had Last edited by CBeisbol; 12-31-2019 at 03:17 PM. |
|
12-31-2019, 04:02 PM | #6 |
All Star Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,703
|
A lower mound reduces pitch velocity for many reasons. The pitcher can no longer drive forward with his lead foot anywhere near as effectively. Slower pitchers mean more contact; more contact means more hits. Where those hits end up is due to more factors than launch angle.
The Dodgers had the highest mound in baseball while they had Koufax and Drysdale (and others). Many think that is the reason for their pitching success. Remember, there hitting wasn't all that great in those days because the visitors benefit, too. Gravity stills draws the ball down, so its flight will always be dropping. A slower ball means a greater drop near the plate, so I doubt 'Launch Angles' will be changed much.
__________________
"My name will live forever" - Anonymous |
01-01-2020, 09:02 PM | #7 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 805
|
If the mound is lower, to get the ball into the strike zone, it will need to be released at a higher angle. The ball is going to drop the same amount over the 60 feet. Playing with physics in my head, I think you will actually drop in at a steeper, and probably slower, angle if you throw on the flat.
__________________
Boomcoach Let's Go Crew |
01-01-2020, 09:17 PM | #8 |
Minors (Single A)
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 96
|
They lowered the mound from 15 to 10 inches and changed the strike zone because of the following:
In 1968, 7 pitchers had sub 2 era. Bob Gibson 1.12 ERA. The batting champ (Yaz) hit .301. The Yankees hit .214. Mickey Mantle hit .237. 7 Teams hit .230 or lower.
__________________
BBA-Hawaii Tropics Last edited by Jwalk100; 01-01-2020 at 09:18 PM. Reason: Spelling |
01-02-2020, 04:48 PM | #9 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: May 2016
Location: St Petersburg Florida USA
Posts: 5,417
|
Quote:
|
|
01-02-2020, 05:35 PM | #10 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking for a place called Leehofooks
Posts: 8,863
|
Why not adopt the small town little league way of doing things? You know, the one where use and weather combine to have the pitcher throwing from a what amounts to a ditch.
|
01-02-2020, 06:44 PM | #11 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: May 2016
Location: St Petersburg Florida USA
Posts: 5,417
|
That would really mess up the bounce on grounders. Come to think of it, so does the mound. More reasons to make it flat!!!
|
01-02-2020, 06:52 PM | #12 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: The big smoke
Posts: 15,628
|
Since both pitchers throw from the same mound, I'm not sure what advantage that would create. If I'm the small town home pitcher I want a 15" mound for sure.
__________________
Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit |
01-02-2020, 07:05 PM | #13 | |
Global Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 28,366
|
Quote:
I saw Eddie Feigner strike a few guys out from second base. He pitched from centerfield too but was completely hittable from there.
__________________
|
|
01-02-2020, 08:02 PM | #14 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,009
|
I always thought the higher the mound the harder it was to hit in general.
|
01-02-2020, 08:42 PM | #15 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: The big smoke
Posts: 15,628
|
Quote:
The answer to the original question is no. There would be more HR.
__________________
Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit |
|
01-03-2020, 08:50 AM | #16 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Looking for a place called Leehofooks
Posts: 8,863
|
Just thinking back to my little league days. Heck, even some of our pony league fields had us pitching out of a hole.
|
01-03-2020, 10:56 AM | #17 |
All Star Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,703
|
Here's a well-thought-out article about the big changes in 1969 and how they each may have affected the change in offense.
https://tht.fangraphs.com/the-height-of-the-hill/ It's interesting no one has yet pointed out the 1969 was a major, four team expansion and that had a big impact on the quality of play.
__________________
"My name will live forever" - Anonymous |
01-03-2020, 02:58 PM | #18 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: May 2016
Location: St Petersburg Florida USA
Posts: 5,417
|
Quote:
Taken from the opposite direction, some of the DMB guys do leagues where all the players are everyday player or top of the rotation quality. No RL bench guys or fourth starters are in the game. Then they complain the stars don't perform like stars a lot of the time. Of course not. Star batters are facing better pitchers and star pitchers are facing better batters. Both under perform RL while overall averages mimic RL. |
|
01-05-2020, 11:38 AM | #19 | |
All Star Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,703
|
Quote:
__________________
"My name will live forever" - Anonymous |
|
01-05-2020, 12:16 PM | #20 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: May 2016
Location: St Petersburg Florida USA
Posts: 5,417
|
Quote:
So if real life works differently, tell me, when MLB expanded 20% did it help pitching or hitting? And why? |
|
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
|
|