Scoring, entering Saturday, was down almost a full run per game from last season — from 9.06 to 8.16 — and the average hitter’s on-base-plus-slugging percentage was down 50 points, from .728 to .678.
It was only three years ago when four teams passed the record for home runs, led by Minnesota’s 307.
“I just think some of the balls are a little squishier than usual,” said another Jays starter.
In Manoah’s outing Thursday afternoon, fellow starter Ross Stripling held onto one of the baseballs Manoah threw out of play and asked him what he didn’t like about it.
It doesn’t take a physicist to understand that squishy, dented, spongy balls aren’t going to fly as far as ones with proper structural integrity.
The stat, provided by Sportsnet producer Chris Black, showed that pulled balls hit at the same exit velocity and launch angle as the Collins out over the last three seasons resulted in a .340 average, a 1.423 slugging percentage and 45 home runs.
“A couple of nights ago, Chapman hit one to the warning track in left-centre and I thought it was going to be way out.
You have to actually physically open it and so that might create some sort of tackiness, some sort of moisture within the leather that makes it not as slippery.
“I remember showing up a couple of years ago to the park when there was talk about the balls being different,” he said.
“That’s kind of like the kid who comes in and says he didn’t do anything wrong.
Given the lack of offence to start the season, maybe MLB changed up the flavour of the ice cream this weekend.
