College baseball gets offensive boost with lowered seams
Many claim that baseball has been overtaken by football as America’s past time, because football draws an unfathomable amount of income, paired with through-the-roof television ratings.
There are many theories behind the decline of baseball’s popularity. Many say the game is no longer exciting, or too long.
Of course, the lack of offense is also another topic that seems to pop up.
For the past several seasons, college baseball has struggled to find that balance between increasing
offense while maintaining safe playing conditions, which includes the topic of using aluminum bats. This season, college baseball
successfully increased offensive production, but not by tweaking bats or changing any rules. A simple change to the white sphere with 108 red stitches is the primary factor for the offensive explosion.
At all divisions, the NCAA made the switch from using raised-seamed baseballs that are commonly found in high school leagues, to lower, flat seams that are nearly identical to those used in the minor leagues. Mathematically, the seams were lowered from .048 inches to .031, which doesn’t seem like much. But when looking at statistics and analytics, the numbers tell a different story.
Looking at the midseason report from the NCAA this year, home runs are up a staggering 39 percent from a year ago at the Division I level; up from 0.36 per game to 0.50 per contest. For the most part, every batting category has seen an increase, even if it is minimal. Runs scored per game are up five percent, while strikeouts per nine innings have jumped 10.5 percent. Batting averages have virtually stayed the same. Division III does not have a midseason report.
“I think there’s definitely been a better change,” said Geneva coach Alan Sumner. “I’ve noticed balls have been carrying further. Not necessarily the speed coming off the bat, but the distance has stood out to me.”
The reason for the increase in distance is the aerodynamics of the baseball. With the seams lowered, the ball has less resistance in the wind. When the NCAA conducted studies, it was found that on average, flat-seamed baseballs carried an extra 20 feet, without an increase in speed coming off the bat.
Before the switch in baseballs, the NCAA modified its baseball bats at the beginning of the 2011 season. BESR bats, as they were known, which caused a trampoline-like effect to the baseball when contact was made, were outlawed due to safety concerns.
To replace them, BBCOR bats were introduced, which only allow a bat to be three ounces lighter than the length of the bat. BBCOR bats are the standard at the high school levels today as well.
“The lower seam baseball has increased the offensive numbers a little, but it is certainly not back to the pre-BBCOR and BESR levels, which I believe is a positive for the game,” said Pitt coach Joe Jordano. “I believe the biggest adjustment is for pitchers to get used to throwing pitches with the lower seam. It is certainly easier to throw off-speed pitches with a raised seam. Overall, I supported the change and feel it has improved the college game.”
Even though Jordano believes the lowered seams have had a negative effect on his pitchers at the Division I level, Sumner hasn’t heard many complaints from his Division III hurlers.
“They’ve been throwing with flat seams throughout the whole offseason,” Sumner said. “They don’t think it’s negatively affecting the pitching; they say their fastball has more movement. I think it’s been a positive change, and I think defensively teams have changed for it.”
“The BBCOR bat made it more of a wood bat game. The six or seven hitter would come up and the outfield would be shallower, but now they’ve moved back and expect even the seven, eight and nine hitters can put the ball over their head.”
As teams approach the midseason mark, strategies and mindsets of teams offensively haven’t quite changed, according to Sumner.
“I’m not sure if that’s happened yet,” he said. “Not much strategy has changed, but that might happen down the road once the coaches see the statistics.”
With the NCAA making the transition from the college ranks to the minors easier with lower seams, it didn’t want to overstep its boundaries by changing too many parts of the ball. The seams are now closer to those used in the minors, but the core in the NCAA baseballs aren’t as active due to the use of aluminum bats.
“The pure pitcher and hitter will adapt the easiest,” said Sumner. “It kind of brings everything in line again. I think the flat seam has been fine”
“It doesn’t take it too far and it doesn’t give someone that much of an advantage. I think they found a good balance. It looks like they’ve hit on something here.”