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Author Topic: Minor League Baseballs  (Read 1716 times)

Navin R Johnson

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Minor League Baseballs
« on: September 08, 2016, 05:21:08 pm »
Gotta admit, I never knew this.

Pregame Sparks was talking about Paulino and mentioned getting used to the baseballs they use in MLB vs MiLB.  Sparks talked about how the seams are higher and its easier to throw a curve in the minors.

How have I never heard this until now.  And why is this the case?
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juliogotay

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Re: Minor League Baseballs
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2016, 06:12:01 pm »
Quote from: Navin R Johnson on September 08, 2016, 05:21:08 pm
Gotta admit, I never knew this.

Pregame Sparks was talking about Paulino and mentioned getting used to the baseballs they use in MLB vs MiLB.  Sparks talked about how the seams are higher and its easier to throw a curve in the minors.

How have I never heard this until now.  And why is this the case?

Shows how good a color man Sparks is. I had never heard that before either.
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Nate Colbert

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Re: Minor League Baseballs
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2016, 06:31:26 pm »
The more inexperienced the pitcher, the higher the seam height. Allows for a better grip on the baseball, thus better from an instructional standpoint.

D1 baseballs used to have a higher seam height than the minors ball until a couple of years ago when they conformed to the minors ball.
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HudsonHawk

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Re: Minor League Baseballs
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2016, 08:13:32 pm »
There's actually quite a big difference in seam height.
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Navin R Johnson

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Re: Minor League Baseballs
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2016, 08:54:48 pm »
Quote from: HudsonHawk on September 08, 2016, 08:13:32 pm
There's actually quite a big difference in seam height.

That's the way Sparks made it sound.  I still can't believe I have never heard of this before.  Has it always been that way?
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HudsonHawk

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Re: Minor League Baseballs
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2016, 09:25:40 pm »
Quote from: Navin R Johnson on September 08, 2016, 08:54:48 pm
That's the way Sparks made it sound.  I still can't believe I have never heard of this before.  Has it always been that way?

For at least the last 30 years.  The balls with the really high seams were the old NCAA balls.  The seam height of NCAA balls used to be comical.  That was one reason the minor league balls were higher than MLB balls...to get players used to the lower seams.  As pointed out, I think the NCAA has now gone to the same specs as MiLB.  Back in the day, grabbing a college ball and a pro ball were night and day. 
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Jacksonian

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Re: Minor League Baseballs
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2016, 09:29:22 pm »
Quote from: HudsonHawk on September 08, 2016, 09:25:40 pm
As pointed out, I think the NCAA has now gone to the same specs as MiLB.

This is correct.
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Navin R Johnson

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Re: Minor League Baseballs
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2016, 09:46:05 pm »
I knew about the college seams. When they reduced the bats the offense went to shit, it was ridiculous. 3 years ago they went to lower seams to try and get some offense back and it has worked.
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HudsonHawk

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Re: Minor League Baseballs
« Reply #8 on: September 08, 2016, 09:54:32 pm »
For a long time, they had National League balls and American League balls, which were supposedly the same other than the markings (thought one was stamped in black and the other in light blue).  Then they went to the "MLB" ball, which included the MLB logo.  Pitchers went ballistic claiming that the new MLB logo stamp on the ball made it easier for hitters to see the pitch.

Now might also be the time to point out that minor league balls are made in China.
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Lefty

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Re: Minor League Baseballs
« Reply #9 on: September 08, 2016, 11:52:05 pm »
Quote from: HudsonHawk on September 08, 2016, 09:54:32 pm
For a long time, they had National League balls and American League balls, which were supposedly the same other than the markings (thought one was stamped in black and the other in light blue).  Then they went to the "MLB" ball, which included the MLB logo.  Pitchers went ballistic claiming that the new MLB logo stamp on the ball made it easier for hitters to see the pitch.

Now might also be the time to point out that minor league balls are made in China.

Hadn't put 2+2 together, but is a seam issue a reason why they called the AL a breaking ball league and the NL a fastball league?  Or do I have those mixed up.  Damn you, Blantons.
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HudsonHawk

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Re: Minor League Baseballs
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2016, 02:57:47 am »
Quote from: Lefty on September 08, 2016, 11:52:05 pm
Hadn't put 2+2 together, but is a seam issue a reason why they called the AL a breaking ball league and the NL a fastball league?  Or do I have those mixed up.  Damn you, Blantons.

Could be. They've been using the same ball in both leagues since 1955, but prior to that they were different, made by different companies.
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The rules of distinction were thrown out with the baseball cap.  It does not lend itself to protocol.  It is found today on youth in homes, classrooms, even in fine restaurants.  Regardless of its other consequences, this is a breach against civility.  A civilized man should avoid this mania.
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