Are MLB Baseballs Juiced?

The debate over whether or not MLB baseballs are juiced has been a hot topic for years. Some say that the balls are to blame for the surge in home run numbers, while others believe that the increased popularity of steroids is the real culprit. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the evidence and try to come to a conclusion about whether or not MLB baseballs are juiced.

MLB’s History of Juicing Baseballs

The MLB has a long history of juicing baseballs. In the early 1900s, the league increased the size of the baseballs to help increase scoring. In the 1920s, baseballs were intentionally juiced to help increase offensive production. In the 1990s, there was another increase in the size of the baseballs. This time, it was to help increase home run production.

The dead-ball era

One theory for why baseballs seem to be juiced is that the league is trying to bring back the long ball. In the early 1900s, home runs were relatively rare, and the game was mostly about bunting and base-running. This era came to an end in 1919, when Babe Ruth hit a then-record 29 home runs. Over the next few decades, Ruth and other sluggers like Jimmie Foxx and Hank Greenberg helped increase the popularity of home runs, culminating in Roger Maris hitting 61 in 1961 (a record that stood until 1998, when Mark McGwire hit 70).

However, after the Steroids Era came to light in the early 2000s, fans became more cynical about the long ball. In recent years, there have been reports of juiced baseballs leading to more home runs. While Major League Baseball has denied these claims, some experts believe that the league has indeed been doctoring baseballs to make them more hitter-friendly.

The Steroid Era

prevalent throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Home run hitting was at an all time high, and players like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds were setting records left and right. However, there was a dark side to all of this home run hitting. Anabolic steroids were rampant throughout the league, with players looking for any edge they could get to be the best.

Steroids led to increased muscle mass, which in turn led to more home runs. This created an arms race of sorts, with players looking to juice up more and more to keep up with the competition. Eventually, this led to an investigation by Congress, which concluded that steroids were indeed a problem in baseball. In response, MLB instituted drug testing and suspensions for players who failed those tests.

The Steroid Era finally came to an end in the early 2000s. Home run hitting has declined since then, as have the number of players who have been caught using steroids. However, there are still some who believe that MLB baseballs are juiced, as home run hitting has increased in recent years. Whether or not this is true remains to be seen, but it’s definitely something that fans will be keeping an eye on in the coming years.

The 2017 Home Run Surge

MLB’s new baseballs

In 2017, there was a significant increase in home runs hit in Major League Baseball. In fact, the league set a new record for most home runs hit in a season. There were many theories about why this happened, but one popular theory was that MLB’s new baseballs were “juiced” or had been tampered with in some way to make them more conducive to hitting home runs.

However, a recent study by engineers at Vanderbilt University has found that the new baseballs are not “juiced” and that the increase in home runs is most likely due to changes in the way the balls are manufactured. The engineers did a detailed analysis of the physical properties of the new balls and found that they are within the normal range of variability for baseballs.

So, it looks like we can put the juiced baseball theory to rest. The 2017 home run surge was most likely due to changes in the manufacturing process and not because the balls were juiced.

The weather

Many experts believe that the warmer weather is partially responsible for the home run surge. Warmer weather means that the balls are less dense, and therefore easier to hit out of the park. The theory is that when the balls are less dense, they don’t resist the force of the bat as much, and thus travel further.

While there is some evidence to support this theory, it doesn’t explain why home run rates have been steadily rising over the past few years, regardless of weather conditions. In fact, 2016 was one of the coolest baseball seasons on record, yet home run rates were still at an all-time high. If weather was the only factor, we would expect to see a decrease in home run rates in 2017, but that hasn’t been the case.

The players

In 2017, MLB had a home run surge. 6,105 balls were hit out of the park, eclipsing the previous record of 5,693 set in 2000. This was a total increase of 14% over the previous year, and a 50% increase since 2014.

There’s been a lot of speculation as to why this is happening. Many believe that the balls are juiced, or that the players are taking steroids. However, there’s no concrete evidence to support either claim.

One theory is that the increased home run totals are due to improved player conditioning. In recent years, players have started to focus more on hitting for power and less on batting average. This has led to more strikeouts, but also more home runs.

Another theory is that teams are focusing more on home runs because they’re seen as more exciting and marketable than other plays. This has led to changes in how teams build their rosters and how they approach game strategy.

Whatever the reason, the 2017 home run surge was a historic event in MLB history. And it’s sure to lead to even more excitement in the 2018 season!

Are the MLB’s Baseballs Juiced?

In the past few years, there has been a lot of talk about whether or not the MLB’s baseballs are juiced. Some people say that the baseballs are harder and have more bounce to them, which makes them easier to hit. Other people say that the baseballs are the same as they’ve always been. So, what’s the truth? Are the MLB’s baseballs juiced?

The evidence

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that suggests that MLB baseballs are juiced. For example, home run rates have been steadily increasing over the past few years, and there have been a number of high-profile instances where balls have flown out of the park at an unusually high rate.

However, there is also evidence that contradicts this theory. For example, the average exit velocity (the speed at which a ball leaves the bat) has remained relatively steady over the past few years. Additionally, a recent study found that the aerodynamic properties of MLB baseballs have not changed significantly since the early 2000s.

So what’s the verdict? It’s still unclear whether or not MLB baseballs are juiced. However, the evidence does seem to suggest that they may be slightly more lively than they were in the past.

The arguments for and against

The argument FOR juiced baseballs:
Some argue that the MLB has intentionally juiced baseballs in order to increase home run rates and, as a result, increase fan interest and excitement in the game. Fans love to see home runs, and juiced baseballs would lead to more of them. In addition, more home runs generally mean more offense, which can make for more exciting games.

The argument AGAINST juiced baseballs:
Others contend that there is no evidence that the MLB has intentionally juiced baseballs. They argue that any changes in the aerodynamic properties of the ball are likely due to natural variations in manufacturing tolerances from year to year. Home run rates may fluctuate for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with the balls themselves, such as changes in player skills or strategies, weather conditions, or ballpark effects.

What’s Next for MLB and Juiced Baseballs?

MLB has been accused of juicing baseballs to create more home runs and offense. There is evidence that baseballs have changed over the years and are now more conducive to home runs. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has denied the accusation, but many people are not convinced. What’s next for MLB and juiced baseballs?

The investigations

As investigations into the Houston Astros cheating scandal continue, many people are left wondering what’s next for Major League Baseball. Perhaps the more pressing question, however, is what’s next for the baseballs being used in MLB games.

In recent years, there has been a lot of speculation that MLB baseballs are “juiced” or altered in some way to make them more conducive to home runs. This theory gained a lot of traction in 2017 when home run rates reached record highs. The following year, MLB introduced changes to the manufacturing process of the balls in an effort to address these concerns.

However, despite these changes, home run rates have continued to rise, leading some to believe that the balls are still juiced. So far, there has been no concrete evidence to support this claim, but investigations into the matter are ongoing.

It’s still too early to say definitively whether or not MLB baseballs are juiced, but with more and more people suspicious of the rising home run rates, it’s certainly something worth keeping an eye on.

The changes MLB could make

As Major League Baseball (MLB) faced increased scrutiny over the league’s alleged juiced baseballs, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement on February 5, 2020, addressing the concerns. In the statement, Manfred said that MLB would be open to making changes to the baseballs if data showed that it was necessary.

One potential change that has been discussed is increasing the size of the seams on the baseball. This would potentially make the baseball easier to grip, which would in turn lead to less home runs. Another change that has been discussed is changing the material of the baseballs. Currently, MLB baseballs are made with cowhide covers and cork centers. One alternative that has been suggested is using a harder material, such as rubber, for the center of the ball.

Whatever changes MLB decides to make, it is clear that they will be closely monitoring the data to ensure that any changes are warranted and will actually have an impact on the number of home runs hit in each game.