Justin Verlander: MLB Baseballs Are Juiced

Justin Verlander, the star right-hander for the Houston Astros present evidence that shows baseballs are travelling further today than just a few years ago.

It is no secret that offense today in Major League Baseball is why up and baseballs are being launched out of parks around the league in record numbers. Just a look at how many home runs have been hit the past few years is strong evidence.

In 2014 there were 0.86 home runs hit per game. That number has increased each year ending 2017 at 1.26 home runs per game.

Earlies in the week, results from a study were released that found baseballs used in 2017 were fundamentally different that baseballs that were used prior to the All Star break of 2015. Specifically, cores of recent baseball were slightly less dense, allowing the ball to carry a longer distance.

That is what people refer to when they say today’s baseballs are juiced. The ball in of itself is different and that has led to an increase in the number of home runs

The news was not surprising at all to the Astros ace Verlander. He has been saying for years that the balls are juiced. Verlander is not made because the ball has been juiced, as long as each pitcher must pitch with the same type of baseballs. He calls it a fair fight, well sort of, but he does not like Major League Baseball insisting that today’s baseballs are not juiced or have not been changed.

He said that he does not honestly care if the balls have been juiced since everyone uses the same but, but his issue is he does not like the league office lying to him.

Verlander added that he knew there was something different, as records that have stood for a century are being eclipsed and numbers have become skewed.

Last season, the league office sent out a memo that said the ball was not changed, and each time commissioner Rob Manfred has a meeting with the media he calls the baseballs within the standard of MLB. It is possible the balls are within MLB standards but are different in such as way more homers result, but the league has refused to acknowledge something like that.

Verlander by far is not the first MLB player to believe the balls are juiced. Several other have also said the same thing including other players on the Astros during last season’s World Series.