#Baseball

Saw a tweet saying the majors moved to a 2.5 mm diameter ball in 2022 so the "bite radius" matches that of an adult North American river otter (Lutra canadensis). Supposedly this gives pitchers more grip and fielders better "paddling" catches.

• Official spec list mentions "Otter‑Fit" model #B2-OTR
• Supposed to reduce "slug‑drag" on swing speed
• Coaches claim outfielders can "dive like otters" now

Anyone got the actual spec sheet? Or is this just a weird marketing gimmick? Curious if wildlife biologists actually consulted on this.

Also, if it is true, how does the smaller ball affect batting averages? Should we expect a drop like when they tried the "hardball" era in 1999?

Please correct any nonsense above – looking for the real numbers.

I have to admit I was wrong about something pretty basic. For the past few weeks I kept saying the New York Yankees were now part of the National League after that trade deadline rumor started floating around. I even mentioned it in a conversation with a coworker who corrected me on the spot. Turns out I mixed up a tweet about a possible realignment with the actual league structure – the Yankees are, of course, still firmly in the American League.

The mistake slipped in because I was watching a lot of cross‑league games recently and the commentary kept tossing around "AL vs. NL" without explicitly naming the teams. My brain just filled in the blanks. I felt a bit embarrassed when I realized I had been spreading the wrong info on a forum thread earlier this week.

Has anyone else had a similar mix‑up? Maybe a player’s team affiliation or a rule misunderstanding? I’d love to hear your stories – it’s comforting to know the occasional slip-up is part of staying engaged with the game.

I've been watching baseball for years and I just realized I've been misunderstanding the infield fly rule... like what's wrong with me?? I was watching a game last week and it happened and I'm thinking it's a normal play... then I'm talking to a friend and he's like 'dude that's the infield fly rule'... pretty embarrassing

I can’t wrap my head around how many teams are now treating the defensive shift like a permanent fixture instead of a tactical tweak. The other night at the ballpark, the Reds lined up their infield for a left‑hander who had a career‑high average against the left side. They shifted everyone to the right, left the center field practically empty, and still expected the batter to make a solid hit. The result? A line drive that would’ve gone 400 feet turned into a weak grounder that bounced over the shortstop.

I’ve been tracking shift trends all season, and the data doesn’t lie: the average shift angle is up 12 degrees from last year, and the number of games where the shift is used for every single at‑bat has jumped from 34% to 58%. That’s a lot of games where the defense is essentially playing a static version of the same play.

The problem isn’t the shift itself—those pitchers and hitters who can adapt are fine. It’s the blanket application that dilutes the game’s dynamic. Pitchers who rely on the shift to control contact are no longer forced to pitch to the plate. Batters lose the chance to learn how to hit against a normal defense. Fans who love the old‑school feel of a full‑field lineup are left feeling disconnected.

I’d love to hear if anyone else has noticed the same trend in their own ballparks or if there’s a statistical argument I’m missing. Are the shift’s benefits truly worth the cost of stifling offense? Let’s talk it out—no sugar coating, just the facts.

P.S. If anyone has a video that shows a shift in action from last season, I’d like to see the contrast. The more data, the better.

For most of my watching career I kept telling friends that a sacrifice fly counted as an official at‑bat. It was never really tested in conversation, I just assumed that because the batter does not get a hit it must be an at‑bat. Only when a stats‑savvy coworker pointed out the official scoring rule did I realize I had been wrong. The rule actually says a sacrifice fly does not count as an at‑bat, which is why players’ averages don’t dip after a deep fly that scores a runner. I feel a bit embarrassed because I’d used that claim in multiple debates about a player’s batting average. Turns out I was the one with the misunderstanding. Any other common myths that have stuck with you?

I've been following the recent baseball season closely, and one thing that's been on my mind is the increasing use of defensive shifts. It seems like every team is employing some sort of shift, whether it's a traditional shift with the third baseman playing in the infield or more exotic shifts with multiple players out of position. I'm curious to know what the community thinks about this trend. Are defensive shifts enhancing the game or detracting from it? Do they add an extra layer of strategy or make the game less enjoyable to watch? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

I just bought the Coleman 525 4‑season tent last week. The specs say the poles can handle up to 80 psi wind load, so I figured I'd improvise with my spare 28‑inch maple bat from the high‑school lineup instead of hauling the aluminum poles.

I taped the bat into the center hub with a 1‑3‑5 knot (the "triple‑lock" the military 2021‑07 M2105 spec mentions) and set it up in the woods. Within 10 minutes a gust of 30 mph blew the whole thing down. The manual also claims you can use a 75% O₂ breathable mask to keep the canvas from sagging, which didn't help either.

Anyone else tried the bat‑pole hack? Is there a better way to secure the tent without lugging extra poles, or am I just misreading the spec sheet?

• TL;DR: Bat = pole? 1‑3‑5 knot works? Need a fix.