NL MVP Race should go to the wire!!!!

[legaleagle92481]

Deny the altitude effect if you wish, it doesn't change the physics:

http://www.pdas.com/bb1.htm

The answer to your question is contained in the article. Not every batter will benefit from lower resistance, and some will benefit more than others. It's a function of the ball's initial velocity i.e. the speed at which it comes off the bat. The faster it travels when hit, the greater the benefit gained from lower resistence. In fact, the author quantifies the benefit as 9% greater distance for an average hitter. A stronger hitter with an inside-out stroke (think Carlos Gonzalez) will reap a bigger benefit.

None of this suggests that Carlos Gonzalez (for example) is not a skilled player. Quite the opposite, since the 'better' the hitter, the greater the benefit from playing at high altitude. But the effect is real.

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com

As fascinating as that is, the rest of the team seems to have reaped no benefit at all. Check the stats. Only two guys, including Cargo are hitting over .300. The next highest homer total after Cargo is 18! And the next highest RBI total is 69! In fact its September and only two guys have over 100 hits including Cargo.

[xpress34]

The Coors Field effect is BS, simply because it is composed of two main attributes: dry air - employing greater elasticity to the ball, and the thin air - allowing the ball to travel further, relative to initial velocity.

Joe -

I just wanted to correct one thing here - the BOLDED statement above.

The dry air actually REMOVES the elasticity of the ball (i.e. it dries out) making it like hitting a golfball so it increases the distance.

The humidor is exactly what it implies - it adds humidity to the air to keep the 'water weight' of the baseballs consistent to what they are out of the factory and how they are at game time at other parks. Just like a regular humidor keeps cigars from drying out, it keeps the leather from drying and tightening on the ball.

While I was working for Rawlings we got asked a lot about the humidor and if parks in humid areas needed a drier to help the balls go further.

The answer is NO. It is much easier for a dry arid desert climate to dry a ball out than it is for a damp humid climate to 'soak' the ball. It has to do with the permeability of leather just like your skin.

Your skin sweats out water with no problem, but when you go swimming or take a shower, the water runs off of you - your skin doesn't absorb it.

Just wanted to clear up that point.

- Chris

[Instanton]

Joe -

I just wanted to correct one thing here - the BOLDED statement above.

The dry air actually REMOVES the elasticity of the ball (i.e. it dries out) making it like hitting a golfball so it increases the distance.

The humidor is exactly what it implies - it adds humidity to the air to keep the 'water weight' of the baseballs consistent to what they are out of the factory and how they are at game time at other parks. Just like a regular humidor keeps cigars from drying out, it keeps the leather from drying and tightening on the ball.

While I was working for Rawlings we got asked a lot about the humidor and if parks in humid areas needed a drier to help the balls go further.

The answer is NO. It is much easier for a dry arid desert climate to dry a ball out than it is for a damp humid climate to 'soak' the ball. It has to do with the permeability of leather just like your skin.

Your skin sweats out water with no problem, but when you go swimming or take a shower, the water runs off of you - your skin doesn't absorb it.

Just wanted to clear up that point.

- Chris

Chris,

I see - I read that tidbit on an old '07 article. It was a bit general, but here it is:

'That effect, however, is offset by the humidified ball being "less bouncy and probably for the same swing comes off the bat with a little less speed," he said.'


I took "less bouncy" as having lesser elasticity, therefore greater firmness than a dry ball; where the elasticity of a dry ball assisted in more transfer in energy, for a great initial velocity?


Joe

[jbsportstuff]

As fascinating as that is, the rest of the team seems to have reaped no benefit at all. Check the stats. Only two guys, including Cargo are hitting over .300. The next highest homer total after Cargo is 18! And the next highest RBI total is 69! In fact its September and only two guys have over 100 hits including Cargo.

You can do no doubt argue the the BA...but if you look at the amount of At bats that the other players have compared to Cargo, that is a big reason why there aren't more homers or RBI's.

RkPosAgeGPAABRH2B3BHRRBISBCSBBSOBAOBPSLGOPSOPS+TBG DPHBPSHSFIBB1CMiguel Olivo3196380350509815513527424102.280.325.463.788101162 4123321BTodd Helton*36994033454085151628005377.246.345.348.6938012091 04232BClint Barmes311224203754188200850323564.235.306.352.6587013255 23104SSTroy Tulowitzki251014363857012428218691024165.322.389.545.9341392 1014415253BIan Stewart*25115423371539814218605242104.264.343.458.8011051 70750586LFSeth Smith*2711735532253831741750212860.258.318.494.81210615 9520307CFDexter Fowler#24110422361629119124331275386.252.351.404.7559514 6426008RFBrad Hawpe*31883002592466212737213668.255.343.432.7761001124 1044RkPosAgeGPAABRH2B3BHRRBISBCSBBSOBAOBPSLGOPSOPS +TBGDPHBPSHSFIBB9OFCarlos Gonzalez*24126554513951733083210023832118.337.374.614.9881 503157207610OFRyan Spilborghs3011332528735791821029353172.275.356.456.812109131 65200113BMelvin Mora38952892552869104430212836.271.354.388.74292997510 2122BJonathan Herrera#2560203177255032119121929.282.348.339.68779602052

[jbsportstuff]

Ok...that did NOT paste like I wanted it to. Here is a link to check out what I was talking about. Cargo is having an awesome year...but he has well over 100+ plus more plate appearences and AB's compared to the next Co Ro.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/COL/2010.shtml

[skier14]

As fascinating as that is, the rest of the team seems to have reaped no benefit at all. Check the stats. Only two guys, including Cargo are hitting over .300. The next highest homer total after Cargo is 18! And the next highest RBI total is 69! In fact its September and only two guys have over 100 hits including Cargo.

That is true, however the other guy hitting over .300 is second in the batting race (Tulowitzki hitting .327)

[xpress34]

As we head into the weekend, Gargo is losing his grip on a potential Triple Crown. He need sto get HOT and quick if he wanst to keep the hope alive for the TC...

MVP on the other hand is still an open race as the Rox heat up in September - adding a NEW player into the Batting Title Race:

Cargo

BA - .335
HR - 32
RBI - 100

Votto

BA - .320
HR - 32
RBI - 100

Pujols

BA - .311
HR - 37
RBI - 99

Infante

BA - .340 (Not yet qualified for Batting Title - 415 PAs)
HR - 7
RBI - 40

Tulowitzki

BA - .327 (2nd - 440 PAs meets the 3.1 PAs per game avg)
HR - 20
RBI - 72

Will update again on Monday

[rj_lucas]

Thanks for staying on top of these numbers Christopher -- we're getting spoiled with our own personal stats tracker

To me, the most interesting 'what if' questions are with Votto. If he were to finish, say, third in each of the TC categories, and the Rockies make the playoffs, does Votto win the MVP?

Rick
rickjlucas@gmail.com

[Neal]

Will Pujols whine again if he doesn't win it?

[legaleagle92481]

That is true, however the other guy hitting over .300 is second in the batting race (Tulowitzki hitting .327)

Well Prado and Infante are teammates and both up there as well (though as we all know Omar does not have the PAs yet) so is there a Turner Field effect also? And Prado and Infante are to phrase this lightly on the less talented side when compared to Tulo and Cargo.