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shoewizard
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Joined: 10 Aug 2006
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Location: In front of my computer
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 Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:56 pm Post subject: Humidor? |
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I asked a question about the Humidor in the chat today but my question didn't get posted.
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Rockies' humidor gains steam in MLB
All 30 clubs to keep balls in temperature-controlled settings
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies' method of storing baseballs is fast growing from a curiosity to standard operating procedure in the Majors.
Since 2002, the Rockies have kept baseballs in an atmosphere-controlled climate, known locally as "the humidor," to keep them from shrinking, hardening and losing friction in Colorado's unique environment. Major League Baseball stopped short of mandating all teams adopt such an apparatus, but the move toward standardization will continue in 2007.
All 30 clubs will be keeping their baseballs in temperature-controlled settings. In another move toward ensuring that balls stay at specifications set by manufacturer Rawlings, Major League Baseball has adopted a shelf-life rule, MLB executive vice president, baseball operations Jimmie Lee Solomon said Thursday.
"We did send out a directive that teams are to use current year-purchased balls, not balls from previous years -- they may use those in batting practice, but not in games," Solomon said.
As for storage, Solomon said some clubs have humidity controls for the area where balls are stored, but he did not know how many.
Much of the focus on baseball storage is on the Rockies, who began operating the humidor in 2002. Before then, runs and home runs were at an off-the-charts pace at Coors Field. The prevailing theory was that the increase was due, partly at least, to the mile-high dry climate of Coors Field in Denver.
Whenever there is a run of high-scoring games, the Rockies are questioned about how they're operating the humidor, but Solomon said what the Rockies are doing "will be the industry standard in the not-too-distant future."
As has been the case for the last five seasons, the Rockies must file weekly reports with Major League Baseball, and MLB operations will travel to Coors for periodic checks. Solomon said the Rockies are monitored more than any other club.
Solomon called the monitoring of a climate's effects on baseballs, and in turn how the ball performs in games, "an emerging science." But the eventual goal is to make sure that the baseball in all venues stays at Rawlings' specifications, presumably with all teams storing them in a standard chamber.
"It's going to take time -- it's not a cheap apparatus," Solomon said.
The one at Coors reportedly cost $15,000, not counting the cost of operating it and filing paperwork.
Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. |
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whatuwant
September Call-Up
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 78
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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is this necessary everywhere? I doubt Florida or Houston have any probelm keeping their balls "humidored".
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"He that speaks much, is much mistaken. " BF |
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TAP
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Joined: 10 Aug 2006
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Location: Gold Canyon
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| Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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| whatuwant wrote: |
| is this necessary everywhere? I doubt Florida or Houston have any probelm keeping their balls "humidored". |
Kind of like Twiggy having her stomach stapled?
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shoewizard
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Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 3057
Location: In front of my computer
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 6:24 am Post subject: |
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Well....the amount of humidity can be controlled....maybe they would dry the balls out in Florida.  |
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tmar
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Joined: 10 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:13 am Post subject: |
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| As long as they don't keep them in Speedos, I'm OK with whatever they do. |
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csktech
Oops! Blocked by PV! Back to Tucson!
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 97
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| TAP wrote: |
| whatuwant wrote: |
| is this necessary everywhere? I doubt Florida or Houston have any probelm keeping their balls "humidored". |
Kind of like Twiggy having her stomach stapled?
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Lol, But too much water will change how that game is played out. I dont mind the "Rockie Effect" as long as all the balls play the same in ALL the parks.
Kyle
Go Dbacks
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dirtygary
Everyday Player
Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 872
Location: Phoenix
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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| shoewizard wrote: |
| dry the balls out |
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TAP
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Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 2275
Location: Gold Canyon
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| Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:48 am Post subject: Re: Humidor? |
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| shoewizard wrote: |
| All 30 clubs will be keeping their baseballs in temperature-controlled settings. |
And that temperature will be 70 degrees with 50% humidity...
| Associated Press tonight wrote: |
NEW YORK — Baseballs will keep their cool this summer.
The commissioner's office has told all 30 teams for the first time that balls must be stored at a uniform temperature after they are delivered from the manufacturer.
"The specifications that Rawlings recommends are a 70-degree temperature and 50 percent humidity," baseball senior vice president Joe Garagiola Jr. said Friday.
"We have contacted all 30 of the clubs, and they have all confirmed to us that they will be storing their baseballs in a temperature-controlled facility. We're not going to have humidors everyplace, but every place will be temperature controlled, and so I think there will be a very high degree of uniformity."
The decision was made after the Rockies' started using a humidor at Coors Field.
The ballpark ranked first in the major leagues in scoring in its first eight seasons, starting in 1995, but dropped to second in three of the last four years behind Arlington's Ameriquest Field (2003), Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park (2005) and Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium (2006). |
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shoewizard
Hall of Famer
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 3057
Location: In front of my computer
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| Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:01 am Post subject: |
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It will be very interesting to see if this helps bring most parks closer to the league average. Will extreme pitchers parks like Petco and Florida play more hitter friendly? Will hitters parks like Chase, and Arlington play more pitcher friendly?
I hope so. |
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David B
Everyday Player
Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 580
Location: Portland
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| Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:33 am Post subject: Re: Humidor? |
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| TAP wrote: |
| Associated Press wrote: |
The ballpark ranked first in the major leagues in scoring in its first eight seasons, starting in 1995, but dropped to second in three of the last four years behind Arlington's Ameriquest Field (2003), Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park (2005) and Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium (2006). |
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Kauffman Stadium had very little to do with the ballpark. The Royals pitching just flat out stunk.
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matt
Veteran Presence
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 1668
Location: Researching my theory that a lime hat is more effective than tinfoil
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| Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Humidor? |
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| TAP wrote: |
| shoewizard wrote: |
| All 30 clubs will be keeping their baseballs in temperature-controlled settings. |
And that temperature will be 70 degrees with 50% humidity...
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I think this is an excellent idea.
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