Cole likes ‘consistency’ of MLB’s new baseball
TAMPA, Fla. — So far, Gerrit Cole approves of the baseballs MLB altered for the 2021 season. After confirming that he had been working with the balls most of the spring, the Yankees ace said that he has noticed that there is more “consistency” with the balls, albeit in a small sample size.
“They confirmed with us shortly after I spoke here [last month] that we’re integrating all the new balls into our throwing and so we’ve been using them,” Cole said. “I haven’t thrown in a game where I’m really going through like four or five boxes of balls, but I would say that [I’ve] noticed that they’re consistent. I’m not seeing as much inconsistency in the seams. They’ve been relatively consistent.”
Cole said he is comfortable with the new baseballs and finds the grip to be good. That’s a good start. Among the issues that pitchers have been complaining about is how “bouncy” the balls were — leading to a record number of home runs — and there have been multiple complaints over the last four years about the seams, which resulted in more guys dealing with blisters and less grip.
Cole said that it was noticeable in the old baseballs.
“We were seeing seams that were like pulled apart, right? Like by the leather ... Or a large seam or maybe even like a deviation in the horseshoe like a wiggle. I don’t know how many I’d have to go through to find something like that before. But I haven’t come across anything strikingly weird, which is new.”
Baseball manufacturer Rawlings, which MLB holds a majority stake in, has loosened the tension on the first of three wool wrappings within the ball. The company’s research believes this adjustment will bring down the “bounce” slightly. The ball is also 2.8 grams lighter, but the same size. MLB does not anticipate the weight change to impact pitchers’ velocity.
Associated Press reported last month that MLB sent out a memo to all 30 clubs last month citing an independent lab that found the new balls will fly one to two feet shorter on balls hit over 375 feet.
Cole spoke after throwing a live batting practice in a moderate downpour on Saturday. He threw 50 pitches to two Yankees hitters at the minor league complex instead of his scheduled start in Bradenton against his former team, the Pirates.
“I got a good amount of work in, pushed the line a little bit and made some good pitches,” Cole said. “So, good day.”
The Yankees made the change to control Cole’s work environment with a possibility that the game in Bradenton could be rained out or delayed and make sure he got to build up to the 50-pitch mark. At this point in spring training, Cole said the opposition didn’t matter as much as making sure the work gets done.
Notes
Aaron Boone was bouncing back and forth between the field, the tower and bullpen Saturday morning. The first day he was back after having surgery to implant a pacemaker, the Yankees manager was at full-speed watching workouts at the minor league complex.
That was before jumping in a car and heading to Bradenton, Fla. to manage his first game since the procedure.
“Felt good just to be at the ball field again competing with the guys. I felt really good,” Boone said after the Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the Pirates at LECOM Park. “A wet day, just glad we’re able to get it in and get guys the work they needed.
“But overall it just felt really good to be back out there.”
Taillon sharp: Jameson Taillon has spent more than his fair share of time in Bradenton, Fla. Before being traded to the Yankees by the Pirates, it was at their spring training complex that Taillon spent his springs and way too many rehab stints.
Saturday, finally healthy and making a comeback after his second Tommy John surgery, Taillon returned to LECOM Park to pitch two scoreless innings against his former team. He scattered two hits, walked one and struck out four.