What’s up with Dingers ?

July 8, 2024

 

 

Since warm and humid air is less dense than cool and dry air, it is generally accepted that baseballs travel farther when it is warmer outside.

 

In a recent study that looked at over 100,000 MLB games from 1962 to 2019, the percentage of home runs increased 1.96 % for every 1 degree celsius (1.8 degree fahrenheit) rise in temperature. 

 

This means that when a game is played at 96 degrees (verse one played at 78 degress) we should see almost 20 % more home runs hit.  

 

Another study of MLB games since 2006 showed that the percentage of home runs increases with each month of the season.......until September.

 

Well, we’ve certainly had our share of warm weather.  In fact, it’s been downright hot and sweltering for quite some time.

 

So we thought we’d take a look at the rate at which MCBL players are hitting home runs this year.

 

Since the league went to the use of the same league-wide baseballs for all games, MCBL players have hit home runs in 1.5 % of all at-bats during the regular season.

 

So……what percentage do you think players are launching roundtrippers this year?

           A.         0.92 %

           B.         1.44 %

           C.         1.82 %

           D.         2.55 %

 

And the answer…….(drumroll)…….  

 

Thru the first 5,121 at-bats in the 2024 MCBL regular season, players have hit 47 homers for a rate of 0.92 %.

 

Normally, we would have expected to see 77 homers launched based on the number of at-bats.    This is a drop of about 38.9 % from what is expected.

 

Let the conjecture begin as to why this is happening.

 

See ya at the ballfield !