Atlanta Braves Morning Chop and Box; Of Baseballs and Bridges
Apr 25, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; A detailed view of practice baseballs before the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
APNewsBreak: MLB pumps up ball security after Tom Brady flap
ASSOCIATED PRESS / BOSTONHERALD.COM
NEW YORK — Even before Tom Brady was penalized, Major League Baseball boosted its prevent defense.
As part of a new security plan this season to further safeguard game balls, an MLB representative now watches them get carried by a clubhouse assistant from the umpires’ room to the field.
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In the past, a ball boy or ball girl did those jobs alone.
“We can’t deflate ’em,” Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia said Sunday. “It’s precautionary, I guess.”
MLB said many changes in the pumped-up policy for ball security and storage were discussed by equipment managers last December at the winter meetings. That was more than a month before Brady and the New England Patriots were accused of deflating footballs in the AFC championship game.
MLB said it was aware of the Patriots’ situation as it put the procedures into effect on opening day at every stadium.
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The balls that Rawlings supplies to major league clubs are fairly standard.
“Obviously, there’s not as much that you can do to baseballs,” Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson said. “I mean, you can’t change the density of the baseball at any point — unless you dunk them in water. Then they’re going to be 9 ounces, and everyone’s going to blow their arms out.”
Game balls weigh between 5 ounces and 5 1/4.
“If you’re playing on turf and a guy hits a screaming one-hopper to the shortstop, it’s going to have a huge scuff on it. Certain pitchers can create an advantage with that, so that’s why they throw those baseballs out,” Wilson said.
Hoping to avoid a seamy situation, MLB sent a memo to all 30 teams before opening day with a nine-step procedure on ball handling. Along with the policy on storage — around 70 degrees, about 50 percent humidity — there were guidelines on chain of command.
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Across the majors, home teams store the new balls during the season, and the umpires’ clubhouse attendants usually rub up nearly 100 for each game.
When they’re taken to the field, an MLB authenticator follows them. That person is a current or former member of law enforcement hired by an outside company to document balls and other game-used items, often to be sold or given to charities.
If the ball supply is running out, a Resident Security Agent gets more. The RSAs also have police backgrounds and are hired by MLB.
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“I’d say a ball averages only two pitches, and not too many things can happen when you foul a pitch into the stands,” Wilson said.
Source credits: AP Baseball writers Howie Rumberg and Janie McCauley, with AP Sports Writer Rob Harris. Story appeared May 12, 2015.
[ Ed. note: another example of Major League Baseball going out of its way to be a sports leader in trying to avoid cheating. ]