2007, Year of the Humidor

You may have heard that this season, all the teams in Major League Baseball is storing the balls in humidors have. If you have not heard, I do not feel bad, I almost lost myself. In fact, I only learned last year that the Colorado Rockies had been with them 2002

What is a Humidor? There is a space where they are kept both the temperature and humidity constant.

Humidity Control

Why save the balls in a humidor? As you undoubtedly know, the Rockies' Coors Field,highest rate of home runs hit in the majors. It also happens to be the largest stadium in the majors. This fact, and this fact alone, was constantly in the rate of production of high responsibility.

However, the Rockies began to think outside the box. Denver is a place to keep very dry. As things dry out like baseballs, are more difficult. Baseball is more difficult to travel further when hit. To combat the effects of drought, they put the balls in a humidor.

The effect was that every year sinceProduction rate was at a level more in line with the rest of the season fall. It was not the quantity, after all, at least not alone. I liked the way the pitchers were not as shocked now as in the past.

This could indicate that, if not already gone to some controversy last year. It 'was the claim by some that humidors have an unfair advantage for the Rockies. Never mind that this is ridiculous, because both teams play with the same balls. In addition, it is seen as theRockies are playing lately? On the other hand, had a better season last record at home.

However, MLB decided that each team should do the same. Everyone must be uniform, so that each team now has the humidor.

In fact, this is not entirely correct as I understand it. Each team must now save the balls in a temperature-controlled environment. It must not become a humidor. This distinction is important.

I have seen very little about how thisImpact on production of the entire league. I've seen a few players mentioned reviews humidor that affect a particular player in a statistical way or another. Call this effect the humidor. Rotowire has a small article mentions the fact in general and suggest them in the last row that production actually decrease dramatically. They base this prediction on the fact that reduced production at Coors Field.

I take a scientific approach.

First, I collectedMoisture data for all major league cities. I then discovered that the provisions of the humidor. MLB says to store the balls in the controlled environment of 70 degrees and 50 percent humidity. The balls they need as they are received and can not be taken for more than 20 minutes before the game saved. This information is very important in my study.

The average humidity of 57 percent of all major league cities Denver and Phoenix on to 40 to 23, whichAverage is 59 percent. Remember, these are average annual afternoon. It is usually wet in the morning and less in the evening, when most games are played. In addition, a handful of cities are wet from June to September, two months, for which I have data.

Thus, the balls have an average humidity is less than the real one in which the humidity should be used. Colorado has shown how a heavy ball will go further. We can therefore expect a higher rate of home runs inthe most humid cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, Milwaukee and Miami.

But the levels to change throughout the year. Seattle is at 62 percent (third behind Los Angeles and Milwaukee) wet when we take the annual average of only 53 in June. Remember that the balls are 50 percent. This means that at the beginning of the Mariners can expect a normal home run rate that remains constant throughout the season, although he hit 83 percent in September.

How is the humidityInfluence on the balls when they are used are taken from?

It seems to me that the balls are absord moisture and less hard. This means that prices should be higher home run games in the beginning of hot summer days and return to normal later in the inning.

I'm no scientist and I do not know how fast a ball can absorb moisture. Make a couple of hours may not be enough to make a big difference. I also do not react like a bullet with 50 percent humiditySuddenly placed in a humidity of 70 percent. The two factors may have the opposite effect and decrease prices.

Looking at my humidity chart, not many cities have average humidity in the month of June. Most are actually very close to the level of 50 percent in this time of year and I think that in the month of April as well. But if a baseball is kept at room temperature, humidity, would probably absorb the moisture in the morning.

So the question is how fast you lose that moisture. I amI imagine it would take a day or two. This means that with the humidor, the balls will be more standardized. They are drier than in the past, means that it will be harder and therefore more home runs are usually taken, and probably more in keeping with the season.

Things should stay the same virturally in Denver. As in Phoenix, drier-than 50 percent all year, morning, noon and night house prices go down on foot. Depending on how fast the balls lose their moisture,home run rates will be higher in the second half of games.

So basically, I think that the increase in production. The only question that remains is what has to be struck? In Denver, was just over 25 percent, which just so happens, the percentage difference between a 40 and a humidity of 50 of its

I do not think it will be so dramatic. There are too many factors that we know nothing, because no one ever studied. But we could see as much as ten percentor to increase more in production. This is my prediction bold.

The Joker is the fact that while all teams are directed, the balls are kept in temperature-controlled rooms not those humidifiers. Furthermore, no scientist, but for me it is the temperature control to control humidity. What will the humidity inside? If not 50 percent, then the whole theory goes out the window.

Apparently, most teams already storing balls in the room under controlled environmental conditions. We do not know whatThe teams have done this. We also do not know that teams have the full Humidifiers this season. When several teams were already doing, then there will be little change in 2007.

After the season, we can compare the data with the minor leagues. Since children do not use humidifiers (to my knowledge), will be in the control group. If the majors has increased by ten percent to race at home while the children remain the same, we would have our answer. I must, however, that cautionA few years pass before reaching that conclusion.

I think that MLB is betting on increasing production and can, in fact, it has to do it. It means, according to popular opinion is more and more home runs fans. If you see a way to increase production somewhat artificially, while baseball, not just a city, finding the fences, for example, you put more fans in the seats. If not all fully functioning humidor teams this year, you can bet it will all bevery soon.

2007, Year of the Humidor