The "rebound force" of the official ball is a hotly debated topic in the Korean professional baseball league, the KBO League. While seemingly simple differences in numbers, these small changes can alter the flow of a game, impacting players' performances and even fan confidence. Let's explore the controversy surrounding the rebound force of the official ball and why it's such a significant issue.
Why is the rebound of the official ball important?
The coefficient of restitution (COR) of an official baseball ball is a numerical value that indicates how much the ball bounces when struck by a bat. Simply put, a higher COR means the ball will fly farther, while a lower COR means the ball will fly less.
- High rebound? Increased home runs and long hits (battery games).
- Low rebound? More fly balls and pitcher's duels.
Even a 0.01 change in this rebound can drastically alter the game. This problem began in earnest in the KBO League in 2018.
The 2018 era of tagotozer
In 2018, the KBO League suffered from a severe 'hit-and-run' phenomenon.
- As home runs surge, games become longer.
- Pitchers' earned run averages (ERAs) are rising as they struggle with home run concerns.
- Growing complaints from fans: "This isn't baseball, it's a home run show!"
To address this issue, the KBO decided to lower the bounce of its official balls starting in 2019.
2019 'The ball won't go out!'
The KBO lowered the coefficient of restitution of its official balls from 0.4134–0.4374 to 0.4034–0.4234, a level similar to that of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Because of that
- Home runs plummet and fly outs increase.
- Reducing Pitchers' Earned Run Average (ERA) ➡️ How to Reduce the "Pitcher-Hitter" Phenomenon
- Fans complain, "There aren't enough hits anymore."
Hitters who had been expecting home runs had a hard time adjusting, and fans also complained that the game had become less fun.
2020: "What's Different About This Ball?"
In 2020, the 'Tangtang Ball' controversy erupted.
- The coefficient of restitution in some balls exceeds the standard value.
- Suspicion that the ball feels different in each game
- The KBO imposed sanctions on the manufacturer, but trust has already been shaken.
Fans questioned the KBO's management of the official ball, saying, "Some days the ball goes well, and some days it doesn't."
Why is this controversy important?
Because small changes in the coefficient of restitution can change the entire game.
- As the rebound decreases, the number of fly balls increases ➡️ and the number of points decreases.
- As the rebound increases, home runs increase ➡️ The flow of the game changes.
- As players' performances influence salary negotiations and team management,
In particular, the biggest problem is that it becomes difficult to run a fair game if the ball's rebound force is different in each game.
What is the solution?
1) Thorough management of official balls
- Thorough quality control is required to ensure the same quality balls are used in all matches.
2) Transparent disclosure of information
- Restore fans' trust by releasing the results of the rebound coefficient test.
3) Meeting international standards
- Strengthening the competitiveness of Korean baseball by aligning official balls with international standards, like those of MLB and NPB.
One small ball determines the fate of the KBO
The controversy over the bounce of the official ball is not simply a technical issue.
- League balance
- Players' performance
- Fans' trust
It's no exaggeration to say that everything hinges on one ball. I hope the KBO will grow into a more trustworthy league through transparent management and fair operations.
When watching future KBO games, it might be more interesting to think about these things. You might even be having conversations like, "The pitches are flying well today?" or "The pitchers are really good today!"
