Pitchers rejoice! The Colorado Rockies are firing up their humidor for a second season.
Mike Hampton's two-year stay at Coors Field may have gone up in smoke, with the Rockies having dealt the game's highest-paid pitcher after a soaring ERA and sinking winning percentage. But the team's efforts to make the ballpark more pitcher friendly remain.
The major leagues' only climate-controlled baseball storage chamber was constructed last spring to store balls at 40 percent humidity, preventing them from drying out and shrinking in Denver's arid climate and mile-high elevation.
In April and May -- the first two months of the humidor's use -- run production declined dramatically at Coors Field. Through the first 24 games, the Rockies and their opponents averaged 9.3 runs per game, down from the 15.1 runs in the same period a year earlier.
Pitchers were able to get better grips.
``It really made a difference,'' Rockies reliever Todd Jones said. ``The balls didn't dry out, they weren't as slick. The humidor made them more tacky. At Coors Field, where hitters have an advantage, it made things more even.''
The pattern, however, didn't last. When the New York Yankees came to town in mid-June, the teams played three games with scores of 10-5, 20-10 and 14-11. Two weeks later, the San Francisco Giants beat Colorado 18-5, with the Rockies winning 14-4 the next day.
``When it got hot, it wasn't as good because the ball felt drier,'' Rockies closer Jose Jimenez said. ``But the humidor was still helpful. I'm glad it's coming back.''
Even with the midseason return of offense, Rockies officials weren't discouraged.
``We're going to use the humidor again,'' team president Keli McGregor said. ``It helps us maintain the consistency of the baseball in our unique environment.''
The Rockies insist they are not altering the ball -- just preserving it to the manufacturer's specifications. According to the rules, baseballs are to weight 5-5 1/4 ounces and measure 9-9 1/4 inches in circumference.
Balls exposed for long periods in Colorado's climate tend to fall below those specifications. A smaller, lighter ball tends to fly farther. Because they dry out, they also become slicker.
``There's no magic, no smoke and mirrors, no hidden agenda,'' Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. ``I give our organization a lot of credit just for trying to maintain the normalcy of the game.''
Sandy Alderson, executive vice president for baseball operations in the commissioner's office, said major league baseball hasn't received any complaints.
``The idea is to preserve the characteristics of the ball, not change them to the benefit of the Rockies or any other team,'' Alderson said. ``We have an understanding with the Rockies as to how they'll operate, and they do keep strict records.''
Alderson questioned whether storing balls in the humidor ``is going to make any material difference.''
Mike Hampton's two-year stay at Coors Field may have gone up in smoke, with the Rockies having dealt the game's highest-paid pitcher after a soaring ERA and sinking winning percentage. But the team's efforts to make the ballpark more pitcher friendly remain.
The major leagues' only climate-controlled baseball storage chamber was constructed last spring to store balls at 40 percent humidity, preventing them from drying out and shrinking in Denver's arid climate and mile-high elevation.
In April and May -- the first two months of the humidor's use -- run production declined dramatically at Coors Field. Through the first 24 games, the Rockies and their opponents averaged 9.3 runs per game, down from the 15.1 runs in the same period a year earlier.
Pitchers were able to get better grips.
``It really made a difference,'' Rockies reliever Todd Jones said. ``The balls didn't dry out, they weren't as slick. The humidor made them more tacky. At Coors Field, where hitters have an advantage, it made things more even.''
The pattern, however, didn't last. When the New York Yankees came to town in mid-June, the teams played three games with scores of 10-5, 20-10 and 14-11. Two weeks later, the San Francisco Giants beat Colorado 18-5, with the Rockies winning 14-4 the next day.
``When it got hot, it wasn't as good because the ball felt drier,'' Rockies closer Jose Jimenez said. ``But the humidor was still helpful. I'm glad it's coming back.''
Even with the midseason return of offense, Rockies officials weren't discouraged.
``We're going to use the humidor again,'' team president Keli McGregor said. ``It helps us maintain the consistency of the baseball in our unique environment.''
The Rockies insist they are not altering the ball -- just preserving it to the manufacturer's specifications. According to the rules, baseballs are to weight 5-5 1/4 ounces and measure 9-9 1/4 inches in circumference.
Balls exposed for long periods in Colorado's climate tend to fall below those specifications. A smaller, lighter ball tends to fly farther. Because they dry out, they also become slicker.
``There's no magic, no smoke and mirrors, no hidden agenda,'' Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. ``I give our organization a lot of credit just for trying to maintain the normalcy of the game.''
Sandy Alderson, executive vice president for baseball operations in the commissioner's office, said major league baseball hasn't received any complaints.
``The idea is to preserve the characteristics of the ball, not change them to the benefit of the Rockies or any other team,'' Alderson said. ``We have an understanding with the Rockies as to how they'll operate, and they do keep strict records.''
Alderson questioned whether storing balls in the humidor ``is going to make any material difference.''
