Thread by @jjcoop36

1. I keep having to squash an understandable belief. I know it sounds logical to say the HR increase is part ball, part improved strength training, part emphasis on launch angle/exit velo. Throw in a "pitchers are now throwers" if you want.

Sounds logical. Now prove it.

2. HR rate is up MASSIVELY in the PCL and IL. This year they switched to the MLB ball. So OK, you think the ball is part of the reason. But again, better strength training, better hitting techniques, other reasons too, right?

3. Here's the problem. Triple-A hitters aren't trained differently than AA/HiA/LoA hitters. They don't get special launch angle training or weight work held back from hitters at lower classifications. There's no reason to say AAA hitters are "special."

4. And the data?

AAA HR rate this year: 160 % of last year.
AA HR rate: 92 % of last year
HiA HR rate: 95% of last year
LoA HR rate: 95% of last year.

It's the ball.
All ball.
Nothing but the ball.
The ball explains it all.

5. Yes, the PCL has some great hitters parks, but that was true in 2016, 2017 and 2018 as well. And that doesn't explain why the IL is BLOWING AWAY it's HR records too.

Please, I'd love for someone to show me data for another explanation. I've studied it. I've found nothing else

6. I've been studying the MiLB numbers because there we have three levels remaining with one ball and one level using a new ball. But there's logic to @JustinVerlander's statements about the MLB ball. Very possible most all of MLB HR bump is the ball too.