HP Rockers will move pitching mound back 1 foot on Wednesday
Team invites WXII's Kenny Beck to test out new distance and give impressions
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Updated: 5:25 PM EDT Aug 2, 2021
Team invites WXII's Kenny Beck to test out new distance and give impressions
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Updated: 5:25 PM EDT Aug 2, 2021
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PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL THE DISTANCE FROM THE FRONT OF THE PITCHING RUBBER TO THE BACK POINT OF HOME. PLATE HAS BEEN 60 FEET. INCHES THIS WEEK THE HIGH POINT RO CKERS A PROFESSIONAL INDEPENDENT TEAM WILL START PLAYING WITH THE MOUND OF FOOT FARTHER BACK 61 FEET 6 INCHES BEFORE MAKING THIS TRANSITION THE TEAM INVITED ME OUT TO PITCH BEFORE A GAME TO SEE WHAT SORT POF IMPACT THAT EXTRA FOOT MIGHT HAVE. HERE’S HOW IT WENT. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HAS A PROBLEM GUYS. CAN’T HIT ANYMORE THE STRIKEOUT RATE IN THE MAJORS HAS INCREASED EACH OF THE LAST 15 YEARS LAST SEASON ALMTOS ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR PLATE APPEARANCES RESULTED. A PUNCH OUT NOW THEEA LE IS ASKING THE HIGH POINT ROCKERS FOR HELP AS PART OF AN AGREEMENT WITHAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL EVERY ATLANTIC LEAGUE TEAM INCLUDING THE ROCKERS IS GOING TO EXPERIME WNTITH SOME NEW RULES FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE 2021 SEASON, INCLUDINGHE T DISTANCE FROM THE MOUND TO HOME PLATE. HERE’S HOW I FIT IN I USED TO PLAY BASEBALL, BUT IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO MY CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND STARTED LAST CENTURY THE MONTREAL EXPOS DRAFTED ME. THEY DON’T EXIST ANYMORE AND MY BRIEF PRO CAREER ENDED IN 2003. FOUR YEARS BEFORE THE FIRST IPHONE CAME TOU NOW BACK WHEN I WAS GROWING UP ONE OF THE BETTER PLAYERS IN ALL OF BASEBALL WAS A GUY NAMED FRANK VIOLA. HE WAS MVP OF THE 87 WORLD SERIES AND WON THE 88 CY YOUNG AWARD GIVEN TO THE BEST PITCHER IN EACH LEAGUE TODAY. HE’S THE PITCHING COACH FOR THE HIGH POINT ROCKERS. ON A SWELTERING LATE JULY DAY AT TRUEST POINT VIOLA ALONG WITH ROCKER’S MANAGER, JAMIE. KEEFE ARE WATCHING ME PITCH NOT BECAUSE THEY THINK I DESERVE A ROSTER SPOT, BUT BECAUSE THEY’RE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW MUCH DIFFERENT. FASTBALL AND SLIDER ACT FROM 60 FEET 6 INCHES COMPARED TO 61 FEET 6 INCHES THE NEW DISTANCE STARTING WEDNESDAY. OH YOU FEEL RIGHT THERE. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS AOT L FARTHER. YOU FELT THAT PERSONALLY. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH ANY OF THE GUYS THAT ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE BALL LIKE YOU ARE ON THAT SLIDER YOUR SLIDERS THAT MUCH BETTER BECAUSE THAT MUCH MORE DEPTH BECAUSE IT HAS ANOTHER FOOT TO CARRY FOR TO TRAVEL THE HITTERS GET THAT EXTRA FOOT TO SEE THE BALL,UT B YOU KNOW THE PITCHERS GET THAT EXTRA FOOT TO REALLY MAKE THAT BALL MOVE AND MANIPULATED A LITTLE MORE AFTER WATCHING YOU NOW IT’S PUT A LITTLEIT MORE EXCITEMENT IN ME THAN WHAT I THOUGHT. I’D HAVE JUST FOR THE FACT THAT WE CAN’T WORK WITH ISTH. THE ROCKERS WILL PLAY THEIR FIRST GAME WITH THE MOUND 61 FEET 6 INCHES FROM HOME PLATE THIS WEDNESDAY. THEY’LLE BN O THE ROAD FOR THAT. GOOD NEWS. IS THIS FRIDAY? THEY BEGIN A SPAN OF2 1 HOME GAMES IN 14 DAYS. THERE WERE ALSO NICE ENOUGH TO LET ME KEEP THE JSEYER THAT I WORE DURING THIS STORY AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE CHANCEO T HAVE IT AND HELP FEED HUNGRY PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME SECOND HARVEST FOOBAD INKS GOING TO AUCTION THIS OFF VERY SOON. STILL WORKING OUT SOME OF THE DETAILS ON THAT AS ONSO AS WE GET THEM. WE WILL BRING THEM TO YOU ON TELEVISION.