Woo: Diamondbacks unveil 2018 season with new humidor
From Katie Woo at Cronkite News on April 2, 2018, with mention of SABR member David Kagan:
When the Arizona Diamondbacks took the field against the Colorado Rockies in their season opener, a new piece of equipment made its debut behind the scenes.
The humidor.
The team is storing baseballs in a climate-controlled chamber, which will alter their weight because of extra humidity, general manager Mike Hazen said. Based on scientific research, the humidor is expected to reduce a significant number of home runs in the hitter-friendly confines of Chase Field.
It is far too early for judgment but In the team’s season opener Thursday night, two home runs were hit, both by the Rockies. In 2017, an average of 1.33 home runs were hit at the ballpark.
The Diamondbacks on Feb. 13 announced they would incorporate a humidor for the 2018 season to increase weight on the balls and decrease how far they travel.
Read the full article here: https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2018/03/30/eye-on-the-ball-humidor-debuts-in-diamondbacks-opener/
Originally published: April 2, 2018. Last Updated: April 2, 2018.