2025 INTRODUCTION TO BASEBALLVMI

Posted: 2025-04-11 08:22:31 (ET)    [ 255 views ]

By Clifton Neeley (Colorado Rockies' Savior)

All of our members are well aware of the concept and accuracy of the ADI (Air Density Index) for Major League Baseball performance.  However, those who've not fully thought through the concept still do not understand and prefer to remain in a static state of their own knowledge of baseball. 

Pitching is well known as the key to winning baseball which is why hitting wins games and pitching must be good enough to overcome hitting.  So, let's break pitching talent down to its substance. 

Pitching Talent

Pitching talent is; 1) Speed 2) Spin, and 3) Accuracy

The pitcher cannot control anything else in pitching that is not included in one of the above. Let's keep it real. 

Speed is accomplished by height and quickness of the pitcher, length of the arms and legs, strength of the core and wrist, hand and fingers.

Spin is the action and decision of the pitcher (catcher, manager) as to what type of movement is wanted on the final approach at the strike zone (late movement).

Accuracy, is the final act of the pitcher's talent.  Without accuracy, the pitcher cannot perform at a level that is required of a pitcher.  He must try to keep the hitter from knowing the pitch location ahead of the split second the batter has to make his decision.  No one is perfect...

Speed through what?  The air.

Spin against what?   The air.

Accuracy at what?  The strike zone.

Once the pitcher releases the ball, the air takes over and the pitcher is done with his job until the result is accomplished. So, if the air is lighter, as in Colorado's 5,200 feet elevation, or heavier at sea level, the pitch will have substantially more movement for those pitchers in a sea level game vs any other altitude.  Colder air is also part of the air density recipe.  Cold air allows molecules to stay closer together making it more dense, as well.  So the air density gauge is a tool that helps all to know what the hitters are facing or will soon face against any pitcher within his uniqueness. 

Hitters are well aware of movement differences when on the road.  Catchers are aware, but it doesn't bother them much, due to their capability and glove to handle it better than a hitter.  Fans, coaches and managers on the sidelines and in stands cannot see late movement as well as do the players. For the most part, owners evidently have no clue.

The pitcher (during the 1/2 second pitch travel) is following-through on his arm, leg and torso action, so his head and eyes are changing position rapidly.  Therefore, his observation of the final movement on the pitch is imperfect at best. 

The pitcher only sees the result by the actions of the batter, catcher and umpire.  So, I cannot blame the pitcher for not having full knowledge of what the air is doing to his pitch.  The pitcher would need to have experience, knowledge of meteorology, physics, aeronautics, and awareness of the current conditions to know what the pitch is doing through the air.  High school players, College players, Minor Leaguers, and Professional baseball players are young people with knowledge only of what their parents, teachers and coaches have given them, plus what they have read on-line or in books. 

So, the Neeley Scale of air density (ADI) is a single number on a 100 scale that provides the players, coaches, and observers in baseball a concept of what amount of movement is actually on each pitch.

After the first 6 games at Coors Field in 2025, where the Rockies played in thin air only one player (a new one to Coors) got a hit in San Diego in heavy air.  See below:

PREVIOUS 6 GAMES:     4-04       4-05         4-06       4-08        4-09        4-10       4-11
 Colorado ADI'S:               54.05     53.70      49.75      46.79      48.30      48.13    68.78(normal Spring ball)
     
 
 PREVIOUS 6 GAMES:     4-04      4-05         4-06      4-08        4-09         4-10       4-11         
 San Diego ADI'S :             73.64    72.30      73.70      69.77      69.25      65.99     68.78(normal Spring ball)

All of the teams leaving Arizona and Florida for the first game out struggled against the fastball in colder environments at sea level.  Colorado then moved to Philadelphia and struggled again.  No wonder at all.  It won't change except against breaking balls or periodically over-use of the fastball.

So here is the final word on the Rockies.  Their talent is as good as any other team in MLB (almost). They simply do not get as much exposure to heavy air as do their opponents.  The only way to get the Rockies as much exposure to heavy air is to build a presurized batting cage at Coors Field.  The cage needs only about 3.75 pounds per square inch of pressure in it, but that amount is what causes jet passengers some pressure on the ears when descending to sea level. 

Why do baseball managers change pitchers frequently, even when the current pitcher is doing okay?  Yes, it is to disturb the hitter with faster or slower pitches in a different mix and a different release.  That is exactly what the new pressurized batting cage would do, as well.  Players are used to seeing a multitude of different pitchers in different environments, but the Colorado Rockies do not get to see the other environments' effect on these pitchers' late movement as often as do the other teams. 

It is actually very simple to get the Rockies on a similar level of competition to the balance of MLB teams.

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