DeepSummary
The podcast episode discusses the science behind baseball, particularly the physics involved in pitching, hitting, and the effects of climate change on the game. Frederic Bertley, the CEO and President of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), shares his insights on how warmer air affects the speed of pitches and the distance of home runs.
Bertley explains that faster pitches, such as fastballs, are more likely to result in home runs due to Newton's laws of motion. He also highlights the importance of the angle at which the ball is hit, with a 45-degree angle being optimal for maximum range. Additionally, the episode explores the unique characteristics of different baseball stadiums and how they influence home run rates.
Climate change is a significant factor affecting baseball, as warmer air temperatures lead to less dense air, allowing the ball to travel faster and farther. Bertley emphasizes the impact of climate change on sports and how it affects even the most beloved pastimes like baseball.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Climate change is affecting baseball by increasing air temperatures, which leads to less dense air and faster-moving pitches and hit balls.
- The angle at which a batter hits the ball, with 45 degrees being optimal, is crucial for achieving home runs.
- Fastballs are more likely to result in home runs due to the transfer of energy from the pitch speed to the hit ball.
- Baseball stadiums have unique dimensions that influence home run rates, with some having shorter or taller outfield walls.
- Batting averages are a measure of precision and skill, as even the best hitters only successfully hit the ball one out of every three times.
- Baseball involves a combination of physics, mathematics, and analytics, from pitch trajectories to player statistics.
- Viewing sports through a scientific lens can provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of the game.
- Climate change has far-reaching impacts beyond just weather patterns, affecting even beloved pastimes like baseball.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I can't watch any sport, especially baseball, without now looking at it through the scientific lens.“ by Frederic Bertley
- “Why are some people better at hitting home runs? And don't even get me started about math, because it's all about the box score and the analytics and mathematics.“ by Frederic Bertley
- “If you're trying to get a ball from home plate by hitting it over the wall for a home run, you want to make sure you optimize the angle of where you hit the ball.“ by Frederic Bertley
- “If you hit it one out of every three times, you're great. It's like, imagine winning the lottery. One out of every three times. You played it pretty darn good, right?“ by Frederic Bertley
Entities
Company
Organization
Person
Location
Episode Information
Short Wave
NPR
4/7/24
Interested in the science of other sports? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy