But what if we still get the strike outs, but the home runs turn into long fly balls?
My fear is that the launch angle revolution has done more to strike out totals than any baseball....so changing the ball won't help. But a slightly smaller ball may make it easier for a pitcher to grip, and that may add to the problem.
As long as owners value power over contact...and are willing to pay more for it..the problem will persist.
As long as basic hitting fundamentals, like bunting and up the middle approaches aren't stressed...as long as opposite field hitting is sneered at...the problem is unlikely to go away.
There is a legitimate claim that the steroid induced home run races of Bonds, Sosa, McGuire, et al, saved baseball from the damage done by labor strife.
The owners created this problem. I'm not sure how it gets solved.
On the other hand...a more optimistic view...baseball has always been in the midst of evolution, so we should expect that the way the game is played will change yet again.
Imagine if all these statcast monsters begin to swing for line drives, instead of long fly balls...105 MPH balls zipping all over the place.