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If we get all aerodynamic about it, like frisbees and airplanes, baseball movement is subjected to 4 primary forces - thrust, lift, drag, and gravity. With baseballs and frisbess, thrust is provided by the thrower/pitcher. Lift is a function of airflow. With a frisbess, the curved edges provide airspeed increase above the frisbee that causes the lift. Drag comes from below, perpendicular to lift, and is a function of air pressure and, actually, launch angle. Gravity affects the thrown object at 9.8 m/sec^2 with a downward force equal to that constant times the mass of the ball (which is known as the "weight"). The myth of the rising fastball rests on the lift force exceeding the drag force, but this cannot happen due to the weight of the baseball. I wouldn't call that slowing down the descent as much as I would simply being thrown too fast so as to minimize the effects of gravity. Gravitational force does have a time component, like all forces. The "lack of movement" is about the fact that the launch angle from a pitcher is typically downward, with most release points being higher than the catcher's target. A "rising fastball" is just a fastball thrown at a launch angle with a higher trajectory to above the target. The hitter anticipates the ball being lower than it's actual path, and the 1/2 second doesn't always give the proper time to adjust. The ball isn't rising; it's just following a different path.

Promiscuous Robots was the name of my band in high school...

I don't think the high spin rate reduces the effects of gravity. Gravity is constant. The high spin rate might impact the airflow around the ball, but that would usually create movement and not a lack of it...

While you are right, I don't think the common reference to a rising fastball is often used when describing submarine-style pitchers..

At least until the next umpires' strike...

And any batter struck by a pitch is out. That should speed things up...

I think they will have to think about it. I just hope they decide against it...

And while this season is disappointing, it's not like this team is horrible and unsalvageable. They actually still have an outside shot to win 90 games. The Sox are the Giants, saddled with a bunch of horrible under-performing contracts while facing a third straight sub-.500 season with no end in sight...

Without even getting into the Bernoullian physics behind it, that the seams have allegedly been lowered seems to prove they influenced the amount of break on these pitches, similar to how (most people think) the shape of an airplane wing influences lift. Which is why we have so many home runs now. But baseball players and managers are notoriously superstitious and believe a lot of old legends, which is why some players actually still cork bats, despite that it is actually a hindrance and not a help...

I think Dombrowski also had some of his future commitments held against him. That the Sox are in a position that they have to even think about trading Betts in order to afford Nathan Eovaldi is a larger mistake than anything Cora did...

And the Nationals fired Dusty Baker after two seasons and two first place finishes. It seems like coming up just short is now a worse career mistake than missing the post-season entirely...

And really, Sanchez and Masterson were more contemporaries of Lester as opposed to pitchers developed since...

Not a lot of them over that span, but still, they do seem to like to trade them away..

A submariner - a missing pitching style IMO - typically throws from very from a very low angle and throws at an slightly upward trajectory. There is a difference between a ball actually thrown slightly upward and one that rises due to air flow around the ball..

But they will lose 76 jobs if they ever go to robot umps...

It's easier to develop relievers. It is a bit of an overblown fallacy that the Sox have not developed any starting pitching in the past 10 years. It's just that they haven't kept any of the ones they have developed. There have been some like Justin Masterson, Michael Kopech and Logan Allen that the Sox dealt away. And they did acquire Eduardo Rodriguez before he ever hit the majors and turn him into a formidable starter. But primarily the big problem has been the repeated low position in drafts, which means they already have pretty weak pickings at a position with very high attrition rates...

Very possible. Although anyone who takes over as President or GM or both will probably have some degree of autonomy...

Fastballs don't rise. But they can stay flat in lieu of the anticipated downward angle. And at 90mph or so, it just isn't where the hitter thinks it will be and gives the appearance that it rose.

I would think Cora's future is going to be heavily influenced by whoever the new GM turns out to be...

I'll take a crack at this. SP: Sale, Price, Eovaldi, Rodriguez, Chacin or Acquisition, likely for Dalbec. My choice was Jose Urena is what seems like a fair deal that makes sense for both teams. RP: Workman, Hernandez, Taylor, Walden, Brewer, Barnes, and an acquisition. Although trading Barnes might help a lot, too. C: Vazquez and backup (Oscar Hernandez?) 1b: Chavis 2b: Lin 3b: Devers SS: Bogaerts LF: Benintendi CF: Acquisition. Either free agent (Hamilton, Lagares) or via trade (possibly for Barnes) RF: Betts DH Martinez Bench: M Hernandez, Travis, OF (Sturgeon? Free agent? Gerardo Parra signed for $1mill last year and is a nice fit.) Or possibly Chris Owings. Owings has been awful the past two years, but plays everywhere and won't cost alot. Remaining 40 man: Poyner, Lakins, Reyes, Shawaryn, Brasier, Kelley, Chatham, Velasquez (who also might make the bullpen), Sturgeon (personal favorite), and 6 more who the Sox need to add to avoid Rule 5. Maybe Ockimey, but I doubt he is a risky loss.

Think they tender Wright? 1. He hasn't been a picture of health for a few years now. 2. Repeated off-field problems 3. Not only hasn't he been very effective, but the Alleged Manfred Missile should turn the knuckleball into a 60mph slow pitch home run in progress. In a tight budget world, this guy might command $3-4million. Let him walk. I also question whether or not Hembree receives arbitration. It might not be a case they can afford to lose.

THe problwm with expanding rosters to even 26 for the entire course of a season is baseball is a game of specialization nowadays, and some teams will have that specialty pinch runner. Oooh how exciting. Or some insanely specific specialty reliever. Or some very specific "pinch hitter to face RHP with bases loaded and two outs" guy. Or - and you might like this but I think it's small market baseball - more platoons! 25 players is enough. I'd like to see that last all season. The biggest change is teams would still use the Injured List in September...

That's definitely an improvement. And probably why Bochy is retiring...

... which means who replacing Porcello? The incorrect answer here is Brian Johnson...

With the information we have, I think it can be done. But not much in the way of additions and no Bradley...