Heh, remember when they did the same thing in 2017 and the pitchers were able to tell the difference in a blind test? Or when earlier this year JV was calling it a ball issue and MLB kept denying it. Sheesh, is it that hard to get the ball right? Btw, if you haven't heard about the magical baseball mud, definitely recommend reading this article. https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/08/07/baseball-mud-rawlings Came across it earlier this year and it's the first I'd ever heard of it.
If someone had never listened to a playoff series before, they would be thinking. "Why should any team try to get home field for the first game or final game of any series?" There is much more pressure on that team, distractions from being at home, etc.
I know people like to hate on Buck but him and Smoltz is 1000x better then these idiots with Kenny Albert.
I like how excited Maldonado gets when Cole embarrasses another batter with a K. Shoots up and fires the ball down to third. Vacates the plate and runs back to the dugout as soon as the ball goes right down the middle for a called K before the ump even makes the call. He's as good a partner for the fiery Cole as the calm Chirinos is for Verlander.