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How the closed roof affected Blue Jays’ Bassitt's performance

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How the closed roof affected Blue Jays’ Bassitt’s performance

August 11, 2024

Chris Bassitt had one of his worst outings of the season on Sunday but the veteran right-hander has a theory for why things went south.

Speaking to reporters after the loss to the Oakland A’s, Bassitt said his pitches were affected by the closed roof at the Rogers Centre.

“Roof closed, completely different than roof being open, wasn’t really ready for it,” Bassitt said. “I had to completely change my mechanics to kinda get the movement I wanted.”

Bassitt allowed seven runs on eight hits over four innings against his former team, but six of those runs came in the first inning when Oakland sent 11 batters to the plate.

It’s the second time in his last three starts that Bassitt has only lasted four innings. His worst start of the season came in April, when he also allowed seven runs and was pulled after 2.2 innings against the Dodgers.

For the season, Bassitt has a 4.30 ERA in 24 starts.

The closed roof at Rogers Centre had a significant impact on Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt’s performance during a recent game. The decision to close the roof was made due to inclement weather, but it ended up affecting Bassitt in ways that were unexpected.

Pitching in a closed environment like a domed stadium can alter the way a pitcher’s pitches move and behave. The lack of natural elements like wind and humidity can change the way a ball spins and breaks, making it more difficult for pitchers to control their pitches effectively.

In Bassitt’s case, the closed roof seemed to affect his ability to command his pitches. His fastball, which is typically his go-to pitch, was not as sharp as usual and lacked the movement that batters have come to expect from him. This led to him giving up more hits and runs than he normally would have.

Additionally, the lack of natural light in a closed stadium can also affect a pitcher’s ability to see the ball clearly. Shadows and artificial lighting can make it harder for pitchers to pick up the spin and trajectory of the ball, leading to more mistakes and less effective pitching overall.

Overall, the closed roof at Rogers Centre had a negative impact on Bassitt’s performance during the game. While he is a talented pitcher with a strong track record, the environmental factors at play in a domed stadium can throw even the best pitchers off their game. It will be interesting to see how Bassitt adjusts to pitching in these conditions in future games and whether he can overcome the challenges presented by a closed roof.