As the article says, confounding variables are everywhere here.
Here are a few more I can think of:
- Shouldn’t less dense air also lead to faster throws that are harder to hit,
- but (maybe) easier to hit far?
- hotter air holds less water, making the bats and balls drier, with an effect (I wouldn’t know in which direction) on elasticity.
- on the distances ran in a home run, I guess less dense air allows for faster running. That could change the number of in-field home runs (again, dir3ctuin is hard to judge. It’s not only the base runner who gets faster; the fielders get, too)
- on the other hand, faster throws also means faster throws towards bases, leading to fewer in-field home runs.
- fielders might jump a tiny bit higher at lower air density, allowing them to catch more balls that almost are home runs.
- I expect throwing with effect is harder in less dense air, making it easier for batters to hit the ball, and thus allowing them to sacrifice some hitting accuracy for hitting speed
Here are a few more I can think of:
- Shouldn’t less dense air also lead to faster throws that are harder to hit,
- but (maybe) easier to hit far?
- hotter air holds less water, making the bats and balls drier, with an effect (I wouldn’t know in which direction) on elasticity.
- on the distances ran in a home run, I guess less dense air allows for faster running. That could change the number of in-field home runs (again, dir3ctuin is hard to judge. It’s not only the base runner who gets faster; the fielders get, too)
- on the other hand, faster throws also means faster throws towards bases, leading to fewer in-field home runs.
- fielders might jump a tiny bit higher at lower air density, allowing them to catch more balls that almost are home runs.
- I expect throwing with effect is harder in less dense air, making it easier for batters to hit the ball, and thus allowing them to sacrifice some hitting accuracy for hitting speed