
The early MLB season is often ripe for obscure storylines brought on by tiny nuances to the game. In a season with 162 games, hundreds of pitches, and plenty of tedium, the smallest things wind up really mattering. Some years, it's foreign substances applied to baseballs for extra grip. This year has already brought on the bat shape discussion.
Now? A change of 1.25 inches is completely unsettling pitchers and catchers.