Dr. Meredith Wills took apart baseballs to see what changed in the balls between 2014 and 2016. It turns out only one component was different. The laces were thicker.

Measuring larger samples across a longer time span should show if lace thickness has increased systematically, or in “jumps.” The latter might suggest changes in the manufacturing process by Rawlings’ supplier; if the change was not reported by that supplier, it is quite possible that Rawlings was not even aware the baseball had changed. In addition, a comparison of drag coefficients on “control groups” of baseballs with different lace thicknesses might make it possible to quantify the extent to which lace thickness affects drag. Those same control populations could also be used to test the relationship between lace thickness and pitcher blister rates.

MLB has something else to examine.