"Sticky Stuff" Pervasive!

[bkox]

#Angels pitcher Alex Cobb on #MLB crackdown on foreign substances:"It’s just like the steroid era. Everybody else was using and if you’re not, you’re living ethically but you’re not going to be around this game very long. I’m glad that guys won’t have to be put in that position.”

— Bob Nightengale ( @BNightengale ) June 10, 2021

[BostonRoss]

Isn’t the sticky stuff against the rules? Whereas steroids weren’t banned until 2004. So there is a higher percentage of cheaters now (though limited to pitchers this time).

[bkox]

The slash line for all MLB hitters
April 1-June 4: .236/.312/.395

On June 5, details emerged about how umpires will conduct foreign substance checks, and how MLB has compiled foreign substance scouting reports on some pitchers.
MLB hitters June 5-June 13: .247/.319/.417

— Buster Olney ( @Buster_ESPN ) June 14, 2021

[Lucky_Beagle]

some could say small sample size, hitting in better weather in NE....time will tell if there is a big difference, however the possibilities seem to be pointing that way. Now whether those changed numbers are a big deal is up to discussion

[bkox]

CBS Sports On Indians Shane Bieber-
On his curveball, his spin rate was down a whopping 284 rpm and another 157 rpm on his slider. The spin rate on his curveball was down nearly 200 rpm in his last start before.

— Bernie Pleskoff ( @BerniePleskoff ) June 14, 2021

According to CBSSports:
Trevor Bauer vs. Texas- His four-seam was down 166 rpm and his cutter down 123 rpm.
Brewers SP Corbin Burnes vs. PIT: His cutter (his best pitch) was down 163 rpm.
Tigers SP Tarik Skubal vs. CWS: fastball spin rate down 113 rpm-slider down 201 rpm.

— Bernie Pleskoff ( @BerniePleskoff ) June 14, 2021

[bkox]

Sources: Sticky stuff in MLB to yield 10-day ban

The league is expected to distribute a memo to teams -- which have been briefed on the broad strokes of the policy change -- that outlines its plans to penalize all players caught by umpires with any foreign substance on their person, from the widely used sunscreen-and-rosin combination to Spider Tack, an industrial glue that has become a favorite among pitchers who want to generate more spin on the ball.

[bkox]

Glasnow: Enforcing Sticky Stuff Rule Midseason Is "Insane" And Contributed To...

[zambonir]

It's an interesting approach - i.e. a confession - for sure.

[DurhamBull]

I’ve only been vaguely following this story, but I happened to click on this article yesterday. The author’s opinion is interesting, but by far the most memorable part of the article for me is the photo of Yadier Molina near the end of the article.

Once Again, M.L.B. Faces a Crisis of Its Own Making

I don’t mean to pick on Yadi, it could be anyone in that photo. The fact that a baseball can get stuck to a catcher’s chest protector like that and the reaction would be to parade it around for a laugh makes me think that MLB as an organization has no credibility if it claims to be unaware of the pervasiveness of this practice. It’s sad, and i enjoy baseball less as a result.

[bkox]

This is totally MLBs own doing. Pitchers started using sticky stuff, not to increase spin rate, but because the ball changed and it became harder to grip (this is the same time HRs significantly increased). Guess who bought Rawlings about the time this change occured? Thats right.. MLB.

So MLB changes the ball. Pitchers cant grip it well.. and HRs start flying out of the park. Pitchers look for something to get a better grip. It started with sunscreen. But then they figure out it increases spin rate. Pitchers look to even things out against hitters who are hitting a record amount of HRs.

Then MLB says. OMG.. look at all the HRs. Lets deaden the ball a bit... This made pitchers using sticky stuff even more dominant to a very noticeable level. Now we have the sticky stuff crackdown.

[Taudawg]

MLB botched the response, but I can't say I'm with the pitchers on this issue either. Understanding the ball has changed, everyone had the same ball until someone decided to cheat. My sense is most pitchers using the "sticky" have done so to level the playing field and not necessarily to improve grip - like PEDs. Hit batters are at an all-time high, so the grip is still not working. Pitchers seem obsessed with throwing everything harder and with more spin. This began even before the ball was changed. Even charitable giving has jumped onboard the speed train with Comcast donating for every Phillies bullpen pitch thrown over 95mph. Getting the radar gun to say 100 has become the new home run for fan excitement.

[bkox]

Something interesting happening on twitter.

Ryan Spaeder, a guy who got famous posting amazing stat facts (T-Mac has mentioned him and his tweets on the broadcasts), and has made friends with dozens of current and former major leaguers, is posting up a series of tweets about players and teams that have cheated over the years.

Apparently he is breaking confidences of things players have told him over the years and just letting everything out but not providing any sources of hit allegations.. Its interesting how the players and the media handle this. Spaeder has even been on MLB network at times in the past. I wonder if hes destroying everything hes built over the years.

Here are a few of his tweets from today:

This one hurts to say... my favorite player ever... "Chase Utley was the biggest cheater of all-time."

— Ryan M. Spaeder ( @theaceofspaeder ) June 16, 2021

As insane as this sounds, I've heard this from multiple players, Adrian Beltre had a buddy with binoculars in dead center who would wave a beater (undershirt) if he was getting something off speed in 2017.

Beltre 2017 home - .362/.440/.586
Beltre 2017 away - .271/.333/.489

— Ryan M. Spaeder ( @theaceofspaeder ) June 16, 2021

The Yankees had cameras in left, center, and right, all pointing at the pitcher's glove, rather than the catcher, to pick up his grip.

Aaron Judge 2017-18 home - .312/.440/.725
Aaron Judge 2017-18 road - .256/.404/.531

— Ryan M. Spaeder ( @theaceofspaeder ) June 16, 2021

The Dbacks used humidor balls when pitching and non-humidor balls when batting at home — I do not have a time frame on this, but I’m confident it happened.

— Ryan M. Spaeder ( @theaceofspaeder ) June 16, 2021

Hes still tweeting.. with new ones coming out every hour or so now.

[Taudawg]

Ryan has some credibility. He could have had enough like he tweeted or he could be going complete Skip Bayless in order to grow his brand. All believable accusations...maybe someone with considerable time will research. The Beltre one seems provable if anyone caught his friend on video.

Chase Utley as the biggest cheater of all-time appears to be a stretch. I don't recall anyone suggesting this before and Chase certainly sure had enemies in the game. Now I'm trying to guess what Chase might have done to warrant this tweet???

Chase Utley watched hours of film, spent 2017 World Series trying to catch...

[zambonir]

Well, I guess the implication would be sign-stealing as well, and it's not like the Phillies didn't get accused of that a few times during that era. But he'd have to be more specific, if not offering proof.

Erik Kratz also seemed to imply the Dodgers were never clean during Chase's time there.

Yankees: Erik Kratz accuses Rockies and recent WS team of cheating

[zambonir]

Now Boras and Zac Gallen are both calling out Michael Hill, now with the MLB office, since he was previously running the Marlins, the implication being they did it (but everybody does, clearly).

[zambonir]

I deeply regret everything that I said — it has turned my life upside down. It was a mistake, and I should not have reported on unfounded allegations. I sincerely apologize to all of those impacted — it should not have happened, and it will not happen again. Stick to stats.

— Ryan M. Spaeder ( @theaceofspaeder ) June 17, 2021

[bkox]

I just cant imagine what was going on in his mind. He goes from unknown internet person to a position lots of people would love to have.. has been invited to the HOF ceremonies by formers stars, gets invited out for beers with them. is credited with getting Raines inducted.. goes on Mlb network a few times... and throws that all a way..

[el-pietro]

Theres no question the Phillies were stealing signs between 2007-2011. But you can't drop name slike that without supporting it wiith... anything?
How can you say someone is the biggest cheater of all time but offer no examples, let alone even evidence. It forces us to jump to conclusions. Was Utley stealing signs, was he using technology, steroids, all of the above?
Hard to take accusations like this seriously, though at the same time no smoke without fire, at least some of what hes posted will have elements of truth I suspect.

[bkox]

I think Ryan was trying to say what the Astros did with the trashcan was normal.. and that they shouldnt be attacked like they are. (Hes really good friends with Lance McCullers Jr who was on that team). Hes also been outspoken in saying the PED users should be in the HOF.

I think the sticky stuff situation finally made him have enough. He doesnt blame the players for cheating, he blames MLB and says they try to make players victims.

But doing it the way he did had to have destroyed a lot of the friendships hes built with players over the years. No one will trust talking to him again.

[zambonir]

I guess if you think that everyone cheats, and that there's a fine line between cheating and gamesmanship, and that the blame lies with MLB policy/enforcement, then you don't think saying people do it is a bg deal. Oops.