Forum
Forum Navigation
Stickey Substance - Will it change Baseball ?
#1 · June 17, 2021, 10:02 am
Major League Baseball has dropped the hammer on pitchers which leads to so many questions.....Is it cheating ?
Will this change lead to more guys getting hit ?
Will there be more offense ?
If pine tar on a bat is allowed....better grip, safety issue because a bat is slick.....how is that different ?
Are the penalties over the top ......ejection, 10 game suspension, no replacement allowed on the roster ?
MLB would have a field day with Gaylord Perry....LOL
#2 · June 17, 2021, 10:41 am
Been against the rules (along with scuffing, spit, etc.) for a very long time … so yes cheating.
Did hear that in 2021 “hit by pitcher” is at an all time high rate already … so apparently the “sticky substance” is not the cure (or the cause). More likely the lower level of competence of the pitchers in knowing how to command and just throwing with their eyes closed.
If we accept that higher spin rate makes the pitch move more and harder to hit and that there has been a rapid increase in pitcher’s spin rate resulting in lesser offense … could extrapolate that removing the substance will result in more offense.
On balance, would also ban “pine tar” on the bats and batting gloves … go with dry grip wrap on the bat handle that cannot “accidentally” be transferred to the pitcher / ball. Would also ban the armor players use on the lead elbows … often used to generate a “hit by pitcher”.
No issue with the penalties …. Love the no replacement on the roster which should motivate teammates, managers, and coaches to self police the issue.
Not all that concerned about the hit by pitcher (mainly because it is not me) but would add an automatic ejection of the pitcher if the batter is hit in the head. Getting hit has been around forever and is unavoidable.
#3 · June 17, 2021, 10:58 am
You put snot on the ball!?!?!
#4 · June 17, 2021, 11:09 am
I do accept that MLB needs to level the playing field between the pitchers and hitters and deliver more offense for entertainment purposes … banning substances on the ball is part … along with enforcing a pitch clock and an automated strike zone call eliminate the unreliable 3rd person (ump). Consider:
2021: 238/313/398 … 24.0% K
2011: 255/321/399 … 18.6% K
2001: 264/332/427 … 17.3% K
Something has to be controlled to stem this trend where in 2021 we have finally got strikeouts (24%) greater than BA (23.8%) and heading to where strikeouts may exceed OBP in 6 or 7 years.
Cut out the advantages for the pitchers.
#5 · June 19, 2021, 4:40 pm
Has anyone else noticed that Dinelson Lamet's slider has lost 128rpm since last year? It went from the single most dangerous pitch in mlb to not breaking anywhere near as sharply. I am hoping it is just because he is babying his arm!