Pitching

[Obscured By Clouds]

Fascinating. In the time span of a single generation, the cheating shoe is firmly on the other foot. I'm proud to say that my home team has once again been on the Avant-Garde!
Though no one could have foreseen the substance of abuse switching from anabolic steroids to Glue.

If Jomboy makes a video on James, it's going to go bad for him. His video on the Astros was the one that blew the cheating wide open for all to see.

Baseball Doesn't Exist YT channel has some good videos on it.

First one is about Cole, and goes into a decent amount of background, and more recent stuff like MLB is trying to turn an Angels clubhouse manager into a scape goat.


Second one is on Bauer's flip, why no one cares, etc.

 

[Derek]

Given the widespread use of sticky, I am no longer upset about using it. I'll just be upset if any of our guys are dumb enough to get caught.

 

[Benway]

Given the widespread use of sticky, I am no longer upset about using it. I'll just be upset if any of our guys are dumb enough to get caught.

I've always felt that steroid, etc. use approached 90% in pro ball. No evidence, just my gut.
What's the rate of sticky use? 75% now?

I've got to say that sticky offends me a lot less than PED's, but it's just as detrimental to the interests of the game. Eventually Manfred is going to commission a phony investigation, panic, wring his hands, and make an example out of someone. (And boom, just like that, there goes our "pitching factory".)

 

[Criznit]

Wouldn't mind a return of the "spit ball" myself..

 

[WhoAzcue]

What's the rate of sticky use? 75% now?

If that's the case, then your presumption--the "pitching factory"--lost any edge it had a long time ago.

 

[Benway]

If that's the case, then your presumption--the "pitching factory"--lost any edge it had a long time ago.

It may have, but perhaps more recently?

 

[Alabuckeye]

The video above mentioned 70%....

 

[Benway]

Penalties for adulteration are pretty well established and far less penurious than are those for drug use. (not to mention the complete lack of potential long-term health issues)
Due to its wide-spread use, there's not likely a single manager who will call it out.
At this point, you'd be a fool Not to gunk.

And with the exception of Verlander and the Astros, despite all of the subtext on the subject, I have been ignorant until, like, a month ago?

What a racket.

 

[MirORich]

A realistic goal for Karinchak and/or Claase?

 

[sportscoach]

A realistic goal for Karinchak and/or Claase?

For Karinchak it actually could be possible, Clase it is not...

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Hoynes pointed out today that the major league composite batting average is .233 and they're on pace to set a new strikeout record for the 14th year in a row. There have already been four no-hitters. Fans don't want to watch games where hitters make outs more than three of four times and strike out in droves.

I have to believe the powers that be will have to do something, and eliminating the use of foreign substances on fingers seems like something they can do right now without any rule changes.

I'm wondering if it would be feasible to simply collect and test the balls that are taken out of play. Every fourth pitch or so is in the dirt and the ball is thrown out. Just collect the balls and put them in labelled bags by inning. After the game use either a chemical that turns color when it contacts stickum or an ultraviolet light, whatever works. If the ball pops positive than that pitcher is fined or suspended or the team is fined. Or they forfeit the game if they win.

Obviously they would have to come up with a system that gives reliable results. Whether that is scientifically possible I don't know. But it's worth a try. The lack of hitting is stifling fan interest.

 

[Obscured By Clouds]

Hoynes pointed out today that the major league composite batting average is .233 and they're on pace to set a new strikeout record for the 14th year in a row. There have already been four no-hitters. Fans don't want to watch games where hitters make outs more than three of four times and strike out in droves.

I have to believe the powers that be will have to do something, and eliminating the use of foreign substances on fingers seems like something they can do right now without any rule changes.

I'm wondering if it would be feasible to simply collect and test the balls that are taken out of play. Every fourth pitch or so is in the dirt and the ball is thrown out. Just collect the balls and put them in labelled bags by inning. After the game use either a chemical that turns color when it contacts stickum or an ultraviolet light, whatever works. If the ball pops positive than that pitcher is fined or suspended or the team is fined. Or they forfeit the game if they win.

Obviously they would have to come up with a system that gives reliable results. Whether that is scientifically possible I don't know. But it's worth a try. The lack of hitting is stifling fan interest.

How do you blame the pitcher? Technically, any fielder playing that day could touch that ball before the pitcher does and apply it.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

How do you blame the pitcher? Technically, any fielder playing that day could touch that ball before the pitcher does and apply it.

If the ball has a foreign substance in the post-game analysis that team forfeits the game. No different than a horse who wins a race and afterward tests positive for a banned substance. Or an Olympic athlete. The umps would have to make sure the other team's bats were clean as well or the substance could be applied to the bats and transferred to the balls upon contact. I agree it might be difficult to enforce.

If management knew they would forfeit a win if stick was found on the balls they would make sure the players got the message.

Fourteen straight seasons of record strikeouts - give me a break. K's, walks, and home runs taking over the game. Defensive shifts reducing batting averages and hitters who refuse to shorten their swings with two strikes or go the other way. Teams hiring chemists to create substances with the ideal amount of stickiness to maximize rpm. Hitters swinging and missing sliders that are a foot outside. The game is getting ridiculous.

The approach to hitting has changed so much that you don’t see guys shortening up with two strikes, maybe hitting the ball the other way, so there’s more strikeouts. - Francona

Francona also pointed out that hitters are not taking advantage of infield shifts, and that is limiting offense, as well. - Joe Noga

 

[Derek]

If the ball has a foreign substance in the post-game analysis that team forfeits the game. No different than a horse who wins a race and afterward tests positive for a banned substance. Or an Olympic athlete. The umps would have to make sure the other team's bats were clean as well or the substance could be applied to the bats and transferred to the balls upon contact. I agree it might be difficult to enforce.

If management knew they would forfeit a win if stick was found on the balls they would make sure the players got the message.

Fourteen straight seasons of record strikeouts - give me a break. K's, walks, and home runs taking over the game. Defensive shifts reducing batting averages and hitters who refuse to shorten their swings with two strikes or go the other way. Teams hiring chemists to create substances with the ideal amount of stickiness to maximize rpm. Hitters swinging and missing sliders that are a foot outside. The game is getting ridiculous.

The approach to hitting has changed so much that you don’t see guys shortening up with two strikes, maybe hitting the ball the other way, so there’s more strikeouts. - Francona

Francona also pointed out that hitters are not taking advantage of infield shifts, and that is limiting offense, as well. - Joe Noga

You realize that they use about 100 different balls in the average MLB game, right?

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

While they're at it, get rid of pine tar as well. You don't need to put tar on a bat in order to hang onto it. I'm fine with batting gloves that have a rubbery layer on the inside to get a better grip on the bat. Batters stopping the game to reapply pine tar to the bat handle is another thing that slows down the game, along with an insane number of swings and misses.

They got rid of tobacco, they can get rid of tar and stickum, too.