Major League Baseball recently sent out prototypes of a pre-tacked baseball for player feedback, reports Hannah Keyser of Yahoo! Sports. Mets starting pitcher Rich Hill tells Keyser New York’s players received the prototypes a week and a half ago.
It’s not much of a surprise to hear the league is in the early stages of trying to develop a pre-tacked ball. MLB’s mid-June enforcement of the prohibition on pitchers’ usage of foreign substances provoked plenty of immediate backlash among players. Rays starter Tyler Glasnow hypothesized that the foreign substance crackdown contributed to a subsequent elbow injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery. Others speculated that taking away grip enhancers could put hitters at risk by making them more susceptible to being hit by pitches.
Over the past few months, the league has proceeded with foreign substance checks without too much incident, though. The concern about hits-by-pitch, at least, doesn’t seem to be founded. Through games on June 20, the leaguewide HBP rate checked in at 1.15%. Since June 21 — the date on which the league began foreign substance checks — that rate is 1.20%.
Offense has also improved a bit. Through games on June 20, non-pitchers were hitting .243/.318/.409 with a 23.2% strikeout rate. Since the first day of enforcement, that’s up to .253/.326/.428 with a 22% strikeout percentage. It’s not quite that simple — offense always picks up as the weather warms during the summer months, so that’s surely at play here — but it’s fair to presume MLB is generally happy with how the first few months of enforcement have played out.
That’s not to say everything has gone entirely without issue. Diamondbacks left-hander Caleb Smith became the second player to be suspended for a foreign substance violation earlier this week. Smith is appealing that ban, but it seems unlikely he’ll have much success. MLB Rule 6.02(d) prohibits players from applying rosin — an otherwise legal grip enhancer — to their glove. Smith denied using an illicit substance after being ejected from last Wednesday’s game, but his suspension could still be upheld if rosin is detected on his glove.
Suspending a player for having an otherwise permissible substance on his glove doesn’t seem to be the intent of the league’s crackdown, which was designed to root out more powerful grip enhancers (i.e. Spider Tack) used to improve the quality of a pitcher’s repertoire. Unsurprisingly, Smith’s agent Scott Lonergan of Ballengee Group was critical of the prohibition of rosin on players’ gloves. Speaking with Zach Buchanan of the Athletic, Lonergan expressed support for the overall foreign substance crackdown but called the rosin-on-glove provision of Rule 6.02(d) “too black and white as it stands” and said a Smith suspension would “unfairly (catch him) in the web of Major League Baseball trying to clean up the game.”
While Smith has been adamant he didn’t use any prohibited substances, it does seem there’s an ongoing concern about some pitchers using foreign substances without detection. Eno Sarris of the Athletic notes that inning-by-inning variance in pitcher spin rates is up significantly this month relative to immediately after the start of inspections. In other words, pitchers’ spin rates are fluctuating more between innings within one game than they have in the past. That’s not true of every hurler in MLB, of course, but there’s a notable increase in spin rate variance from a league-wide perspective.
Sarris speculates that could reflect some pitchers’ continued use of foreign substances, albeit more judiciously. For instance, a pitcher who passed an inspection early in an appearance could apply the substance after that inning, reasoning that he likely won’t be checked again until a few frames later on. That’s a speculative explanation, but it could require vigilance from MLB if they’re to continue to clamp down on foreign substances. (Sarris’ piece is well worth a full look for Athletic subscribers).
Settling on a pre-tacked ball could be the cleanest way for MLB to permanently address the sticky stuff issue. If the league can approve a ball that pitchers find easy to grip but which doesn’t meaningfully enhance spin, that could obviate the need for a rosin bag and perhaps decrease the advantage to be gained for pitchers who use the most powerful grip enhancers.
Both Japan’s NPB and South Korea’s KBO use a form of pre-tacked ball already. The specifications for the baseball in those leagues are different than those of MLB, however, as Lindsey Adler, Britt Ghiroli and Sarris explored at the Athletic last month. MLB unsuccessfully experimented with a pre-tacked ball in that mold (albeit with modifications to meet MLB specifications) back in Spring Training of 2019. Finding a suitable pre-tacked ball could be easier said than done, then, but MLB has apparently set out on that goal again in the hope of designing something more agreeable to players this time around.
nats3256
I imagine ever glove in the league would have some trace elements of rosin on it if you test it in a lab. What a silly thing to be suspended for.
desertbull
Rosin is not against the rules. No one is being suspended for rosin.
Deleted User
It is against the rules to have rosin on your glove, but you can have it on every other part of your body and uniform. It’s a stupid rule that no one knows why is there, but the MLB is too incompetent to realize their head is chin deep up their rear
Sherm623
Not to mention that they are not checking the first baseman’s mitt…or the catcher (think Yadi.)
Typical Mannfred nonsensical appeasement ploy.
Just like his obsession with length of games. With all the ridiculousness of not issuing intentional walks, 3-batter rules, talk of pitch clocks- why haven’t they eliminated the manager walking to the mound for pitching changes? Take 5 seconds to yell to the ump “53 is coming in to pitch” and calling the bullpen. That wastes more time than any other part of the game…pretty sure the new guy could “get the ball” from someone else.
Gk_holiday
Except Hector Santiago.
DarkSide830
rosin isnt a PED
Robertowannabe
No not a drug but mixed with something like sunscreen it can enhance the performance of a pitcher.
Texas Outlaw
Agreed nats3256. MLB has handled this whole thing poorly.
timyanks
if it was on his glove he can get suspended
Deadguy
How many science experienmnets is MLB gonna do with the baseballs now? Like in the past 5 years we went from year of the pitcher to year of the homerun when they had the juiced ball to deadball era with the humidor which is slightly heavier and also could have contributed to Glasnows UCL to now a ‘a pre tact ball’ so that nobody is using to much tack and every ball is the same for everyone? Manfred and MLB sure do love messing around with the ball… Manfred just loves tweaking the game. Get rid of the rosin on glove rule since you love tweaking the rules so much. Then we can all talk about how you changed the rules mid election to allow mail in ballots so your campaign can steal the election from the guy you claim is stealing the election by using gaslighting propaganda then when he stumbles away from his interviews and looks unfit we can all point and laugh and whisper about how he was handed the nomination in the first place. Wait what web site is this again?
Deadguy
Stupify ahhachhh
FlytheW1616
Only two players have been suspended out of all of the inspections that have taken place. Your argument doesn’t hold up well when looking at the percentages. To this point, I would say that MLB has not been as heavy handed as some would like others to believe.
But hey, we need something to complain about…
Polish Hammer
“Reportedly”? This clown operates the same as old Bugg Selig did, couldn’t be bold on his own but would leak something and then gauge the response a went off that. Leave the damn game alone already! That ball worked for decades and many never needed any aid.
mcmillankmm
Oh if only we could have Bud back
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
I could use a Bud right about know, as long as the bottle isn’t sticky
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
*now*, looks like I don’t need any more Buds
DarkSide830
i thought you said “Bud Black,” which is actually not a bad idea.
jswanny41
Yea pretty sure everyone’s got rosin somewhere on their glove. Ridiculous if that’s what they’re getting him for
Lloyd Emerson
Ban dirt!!!
30 Parks
I wouldn’t hire Rob Manfred to run a two-person picnic.
getrealgone2
He’d fit in perfectly at my job. They love to hire morons for management.
LordD99
This should have been done prior to all elimination of “sticky stuff” that MLB had tacitly approved for decades.
extreme113
Why not just raise the seams?
♪
Blisters?
seamaholic 2
That’s the exact opposite of what they want to do. They want to decrease effective spin.
There’s no need for a pre-tacked ball. There’s no issue and most pitchers have adjusted very well. Too well if you ask me. If you think many of them haven’t just moved on to a different spin enhancing substance and strategy, you don’t understand human nature very well. Same if you think the sum total of the Astros (and others’) sign stealing scheme involved trash cans.
ChiSox_Fan
Use tennis balls.
tstats
I throw with tennis balls to warm up and you can make those things really move
ChiSox_Fan
And when a pitcher catches a tennis ball with his face, it won’t hurt so much.
getrealgone2
Is this an Onion article?
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
If it is, it just brought me to tears
tstats
You dang it
TJECK109
Will they start testing slightly corked bats next?
28rings
and slightly juiced players
Sa63
This takes an element out of the real game of natural baseball. America’s past time.
Ducky Buckin Fent
The Legacy of Manfred; Banging Schemes & Pre-tacked Balls
ftasports
Don’t forget paying thugs for documents. Watch Screwball on Netflix.
DarkSide830
you know they already rub mud on the baseballs anyway? they arent fresh from the factory. applying a substance isnt new – and it’s also telling the leagues that people believe play a purer version og tye
DarkSide830
*purer version of the game.
Ducky Buckin Fent
That’s a swell thought, @Dark.
But this has absolutely nothing to do with some type of “purity of the game.”
This is about making a more profitable product. That’s it. Look. This “crackdown” occurred because offense was in the tank. At one point in May league average OPS was .699. *That* was the problem.
Has nothing to do with some idealistic version of the game.
As always: follow the money.
JoeBrady
It’s still a legit issue. You cannot ban PEDs and corking the bat, and then tell the pitchers to put whatever they want on the ball. So some of it is ‘purity’.
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
“Follow the money” is probably the only philosophy that works 99% of the time, no matter what area of life it’s applied to…
Ducky Buckin Fent
I’m not purchasing that, @Brady.
At least, not with my money.
MLB has decided that offense $ell$. (NFL made the same decision.) We had a confluence of developments (deader ball, all the TTO guys in the game, shifting, ‘pens full of power arms, max effort pitchers, etc) & offense was way down no matter what metric one applied. Half a dozen no hitters were slung & every night there was a “no hitter in progress” update.
The owners did not care for that.
Manfred stepped in.
No more tacky stuff.
I’m not sure “purity” – as @Dark was using the term – will even be a spin-off benefit. This was about $$$. That’s it.
bigdaddyhacks
Dude sits around and finds way to ruin the game.
2012orioles
I liked the comment even though I don’t mind this. Manfred bashing is a pastime of mine
Gwynning's Anal Lover
Use wiffleballs.
Deleted_User
nah he tweakin
MetsFan22
Mets won’t make the playoffs this year. But that was only bc of injuries and overall luck. A lot of Braves players also overperfomed like Riley and Swanson. But at least we have a good future unlike other teams. Cohen about to spend huge next offseason.
bigdaddyhacks
You poor soul.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Little bro.
You can’t give up, man! Chips are down, backs to the wall etc, etc, means it is time to fight.
Now I don’t mind your extreme homerism.
But show some damn NYC grit, son.
LordD99
Maybe he’s the Mets fan version of Eddard, without the humor?
Ducky Buckin Fent
Eddard!
Man, I thought Mr Axisa was Eddard (heh).
More importantly: which poster was David Cone?
Joe It All
What’s the weather like in Fantasy Land this time of year?
posty
What is the Mets “fan” stupidly mumbling about?
tstats
Were they mentioned here… no. Please leave. Permanently
Appalachian_Outlaw
The Braves lost Sororka and Acuna for the year, but only the Mets dealt with injuries? Riiigght. Lol. Whatever helps you sleep at night. You put more spin on that little story than any pitcher ever could on his pitches, foreign substance or not.
stymeedone
Nice, like how you brought it back to the topic at hand.
MetsFan22
The Mets lost a lot more. And I hope you know both those players are never coming back the same. Especially Soroka. He’ll never have a era below 4 now
Sherm623
In quantity, not quality.
(That’s means more many but not gooder)
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
MetsFan22, I will defend your right to say what you feel, But dude, you’re inviting everyone to verbally kick your a$$. Your statements are outrageous.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Damn.
That wasn’t the grit I was hoping to see. He’s not doing it right.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
@Bucky, my bad mon frere (that’s French you know). I try to be tender with MetsFan22, because I don’t know if he’s had his weekly brain scan.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Oui.
Il est, mon ami.
I used to defend him. He is energetic, loyal, & perseverant. Meaning: all qualities I seek in my…hunting dogs, uh?
But his posts have been getting more ill spirited. I will see what I can do.
Sherm623
I have found that people who consistently use words like always and never – which he does – are usually angry people with severe cases of conversational myopia.
Ill-spirited is a great phrase for it.
Appalachian_Outlaw
Bold statement, Metsfan22. So if Sororka opens the year and gives up 2 runs over six literally anytime over his entire career, you will be wrong because you used the word “never” in your statement without qualifiers.
Grab some super tack and try to spin your way out of that one.
Rangers29
As a pitcher that delves in the use of experimental substances, I LOVE this. Pitchers have been asking forever for this, and I’m glad MLB is actually listening. Substances help, but it doesn’t have to be spider tac. The majority of pitchers used to just use some sort of sunscreen and rosin, not some elaborate bubble gum ball. If they’d just coat all of the balls with some sort of Sunscreen and rosin-like substance, that’d be great. It’s a pitcher’s pine tar.
Vizionaire
however, it would still be against rules unless it is addressed in cba negotiation.
Rangers29
MLB: “We have pre-tacked all baseballs”
Pitchers: “Great, we’ve been begging for this!”
*opening day finishes*
MLB: “All pitchers are now banned from MLB because they all used foreign substances yesterday!”
Big Brain 100
tstats
Manfred move
Appalachian_Outlaw
Manfred’s goal of glorified tee ball achieved.
deron867
I have the feeling some would still go for something else to make more tack…
Rangers29
In which case, those players are idiots and should be punished. I think 95% of players would be more than happy with pre-tacked balls after having to play without ANY substance for the past half-season.
timyanks
the ball hasn’t changed drastically over the years. little league ball, all the way to the majors. major difference is lower seams in the majors. there are a bunch of pussified pitchers now.
Vizionaire
mr. hulk, you try to pitch in majors!
timyanks
my pitches don’t spin. i throw a wicked knuckle ball.
tstats
Forkball>>>>>>>knuckle
Stop Giving Billionaires Money
Not true.
Baseball changes the ball every year.
They just don’t advertise it, that’s why most of us didn’t know spring training 2019 used sticky balls.
Players like Pete Alonso say MLB changes the ball based on potential FA class.
MLB’s track record makes that look likely.
Vizionaire
s. korea’s high school tournament.s pitchers all seemed to dab the bill of caps with their thumbs
2012orioles
Shout out to the Orioles snapping the streak. Orioles magic
mazbilleroski
This is not important. The commissioner needs to focus on how to make MLB more woke. Currently, there are no Pygmys in upper MLB management. This has to change. They need to change the injured list to something less offensive….like the “not feeling well today” list. They also need to ban team names and just assign each team a number between 1 and 30. Todays matchups include team 16 vs team 3
theodore glass
Ahhh yes the typical I just need some attention comment.
mazbilleroski
That racist comment hurt my feelings. I am reporting you to HR.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
I am a relative of a Pygmy, & I feel your comment fell well short of fair. Hmmph
timyanks
could make suede leather baseballs, but i opt for leaving the baseball as is. the cleveland video i watched of the guy mudding the baseballs, he wasn’t very thorough and left a lot of white on the balls. besides, i think the rules say the unpire is supposed to rub up the balls.
itsmeheyhi
Last time an umpire rubbed up my balls it was awkward.
Topshelf Nick
Can’t wait to hear Trevor Bauer’s take on it.. Oh wait…
Polish Hammer
He’s tending to his sticky balls right now…
timyanks
bauer certainly didn’t miss the ‘take’ sign
Rsox
Pre-sticky balls?
♪
I don’t understand the desire to give pitchers a better grip now. Isn’t the crackdown on foreign substances largely in part to remedy declining offense?
stymeedone
The pitchers need to be able to grip the ball better so they can lengthen the distance between mound and home plate. They give, and they take.
DarkSide830
just as long as this isnt the issue that causes a lockout
tstats
That should and really should be the real concern
kenphelps44
MLB announced today they will be experimenting with pre-corked bats to offset the pre-tacked balls.
tstats
Soon enough pre doped hitters
kreckert
Ah. Rob Manfred’s latest attempt to make it look like he actually does something.
someoldguy
Higher laces and more uniform rubbing mechanism.. there is no reason using modern measuring that you can’t have uniform balls… except of course the cost… it much cheaper to have them made in Costa Rica.. no special chemical help needed..
padam
I wonder how pitchers got through the previous 100+ years with only spit, Vaseline, and nail files…the good old days.
itsmeheyhi
The good old days sound kinky.
IronBallsMcGinty
I say keep letting pitchers use spider tack. Hitters will adjust as they always have. If they can wrap tape on the bat, wear gloves and use pine tar all for better grip then I see no real problem with any pitcher using a little sticky stuff.
B-Strong
This is, and always will be the dumbest comparison to pitchers using spider tack.
Sadler
Pitchers have shown they’re fine without any extra stickiness and baseball went from being the least entertaining its been in decades to watchable immediately after they banned the stuff.
Leave it the way it is.
The Saber-toothed Superfife
Manfred is showing that he doesn’t get it. Who has decided baseball has to be a sissy sport. I know they want to include…err..the girls and everything but that used to be the guys just trying to be nice. No one took it seriously. At best maybe somebody would get lucky or if he was just plain dumb and didn’t listen to good advice…married (God forbid).
Doesn’t he understand the occasional plunk is definitely part of the excitement? They’re trying to take away the beanball as a baseball tradition, even equating it with assault charges…. What are they thinking?
They’ve already taken away the home plate collision, the second base dp wipeout, spiking…..what are they thinking?
Maybe these pitchers should not be throwing 100 mph? Hurt because they learn to cheat?
Now let’s institutionalize cheating so we can pretend we were better than Dizzy Dean and Mickey Lolich by setting all these new MLB records….oh…good idea…
What a load!
timyanks
baseballs are just fine
pitchers need to grow a set
timyanks
the cheating pitchers want to make their cheating legal by making the ball grippier. so do batters get to take half a steroid?
timyanks
anybody know roberta manfredrika’s email address?
bravesfan
Out of pure ignorance, I’m curious if a pretacked baseball would be easier to hit. Ie, it catch on a bat easier. I see how a smooth surface in advantage for a hitter.. smooth surfaces will have less drag in flight..
whyhayzee
It’s possible the batted ball could have more spin when the ball is tacked.
whyhayzee
The best thing about this is that they are letting the pitchers try out the ball. Been asking for this forever. Batters choose their own bats, fielders their own gloves. Sorry pitchers, you get what you get. Since they all have to use the same ball, they should have some say in the feel of it. Granted the liveliness is a rigged aspect, but at least give it some grip.
PutPeteinthehall
Pretacked baseball rolling down the line becomes a dirt ball by the time it reaches the infielder. Players wearing hand towels. Lmao!
Want to make changes go to computer called balls/strikes and have home plate umpire watch for cheating.
whyhayzee
Footballs? Leather. Smooth? Nope.
Basketballs? Leather. Smooth? Nope.
Soccer Balls? Leather. Smooth? Yup.
Balls you throw? Not smooth.
Balls you don’t throw? Smooth.
Lacrosse balls? Smooth.
Field hockey balls? Smooth.
Hockey pucks? Smooth.
This is really simple.
JoeBrady
Actually, not that simple. You forgot that the balls have stitches on them. That’s where you get your traction. Baseballs are decidedly NOT smooth.
Sherm623
Bowling balls. Smooth.
Frisbees. Whatever.
Golf balls. Dimpled.
Meatballs. Great with spaghetti.
Mic drop
timyanks
the edge of a hockey puck has grip manufactured into it. from the mlb baseballs i’ve seen, the seems are not raised as much as previous baseballs.
Doral Silverthorn
ban spider tak because foreign substance. MLB then looks into adding it to baseballs. Is this bizarro world?