According to an internal memo, Major League Baseball will continue to inspect pitchers for foreign substances during the 2022 season.
The memo states that all pitchers should be inspected by the umpires at least once a game, either between the first and second base lines or during pitching changes. Those found to have added illegal sticky substances to the baseball will be ejected and suspended.
Umpires will check for sticky substances directly on a pitcher's hand instead of focusing on gloves and belt buckles this year, as part of a "less intrusive" procedure. Umpires are instructed to use their thumbs to inspect pitchers hands from top to bottom and look for any unusual looking foreign substances, according to the memo.
The league's new protocols were reported by Sports Illustrated.
Umpires did an outstanding job of carrying out enforcement of the rule with great professionalism and we saw a clear positive impact on the field. The game moved in the right direction towards the version of baseball that our fans want to see.
Pitchers have long used sunscreen and pine tar to create additional stick, believing that the rosin bag wasn't enough to attain proper grip on a baseball that felt chalky. The league, its managers and its umpires did not pay attention to the issue for decades. Hitters were aware of the dangers of slippery baseballs and encouraged the practice.
As the industry has obsessed over spin rates and their correlation with swings and misses, the use of illegal sticky stuff has become more extreme. The increases helped fuel rising strikeout rates but also an inordinate amount of hit by pitches, a product, many believe, of pitchers becoming more bullish with their ability to execute up-and-in fastballs with enhanced grips.
MLB tried to combat the issue by implementing enhanced monitoring at the start of the 2021. Spider Tack is traditionally used in strongman contests to help lift boulders. Umpires were asked to check pitchers as they came off the mound.
The pitch with the most impact by additional stick fell off in June and July after word spread about MLB's new protocols. As the season went on, the spin rates began to increase. The league believes players were able to navigate around the inspections.
umpires have been instructed to be more vigilant and unpredictable in the timing and scope of their checks, as a result of Hill's memo.
Umpires have the power to inspect any part of a player's uniform if there is reason to believe foreign substances are involved. Managers can ask umpires for more checks if they have valid suspicions, but they will be subject to discipline if the request is made under bad faith.
The rosin bag has been standardized by MLB for the first time, using Honduran pine rosin supplied by the company. Pitchers are not allowed to mix other substances with the rosin and are not allowed to use sunscreen in closed-roof ballparks. Pitchers are allowed to carry a wet rag in their back pockets, but can't access it once they're on the rubber.
The only players suspended for using illegal foreign substances in the year 2020 were both with the Arizona D-backs and Seattle M's.
During the second half of last year, the league-wide batting average went from.712 to.739, and the strikeout rate went from 23.8% to 22.5%.
Increased monitoring of foreign substances was believed to be a key factor.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
