Major League Baseball is wary of players trying to add more tack to the game. According to an internal memo, ESPN will continue to inspect pitchers for foreign substances in the 2022 season.
The memo, which was distributed to teams by Michael Hill, MLB senior vice-president of on-field operation, stated that all pitchers should expect at most one inspection by umpires whenever they appear in a game. Anyone found to have added any illegal sticky substances to the ball, other than the standard rosin bag to the game, will be suspended and ejected.
MLB called this “less invasive” because umpires will now check the pitcher's hands for sticky substances. This is in addition to focusing on the belt buckles or gloves as it did the previous four months of 2021 season. According to the memo, umpires will use their thumbs and inspect pitchers' hands from top-to-bottom in order to look for any “unusual looking foreign substances,” such as clumps or discoloration.
Sports Illustrated was the first to report on the league's new protocols.
Hill stated in a statement to ESPN that “We want to thank players for their cooperation last year and the umpires who did an outstanding job of enforcing the rule with great professionalism.” We saw a clear impact on the field, with more balls in play and more action, more runs scored, and a return of the art of pitching with less strikeouts. We are happy that the game has moved in the right direction toward the baseball fans desire.
The rosin bag was not enough to give a good grip to a baseball that felt often chalky. Pitchers have used other methods to make additional stick, such as sunscreen or pine tar. For decades, the league, its management and its umpires have ignored the problem. The practice was encouraged by the hitters who were well aware of the potential dangers posed by slippery baseballs.
The use of illegal sticky stuff is becoming more and more common as the industry obsesses over spin rates and the correlation with swings or misses in recent years. This uptick in strikeouts helped to fuel an increase in hit by pitches. Many believe this is due to pitchers becoming more bullish about their ability execute up-and-in fastballs that have enhanced grips.
MLB tried to tackle the issue by implementing enhanced surveillance at the beginning of the 2021 seasons, but it became more widespread. Spider Tack was a substance used by strongmen to lift 100-pound boulders. This led the league to request that umpires regularly check pitchers on the mound starting June 21.
The pitch with the most impact by extra stick was four-seam fastballs. This is when spin rates dropped in July and June. As the season progressed, however, these spin rates started to rise again. According to the league players have found ways around inspections.
Hill noted in his memo that “umpires have been ordered to be more vigilante and unpredictable in their timing and scope during the 2022 season.”
If there are reasons to suspect foreign substances, umpires have the right to inspect any player's uniform. Managers have the right to ask umpires for additional inspections, but only with valid suspicions. They will be disciplined if they make a request in bad faith.
According to the memo, MLB has also standardized the rosin bag for the first-time, using Honduran Pine Rosin from the company Pelican Bat Wax. Pitchers are forbidden from mixing other substances and advised not to use sunscreen in night games or closed-roof stadiums to avoid possible discipline. Pitchers may also keep a wet rag in the back pocket of their pants, but cannot access it once on the rubber.
Caleb Smith, then at the Arizona Diamondbacks?, Hector SantiagoAt that point, connect with the Seattle MarinersEach of them were given 10-day suspensions after they were accused of using illegal foreign drugs in 2021. They are the only MLB players to be suspended under the new protocols.
While offense was slightly up in the second half of last season, the league's OPS increased from.718 and.739 respectively, while strikeout rates declined by more that a percentage point from 23.8% and 22.5%.
MLB believes that greater monitoring of foreign substances plays a critical role.
