MLB to Cut Down on Foreign Substances for Pitchers in 2020
By Michael Luciano
The likes of Michael Pineda, Yusei Kikuchi, and Will Smith are going to have a hard time adjusting to the league's new crackdown on foreign substances on the mound.
While pitchers bringing sticky substances with them to the mound has been going on in baseball forever, the league has decided to punish pitchers who bring anything illegal to the mound in a harsher fashion as compared to the least few years.
https://t.co/HgwaBe9MXv MLB plans to try to cut down on foreign substances pitchers bring to the mound this year, The Post has learned.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 26, 2020
"We want to ensure that all Clubs understand the rules and regulations and adhere to them,” said former MLB pitcher and currently league executive Chris Young.
Generally, batters and opposing managers have not kicked up much of a fuss over foreign substances on the mound other than the rosin bag, given how so many pitchers use substances like Vaseline, sunscreen, or pine tar to get a better grip on the ball. Batters who don't want to end up plunked by an errant pitch are generally not going to report banned substances.
However, in this age of launch angle and spin rate, a slicker ball could allow for increased revolutions on any given pitch, and that is what has the league up in arms.
I love that MLB's priorities are dictated by (a) dirt that gets dug about the league by the media; and, (b) like, whatever Trevor Bauer is ranting about at any moment. https://t.co/5HaAbxJfhC
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) February 26, 2020
Just because everyone is doing it doesn't mean it's right. Any time the league decides to step in and root out any form of cheating, no matter how small, it's a win for the game.