10-day suspension caper

[Maxbialystock]

WEEI announcers are talking about how obvious it is that Garrett Richards has been cheating for years and is now unmasked while being paid $14M/year.

[a700hitter]

WEEI announcers are talking about how obvious it is that Garrett Richards has been cheating for years and is now unmasked while being paid $14M/year.

I was listening. They are very down on his prospects of being useful doing forward.

[mvp 78]

WEEI announcers are talking about how obvious it is that Garrett Richards has been cheating for years and is now unmasked while being paid $14M/year.

 

He’s been on the IL for years.

[moonslav59]

He’s been on the IL for years.

 

Someone saw a beer can stuck to his throwing hand 2 1/2 years ago.

[Bellhorn04]

WEEI announcers are talking about how obvious it is that Garrett Richards has been cheating for years and is now unmasked while being paid $14M/year.

 

It's $10M.

[notin]

It's $10M.

 

Eh. What's an extra $4mill to EEI?

[Bellhorn04]

Sawamura says the MLB baseballs are less tacky than the ones used in Japan, and that MLB should consider a tackier ball as the solution to this issue.

 

Can't really count on Manfred for solutions, though.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sawamura says the MLB baseballs are less tacky than the ones used in Japan, and that MLB should consider a tackier ball as the solution to this issue.

 

Can't really count on Manfred for solutions, though.

 

This shouldn't be an issue; the MLB owns a major manufacturer of the baseballs it uses.

[Bellhorn04]

This shouldn't be an issue; the MLB owns a major manufacturer of the baseballs it uses.

 

Yes, all the more reason to be pissed at Manfred. He controls the baseballs, and look where we are.

[mvp 78]

Sawamura says the MLB baseballs are less tacky than the ones used in Japan, and that MLB should consider a tackier ball as the solution to this issue.

 

Can't really count on Manfred for solutions, though.

 

Seems like a better fix.

[mvp 78]

Yes, all the more reason to be pissed at Manfred. He controls the baseballs, and look where we are.

 

More focus on NFTs and crypto than really fixing the game.

[Maxbialystock]

It's $10M.

 

Right. My bad. I saw $14M somewhere--I think--and now can't find it.

[mvp 78]

It's $10M.

 

Per sportrac:

 

Paid $8.5M cash ($10M lux tax due to $1.5M buyout for 2022).

Club option for $10M in 2022.

[Maxbialystock]

Why is Manfred the bad guy in all this? The pitchers have been breaking a longstanding MLB rule with impunity and with the result that batting averages are the lowest in 50 years.

 

Even though those computerized defensive formations have been a contributing factor, pitchers have in fact been cheating, and the Commissioner took action.

 

We're just 3 days into actual implementation, but so far what I've seen is good pitchers adjusting and lousy ones like Garrett Richards moaning and groaning about the unfairness of it all.

 

And last night's game, Sox @ Rays, is a perfect example. Richards stunk. No other pitcher in that game--and there were 9 of them--seemed to be in shock as Richards clearly was.

 

Andriese, it's true, gave up that 3 run dinger, but it was simply a bad pitch--a fat slider that didn't break much--to a good hitter. But even Andriese went 2 innings and managed to strike out 5 guys. Hill, the Rays starter, went 5, giving up 1 run, and their bullpen went 4, giving up another. And the Sox' Workman, Rios, and Taylor pitched 4.1 innings while giving up 0 runs.

 

All MLB pitchers are adjusting to the new implementation of a very old MLB rule. Some are adjusting better than others. Kershaw, who was checked 3 or 4 times by the ump in his well-pitched game vs. the Phillies, apparently adjusted so well that it drove Joe Girardi completely nuts. The ump finally had to toss him.

Edited June 24, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[Kimmi]

Not exactly.

 

A number of hitters have come out and said they were fine with pitchers using sticky stuff because they'd prefer that to getting hit in the head.

 

It didn't become a performance-related issue until recently, for some reason.

 

Maybe it was the combination of Spider Tack and the new baseballs with higher seams.

 

I think it's irrelevant that hitters are okay with pitchers using sticky stuff or that it has only recently become performance enhancing. Pitchers complaining that they can no longer cheat is a bad look, IMO.

 

I am not pleased with Richards' defeatist attitude over his last 2 starts. Again, I think MLB handled the situation very poorly, but it is what it is. Richards needs to deal with it and find a way to pitch without cheating. Bottom line.

[Kimmi]

Last night against the Rays Dalbec struck out 4 times against 4 different pitchers. The rest of the Sox lineup struck out 7 times. Dalbec may not yet be in the promised land, but I agree choking up was a good idea (his own).

 

Dalbec's K/W ratio still leaves a lot to be desired. But I do like having his power at the bottom of the line up.

[Kimmi]

Sawamura says the MLB baseballs are less tacky than the ones used in Japan, and that MLB should consider a tackier ball as the solution to this issue.

 

Can't really count on Manfred for solutions, though.

 

Change the rule and allow pitchers to use an approved substance other than just rosin. Again, I think sunscreen plus rosin would be acceptable.

 

OTOH, Pedro seems to think that sweat plus rosin should offer sufficient tackiness for a good grip.

[mvp 78]

Change the rule and allow pitchers to use an approved substance other than just rosin. Again, I think sunscreen plus rosin would be acceptable.

 

OTOH, Pedro seems to think that sweat plus rosin should offer sufficient tackiness for a good grip.

 

I wonder if there has been a significant change in the baseball since the last time Pedro pitched.

[mvp 78]

Dalbec's K/W ratio still leaves a lot to be desired. But I do like having his power at the bottom of the line up.

 

He was getting hotter, but going 0-8 with a BB and 7 K really puts a damper on that. It's just not a pretty picture right now.

[Kimmi]

I wonder if there has been a significant change in the baseball since the last time Pedro pitched.

 

I am of the opinion that pitchers should be allowed to use some sort of approved sticky substance besides rosin.

 

What I am against is pitchers complaining about the rule being enforced. The rule needs to be changed.

[Kimmi]

He was getting hotter, but going 0-8 with a BB and 7 K really puts a damper on that. It's just not a pretty picture right now.

 

I'm a Dalbec fan who, IMO, deserves a lot of patience. But yes, he really needs to cut down on those Ks.

[mvp 78]

I am of the opinion that pitchers should be allowed to use some sort of approved sticky substance besides rosin.

 

What I am against is pitchers complaining about the rule being enforced. The rule needs to be changed.

 

I think the way the rule was enforced against Max the other night was embarrassing for the league.

[Kimmi]

I think the way the rule was enforced against Max the other night was embarrassing for the league.

 

Absolutely. In just a short time, the optics of enforcing the rule have not been good.

[Maxbialystock]

I think the way the rule was enforced against Max the other night was embarrassing for the league.

 

I disagree. I loved it. Why? Because Girardi was absolutely certain Scherzer was cheating and insisted on that third (or was it the fourth?) check of Sherzer's cap, belt, whatever. Scherzer may very well have used illegal substances to doctor up the ball in the past, but apparently has found a way not to do so and still pitch effectively enough to make Girardi look foolish and get tossed from the game.

 

I will agree that that the Commissioner's edict is somewhat draconian, but think it is called for.

 

And so far it sure looks as though the pitchers--despite the ridiculous claims that 1) you can't throw a baseball accurately without doctoring it up and thus might hit the batter in the head, that 2) not using illegal substances will do damage to your arm, and that 3) not using illegal substances to doctor the baseball is tantamount to allowing hitters to hit off a T--are actually adjusting to an old rule that is finally being enforced.

[Maxbialystock]

Absolutely. In just a short time, the optics of enforcing the rule have not been good.

 

The "optics of enforcing the rule have not been good" only because MLB is actually enforcing it. That requires umpires to check the pitchers on the field of play. Unseemly, perhaps, but necessary. The really bad optics occurred largely because Joe Girardi was determined to make a fool of himself.

[Maxbialystock]

Dalbec's K/W ratio still leaves a lot to be desired. But I do like having his power at the bottom of the line up.

 

Yup.

[Bellhorn04]

I think it's irrelevant that hitters are okay with pitchers using sticky stuff or that it has only recently become performance enhancing. Pitchers complaining that they can no longer cheat is a bad look, IMO.

 

I am not pleased with Richards' defeatist attitude over his last 2 starts. Again, I think MLB handled the situation very poorly, but it is what it is. Richards needs to deal with it and find a way to pitch without cheating. Bottom line.

 

I still disagree on the first point, but I understand the opposing view.

 

But I do agree about Richards. He sounds beaten. Maybe he should retire immediately.

[notin]

Absolutely. In just a short time, the optics of enforcing the rule have not been good.

 

So far, yes.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/athletics-reliever-sergio-romo-pulls-down-his-pants-during-foreign-substance-check/

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Maybe he should retire immediately.

 

Typical reaction from a front-running Red Sox fan (I agree).

[dgalehouse]

The general feeling is that many , if not most , pitchers were using something. Let's not all pile on Richards.