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As MLB seeks to ban foreign substances, these guys tested their impact on spin rates
Posted on 6/9/21 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 6/9/21 at 1:14 pm
LINK
It's a long article but interesting look at what effect the substances can have on spin rate. The college pitcher they used increased his fastball spin rate from just under 2100 on his unaided baseline to over 2,500 using the ultra sticky spider tack. Gerrit Cole dodged an answer yesterday when he was asked whether he ever used spider tack.
quote:
On the plywood pitching mound was a container of pine tar; aerosol cans of BullFrog sunscreen and Cramer Firm Grip; and in a shallow, circular container of something called Spider Tack, a super-sticky paste developed to help grip Atlas Stones in strongman competitions. There was also a bag of rosin, a ubiquitous sight on major-league mounds.
While rosin is legal, when mixed with BullFrog or pine tar, it's said to create a performance edge. They are the kind of substances commonly found near major-league dugouts and in bullpen bags, according to sources familiar with such practices. They make their way to the pitchers' ball caps, gloves, and belts, and ultimately their fingertips. For Major League Baseball, foreign substances are becoming more of a problem.
quote:
I asked Curran how I should apply the Spider Tack. "Very carefully," he said.I dipped my right index finger into the container and the substance immediately took hold. As I slowly moved my hand away from the jar, the Spider Tack refused to let go. A long band stretched from the jar to my index finger, like bubble gum stuck to the sole of a shoe.
quote:
However, in recent years, pitch-tracking data collected and shared publicly by Major League Baseball is uncovering just how much adding spin helps.
How much? A lot. Since the start of last season, batters are hitting .264 on four-seam fastballs that range from 2,250-2,350 rpm, a league-average range, and .217 against fastballs with greater than 2,500 rpm of spin.
It's a long article but interesting look at what effect the substances can have on spin rate. The college pitcher they used increased his fastball spin rate from just under 2100 on his unaided baseline to over 2,500 using the ultra sticky spider tack. Gerrit Cole dodged an answer yesterday when he was asked whether he ever used spider tack.
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Posted on 6/9/21 at 1:24 pm to Lsuhoohoo
Ole Gerrit bout to have an ERA bump
Posted on 6/9/21 at 1:27 pm to Lsuhoohoo
Cole handled that so so bad. Just be honest it’s not a secret.
Posted on 6/9/21 at 1:42 pm to Lsuhoohoo
Fun article.
There is a 0% chance the pitchers I. The article are cheating this season, lol. Not after seeing those spin rates.
There is a 0% chance the pitchers I. The article are cheating this season, lol. Not after seeing those spin rates.
Posted on 6/9/21 at 1:43 pm to Pedro
Posted on 6/9/21 at 2:34 pm to Lsuhoohoo
I'll plead ignorance here, having never thrown a Baseball with sticky grip but something my mind wonders, if it's as sticky as they say, is it not tearing small amounts of skin when you repeatedly rip off something sticky? 
Or if its like gum to a shoe as described in the article, its more tacky and snaps loose under force?
Or if its like gum to a shoe as described in the article, its more tacky and snaps loose under force?
Posted on 6/9/21 at 2:52 pm to Lsuhoohoo
You are able to "pull" the ball harder with your downflick of your wrist resulting in more spin force on 4 seam fastballs
Posted on 6/9/21 at 2:57 pm to Lsuhoohoo
quote:
if it's as sticky as they say, is it not tearing small amounts of skin when you repeatedly rip off something sticky?
Or if its like gum to a shoe as described in the article, its more tacky and snaps loose under force?
From what I understand it rips within the substance, not necessarily off of the ball or off of the fingertip.
Posted on 6/9/21 at 2:57 pm to Lsuhoohoo
I don't possess the talent to link it, but there is a short clip on Youtube I'm sure, that shows Molina and the umpire trying to find a pitched ball after it was thrown then lost at the plate.
It was stuck to his chest protector
Many of these guys are using their catchers as the source of their substance
It was stuck to his chest protector
Many of these guys are using their catchers as the source of their substance
Posted on 6/9/21 at 3:00 pm to Lsuhoohoo
I'm still not sure how you police this but im for it. I do think a better option is making it legal but pushing the mound back
Posted on 6/9/21 at 3:02 pm to Lsuhoohoo
quote:
I asked Curran how I should apply the Spider Tack. "Very carefully," he said.
It probably wouldn’t have AS big of an impact if hitters weren’t screwing themselves into the ground and dislocating shoulders every time they take a cut.
Posted on 6/9/21 at 3:08 pm to WestCoastAg
quote:
I'm still not sure how you police this but im for it. I do think a better option is making it legal but pushing the mound back
Gonna be a lot more walks if you move it back I think
Posted on 6/9/21 at 3:11 pm to Lsuhoohoo
Cracking down on foreign substances is one major way to increase action in baseball. I think two more things need to be done:
1. Deaden the ball. If we're cracking down on foreign substances, then this seems like the next step.
2. Make a HBP worth two bases. This would hopefully make pitchers think twice before throwing in on someone's hands like they do regularly to Acuna and instead maybe focus on throwing strikes.
These steps would increase contact rate and decrease home runs, which is the goal. Baseball needs more action on the basepaths. This homerun, walk, or strikeout shite is driving people away from the game.
1. Deaden the ball. If we're cracking down on foreign substances, then this seems like the next step.
2. Make a HBP worth two bases. This would hopefully make pitchers think twice before throwing in on someone's hands like they do regularly to Acuna and instead maybe focus on throwing strikes.
These steps would increase contact rate and decrease home runs, which is the goal. Baseball needs more action on the basepaths. This homerun, walk, or strikeout shite is driving people away from the game.
Posted on 6/9/21 at 3:14 pm to wahoocs
quote:
Many of these guys are using their catchers as the source of their substance
They touch on that in the article
quote:
Pilewski's intel was that some combination of rosin, BullFrog, and pine tar was most commonly used in the pros but guys were more and more "going to straight Spider Tack and calling it a day, if they hide it well enough."
Pilewski asked Colcombe and Curran if anyone else on the field could be helping pitchers. "Catchers put it on their shin guards. Do they do that for you guys?" he asked.
Curran thought about it.
"No one is going to check the catcher," he said.
Posted on 6/9/21 at 3:16 pm to VADawg
quote:
1. Deaden the ball. If we're cracking down on foreign substances, then this seems like the next step.
Did you see what college baseball turned into when BBCOR bats were introduced?
Posted on 6/9/21 at 3:21 pm to Cosmo
quote:
Ole Gerrit bout to have an ERA bump
Good thing he got paid first
Posted on 6/9/21 at 3:38 pm to wahoocs
quote:
I don't possess the talent to link it, but there is a short clip on Youtube I'm sure, that shows Molina and the umpire trying to find a pitched ball after it was thrown then lost at the plate.
It was stuck to his chest protector
Many of these guys are using their catchers as the source of their substance
Small but best video/gif I could find.
This post was edited on 6/9/21 at 3:39 pm
Posted on 6/9/21 at 3:40 pm to High C
Yeah they already deadened it back to a more normal ball this year. Doing it again would be overkill
Posted on 6/9/21 at 3:40 pm to VADawg
quote:
Cracking down on foreign substances is one major way to increase action in baseball. I think two more things need to be done: 1. Deaden the ball. If we're cracking down on foreign substances, then this seems like the next step. 2. Make a HBP worth two bases. This would hopefully make pitchers think twice before throwing in on someone's hands like they do regularly to Acuna and instead maybe focus on throwing strikes. These steps would increase contact rate and decrease home runs, which is the goal. Baseball needs more action on the basepaths. This homerun, walk, or strikeout shite is driving people away from the game.
Or they could learn how to go the other way. I don’t know maybe watch some Tony Gwynn videos? Maybe flare one out to right center and take your base?
These professional athletes/coaches listen to statistical nerds on how to play the game. That’s the biggest part of the reason this shite has gone south. There’s been cheating in baseball for as long as it’s been around.
Instead they chose to either strike out or hit a bomb then bitch about spin rates.
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