John Farrell wants an approved substance to help pitchers with grip
With two pitchers suspended for using foreign substances on the mound in the last few days, there’s been a conversation around baseball about the very existence of the rules outlawing grip-enhancing substances.
Count Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell among those who would like to see the rules be relaxed. In fact, he’s suggesting that the league should come up with a uniform substance that every pitcher can use without consequence.
Here’s what Farrell told reporters, via WEEI:
“I would like to see an approved substance that pitchers can use,” Farrell said. “Because when we take a manufactured baseball and rub it with dirt, it’s going to create a slippery feeling to it. The mud residue leaves a film on it that you don’t necessarily feel a good, consistent grip. Unless you go to a ball like the one used in Japan where it’s got a tacky feel to it. But I’d like to see something that’s approved that everyone can use. I think if you poll any hitter, the hitter wants to know that the ball’s got a grip. The ball’s not going to get away from [the pitcher].”
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What Farrell is saying is consistent with the reporting Jeff Passan has done on the subject over the last few seasons. The majority of pitchers in MLB are using some sort of substance to help them grip the ball and hitters are more than OK with it. To have players suspended for multiple games for doing something that is generally accepted doesn’t make very much sense.
It sounds like Farrell’s idea is quite reasonable. It wouldn’t be surprising to see other managers and players get behind him and work together to find an appropriate and practical solution.
We’re sure Clay Buchholz, one of the pitchers on Farrell’s staff, will be more than happy to lend a hand in the process given his expertise in the area.
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Israel Fehr is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr
