tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post5518076153344830161..comments2024-03-28T04:28:17.379-07:00Comments on the joy of sox: When Asked Directly If He's Cheating On The Mound, Gerrit Cole Refuses To Give An Answerallanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-49325531774399045182021-06-09T17:31:08.315-07:002021-06-09T17:31:08.315-07:00I thought it was the new analytics stat cast provi...I thought it was the new analytics stat cast provided that helped to shed light on unnatural improvements to spin rate and not the cause of them. As RJ said, pitchers were adding substances to balls 100 years ago. PKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11621991547265401860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-63845547297129808642021-06-09T11:20:41.210-07:002021-06-09T11:20:41.210-07:00Ummm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . okay.
The new ...Ummm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . okay.<br /><br /><i>The new analytics was undoubtedly the start of all this.</i><br /><br />I knew it was all Bill James's fault. (Even though you say (correctly) that breaking the rules has always been around and your first examples are from several decades before James was born.) That James is a crafty fucker for sure.<br /><br /><i>They'll say it's about getting better. But we all know that's B.S. It's always about the money. . . . Even though there are rules, pitchers have continued to find ways to improve their chance to get the W.</i><br /><br />First, you said it's ALWAYS about the money. Then you said it's about getting "the W", something you insisted a few sentences earlier was nothing more than a bullshit excuse. You are obviously very confused.<br /><br /><i> The most recent increase in chemical usage by pitchers is most likely the result of the analytics guys.</i><br /><br />Again, with the analytics guys, acting like dope-pushers in an alleyway.<br /><br /><i>My concern is that since the players are unionized, will this be a repeat of the steroids debacle? Will the union back the cheating player, again?</i><br /><br />So it's the fault of the big bad omnipotent UNION that Selig and MLB knowingly turned a blind eye to steroids for years and years and years? I see. Well, thank you for your illuminating insights.allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-45170331084294920772021-06-09T09:40:20.163-07:002021-06-09T09:40:20.163-07:00People cheat in every daily endeavor. For the fir...People cheat in every daily endeavor. For the first fifty years of professional baseball, pitchers doctored ball with saliva and tobacco juice. They scuffed balls with emery boards, belt buckles and nail files. Anything that would give them an edge. With the death of Ray Chapman by submariner Carl Mays in 1920, MLB changed the rules relating to adding or subtracting from a ball. Ironically, Carl Mays didn't throw a spit ball but one guy who did was Burleigh Grimes, who was allowed by a grandfather clause to continue until his retirement in 1934.<br /><br />Even though there are rules, pitchers have continued to find ways to improve their chance to get the W. Gaylord Perry was probably the best known but others like the late Whitey Ford, Joe Niekro and Rick Honeycutt (now the Dodger's pitching coach) have all been caught in the act. The most recent increase in chemical usage by pitchers is most likely the result of the analytics guys. They have told management that since there are limits as to how fast each pitcher can throw, the next best thing is to increase the spin rate. Spin rates across the majors have increased from 10 to 30 percent over the past few years. The only way such a dramatic increase can be achieved is by cheating - using a banned substance.<br /><br />My concern is that since the players are unionized, will this be a repeat of the steroids debacle? Will the union back the cheating player, again? If the suspensions for steroid cheating was 80 games for first offense should it be the same for pitchers who cheat? When you ask players why they cheat, they never mention the real reason - MONEY. It's always about the money.RJCastaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07536832621732549605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-18416435124766385452021-06-09T09:02:18.789-07:002021-06-09T09:02:18.789-07:00As it is in every endeavor which involves money, y...As it is in every endeavor which involves money, you can expect cheating. If Ray Chapman hadn't been killed by submariner Carl Mays, pitchers would still be throwing balls with saliva, tobacco juice, vaseline, etc. After Chapman's death in 1920, even though MLB outlawed such additives, it still took until the end of the 1934 season for Burleigh Grimes to throw the last "legal" spitball. Yup, MLB allowed any pitcher who was throwing spitters when they were outlawed to continue until they retired. <br /><br />Pitchers' spin rates on average have increased by over 10% and some as much as 20% in the last few years. The new analytics was undoubtedly the start of all this. The numbers guys telling management and coaches that you've got to increase the spin rate to be more effective. Where does it end? They'll say it's about getting better. But we all know that's B.S. It's always about the money.RJCastaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07536832621732549605noreply@blogger.com