For decades, Major League Baseball has wrestled with what pitchers can use for a better grip. Rules shifted like ballpark winds, from early tolerance of various substances to tighter bans. This history sets the context for today’s discontent, where sticky situations create more than just tricky pitches. And amid that, a respected veteran calls for a familiar and alarming action.
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Recently, on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast, the 45-year-old pitcher did not hold back. Rich Hill, famous for his incredible longevity, offered a sharp critique. He stated, “…it ended up we came to a crossroads, maybe you want to say technology or trying to improving things that shouldn’t have been messed with, and that’s why we’re at where we’re. Umpires checking pitchers, I think that’s still a bad look for the game.”
This stark assessment reflects an emerging frustration.
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Why does Hill, a man who has seen countless changes in the game, feel this way? He thinks current solutions, like the specific rosin provided, do not completely help pitchers. “I think we’ve made a stride with the rosin that they’re using. It still isn’t 100% in favor of getting the pitchers to throw their A pitch every single time. Dictated by environment,” Hill explained. He also spoke on the podcast about how different conditions, like cold or heat, or rain, can have a massive impact on a pitcher’s ability to grip the ball consistently.
Interestingly, in other professional leagues, this is not the case. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan, for example, uses baseballs often described as inherently tackier. This Mizuno-made ball (it’s often rubbed using sand instead of MLB’s mud) gets good marks for feel. As a result, NPB has fewer grip aid-related controversies.
So, MLB pitchers, restricted to rosin, often express frustration. This contrast raises many questions about whether MLB’s current approach is the best for the game and its players.
Exploring solutions: A path forward for MLB
There are many voices within the game who share Hill’s concerns about the existing grip rules.
“Pitchers want to have that tack and hitters want pitchers to have that tack to prevent serious injury,” pointed out the Nationals’ ace Max Scherzer. He mentioned the challenge of inconsistent grip across diverse weather conditions. Even hitters like the Mets’ Pete Alonso surprisingly agree. Alonso stated, “I don’t want 99 [miles-per-hour pitches] slipping out of someone’s hand because they didn’t have enough feel for it.”
New York Yankees Reliever Zack Britton has also been vocal about the negative optics of on-field checks, suggesting alternative methods: “I think we can get checked in the bullpen prior to entering the game. I think guys can get checked in the dugout away from cameras, away from the fans.” He emphasized the potential confusion for young fans witnessing these checks: “If I’m a young kid at the game, and I’m asking my dad, ‘Hey, what’s going on. Why are they getting checked?’ What he’s gonna say? ‘Well, they think everyone’s cheating.’ I mean, is that what we want the game to be about?”
It’s deep, right? MLB rules are literally putting question marks all over the game. How’s that good for its reputation!
But there are also folks not completely on Hill’s side. Third baseman Josh Donaldson has been outspoken. He argued, “What these guys are doing now is performance-enhancing… It’s not about command. Now, it’s about who’s throwing the nastiest pitches.”
Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, too, dismissed the need for sticky substances, referring to his own career. He pointed out that he used to hit 38 guys in 3,948 innings without a grip! Then, why the sudden upheaval? Apparently, it’s just an excuse for him.
Still, there should be some solution, right, that will put an end to all these debates? Well, MLB might explore different baseballs, like those in NPB, or develop a standardized grip aid. Or, maybe, something else? Don’t shy away from dropping in your suggestions, as well!
Written by
Edited by
Ahana Chatterjee