Cleveland Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer implied Tuesday on Twitter that the Houston Astros doctored baseballs.
When a Twitter user attributed the increased spin rates of Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Charlie Morton to them possibly using a foreign substance to throw "spitballs," Kyle Boddy of Driveline, a pitching development clinic, said the doctoring would, in fact, reduce spin rate. Bauer disagreed, replying with the thinking face emoji and suggesting the evidence does point toward spitballing:
If only there was just a really quick way to increase spin rate. Like what if you could trade for a player knowing that you could bump his spin rate a couple hundred rpm overnight...imagine the steals you could get on the trade market! If only that existed...
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) 1 May 2018
Where’s your data. Because I’ve studied this at length for five years and you’re actually just massively wrong.
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) May 1, 2018
Morton, Verlander, and Cole, all acquired between the 2016-17 and 2017-18 offseasons, have resurrected their careers to varying degrees. Morton went from a fringe starter to a reliable rotation piece with a remarkable strikeout rate. Verlander, entering the twilight of his career, was rejuvenated to near-Cy Young form, owning a 9-0 record in regular season play since joining the Astros and winning ALCS MVP. Cole, meanwhile, has transitioned from a reliable starter in the National League - widely considered the weaker hitting league - to the best starter in the American League. Over 41 2/3 innings, the right-hander is striking out 39.4 percent of batters while walking 5.2 percent - both career bests.
Compared to last year, the spin rate on Cole's four-seam fastball has jumped 8.2 percent from 2,153 revolutions per minute to 2,331. His slider, curve, and sinker have all increased in spin, as well, while the changeup has decreased slightly. The biggest jump came on the right-hander's sinker, though, which increased by 9.4 percent (2,084 rpm to 2,281 rpm).
Cole's rotation mate, Lance McCullers Jr., protested Bauer's insinuation:
Jealousy isn’t a good look on you my man. You have great stuff and have worked hard for it, like the rest of us, no need for this. I will ask though because my spin rate and spin axis on my 4 seem is a$$. https://t.co/jvbLuWWqgN
— Lance McCullers Jr. (@LMcCullers43) May 1, 2018
In response, Bauer appeared to criticize Major League Baseball for not enforcing the rule that prohibits pitchers from throwing spitballs:
Not jealous my friend. Promise you that. I respect what you all are doing over there. My gripe is with the hypocrisy of @mlb for selectively enforcing rules when it suits them
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) May 1, 2018
Astros third baseman Alex Bregman jumped into the fray to defend his pitching staff as well, telling Bauer to "relax" and calling him by the wrong name:
Relax Tyler ... those World Series balls spin a little different.... 😭 https://t.co/MZ7iIPXhbC
— Alex Bregman (@ABREG_1) May 1, 2018
Collin McHugh also took it upon himself to drag Bauer, suggesting that improvements can be made thanks to coaching and veteran tutelage:
If only there was this thing where people who had been around baseball a long time taught people who hadn’t been around as long. Imagine the possiblity for improvement yr over yr! We could call it coaching! https://t.co/WI4X1TCbaW
— Collin McHugh (@Collin_McHugh) May 1, 2018
