It appears we have the identity of at least a super-substance which pitchers appear to be using to gain the advantage.
The Athletic, in an article today, is noting that it appears the substance is a synthetic with the name of SpiderTack.
It is so sticky that it requires WD-40 or baby oil to remove from a pitcher's hands or glove.
An unnamed former major-league pitcher who was tagged by The Athletic for testing was able to increase his spin-rate (which aids in breaking pitches and the like) by over 25%, about 500 RPM. Even a clear amateur on the paper's staff was able to increase his spin-rate on 59 MPH fastballs by almost 400 RPM.
I will say this -- if the arms' race (pardon the pun) is getting this sophisticated, we could be in for a very interesting summer in MLB.
It is unknown whether SpiderTack is the substance it is believed Trevor Bauer was using last year.
It appears they've gotten the Yankees' Gerritt Cole, who hemmed and hawed his way through an interview on the subject today. (So, if that's the case, it probably ISN'T the substance that "some say" Trevor Bauer brought to the Dodgers.)
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