MLB to increase 'sticky' substances checks on pitchers

Once again, the use of "sticky" substances is a hot topic of conversation around Major League Baseball. 

According to The Athletic's Jayson Stark, MLB hitters suggested that at certain times, pitchers were able to circumvent checks for illegal substances put in place over the past two seasons. 

"Hitters have suggested that pitchers were using stickier substances in innings when they knew they wouldn't be checked," Stark wrote. 

As a result, the league plans to step up checks for illegal substances. The unsurprising news comes off the heels of MLB's renewed focus on inspections for the upcoming campaign. However, the league denies that any one reason is behind the increase in awareness. 

MLB hasn't notified teams of set-in-stone changes yet, but Stark's report specifies that inspections of pitchers' hands and fingers will be more thorough and that checks would happen randomly. 

Checking pitchers' hats, gloves and belts may also begin again, and Stark adds that the timing for these inspections occur will likely be left to the umpire's discretion. 

Nearly a year ago, MLB sent a memo stating the league would issue further crackdowns on "sticky" substances, a practice that began last spring training. At the time, baseball provided solutions for problems they're still facing today, like pitchers finding workarounds and fluctuating spin rates throughout the league. 

The process has become a bit of a circus over the last two seasons, and it could get worse. Umpires never needed a reason to step into the spotlight, but MLB has seemingly given them the power to halt the game without warning if they feel something mischievous is afoot. Also, teams are already using the league's war against goo-covered baseballs as a weapon against opponents. For instance, the New York Mets tried to throw San Diego Padres starter Joe Musgrove off in Game 3 of their National League wild-card series, asking an umpire to check him for illegal substances while throwing a no-hitter. 

While it might be gamesmanship for some, baseball has been teetering the line of popularity for years, in part due to cheating scandals. According to data from FiveThirtyEight, baseball is the third-most-popular sport in the United States, with soccer paced to overtake it soon. With that in mind, baseball can ill-afford to have anything more tarnish or devalue the sport. Whether or not MLB's boost in attention over illegal substances has any impact this time, we'll all have to wait and see.